"Every student has a story, and every teacher has a responsibility to help rewrite or reinforce that story."
As a writer and storyteller, I believe that every student has a story. I am passionate about supporting every student’s unique story through inclusive, engaging, and creative teaching methods. I utilise narrative pedagogy approaches such as autobiographical writing and storytelling so that students can develop their social and emotional intelligence as well as their English skills in my classroom. My content knowledge is evident in my undergraduate studies and postgraduate research, and I engage secondary students with my passion for literature and with my varied content delivery which is designed according to the unique interests and needs of the class cohort.
I am a Mental Health First Aid certified Inclusive Education Secondary Coordinator, and in this role, I work closely with students, families, and staff to ensure that students access the same quality education as their peers regardless of their unique circumstances and abilities. I liaise with health professionals, families, and organisations to support students with a range of cognitive, social and emotional, and physical learning needs, to ensure student success.
My research background in the humanities compliments my professional knowledge because I understand the diverse needs of students according to their linguistic, cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. I utilise culturally responsive pedagogy by providing opportunities for students to contribute their own knowledge to classes. My student focused and constructivist approach to teaching encourages students to learn the content while also practising a growth mindset. I believe that hard work brings reward and, in my practice, I use positive reinforcement and repetition to build student’s confidence and ability.
I am a Social Media and Newsletter representative, which involves promoting the school by sourcing and designing content for distribution via school newsletters, and through content creation using programs such as Canva and Clipchamp to make posts for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. My holistic approach to teaching also includes the local community. I create content which includes community links, such as creative tasks which involve writing about local architecture, business, and the natural world. I actively seek opportunities to engage local community through excursions and learning activities, enriching student learning through community engagement.