Log Eighteen: Module Two – Principles of Professional Inquiry

After taking a break from my studies and having read Reader 4 on Developing Lines of Professional Inquiry I am interested in developing my critical thinking and understanding the thought process of how a teacher plans, adapts and reflects upon their lesson planning and use of teaching/learning support assistants through my work with Protocol Education. Through different methods of observing, actively taking part and recording I will be able to start my professional inquiry. 

Thanks for reading.

Log Seventeen: Task 1A - Professional Profile (Final Draft)

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Practice at Middlesex University. During my time at Chickenshed Theatre Company I have gained valuable experience of being patient and flexible when working with a diverse group of children, teenagers and young adults, adults and the elderly of different abilities in an inclusive manner, including medical, speech and communication, emotional, psychological and behavioural and some physical disabilities.

Having studied the Chickenshed Theatre Company’s unique and embracing philosophy in theatre I am able to use my experience and education to engage my team members and perform in an liberal manner by taking an open and professional approach to my work. My attitude towards work is of a positive nature as I have a willingness to learn and develop new skills by retaining a “can do” attitude. I have been involved in a number of projects with children in an educational and social setting. During these educational and social outreach projects I have taken on different roles of working with children such as; one to one support worker, group support leader, and session leader.

As well as my practical responsibilities during the workshops I have also planned the workshops adjusting them to meet every child’s needs and keeping our options open so that we can adapt effortlessly if need be. I believe my strengths are being able to work in a team in a professional manner, multicultural sensitivity as I have wide range of friends of different ethnic backgrounds, and goal-setting so that I complete tasks within an allotted timeframe. My dream is to use my experience I have gained from working in different educational and social environments to help me to continue my training to becoming an inclusive primary teacher.

Log Sixteen: Task 2D - Inquiry

• Question 1 - What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?

 I am enthusiastic and motivated of learning new styles of teaching and learning. I think it’s also important to acknowledge and reflect upon how you've learned new skills during your own unique and interesting journey and I am always excited in sharing skills I have learned as well as establishing positive relationships with children and promoting inclusion.

 I am also inspired by notable teachers such as Erin Gruwell who made her classroom a home for her students and fiercely believed in her class of having a freedom of being themselves. In Year 9 at my Secondary School my drama teacher, Mrs Norgrove, had just started teaching at the school and before she had arrived I didn’t have any interest in performing arts, however she changed my perception and gave me the courage and confidence to express myself through use of drama. Having spent some time to reflect upon her unique teaching style I discovered that while she taught with passion, her main focus was to build confidence in her pupils in and outside of the classroom.

• Question 2 – Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?

Mary Ward and Jo Collins as having worked with them for nearly five years their philosophy on inclusive teaching and learning is something I am deeply passionate about. Having co-founded Chickenshed Theatre Company in 1974 together they have ensured that there is an unshakeable foundation of acceptance for anyone with a love and passion to perform. I feel they have pioneered the ideal of inclusive theatre regardless of age, gender, race, backgrounds, sexual orientation or disability.

• Question 3 -What gets you angry or makes you sad?

Negativity, in all forms (Bullying, Discrimination, narrow minds, selfishness, racism, ageism and sexism). I find it quite sad and upsetting seeing someone making someone else feel bad because they have achieved a good mark in their work or vice versa. I rarely get angry as I feel a cool head will always prevail so whenever a negative situation occurs I merely question the motives of the individual or group rather than get angry. 

• Question 4 - What do you love about what you do?

I love establishing rapport and trusting and respectful relationships with children through theatre and in a classroom. I also love going through the motions of seeing how a child uses their imagination to tell a story through an action or simply by their facial expression.

As part of my involvement with Chickenshed Theatre Company I have been working as part of the support team in Children’s Theatre, "Tales from the Shed", and their Christmas production – "Cinderella". The following questions have been raised during my reflective journal writing:

1. How do children develop their self-confidence through use of their imagination in an inclusive theatrical environment?
2. How do children identify themselves within a primary school environment?
3. Will bullying at school ever stop?

Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Fifteen: Task 3A – Current Networks

• Question 1 - What are the current and different ways (tools) that you have, or do, engage your professional network?

The current tools I use for engaging my professional network is generally through use of email, phone calls, video calling or simply through meeting. I also use LinkedIn to connect with other people who are also interested or are already part of teaching in some degree. I think it's important to have tools such as LinkedIn  because it's another method of sharing each other's experiences and potentially learning new things.

• Question 2 - What are the established (and different) ways that others use their networks, especially if they are more established or experienced practitioners that you admire?  

I admire the way Chickenshed Theatre Company have expanded their network through use of web 2.0 tools such as YouTube allowing them to create mini trailers about upcoming shows. I also admire my close friends, who have decided to follow their own dreams along the performing arts path, for always believing in themselves and staying positive for when they go to auditions that they have been invited to from their respective casting agencies. This is a clip from Chickenshed Theatre Company's 2010 show called "Crime of the Century".

• Question 3 – Are there methods, approaches and technologies that you use socially that might apply and help you develop your professional networking?

As I use Facebook primarily for social reasons I feel I could expand my professional network even more by connecting with people who like myself are interested in teaching in a school. I feel that this can develop my network because of the exposure Facebook would bring . I have also recently debated about whether to join Twitter for social and professional reasons.

• Question 4- When you reflect upon current networks, can you think about the motives of others to be in the network and what values and purpose they have in mind?

Upon reflection I feel the motives of others are quite simply to have one’s achievements recognised and to professionally expose themselves in their chosen field of work. I feel the value of part of a network is that you are accepted and respected for choosing to be part of the network but more importantly you are "known" and potentially leading to an experienced practitioner taking a keen interested. Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Fourteen: Task 2B – Reflective Writing / ‘Journal Writing Experience’

                    Thursday 10th November 2011

I have picked this day to critically reflect and expand my journal writing experience because I learned new things about myself despite it being an emotional day for me at my local junior school where I have been doing some work as a teaching assistant with Thursday being my last day there. I spent my last day working with Year 3 in Literacy and Numeracy.

During Literacy, the learning objective for the class was “To make my writing come alive”. I found it interesting that the teacher channelled the the learning objective through use of the children’s creative input of role play from the story of Captain Nemo of the Nautilus. Immediately I could see the whole class was engaged in this task and thoroughly enjoyed showing each other their perception of Captain Nemo of how he would greet a passenger. Throughout the lesson I was tasked with helping a child with behavioural disability to help promote positive behaviour and support them with their literacy skills. At the end of the lesson I evaluated with the teacher about how we could engage the child more with the rest of the class. Having had more time to reflect on my own performance during the lesson, I feel I could have contributed to that aspect even more despite the child thoroughly enjoying it. I discovered that while the child was at times disruptive that it was because they enjoyed having an “audience” with their full attention on him. With their upcoming Christmas Panto, I suggested to the teacher that the child had a role that would enable the child to show their love to perform albeit in a positive way.

During numeracy, the learning objective was “To be able to collect and organise data”. The teacher had previously taught the class about how to collect and organise data through use of a tally chart. While supporting them, the teacher and I did not show them what tally charts looked like as it was a remembering exercise as well as a creative exercise. Nearly everyone came up with different methods of collecting and organising data. I went around the class asking key questions about how their own method worked. I again found it extremely useful of having my mini notebook with me as I was able to quickly sketch some of the methods they used with their creativity which helped me to critically reflect that day as well as the week, compare previous days and evaluate my work experience in the school. Thanks for reading. 

Log Thirteen: Task 1C – Audio-Visionary (Final Draft)

Having received some positive feedback from my fellow students on my original video (Log Eight: Task 1C - Audio-Visual) I have taken their helpful comments on board and edited my video to improve the audio aspects of it. If you have any ideas of how I can further enhance the quality of my video please let me know. Thanks for reading and watching.

Log Twelve: Task 1A – Professional Profile (Second Draft)

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Practice at Middlesex University. During my time at Chickenshed Theatre Company I have gained valuable experience of being patient and flexible when working with a diverse group of children, teenagers and young adults, adults and the elderly of different abilities in an inclusive manner, including medical, speech and communication, emotional, psychological and behavioural and some physical disabilities.

Having studied the Chickenshed Theatre Company’s unique and embracing philosophy in theatre I am able to use my experience and education to engage my team members and perform in an liberal manner by taking an open and professional approach to my work. My attitude towards work is of a positive nature as I have a willingness to learn and develop new skills by retaining a “can do” attitude. I have been involved in a number of projects with children in an educational and social setting. During these educational and social outreach projects I have taken on different roles of working with children such as; one to one support worker, group support leader, and session leader.

As well as my practical responsibilities during the workshops I have also planned the workshops adjusting them to meet every child’s needs and keeping our options open so that we can adapt effortlessly if need be. I believe my strengths are being able to work in a team in a professional manner, multicultural sensitivity as I have wide range of friends of different ethnic backgrounds, and goal-setting so that I complete tasks within an allotted timeframe. My dream is to use my experience I have gained from working in different educational and social environments to help me to continue my training to becoming an inclusive primary teacher.