Considerations, reflections and aspirations

I feel privileged to have worked in four different International school in three different countries. I feel that the diversity adds a richness to not only the students experience but to my personal experience as a teacher. I have learned so much from the international community that I have had the privilege of being a part of. I have learned about different cultures and different education methods. When I focus on what one hope would be for me it would be simple. I would hope that the diversity that I provide in my classroom creates a place were children and families feel safe and secure, respected and appreciated. I see my classroom as a global village, a safe haven where we all come together to learn and discover new and exciting things. We learn from one another and from one another’s differences and diversities. The families make up our school community is part of the global education and awareness I want all my learners to be a part of.

As an Early Childhood teacher I feel strongly about the importance of quality ECE for all children. The foundations that we set from young are part of a child’s development and they need to strong, rich and solid. I feel that no matter where children come from, their background, colors, languages they speak or gender - they all essentially have the same needs and desires. It is wonderful to stand back and watch young children interacting in the role play area or in the sand pit together. Their conversations and the roles they choose to play tell us so much about their home culture and about their self identity. Having said all this I guess my goal would be to have a classroom or environment that is rich in diversity and is welcoming and familiar to all the children. I want the children to come to school excited and be confident within themselves. I encourage the children to be independent and make choices for their learning. I want to be able to stand back and see that all the children are engaged in an activity that they have chosen and are actively learning. The environment should lend itself to Independence and inquiry based learning. I would also aim to have good relationships with the families of my learners. For them to know they can come to me with questions and concerns at any stage. I will make the time for them as it is important to see the family and the child as a whole. If a family feel settled and secure so will a child and visa versa.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it so helpful in my daily teaching and even in my family life. I would like to thank all my fellow students for your weekly discussion posts and blogs. I found them to be insightful and make me stop to think about opinions and my own beliefs. A big thank you to Dr Williams for your comments and your words of support. I felt that the course was well communicated and if I may say - it has been my favorite course this far.  Good luck to the rest of you with your studies and don’t hesitate to be in touch if I can help with anything in the future. Good bye from a cold and wintery Holland.