My experience of primary school was a world of fun, adventure, friends, learning and laughter. I remember teachers who were a joy to be taught by with a very caring approach (humanist) and those teachers who were very strict, regimented and results based (behaviorist), (Duchesne, McMaugh, Bochner, & Krause, 2013). The picture I hold in my mind is one of eagerness to learn, being a part of the classroom, the experience and the culture regardless of the teacher. In saying this, the teacher’s approach had a significant impact on how this picture was implemented and developed in the classroom.
The pictures shows children exploring their creativity and discovering new ideas. All learners are unique and should be taught and treated as individuals, ensuring each one receives the teacher best suited to their needs.
As a student teacher on my practicum I perceived building relationships with my students and AT as being very important. I gain the trust and respect of the students and teacher very early on in my practicum, which opened up a whole new world of teaching experiences to me. I got to know myself better as a result of my experience. I learned that I valued the student’s input and perspectives and that I enjoyed sharing my knowledge as well as learning alongside the students. I also learned that as a teacher you will not always have the answer, you will not always be perfectly prepared and you will need to be flexible with your time and space. I know now that teaching is a never ending role, you are constantly aware of your learners and their needs, constantly thinking and reflecting on how to ensure the learners reach their full potential.(Fraser, 2008).