When I first conducted an audit of myself in relation the 8 Victorian Institute of Teaching Standards for Graduating Teachers (Victorian Institute of Teaching, 2008), I chose Individual Learning Plans as the area I would work on for this second task (see blog post – Second Post, 8/04/2008). However, from what I have learned about this process from completing task 1, and based on the lack of rounds at this time in the semester, I have rethought the direction of this project.

I feel that Individual Learning Plans would be a much better topic to investigate during my next practicum, so I went back to the Standards and my audit, and identified Classroom Management Strategies as an area I would like to investigate and improve. While I have employed a variety of classroom management strategies on my teaching rounds, and attended classes and seminars on the topic, I feel that I would like to draw all of this together, and to formally define my classroom management strategies. (see blog post – Classroom Management Strategies, posted 22/05/2008)

Therefore, this project will address two specific parts of two of the VIT standards:

Standard 3 – Teachers know their students

– be aware of teaching and classroom management challenges and develop appropriate professional responses to them

Standard 6 – Teachers use a range of teaching practices and resources to engage students in effective learning

– understand and employ strategies for building effective relationships with students parents, and colleagues.


Through the implementation of this plan of action, that is by evaluating, reflecting and improving on my professional knowledge and practices, I am also working with the VIT standards that address professional engagement:

Standard 7 – Teachers reflect on, evaluate and improve their professional knowledge and practice

Standard 8 – Teachers are active members of their profession

 

(Source: Victorian Institute of Teaching, 2008)