Discovering who I am as a teacher
The following are answers to questions that I have been reflecting on recently.
What are your major strengths as a teacher?
One of my greatest strengths as a teacher is connecting with my students. I have been told that I have a great rapport with children. I take the time to listen to my students’ and get to know their interests, strengths, needs and life outside of school. I am very organized in my work and life as a teacher. I am currently placed in two Montessori classrooms that span grades 1-6. This requires much organization and planning as well as the ability to switch gears quickly and be in tune with the needs and learning of 50 students.
What about teaching is most rewarding to you?
For me, the relationships that I form with my students are the most rewarding. The classroom communities that are strongly built on respect, critical thinking, teamwork and discovery foster incredible bonds. I also believe that the constant learning as a teacher is incredibly rewarding. I look forward to continuously learning and further developing my creativity.
What is your primary goal in teaching for the next 3-5 years?
My primary goal in teaching for the next 3-5 years is to take a French fluency test (FLA or DELF) so that I will also be fully qualified to teach French immersion. Another goal of mine is to continue my AMS (American Montessori Society) accreditation. As a beginning teacher, I am looking forward to gaining valuable teaching experience as a Teacher on Call and/or teaching in my own classroom.
What can you offer a school outside of your classroom assignment?
Outside of my classroom assignment I can offer support and compassion to the school community. I am always willing to collaborate and work with my colleagues and students to create the best learning environment. I can offer the school the experience I have in outdoor education with my coaching capacity. I have coached ski racing for over 5 years. This has included travelling for training, planning and coordinating lessons in the mountains and great responsibility. I am being trained as an elementary teacher, but also as a Montessori teacher. I am learning the Montessori philosophy and hope to introduce this pedagogy to my school community. I can offer my language skills in French as I participated in the French immersion program from grade 1-12. I am fluent in French, however, one of my goals in the next year is to take a French fluency test to be certified to teach French immersion.
Provide a brief recent example of your leadership in education.
I have been a ski racing coach for over 5 years. I coached 6-12 year olds at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Revelstoke, BC. Coaching at a large resort in big mountain country requires great responsibility as well as leadership. I was trusted with 8 young skiers to not only improve their skiing ability and ski racing performance, but to keep them safe and have fun in the mountains. I developed weekly skiing lesson plans and personalized lesson plans for each individual skier. I facilitated dryland training camps to backcountry ski lodges and coordinated mountain biking and hiking off season training for my skiers. My leadership ability in the skiing education of these children was paramount to their success in improving their skiing ability and their enjoyment of the sport.
What is most important to you in your role as a teacher?
As a teacher, it is important for me to foster respect and balance in my learning community. I believe that it is important to develop the holistic child and create a space that is conducive to Montessori pedagogy, place-based learning, interdisciplinary and cross-curricular studies, and social emotional learning. As a teacher, I hope to plant seeds of wonder in my students so that they are able to develop into lifelong learners and critical thinkers.