Graduate profile areas of growth throughout 2016

Responsive and professional disposition

Throughout my two practicums this year I grew significantly in the area of being responsive. I was faced
with several challenges that required me to tend to specific needs over an extended period of time. I
became committed to these challenges. Through several of our papers this year, I have also learned how
to best serve specific needs. I now have the tools to work with which has set me up for success. I now
celebrate cultural diversity, and love the challenge of diverse learning needs.
Transformational teaching
I know I have grown in this area because I can recall a handful of times where I have inspired students to
change their behaviour and thinking. One example is on practicum five where my class were not very
disciplined with their lining up after morning tea and lunch. I felt that this could be improved, so I chatted to
them about it, became firm with my expectations, remained consistent and I persisted. They finally got it in
my final week there and suddenly their line was formed quickly after the bell and they were standing in a
neat line. I have learned that it takes an initial vision to transform, once the children share the vision the
transformation can occur. It takes persistence and consistency of expectations to change thinking or
behaviour, but it pays off in the end.
I think I have grown in this area because I believe that our attitudes and behaviours dont have to always
be the way they have been. We can improve the way we are because we have a desire to always do
better and achieve excellence. I can cause transformation because I have this vision and I am willing to
share this vision with my students.
Secure disposition
At the beginning of the year I wondered if my heart for teaching would remain the same if I adopted the
changing education system. After a transformational experience in a very advanced 21st century
education school, I realised that this can in fact enhance and support my heart for teaching instead of
sacrifice it. I also did some reading on 21st century education for a successful future which inspired me to
truly prepare students for the 21st century world. I am now secure in my philosophy of education, and it
now integrates these fundamental ideas into it.
Why have these changes occurred?
I believe it takes a teachable heart to develop my dispositions, strengths and weaknesses. Change cannot
occur where the individual is not willing to change, or does not see the need for change. I know that I am
at the very beginning of a lifelong journey of learning, therefore will always have an open heart to
developing myself to become a better teacher, colleague and friend. To summarise: it takes willingness to
change.