Preservice Teacher Self Review (Adapted from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers)

Preservice Teacher Name: Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Would like to If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced
spend more No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with time on this you need to do to strengthen this area?

1. Know students and how they learn

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual Having an understanding and implementing inclusion
development and characteristics of strategies for diverse and complex learners including
students NEP students and students with behavioural needs.
Planning appropriate lessons for all learners to be
successful, this includes lesson modifications with
the same or similar learning outcomes.

1.2 Understand how students learn Preparing tasks that are in line with the Australian
Curriculum and the use of resources that can be
used to support students and how they learn. All
students learn differently and require different
resources or modified activities in order to be
successful. Prior knowledge tasks are important in
establishing what children know, how they learn best
and how they can be supported.

1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, Being placed in a school setting where
religious and socioeconomic cultural, religious and socioeconomic
backgrounds backgrounds are present would aid with
the development of this strand. Having
an understanding of the ethical
considerations would also be beneficial.
Incorporating Reconciliation Week and
similar significant events into the
classroom would also aid in the
development of this component of my
1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Actively communicate and build
Torres Strait Islander students relationships with Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students. Having an
understanding of their culture, beliefs
and learning styles. It is also important to
understand their cultural protocols.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the
specific learning needs of students
across the full range of abilities
1.6 Strategies to support full participation of
students with disability
Caitlin Brown
In lesson plans and evaluations, I have been able to
communicate how I am meeting the learning needs
of students with a range of abilities. In the lesson
plans, it has been stated how these students will be
catered for and how they are still meeting the same
outcomes as the other students in the class.
Negotiating learning tasks and making modifications
was evident in all learning activities.
Strategies were implemented in a range of lessons
especially physical education classes and fitness.
Throughout a recent placement, I was able to work
with the teacher and a student with autism to create
a ‘choice box’ which could be used when they did not
want to participate in the same lessons as the class.
This involved a range of literacy and numeracy
booklets that could be completed throughout the day.
This ensured the child was always learning and
participating in work.
ID: 110168993
 Would like to If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced
spend more No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with time on this you need to do to strengthen this area?

2. Know the content and how to teach it

2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the The use of unit plans and lesson plans in line with
teaching area the Australian Curriculum are used consistently to
ensure students are learning the appropriate content
for their age. Creating inquiry-based tasks that
incorporate more than one learning area is also
important.
2.2 Content selection and organisation During Professional Pathway’s 1 I created 2 unit
plans and 2 annual plans that consisted of 5
individual lesson plans. This meant selecting
appropriate resources and activities in the planning
process to ensure development learning took place.

2.3 Curriculum, assessment and reporting A range of assessment and reporting methods have
been used in my SSO job and previous placements,
these include formative, summative and diagnostic
assessment. I have also used prior knowledge tasks
at the beginning of each placement in order to aid
with the planning and development of lessons. Daily
observations tasks also take place throughout all
placements.

2.4 Understand and respect Aboriginal and I need to learn more about the
Torres Strait Islander people to promote importance of Kaurna Acknowledgement
reconciliation between Indigenous and at the beginning of events or classes
non-Indigenous Australians such as assembly. This should also be
taught to the class which comes down to
respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people. Have discussions with
my mentor teacher around teaching
strategies that could be used to ensure
understanding and respect.

2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies During placements and my job as an SSO, I have
been able to use a range of literacy and numeracy
strategies to support diverse learners. Using a range
of techniques and resources such as scaffolding has
been beneficial in practice.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

2.6 Information and Communication
Technology (ICT)
I have had some experience with ICT but would like
to learn more about using ICT in a safe and careful
manner to protect students and their online safety. I
have been able to use ICT in small research-based
tasks and presentations which has been beneficial
for the students and how they learn best. I would
also like to learn how teachers use ICT in their class
and monitor what their students are doing at all
times.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

 If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced Would like to spend
No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with more time on this
you need to do to strengthen this area?

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning

At the beginning of each placement, I
allow the students to set challenging
learning goals for the period of time I am
there. Students participate in classroom
3.1 Establish challenging learning goals activities and work that challenge their
thinking but allow them to be successful
and achieve their goals. Students are
able to meet their goals while staying
focused and engaged in the activities.

Throughout all placements, unit plans

and lessons plans are completed and
presented to the teacher to ensure the
lessons are planned, structured and
sequences in order to create
3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning
developmental success. The unit plans
programs allow my mentor teachers to see how
the unit is clearly connected to the
Australian Curriculum, student outcomes
and the sequence of lessons in which
they will be taught in.

A strategy that I used on placements

and in the classroom at work is creating
work with the same outcomes but a
different learning process for the
students. Some students may learn
3.3 Use teaching strategies better using the computer where other
students learn better reading from
books, this is done as long as the
learning outcomes are the same for all
the students.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993


3.4 Select and use resources
3.5 Use effective classroom communication
3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching
programs
3.7 Engage parents/carers in the educative
process
Caitlin Brown
In all placement settings I have been
able to select and use resources
according to the needs of the students.
Natural math’s is a resource that I have
found to be beneficial for all students as
it allows them to use a range of
mathematical strategies to solve
problems. Resources that I have used
include hands-on materials, flip cards
and ICT programs that support their
learning.
Instructional communication needs to be
concise and clear for all students to
understand in order to have a calm and
respected classroom environment. At
the beginning of each placement, I
observe the mentor teacher and use the
same classroom communication
strategies to ensure consistency for the
students. Using words such as ‘Hand’s
on top, that means stop’ is used so the
students know they need to stop what
they are doing and focus.
I would like to work out how I can
personally reflect on teaching programs,
how they were beneficial, how they
could be used differently or why they
should be avoided in the future.
Personal reflection on programs should
be done to improve future practice and
evaluate how lessons can be run
differently to ensure success.
At the beginning of every placement, I
write a short paragraph about myself,
interest, goals and why I am at the
school which is placed in the school
newsletter along with a picture of myself.
I also send a letter home with the
students introducing myself and invite
them to meet with me at a time that suits
them in order to get to know them
personally, their children and their
expectations.
ID: 110168993
 If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced Would like to spend
No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with more time on this
you need to do to strengthen this area?

4. Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments

In all aspects of my teaching and work
as an SSO, I have been able to use the
Growth Mindset ideology to encourage
students to set personal goals and
4.1 Support student participation participate in all aspects of their
learning. Using teaching strategies that
allow students to feel comfortable to
participate in class discussions has
proven successful in all placements.

Whilst on placements, I am able to

develop clear expectations and
instructions at the beginning of each
lesson prior to activities taking place. All
4.2 Manage classroom activities planned lessons were engaging,
relevant and sequenced to achieve
maximum participation and individual
development. I always had extra work
for the early finishers that were relevant
to their current task.

Managing challenging behaviour can be

done through adequate planning of
lessons and establishing expectations.
On my third placement, I used a
4.3 Manage challenging behaviour behaviour chart where the students were
able to visually see their actions and
what choices they were making. This
managed majority of the challenging
behaviour.

In all placements and my work as an

SSO, I have been able to work in
conjunction with the school ethos and
4.4 Maintain student safety policies to ensure student safety is of top
priority. Following the Bullying and
Harassment policy in all schools can aid
with the safe school environment.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

 Although I have had some experience
with ICT and the ethical and social
protocols. I would like to learn more
4.5 Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically
about school codes of conduct regarding
ICT being used in the classroom. I would
also like to learn how teachers teach
students about using ICT safely,
responsibility and ethically in the
classroom.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993

5. Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced Would like to spend
No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with more time on this
you need to do to strengthen this area?

Throughout all placements, I have kept a

journal for each individual student based
on their learning, their strengths and
weaknesses and their development of
learning. In all placements, I have used
5.1 Assess student learning summative and formative assessment
as well as diagnostic testing to
determine their current learning level.
Assessments included tests, rubrics,
research projects and standardised
testings.

In all placements, I have been able to

provide both written and verbal feedback
to students in order to advance their
5.2 Provide feedback to students on their learning. This feedback was always
learning given in a timely manner which was
supporting their learning. Constructive
feedback was also given in a positive
manner.

In my third placement, I was able to take

part in a moderation process with my
mentor teacher and teachers in the
5.3 Make consistent and comparable same year level. I was also conscious of
judgements giving fair and consistent grades based
on their learning ability. These
judgements were made in conjunction
with rubrics provided to the students.

In my job as an SSO, I have been able to

use Scorelink to record student data. This
data is useful for teachers as it provides a
5.1 Interpret student data graph as to where the students are
currently sitting in regard to the national
standards. I am able to interpret data and
provide extra support where necessary.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993


5.2 Report on student achievement
Caitlin Brown
I have had experience with running
records of student achievement and
weekly spelling test results. I would like
to learn more about how all student is
recorded and what kind of work is
recorded.
ID: 110168993
PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
6. Engage in professional learning
6.1 Identify and plan professional learning
needs
6.2 Engage in professional learning and
improve practice
6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve
practice
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve
student learning
Caitlin Brown
As an SSO I have been able to reflect
on my professional learning goals and
how these can be achieved, these goals
are based on the sites improvement plan
for the school to ensure we are working
towards the whole school approach. I
would like to work on planning my
professional learning needs for the
classroom and identify gaps of
knowledge in my learning and how I can
be supported.
I have been able to engage in
professional learning courses such as
the literacy and reading program called
‘Explicit Spelling Instruction: Phonic to
Whole Word’ approach.
Daily discussions with classroom
teachers and leadership ensure teaching
strategies are supported for the
development of professional practice.
Throughout placements and work, I
have been able to engage with
colleagues formally and informally to
discuss teaching strategies that can be
used to improve student learning.
The Vocabulary Skill Set training by
WRAP Australia is used at the school I
work at, I have participated in the 2-day
training course and undertake this
program with a small group of children
each day. I am able to document their
learning and development to ensure
they are improving individually. I have
assisted the teachers in the classroom
by deepening student vocabulary
through this program.
ID: 110168993
 If this is not evidenced as part of your
Experienced Would like to spend
No experience How is this evidenced in your practice? teaching practice what do you consider
in/happy with more time on this
you need to do to strengthen this area?

7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community

Throughout previous placements, I have

been able to meet professional ethics
and responsibilities by engaging with
families, students, parents and teachers
7.1 Meet professional ethics and
in an ethical manner by acknowledging
responsibilities that what I am teaching is my
responsibility and I am holding myself
accountable for their learning and the
content being taught.

Throughout all placements and working

as an SSO, I have been able to comply
with legislative, administrative and
organisational requirements such as
7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative making sure the roll is marked
and organisational requirements accurately and on time, signing in and
out of the school, completing relevant
training and police checks, adhering to
school policies and completing
mandatory notifications where
necessary.

Throughout all placements and working

as an SSO, I have engaged with parents
through student-teacher interviews, daily
discussions and NEP meetings. When
7.3 Engage with the parents/carers on placement, any meetings or
discussions with teachers have been
conducted in a respectful and friendly
manner.

Throughout my employment as an SSO,

OSHC director and pre-service teacher I
have been able to engage with teachers
7.4 Engage with professional teaching and workers from other schools that
networks and broader communities provide teaching strategies, resources
and advice for my future teaching
career. Attending PD days on placement
has been beneficial for my learning.

Caitlin Brown ID: 110168993