My personal belief is that we place too much emphasis on the 'written curriculum' and neglect the more pertinent, relevant and sometimes time-sensitive issues. In my measly twelve years of teaching, I've witnessed many changes in society and education. Are they good? Are they effective? I'm not so certain! Are we keeping up with what the students really need - a safe, healthy, empathetic, nurturing environment? Are we acknowledging societal changes in technology, incorporating them into our practices and regularly/voluntarily updating our own skills? Are we acting as surogate parents with the responsiblity falling on our shoulders to ensure students possess not only the basic skills, but also the soft skills (once passed on through family values and customs) to adequately function in life? Are we 'raising' our students to be independent, self-motivated, critical thinkers that can survive in a dog-eat-dog world plagued with countless problems in need of solutions?
I believe fuNDamENtaL skills (the skills needed to provide a base for further development) such as communication, information management, numeracy and problem solving; pERSonal mANagEmeNT skills (the attitudes and behaviours that drive one's potential for growth) such as the demonstration of positive attitudes, responsibility, adaptability, continuous learning and safety; and TeamWORk skills (the skills and attributes needed to contribute productively) such as working with others and participation should form the basis of the education system. This, to me, is the knowledge most worth knowing. The development of these skills is of vital importance in our students' lives. These are basic, transferable skills that are applicable in a number of circumstances. Teaching these skills, however, raises many questions . . . after all, teaching responsibility doesn't come from a textbook.
Through modelling and mentoring these skills, we expose students to experiences they may otherwise never encounter. We emphasize the importance of the competency and encourage reciprocity in their personal practices. We make connections to how they are applicable and necessary to the 'outside' world. We ensure our subject content lessons encompass a variety of these soft skills and we provide constructive feedback and careful guidance to ameliorate these vital skills. Assessment may not be in the form of an A+ or 92%, but in posiitive daily interactions they have with peers, teachers, and the community. Building a sense of belonging, self-esteem and confidence in students is immeasurable and cannot be neglected.
In my position, Career Development Consultant, it is crucial to provide students with education, information, awareness and choices while instilling confidence and an air of self-worth. My goal isn't to ensure they know the exact path they wish to follow and set them happily on their way, but to recognize the plethora of skills, abilities and interests they possess and explore the numerous options available in this fast-paced, ever-changing twenty-first century world. It is the journey that is important - not the destination!!
I feel it is my responsibility to ensure ALL students are exposed to a wealth of career-building opportunities, while simultaneously providing support and resources to teachers in order to facilitate this process and support the division's goals. Who carries out the task is irrelevant (although all educators should play an active role), but addressing when (through all grade levels), how (through various teaching strategies), what (teaching both hard and soft skills), where (in all subject areas) and why (for character development and a successful future), is pivotal to success.
I believe fuNDamENtaL skills (the skills needed to provide a base for further development) such as communication, information management, numeracy and problem solving; pERSonal mANagEmeNT skills (the attitudes and behaviours that drive one's potential for growth) such as the demonstration of positive attitudes, responsibility, adaptability, continuous learning and safety; and TeamWORk skills (the skills and attributes needed to contribute productively) such as working with others and participation should form the basis of the education system. This, to me, is the knowledge most worth knowing. The development of these skills is of vital importance in our students' lives. These are basic, transferable skills that are applicable in a number of circumstances. Teaching these skills, however, raises many questions . . . after all, teaching responsibility doesn't come from a textbook.
Through modelling and mentoring these skills, we expose students to experiences they may otherwise never encounter. We emphasize the importance of the competency and encourage reciprocity in their personal practices. We make connections to how they are applicable and necessary to the 'outside' world. We ensure our subject content lessons encompass a variety of these soft skills and we provide constructive feedback and careful guidance to ameliorate these vital skills. Assessment may not be in the form of an A+ or 92%, but in posiitive daily interactions they have with peers, teachers, and the community. Building a sense of belonging, self-esteem and confidence in students is immeasurable and cannot be neglected.
In my position, Career Development Consultant, it is crucial to provide students with education, information, awareness and choices while instilling confidence and an air of self-worth. My goal isn't to ensure they know the exact path they wish to follow and set them happily on their way, but to recognize the plethora of skills, abilities and interests they possess and explore the numerous options available in this fast-paced, ever-changing twenty-first century world. It is the journey that is important - not the destination!!
I feel it is my responsibility to ensure ALL students are exposed to a wealth of career-building opportunities, while simultaneously providing support and resources to teachers in order to facilitate this process and support the division's goals. Who carries out the task is irrelevant (although all educators should play an active role), but addressing when (through all grade levels), how (through various teaching strategies), what (teaching both hard and soft skills), where (in all subject areas) and why (for character development and a successful future), is pivotal to success.
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