Overall Annotation

As a result of my enrolment in the Masters of Teaching in Secondary Education at UTS and the professional experiences undertaken at ____________ and _____________, I have gain the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to become a great teacher. Through these experiences, I have developed an appreciation for reflection and the significant role it plays in improving my practice to help me continuously learn and grow into the best teacher I can be. Beyond this, I have learnt that teaching is far more than just delivering content to students; it is about creating a space that students look forward to entering by building relationships and inspiring curiosity to make learning fun.

As a graduate teacher, I have displayed an understanding of, and ability to align myself with, the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. My professional experiences and my work in a boarding school over the past 4 years have taught me many lessons, the most significant being the importance of getting to know individual students. Informed by these experiences, and research undertaken throughout my Masters course, I have developed a knowledge of adolescent development that has helped me realise the myriad of changes students are going through and the effects this may have on their learning (Standard 1). In understanding the uniqueness of every learner in my classrooms, I have shown an understanding of, and ability to, implement a range of teaching strategies that draw on a variety of resources to engage each individual student in their learning (Standard 2 & 3). My capacity to create a classroom that supports the learning of all students, with a diverse range of abilities, is a result of my effective management of classroom activities through the use of clear and explicit instructions (Standard 4). To confirm that my students are progressing and learning, I place a significant emphasis on establishing a routine of work collection, so my students are regularly receiving written and verbal feedback on their work (Standard 5). In the same way, I ensure that I am constantly learning and developing as an educator, by engaging in professional learning and observing other teachers to continue improving my practice (Standard 6). In doing all of this, I continuously work in a highly professional manner that aligns with the Code of Conduct and Statement of Ethics for teachers in NSW (Standard 7).

I have gained a vast amount of new knowledge through my Masters course at UTS, and my experiences as a student teacher and a boarding school supervisor have provided me with opportunities to put this knowledge into practice. In doing so, I have discovered that teaching is an incredibly important career; one that I am eager to undertake and commit to. I look forward to building rapport with staff and students and involving myself holistically in the school community.