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 The Australian Professional Standards for Teaching are essential for improved teacher quality, and in turn a quality image of the teaching profession. The standards outline the key elements for quality teaching and support teachers in being accountable for professional growth. By analysing what I know, understand and have achieved in relation to each standard has supported me in identifying key aspects for further professional development. I have identified that an area of development is understanding how students learn: 

1.2 Understand how students learn

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching

 

I have taught Pre-Primary in the past but Kindergarten is quite different in terms of curriculum and development so this is an area I would like to enquire more about. I am interested in particular about how we need to take note of what the children already come to school knowing and how the curriculum in Kindy needs to be not only determined by developmental milestones, the EYLF and Kindergarten Guidelines but also the children themselves. We need to see the children as agentic leaners and with that comes sharing the 'power'. 

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I have decided to implement this focus into a professional learning plan outlined in 6.4. I have researched this topic and found a professional reading that I believe gives me an insight into the students in my care being 'agentic learners' and how young students learn by doing rather than just watching.

The title of the paper is:

Barblett, L., Barratt-Pugh, C &  Ruscoe, A.(2018). Sharing power with children: Repositioning children as agentic learners. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Volume 43 (Issue3). Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.43.3.07

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I have also found the following Professional Development on the CEWA Professional Development Portal. The aim of this PD is to equip teachers with more knowledge regrading agency in the classroom and how to delegate the right to choose more often. 

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Agency – Involves educators taking a step back and critically reflecting on, “Do I need to decide for children”?

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Lastly, I found this blog on agency, voice and advocacy. It allowed me to delve into the world of agency and how to advocate for student voice in everyday learning as well as listen to a podcast  discussing the idea of agency in an early years setting (classroom and long day care). 

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http://blog.core-ed.org/blog/2020/02/childrens-agency-a-champion-and-a-model-for-advocacy.html

 

https://core-ed.org/research-and-innovation/podcasts/schools-channel/showPodcast/157  

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