Integrity;
* Demonstrating openness, honesty, courage and wisdom.
This first point explains that as teachers, we have got to be approachable and open with students so that they sense from you that they are able to approach you and speak to you about anything they would like to talk to someone about. This also applies to staff, as staff should also feel comfortable that they can approach you with any matters they may have. We need to be honest as teachers although especially when it comes to younger years, we cannot open up and be too honest about everything. It is important to find the right balance. With this said, I personally feel that it is important to set realistic goals for students and be honest with the goals we set, so that no one ends up with goals, far out of their reach, or goals that are too easy to reach. When it comes to courage and wisdom, it refers to us as teachers being able to take risks within the classroom and being able to try new things with the children. Being wise enough to know what is right and wrong, but not being scared to make mistakes with in the classroom which is vital as we will then learn from our own mistakes. It is also very important for us as teachers to remember that life goes beyond the classroom and that students not only learn English and maths with us, but hey learn important life lessons from us, thus we have to have a simple sense of wisdom on things such as manners etc. for children to learn these things in the correct way.
* Critically examining personal and professional attitudes and beliefs and challenging assumptions and professional practice.
This statement sort of summarises deciding how you want to be as a professional, the way you want to be in the classroom. Looking at yourself and deciding what type of teacher you want to be. You shouldn’t be scared to stand up for yourself if a college questions you on your teaching methods etc. Making sure that you are achieving your personal goals and goals within the classroom so that you are gaining from them. If you are setting goals for yourself and the class before the day begins and they are achieved, then it shows that you are a dedicated teacher.
* Critically examining the connections between personal and professional attitudes and beliefs, values and practices to effect improvement and, when appropriate, bring about transformative change in practice.
This third point, develops on the second point. You can have your own personality as a teacher and bring that in to the classroom, however if you have a certain belief then you cannot bring that in to the classroom and attempt to be persuasive over the children with your beliefs. It refers to you thinking about how you can improve your teaching as a whole and thinking about how you can change things in the classroom and make them better as a whole.
