Today I was asked to think about the learning I experienced as a k-12 learner. I laid out what I loved and what I look back on less fondly. This is what I came up with:

What I loved: friends, swing sets and monkey bars, empathetic teachers, solving problems, expressing myself creatively, body breaks, reading stories, having stories read to me, field trips, big projects, choice, feeling competent, feeling honoured, feeling safe.

What I was not so fond of: bullying, fast timed activities (especially math), inflexible schedules, immovable deadlines, sitting all day at a desk, round robin reading, being recorded, letter grades, peer competition,  harsh teachers.

I have been told that reflecting on how school influenced me as a learner is a great way to inform my own practice.

Who am I as a teacher? What is it that I value?  This exercise develops personal and professional preparation competencies:

• Teacher Identity
  • beliefs, values, and  effectivity
    • ie. I value connection and communication
• Worldview
  • respect, privilege,  challenging one view
• Growth Mindset
  • reflecting, modelling, developing
• Professionalism
  • responsibility, continued learning, conduct
• Complexity of Teaching and Learning
  • evolving, changing,  learning

I have been learning though so many different experiences that reflecting on my own learning, reflecting on these personal and professional preparation competencies is essential, though for now, personal.

I want to be a teacher that can bring some of the things I loved about school to the forefront of my teaching.

What did you love about school?

Stay hydrated, be kind to yourself, and have a great day!

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash