Educators demonstrate a broad knowledge base and an understanding of areas they teach.
“Educators understand the curriculum and methodologies of areas they teach. Educators teach curricula from Canadians, First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and global perspectives. Educators build upon student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect. Educators cultivate the values, beliefs and knowledge of Canada’s democratic and inclusive society.”
When I think about standard 6: “Educators demonstrate a broad knowledge base and an understanding of areas they teach”, I think back to my time as a classroom teacher when I taught grade 2/3 at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary. You definitely need to have a broad knowledge base, it’s not like high school where you can just be good at Math, and you’re a Math teacher, in elementary you have to teach all the subjects.
Although the main focus of my lessons was centered around Literacy and Numeracy, I did teach the other subjects as well. Whenever we did Art, I tried to use culturally appropriate examples that the students could replicate. As I got to know the students, I found out what a lot of them were interested in. Marvel Superheroes, Among Us and various anime were the most popular things.
               For movement breaks, the students enjoyed doing running action videos from YouTube, as well as various Just Dance songs. When it was time for our Christmas concert, I combined the festive theme with the students’ love of Among Us. For the first half of the performance the students rang jingle bells to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock, and then halfway through the song, the music changed to the Among Us theme song and the students threw down their jingle bells and started doing the Among Us dance. I borrowed a blow-up Among Us costume and I came out and did the dance with them on the stage. It was a special with the class.
I do not think I was ever an expect at what I taught, but I always tried my best to be knowledgeable, understanding and approachable in each area. Two areas that I excelled at in teaching were Art and English Language Arts. I have a natural talent when it comes to Art, which I can show case in multiple disciplines. I found that my students could convey my passion for Art, and it would reciprocate in their work, to the best of their abilities.
               Another area where I excelled in was English Language Arts. When I taught grade 6/7, I would have daily journal writing time. This time was meant for the students to freely express themselves through literacy. I also read numerous books and we would do novel studies and expand on the literary concepts found in each book. During my final practicum, we had to do a writing snapshot and I felt that the work they had done already had prepared them to be successful in their assessment.
