STANDARD 4

When working with Kindergarten during my most recent practicum experience, there were two different occasions that a university supervisor observed my lessons. The evidence chosen demonstrates feedback from an English (writing) lesson, as well as a Mathematics lesson. Teachers must use a range of strategies in the classroom to promote student engagement and ensure that a positive environment is maintained. While I am still learning strategies, during the writing lesson I used a series of visuals as prompts for creative writing to ‘promote engagement’, body language and positive reinforcement through the ‘5 L’s approach’ (4.1.1). Nobile, Lyons and Arthur-Kelly (2017) state that “in classrooms with positive climates, rules and consequences are clear, respectfulness is present, relationships are strong, and students are more likely to feel safe and accepted” (p. 39). In my Mathematics lesson, some of the ‘practical approaches’ I utilised were using positive language, alluding to the star reward chart, recognising individual effort and asking students to self-identify if they needed help (4.3.1).

 

From experience, students are less likely to share responses and ideas if they feel that teachers devalue them for not saying the ‘correct response’. I ‘supported inclusive student participation’ in my lessons by creating an environment where children felt accepted, comfortable and safe to share their ideas without judgment from others (4.1.1). In order to ‘manage challenging behaviour’ I like to use consistent positive reinforcement through phrases such as, “fantastic”, “are you alright?” or “have another think” (4.3.1). Reinforcing positive behaviour reduces the possibility of “minor incidents of misbehaviour in the classroom”, which can later “become major, full-scale discipline problems” (Naderi, Baezzat & Motaghedifard, 2015, p. 46). Not only did these strategies correspond with my teaching philosophy, they also aligned with the school’s philosophy as they implemented the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) scheme.

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