Course overview
This course will support preservice teachers to draw upon their previous experiences and understandings in the birth to 3 learning contexts in further developing their identity as an early childhood teacher in the junior primary school context. This course will support preservice teachers to develop understandings regarding the requirements of teachers' work within the junior primary context. This requires developing knowledge of the planning cycle using the Australian Curriculum and/or the Early Years Learning Framework to guide pedagogical decision-making. Play-based and inquiry pedagogies are encouraged to engage young children in the junior primary context as well as developing knowledge and skills in creating and managing a positive and safe learning environment. Professional Experience 2 supports the development of skills and dispositions to engage in critical reflection and reflexive practice as well as establishing professional relationships with children, parents/caregivers, colleagues and staff in the junior primary school context.
Course learning outcomes
- Establish professional relationships and develop the skills to work in respectful and reciprocal relationship with children, colleagues & parents/caregivers
- Plan, implement, evaluate and reflect on a sequence of learning experiences for individual children, small groups and whole class that are responsive to children's strengths, abilities and interests
- Engage in holistic pedagogical practices that engage and motivate children to learn, which include learning through play and intentional teaching
- Employ professional knowledge and skills in working equitably to find effective ways to ensure all children have opportunities to achieve learning outcomes
- Employ strategies to prevent and intervene in children's behaviour by being attuned to children's thoughts and feelings; creating and maintaining a positive and welcoming learning environment
- Critically reflect on teaching and learning practices and emerging beliefs about their role as an early childhood teacher