Gender… Did it matter?

In many ways, I feel as if my gender did not affect me at all as a child. Although I believe this is due to the fact I never had any negative experiences regarding this.

By using the word “gender”, we are identifying and highlighting the difference between the two sexes, and in turn, categorising them. In Jill Shimi’s lecture, she highlighted the difference between “sex” and “gender”. Sex being the biological make-up, and gender the social concept. This was interesting, as I previously hadn’t thought of the definitions of the two terms.

Growing up, I was always subconsciously dressed in “girls” clothes and given “girls” toys as gifts. This gave me messages from the very beginning that this was the norm, and until now I have never really thought about it. However, if I ever wanted to play with the stereotypical “boys” toy, I was never judged and always allowed to do so. By allowing this, I never felt pressured into what I could and could not play with giving me a freedom of choice.

In school, I remember both the girls and the boys being treated fairly. All my teachers were equally as encouraging towards the boys as the girls. This was encouraging to all and I will be doing the same when I am a teacher, every child should be treated fairly and none favoured over others. I believe gender doesn’t matter within the classroom, everyone should have the same opportunities and be given the same encouragement.

Gender Roles

http://blush.com.pk/gender-imposition-on-kids-are-we-taking-it-a-step-too-far/gender_roles_layout111/

 

Why do I want to become a teacher?

I have progressed through life with a very positive experience from school which has continuously been the basis for my motivation and determination to do well. I have a positive attitude towards learning, and I am so attracted to the idea of a career in which I will continue to learn through continuing professional development and an ever-improving curriculum.

I love hearing my sisters come home from school and speak to highly of their teachers. It’s amazing to see the positive impact their lessons are having on them and how much my sisters look up to them. I hope to be such an inspiring teaching, and have an equally if not better impact on pupils lives.

I enjoyed school a lot, mainly due to a number of inspiring teachers. I have so many chunks of memories from primary school, and looking back I cannot find one in which is not positive. A lot of which were also very engaging and fun. Although I did not realise it at the time, they done an amazing job single-handedly keeping a class of 30 odd so engaged. One of my favourite teachers was in high school, my geography teacher. She was not my favourite because she knew how to engage with our class and relate to us (that was just a bonus!) She was my favourite as I always walked out her class feeling positive and remembering everything she’d went over. I wouldn’t even need to write notes in her class I would just remember everything! When I become a teacher, I want to be like her. To make my lessons so interesting that my pupils grasp on to every word. To change up my lessons and make the learning fun.

I also had some teachers throughout school who I did not click with. I don’t know what I ever done wrong, but I would never get the same attention as certain others within the class. Nothing I ever done would be good enough. Even my efforts and improvements were not praised, and I believe that is important within a classroom. It was defeating to feel as if I was not good enough, and as a pupil as it put me down so much making me resent those classes and straining on my motivation. However, I do not take this as a negative experience. I look on it as a positive. It made me work harder to prove those teachers wrong, that I COULD do it. It was so rewarding to get A’s in those classes knowing I was only predicted low passes. I have promised to myself when I am a teacher I will never make any pupil feel that way. Even if someone is not making the same progress as someone else, or at a completely different level, their personal progression should be praised. My goal is to make sure every single one of my pupil’s potentials are reached.

I have always had a passion for teaching, so I decided to get in contact with a local primary school. I was delighted when the head teacher asked if I would like a placement in their biggest class. It was amazing seeing first-hand how a teacher conducts her lessons and keeps her class under control. It was also so interesting seeing how much she had to differentiate, with their being a larger than average attainment gap within the big class. Her role as a teacher was so positive and she was so interested in every single one of her pupils. Being in the school just made me want to be a teacher even more, I loved every second of it. My favourite thing about the teacher’s role as a primary teacher, was the variation of subjects she taught. I was swithering between primary or going in to secondary teaching and focusing on a single subject such as geography, but this placement completely made up my mind that it HAD to be primary teaching. With being such a sporty person, I am so passionate about physical education, dance, and health and wellbeing. But I am also very creative and I love story telling, drama and art. I think I will thrive in all the curriculum areas from these to music and literacy and so on; due to experiences I have had in after school activities and my academic success. I want to be good at teaching everything, not just one or two of the subjects, and I am willing to work hard to make sure I do so.

I love a challenge, and I will be taking this one on with great deal of excitement. I am looking forward to becoming the teacher I aspire to be. I can’t wait to be shaping young people’s futures and helping them reach their goals. But first, to get through University.

 

Taken from: https://teachingforamericaokedition.wordpress.com/teaching-inspiration/

Taken from: https://teachingforamericaokedition.wordpress.com/teaching-inspiration/