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Social Media in my teaching practice and professional development Daily use of social media - I am part of the generation that is attached to their phone. The sad reality is, it is the first thing I check in the morning and usually the last thing I check before bed. However, there are different uses and benefits from the platforms I use: Facebook - NZ teaching page - resource sharing, conversation topics, general connection with teachers around New Zealand. I mainly use the Facebook page to get ideas from rather than posting my own. I never comment on posts unless it is a positive suggestion or short answer to a question. Instagram - I get many ideas from teachers around the world. I follow teachers from New Zealand, Australia, America and England. It is a place where teachers will share their learning, ideas and resources they have created. I created my own teaching Instagram to keep a record of things I do in my class and hopefully inspire others who follow ...

Ethical Dilemma I teach year 7 and I know half my class are on social media, Snapchat and Instagram seem to be the most popular… But wait… None of the students in my class are 13 years of age. Therefore, they are breaking the law about being on these platforms. There is large grey area that says with parental permission children can have an account at 12. But wait… We are at the start of the year and none of my class is 12 years old yet! But the worst part is… many of these accounts are not private. Therefore, these underage children are exposing themselves to the 600 million active users! As a teacher the ethical dilemma I face is when I try and educate the students about the risks involved but yet they go home and it is all ok with their parents to be on these platforms. As a teacher under 25 years old, I myself are active users of Snapchat and Instagram but of course ensure my account is private as I know the ‘odd fellows’ that can be out there. Not only...

Cultural responsiveness I believe I am cultural responsiveness in my teaching and can resonate with  Bucher’s (2008) nine mega skills that contribute to cultural intelligence: 1.      Cultural Identity — I know who I am in terms of my culture and own identity. This foundation helps with understanding others. 2.      Cultural Lenses — I have always been brought up to accept others. Throughout my schooling and now where I am teaching I feel confident to recognize the ways in which cultural backgrounds differ and how they influence thinking, behavior and assumptions. 3.      Global Consciousness — I have done some travelling in the past 5 years and during that time I experienced other cultures and gained a deeper understanding. While visiting a particular place I would abide by their cultural rules while still honoring my values.   4.      Perspectives — Putting ourselves in other...

A brand new world - a trend influencing education - Identifying the trend New technologies have changed the way we communicate, work and even socialise and they have the potential to revolutionise our lives. We are connected to the world from the comfort of our own home and with a touch of a button can control our lives. Education is rapidly changing to keep up with this trend and it is important that it is controlled and managed to utilise its benefits. Relevance of the trend In my third year of teacher, I cannot imagine teaching without the use of technology. I am constantly looking for innovative and exciting ways to incorporate new technologies into my teaching and learning. It captivated my attention as it is so relevant and an issue that I face day to day. It is an ever evolving trend that is developing at a rate faster than we can keep up with but it is an important trend not let get the better of us in education. My learners are all equip...

 Professional Context and School Culture 1. The school I work at is an independent, co-educational school of approximately 1650 students from Kindergarten through to Year 13. Due to my school being an independent the school community has a relatively high socioeconomic status. We have a large number of international students providing a rich and diverse culture. Our school community is incredibly supportive and generous who take care of one another. There are many hands-on parents who are willing to give their time to support in any way they can. We have a group to manage and organise events and provide support for families. It is amazing to witness such kind-hearted and genuine people. In regards to the culture of the school, there is a strong focus on welling-being, both for staff and students. The school is supportive and the school values are implemented, progress with vision, integrity and love in day to day activities. There is large element of trust between st...

My Community of  Practice I belong to a variety of communities of practice as I teach in different areas of the school. My main community of practice who I interact daily with is the Year 7 team. This team is not just a community of people but is a community of practice as we meet together regularly, share resources and this community has a heavy influence on my teaching practice.  ‘Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they   interact regularly.’ (Wenger & Wenger-Trayner, 2015) In the Year 7 team our shared domain of interest is providing learning opportunities to promote success and allow students to reach their potential. There is a large focus on the holistic development of our students. As a team, we meet once a week in a formal team meeting. In addition to this weekly meeting, there are many informal discussions daily and a wi...