QUESTION 1

The real vogage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes
Marcel Proust

Question 1

LIST AND EVALUATE IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, THE QUALITIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS A TEACHER.

As a teacher everyday is a voyage of discovery and by having "new eyes" our passion for learning and teaching can foster in the children a sense of wonder and joy for the world in which we live.
For me the most important quality of a teacher is a passion for living harmoniously and artistically that informs a passion for teaching.
This passion must follow through to the subject area in which they teach and for the well-being of the children who they teach.

Passion

With this passion as the driving force teachers must strive to be ‘leader teachers’ who create a ‘safe secure’ environment in which to learn.
• SURVIVAL
• POWER
• LOVE
• BELONGING
• FREEDOM, and FUN
This can only come into effect when the teacher has excellent communication skills.
As a teacher one must constantly refine and refect on ones communication skills.

Communication Skills

Good communication skills strengthen the ability of a teacher to hold a class. Holding a class, motivating student learning and creating a sense of belonging and connectedness is the aim of a great teacher.

Passionate teachers can change student’s lives by creating positive and creative learning environment in which all types of learning styles are catered for.

Creativity

“New eyes” could be one way of saying creativity. If teachers are always approaching their work with “new eyes” emphasising the importance of creativity this will foster a new generation of creative individuals.

Passion, good communication and creativity maybe listed in that order but they feed into each other and a mix of all these qualities makes for a well-rounded teacher.

One great teacher alone can only achieve a little but with in a like-minded group…

Together
Everyone
Achieves
More

Yes expert teachers can stand alone with Hatties 5 attributes:
• can identify essential representations of their subject,
• can guide learning through classroom interactions,
• can monitor learning and provide feedback,
• can attend to affective attributes, and
• can influence student outcomes

And make a difference but if they are placed in a creative environment that they themselves feel nurtured in…
• SURVIVAL
• POWER
• LOVE
• BELONGING
• FREEDOM, and FUN

Then in Margaret Wheatley’s words “ yet in this strange new world, I believe we can only succeed in understanding and influencing this world if we are able to think and work together in new ways”

In ‘new ways’ with ‘new eyes’ enforced by past and present learning and teaching theories together in a creative, warm community…maybe that could be the motto of every school.