My experience within the education program at VIU has been amazing. It's been a whirlwind, and, at points, it's been a hard ride, but it's been amazing nonetheless.
One of the things that has made this experience so great is the support of those who teach within the program (at all levels). I've enjoyed my time sitting under our various professors, instructors, supervising teachers and other staff members. I've enjoyed the planned lectures, as well as the unplanned, teachable moments. I've enjoyed the learning activities, as well as the moments of inspired spontaneity. But ultimately, what I've enjoyed most is the time spent sitting at the feet of those who've been a part of the system, and who know the ins and outs, the ups and downs, and the joys and frustrations of being a teaching professional. And as I think about the idea of "contributing to the profession", I've realized something. These moments in class; this time at VIU; these conversations with seasoned teaching professionals- they're not simply teaching us how to teach students; rather, these moments are teaching us (and modelling to us) how to teach and encourage other teachers. Because the truth is, one day, the shoe will be on the other foot. We'll be asked to take pre-beginning teachers under our wings, and in those moments, we'll think back to those who've helped to form us and our practice. I know, even know, that when I think back, I'm going to think back to faces that I've met during my time in the ED program at VIU. So, to those who've spent the time to teach us, thank-you. We're grateful for your investment in us. And down the line, when its our turn to invest in others, we'll do our best to carry ourselves with the same qualities that we saw (and continue to see) in you.
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Career long learning keeps us up-to-date with developments in the field. Right now, (January 2018), we're in the midst of a degree program that strives to show us the most current/relevant way of raising up students to be excellent global citizens. And while there is certainly an acknowledgement of those strategies that have been successful in the past, there is certainly a push to know more; to go deeper- because our students are worth it.
Career long learning keeps us sharp by showing us new lines of thinking, teaching and learning, within a collaborative environment. The simple fact is, we need each other. We need to learn from each other, we need to be challenged by each other, we need to be pushed (on occasion) by each other, and we need to be encouraged (and at times, propped up) by each other. The message we've received (as a class of teachers-in-training) is that collaboration is a lifeline within the profession of teaching. We've been strongly advised to connect with various communities of learning, both for our students' sake, and for our sake. And it makes sense. Find tips for quality teacher collaboration, HERE. Career long learning keeps us humble; it's an admittance (in a way) that we don't have it all together; that we don't know everything that there is to know, and that we want to learn more: more of what it means to be a quality educator. How can we have a passion to teach if we don't have a passion to learn? It seem like a contradiction to think in any other terms than these. Connected to all of this is a passion for life long learning. It's the reason why I left my former career and set out on this new journey in education. I don't ever want to find myself doing something just because it's easy. I want to continue to push myself... ...in my career and also in my life. |
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