I believe in authentic, relaxed, natural flowing teaching and learning. I believe in relationships, respect and collaboration. I don't like stencils or products. I don't subscribe to one "popular" philosophy or another. I am defining myself and my practice as I go. I take from this and that and weave it into my own methodology.
I think there is a need for a "School Readiness" blog - so that's what I'm doing :)
Just so you know who I am and what I'm about ... Oh, and I don't use my name at this point in time due to work complexities. I'll eventually come out of the closet ;)
I'm an Australian early childhood teacher with a 4 year Bachelor of Education (ECE) which entitles me to teach children from infancy through to eight years of age in the primary school system. I also hold a 2 year TAFE College Diploma in Child Care & Education. I choose to work in the pre-primary education years because I find it rewarding.
I have been a "qualified" educator since 1998 - and before that I was "unqualified" ;)
I have done a combination of working full time and studying part time, as well as mixed delivery full-time study work load while working 2 part time jobs and a 3rd casual weekend job. I have no idea how I did it. So please don't ask me for advice - I just did it. I survived. And who I am today is the result of it. I've worked and led teams in rooms in all age groups from 6 weeks of age through to going to school.
I've worked as a teacher, educational leader and director/nominated supervisors. I've also done all three roles at once (and yes I know how difficult and challenging and impossible it is!) I am now working as a curriculum facilitator - almost like a consultant.
I'm also not perfect and I do make mistakes.
I don't tolerate abuse or nastiness. If I feel you're being intentionally nasty and mean, it is one strike and you are gone ... sometimes I will give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes. If you want to be a power hungry bitch - go do it elsewhere on someone else's space and time and dollar.
Big School Ready is just one of my many side projects that I am working on ... my teaching blog, and my personal blog, my garden landscaping, starting up a small educational resource business with two partners, writing an e-book with an amazingly inspiring educator, writing my own e-booklet, volunteer work etc. Yeah I know...
I don't know what this will look like or where it will go exactly ... I don't know how much time I will devote to it over the course. But I will endeavour to link what I do to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS).
So here's my teaching blog if you're interested:
http://www.teachers-ink.blogspot.com.au/
(C) Teacher's Ink. 2013
