Term 2 - What is in store for you?More importantly, what have you planned to do this term? Update your CV, visit local schools, introduce yourself to key personnel in schools, do some voluntary work, attend valuable PD sessions; the list goes on and on. 

Where do you start? PRIORITISE!!! Work out "WHAT WORKS FOR YOU, AND DO IT!" Don't hold back; if you need to leave your "comfort zone', then do it. If a job offer comes your way, accept it; be passionate, be organised, be EARLY and "mix" with the staff and students; you don't know what you are capable of doing until you put yourself to the test. 

Nothing "succeeds like success", so put yourself out there, go the extra distance, and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Have a great term!

2013 - What an exciting year already!

Well, the new year has started with a bang and has a great deal in store for you. As a result, you must be ready, confident, organised and willing to accept the challenge. 

Now is the time to approach new schools with your CV, primed and polished; it must truly reflect your individuality, your passions, your strengths and your love of "Best Teaching Practice". It must be able to separate you from the crowd, with that 'little bit of something extra'. It must be able to show your 'true self'.

"Where do I start?" you may well ask. Good question! 

Here are a few steps that will set you off in the right direction: 

1. Make sure that your CV has your personality and passion represented on every page.
2. 'Dress to impress' and hand-deliver your CV to all the Principals of schools in your area (and further).
3. Make an appointment with the Principal. (Make sure that he/she knows more about you than just your CV.) 
4. Use 'brilliant' communication skills, that engage every person whom you come across in every school that you visit.
5. Leave a positive, lasting impression. 

Remember, 'first impressions' do count!

What does "PHOT" spell? 

Some of you may have encountered this question in your travels, and reacted in a number of different ways. I hope that you were filled with curiosity and determination to solve the mystery.

Our students are constantly surrounded by words, events, activities and questions that do not always appear to make any sense at all. How do we want them to respond? ...............with curiosity of course! We want our students to ask questions of the world around them, and imagine the possibilities of the unimaginable.

So, what does "PHOT" spell?
The "PH" has the same sound as the first consonant in "first".
The "O" has the first vowel sound in the word "women".
The "T" has the sound of the second "t" in "station".

Did you guess it?

How amazing to be able to solve the unsolvable, and to create a challenge for yourself and your students, by playing around with the sounds in the English language and coming up with fascinating "WORDS". 

Your challenge is to "ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE'!

"Accept the Challenge!" 

Our challenge as educators is to be as inspiring as we can be; not only for our students, but also for our colleagues and ourselves.

A lesson may be taught one way, or, many ways. Our lesson presentation should always take into account the different "Learning Styles" of our students. Are we catering for: Visual Learners, Auditory Learners and/or Motor-kinaesthetic Learners? We can create an easy pathway to access knowledge and skills by our students with their mixed abilities, by presenting opportunities for learning through a diverse range of activities. 

We are only limited by our imaginations when it comes to delivering an exciting and enjoyable lesson. Think creatively "within the square"!

Explore the possibility of personal evolution through inquiry and discover how the changes we make, change us.  

Now that Term 1 is well under way ...........................

Now that Term 1 is well under way, think back to the reason for you going into the noble profession of "Teaching" in the first place:

• Did you want to make a difference to each and every student that you came across?
• Were you convinced that you never wanted to stop learning yourself?
• Did you know that you had the ability to impart knowledge to others?

Sometimes it is good to sit back and remind yourself why you are passionate about the important things in life!

An Inspiring Quote!

Take a minute to read the following quote; it is food for thought.

"I often wonder about teachers who educated famous people such as Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, and the like. Were these teachers specially qualified to inspire their students to achieve fame and success? Or were these teachers just plain lucky to have exceptionally talented students? Do some teachers have the rare quality of turning dust into gold? The answer may not be easy to find." (Simran Khurana)

The Art of Teaching!

The art of teaching is constantly evolving and provides all teachers with the opportunity of exploring a diverse range of avenues to ensure that we and our students continue to stay engaged. (I know that we usually worry about the engagament of our students and rightly so, however, let us never forget our own need to stay engaged with "what" and "how" we are teaching.)

The most passionate teachers are those who find meaning in what they are teaching.