You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.
- Abraham Maslow
Statement of change
Since the start of my education degree I have grown significantly both personally and professionally. I have learned many different techniques, strategies and more throughout my four years of courses and have had the opportunity to figure out what works best for me in my own classroom throughout my four field experiences. I have worked on greatly developing all 13 professional competencies with the help of wonderful university professors, colleagues, peers, students, guest speakers, and teachers (CTs, supervisors and all teachers I have encountered during my internships). I demonstrate my development of the professional competencies through the completion of the Action Plans from each Field Experience (link to action plans included by clicking on each of the below titles).
During my first two years in the program I was fortunate to be able to join Peace by Peace club as their Executive of Communications. This club sends volunteers into grade 4-5 classrooms with a fun filled curriculum to engage students and provide them with practical skills related to conflict-resolution, anti-bullying initiatives, self-love and many other important community-building techniques. This allowed me to develop my awareness of these issues and how to help address them in my own classrooms. Without this club I might not have learned all of the valuable information and tricks that I now know and apply in my teaching style.
I also have to admit that I have changed and grown significantly simply due to covid. It has forced all of us to adapt and deal with situations that are extreme at times and definitely out of the ordinary. I have learned a great deal of the work the goes into being an in-person AND online learner through my university courses. I have also had the chance to teach in the middle of all of the chaos that was the 2020 teaching year. Everyone was forced to adapt and learned new ways to teach and I am no exception to this. I have grown in my confidence with my teaching abilities simply due to the fact that I had to teach in such a new way and was able to push through the challenges and strive in my work as a student-teacher. It gives me the confidence that I will be able to succeed with hard work and my passion for teaching regardless of what is to come.
Another moment of extreme growth for me was
during my final internship when I completed it in the
indigenous community of Listuguj, Quebec. Being in
an environment in which the community and the
students are still dealing with intergenerational
trauma really helped me to grow as a teacher but
also as an individual. There was so much to learn
about the benefits of outdoor and land-based education on
student learning, motivation, and well-being. Being outdoors,
experiencing things they never would inside the classroom
allows for students to grow, especially as technology addiction
is affecting these students at a far too deep level.
The fact that my co-operating teacher was also
indigenous, having grown up in the reserve, meant
that she had so much knowledge to share with me
with respect to the indigenization and decolonization
of the curriculum, both of which I believe are very important the 21st century classroom. Finally, getting to interact with the staff and the people of the community gave me plenty of opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of their stories, their struggles, and their strengths. This is an opportunity that I will never forget and one that will inform my ways of teaching for years to come.
Another important source of change and growth comes from my students. I may have been there to teach them however, it is with their engagement, interest and support for me as their student-teacher that I have learned such a great deal about my teaching philosophy and style. From their excited reactions when I walked into the classroom to the last walk past their lockers with them asking me to stay or telling me they would miss me, I have become stronger and my passion for teaching has only grown with each student of mine, each minute spent in class (even during the more challenging days).
Finally, I could not have grown into the
teacher that I am today or will be in the
future without my wonderful friends from
the TESL program. They have greatly
help me in realizing the type of teacher
that I am and are also a great source of
inspiration as well as they are all going to be such amazing teachers as well. Having these incredible people to lean on, people to cheer you on through your hard days and celebrate with you in your victories has been a huge source of growth for me, personally and professionally.
