Preparing for the Teaching Profession

This textbook prepares pre-service teacher education students for their transition into professional practice as teachers and invites them to develop a deep understanding of their current and future role as a teacher. By explaining the day-to-day realities of working in schools, this textbook provides realistic answers to questions that make the work of the teacher complex, demanding and satisfying. This book provides insights and links to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers as they operate in the school and classroom context. It includes suggestions for how preservice teachers can most effectively demonstrate their developing competency in selected Standards as they prepare job applications, respond to interview questions, and develop their professional portfolio. It also explains how to take a more proactive role in the induction program as an early career teacher in the first years of teaching. Contents List of Figures List of Tables Links to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) Preface Acknowledgements 1 Becoming a Teacher Meeting the central aims of the Australian Curriculum Meeting the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers School culture Relationships Ethics Becoming a teacher: Being proactive and reflective Your induction program 2 Building Your Teaching Portfolio and Applying for a Job Applying for a teaching role Developing a teaching portfolio Finding the right school Types of vacancies Writing a job application The interview process 3 Beginning Your Teaching Career First steps on being appointed Meeting your mentor Orientation Meeting your colleagues Ongoing induction Getting to know your students Planning for your first day Foundation classes 4 Getting to Know Your Students through Assessment Getting to know your students The central place of assessment Learning intentions and goals 5 Effective Strategies for Lesson Planning Incorporating research in your practice Structuring lessons Questioning Cooperative learning Differentiated learning and instruction Engaging your students in their learning Putting it all together 6 Learning Diversity in the Classroom Students with special learning needs Learning diversity at your school Communicating with parents Student Support Groups Individual Learning Plans What is the NCCD? 7 Supporting Students with Special Needs Autism spectrum disorder Hearing impairments Visual impairments Physical disabilities Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Students with specific learning disorders Severe language disorders Gifted and talented students 8 Understanding Behaviour and Student Well-being Understanding well-being and behaviour Beginning to understand your students as individuals Proactive approaches to behaviour management Dealing with specific types of misbehaviour 9 Working with Colleagues: A Whole-School Behaviour Management Approach Whole-school behaviour management models Tier 3 students Bullying Parents and cases of chronic misbehaviour 10 Teacher Well-being and Ethical Responsibilities Teacher well-being Professional development Professional ethics Working in rural and remote schools Challenges in the lives of students Appendix Planning for Day 1 Blank templates Weblinks Glossary Bibliography Index This textbook prepares pre-service teacher education students doing practicums for their transition into professional practice as teachers, and invites them to develop a deep understanding of their current and future role as a teacher.