Becoming a Teacher

Q: What should a beginning teacher know about;
        •   Themselves as a learner
        •   The classroom environment
        •   Teacher/ learner roles & relationships
        •   Their learners
        • Key concepts about literacy?

      This essay will discuss what a beginning teacher should know about; the classroom environment, teacher/ learner roles and relationships, their learners, the key concepts about literacy and themselves as a learner. It will give specific reference to the readings for each topic as well as how it relates to my professional experience visits and any examples that I have observed.
      The classroom environment should be an enjoyable, fun and encouraging environment. This idea is reinforced in both the lectures and readings by Green and Winch. Green (2006, p.234) argues that a classroom “is a place where children would choose to be.” Green believes that this can be achieved by making the classroom visually, aurally and mentally stimulating but psychologically   accepting too. In my practical visits to Rainbow Street Primary school I have noticed how my cooperating teacher, Mrs Hargrave has employed these practices. Her year one classroom is coloured brightly and the walls decorated with her student’s paintings, work and information about their Human Society and It’s Environment (H.S.I.E) subject, Gardening. There is also a big box of Lego building blocks and a small library of children’s books which the students are allowed to use once they have finished work early or when they have free time. These are some examples that I picked up as a beginning teacher to help make my classroom visually stimulating but also fun and encouraging. Mrs Hargraves has also made the classroom environment more psychologically accepting by putting up a set of rules that the students must follow, such as no bullying, verbal or physical and no ‘put downs’, which is a common occurance in such group activities like P.E. By making the student... [continues]

Read full essay