In this episode, we're joined by Sarah, a Master of Teaching student with a background in psychology and lecturer Marnie Harris from Edith Cowan University. We explore the vital role of character strengths in shaping the future of education and supporting teacher wellbeing.

Key Topics:

- The evolution of teaching roles and the importance of adaptability

- Crucial strengths for educators in an ever-changing landscape

- Using personal strengths to enhance the education system

- Leveraging diverse strengths to create effective school environments

- Strategies for maintaining teacher wellbeing and preventing burnout

Highlights:

- Sarah shares her journey from psychology to teaching and how her diverse background informs her approach to education

- The importance of resilience, adaptability, and creativity in modern classrooms

- Insights on using strengths to create supportive learning environments and foster community engagement

- Practical tips for integrating strengths into daily teaching practice and personal reflection

Join us for an inspiring conversation about the power of character strengths in education and how they can transform both teaching and learning experiences.

PS - want to know where Albany is? Find out here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_Western_Australia

In this episode, host Narelle Lennon is joined with co-hosts Tammy Green and Rikki James as they explore the power of recognising and utilising personal strengths in education. Our guest, Krystle, shares her journey from vocational education to secondary school teaching, offering valuable insights on:

• Identifying and leveraging personal strengths in the classroom
• Building meaningful relationships with students
• Using humour and storytelling to engage learners
• Adapting teaching methods to suit diverse learning styles
• The importance of modelling a growth mindset

Key Takeaways:

1. Embrace your unique strengths as a teacher
2. Use storytelling and humour to connect with students
3. Offer flexible learning options to cater to different strengths
4. Model vulnerability and growth mindset by admitting mistakes
5. Prioritise self-care to maintain enthusiasm and effectiveness in teaching

Top Tip for Teacher Self-Care:

Find a way to process your day or week that works for you, whether it's journaling, talking with someone, or engaging in a relaxing activity. Prioritise your mental health to be your best self for your students.

Join us for this inspiring conversation about harnessing personal strengths to become a more effective and fulfilled educator.

In this milestone 10th series of Teachers Supporting Teachers, we explore the crucial role of character strengths in education. Join host Narelle Lemon, co-host Bev Adkin and guest Gloria, a Master of Teaching student, as they delve into:

• The evolving motivations behind choosing a teaching career
• How personal strengths develop throughout an educator's journey
• Practical ways to leverage strengths in the classroom
• Building effective mentoring relationships
• Adapting teaching styles to nurture diverse student strengths
• Advice for new teachers on identifying and utilising their unique abilities

Key Takeaways:

• Gloria's journey from international student to early childhood educator
• The importance of resilience, adaptability, and compassion in teaching
• Strategies for creating a positive, respectful classroom environment
• Balancing mentor guidance with fresh perspectives from mentees
• Tips for nurturing diverse student strengths through varied teaching methods
• The value of self-reflection and colleague feedback in identifying personal strengths
• Prioritising self-care and wellbeing as an educator

Whether you're a future teacher or an experienced educator, this episode offers valuable insights to enhance your teaching practice and support student growth through character strengths.

In this enlightening episode of Teachers Supporting Teachers, host Narelle Lemon explores the development and application of character strengths in pre-service teaching. Joined by guests Gail, Marnie, Aimee, and Cheylin, the conversation delves into the experiences of graduate diploma students as they navigate their journey into teaching.

Key Topics:

• The evolution of teaching strengths over time
• Applying personal strengths to overcome classroom challenges
• The impact of consciously using strengths in teaching practice
• The role of mentorship in developing professional strengths
• Creating inclusive classroom environments that celebrate diverse student strengths
• The connection between strengths, wellbeing, and self-care in teaching

Highlights:

• Aimee shares her experience of developing leadership skills and adaptability during swimming lessons
• Cheylin discusses how her nursing background enhances her teaching approach, particularly in compassion and understanding individual needs
• Both pre-service teachers reflect on the importance of resilience and adaptability in responding to feedback
• Strategies for creating a classroom environment that recognises and celebrates students' diverse strengths
• The crucial link between teacher wellbeing, self-care, and effective classroom management

Takeaways:

• Recognising and leveraging personal strengths can significantly enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement
• Mentorship plays a vital role in helping pre-service teachers identify and develop their strengths
• Creating an inclusive classroom environment involves catering to diverse learning styles and celebrating individual student successes
• Maintaining wellbeing through self-care and strength awareness is essential for both teacher and student success

Whether you're a pre-service teacher, an experienced educator, or someone considering a career in education, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of strengths-based teaching and personal development in the field of education.

In this episode, we're joined by Rex Monsoon, a Master of Teaching student at Edith Cowan University, currently on his final professional experience in the remote community of Kalumburu, Western Australia.

Episode Highlights:

• Rex shares his journey as a mature-age student transitioning into teaching from creative fields
• Insights into teaching design and technology, visual art, and incorporating First Nations perspectives
• Strategies for cultivating and developing strengths in challenging teaching environments
• Creating flexible boundaries for differentiation and student engagement
• Balancing positive feedback with areas for development in student growth
• The importance of reflective practice and challenging one's own viewpoints
• Approaches to mentoring and fostering individual potential in students
• How a strength-based approach could transform schools and impact communities

Key Takeaways:

• Strengths need to be stretched and challenged to develop
• Mistakes are valuable learning opportunities for both teachers and students
• Engaging with carers helps build supportive learning dispositions
• Educators can be agents for change beyond the school gates

Join us for an inspiring conversation about leveraging character strengths in education, particularly in remote and regional settings.

Featuring host Narelle Lemon with guest co hosts Carli Sanbrook, Tammy Green, and special guest Rex Monsoon.

In this inspiring episode of Teachers Supporting Teachers, host Narelle Lemon explores the role of character strengths in early childhood education. Joined by guests Carli Sandbrook, Bev Adkin, and pre-service teacher Skye, the conversation delves into the journey of becoming an early childhood educator and the importance of recognising and utilising personal strengths in teaching.

Key Topics:

• The motivation behind choosing a career in early childhood education
• Identifying and developing personal strengths as an educator
• Integrating strengths into teaching philosophy and practice
• Creating positive and inclusive classroom cultures
• The role of mentorship in developing professional strengths
• Applying a strengths-based approach with young children
• Self-care and wellbeing for teachers

Highlights:

• Skye shares her journey from being an Education Assistant to pursuing a degree in early childhood education
• Discussion on how personal strengths such as passion, empathy, and organisation contribute to effective teaching
• Insights into creating engaging learning experiences for young children through play-based learning
• The importance of building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Strategies for incorporating strengths-based language and feedback in early childhood settings

Takeaways:

• Recognising and leveraging personal strengths can significantly enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement
• Building strong relationships is crucial in early childhood education and underpins a positive learning environment
• Modelling curiosity, enthusiasm, and a growth mindset helps foster these qualities in young learners
• Self-care and maintaining connections with colleagues are essential for teacher wellbeing

Whether you're an aspiring early childhood educator, an experienced teacher, or someone interested in strengths-based approaches to education, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of personal strengths in shaping positive educational experiences for young children.

In this episode, Narelle Lemon, Teachers Supporting Teachers producer and VC Professoriate Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University, and her series co-host Marnie Harris, a lecturer and professional experience coordinator at Edith Cowan University's South West Campus, are joined by special guest Jan Drew, director of The Global Student, to discuss international educational experiences.

Jan shares her journey into this space, having been a teacher herself and later developing the Global Education Practicum, an initiative that brings pre-service teachers to school placements in national and international schools in Malaysia. She highlights the unique aspects of these experiences, such as large class sizes, varying levels of English proficiency, diverse school cultures, and different teaching methods and schedules.

The discussion delves into the amazing "aha" moments Jan has witnessed, including pre-service teachers realizing that kids are kids no matter where they are, developing confidence and adaptability, and making life-changing decisions about their teaching careers. The collegiality and research opportunities for participating academics are also noted as unexpected benefits of the program.

Cultural awareness is explored as a key aspect of these international experiences, with Jan emphasizing the importance of respect for differences without judgment, understanding the reasons behind cultural practices, and managing expectations. She also shares an inspiring story of a pre-service teacher who discovered her passion for teaching through a challenging experience in a Malaysian classroom.

The conversation touches on the often-forgotten or undervalued elements of growth during these experiences, such as peer learning and the development of professional networks. Jan also highlights the importance of self-care and well-being, both physical and emotional, during these experiences, drawing on insights gained from working with Narelle.

As the episode concludes, Jan shares her top tips for pre-service teachers considering an international educational experience: leave your expectations at home, be flexible, and say yes to everything. She emphasizes the value of embracing new experiences and the lasting impact these opportunities can have on both the pre-service teachers and the communities they engage with.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on what hashtag flexibility, open-mindedness, attitude, and courage look like in their own professional growth and to consider saying yes to a remote, regional, rural, or overseas experience.


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The Global Student

Past Teachers Supporting Teachers episodes capturing an international remote placement in Series 7

In this episode, Narelle Lemon, Teachers Supporting Teachers producer and professor based at the Mount Lawley campus at Edith Cowan University, and her series co-host Marnie Harris, a lecturer based in the South West Campus in Bunbury, engage in a thought-provoking discussion with three principals from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Eliot, principal of Derby District High School, shares his 27-year journey in education and his experiences working in regional and remote schools. Paul, principal at Looma Remote Community School, discusses his 35 years in education and his passion for rural and remote teaching, emphasizing the strong sense of community and belonging in these settings. Esther, principal at Kimberley School of the Air, shares her unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of distance education in the vast Kimberley region.

The principals discuss their motivations for taking on pre-service teachers for professional experience placements, highlighting the importance of developing resilience, confidence, competence, and agility in a supportive environment. They also share insights on how their schools and communities support and assist pre-service teachers during their placements, including thoughtful mentor and supervisor assignments, social activities, and cultural immersion.

The conversation delves into the unique opportunities and challenges faced by pre-service teachers in remote settings, such as the School of the Air, and the differences between professional experiences in community schools compared to regional or metropolitan schools. The principals emphasize the strong sense of family, community involvement, and the life-changing relationships built with Aboriginal students and educators.

The episode also explores the support structures in place for pre-service teachers relocating from their home residence, including financial assistance, social networks, and professional development opportunities. The principals discuss the importance of community integration and the qualities or characteristics pre-service teachers need to thrive in regional, rural, or remote placements, such as reflectiveness, patience, resilience, adventurousness, and self-kindness.

Listeners are encouraged to consider risk and failure as stepping stones to success and to reflect on what putting themselves forward looks like in their own lives, moving beyond the "safe game."

You may also be interested in:

Kimberley Region of Western Australia

Derby District High School

Looma Remote Community School

Kimberley School of the Air