Professional Knowledge
Standard 1: Know students and how they learn

Evidence of student observation notes that I recorded to develop my professional knowledge about mixed ability kindergarten students on my final placement, to inform contextualized teaching and learning.

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Knowledge about students’ physical, social, and intellectual development informs teachers in planning learning opportunities that are relevant to the classroom context. This information about my students in placement was gathered throughout my placement block, ensuring that the learning goals devised are aligned with students’ capacity to master them, with assistance from knowledgeable adults, as proposed by Vygotsky’s ‘Zone of Proximal Development’. It enabled me to support my students with the ‘assimilation’ process where new knowledge is built upon (accommodation) prior knowledge, experiences, and backgrounds. With this understanding, I could differentiate learning experiences effectively to sustain the engagement of my students. On a social level, it also provided me with the confidence to interact effectively with my students and cater effectively to their emotional needs.