Now that I have a better understanding of Professional Standards I can now discuss the three different sections that go into it confidently. Such as professional values and attributes, Professional knowledge and understanding and also professional skills. I now have an idea what I need to update and maintain to keep my knowledge of my subject specialism and educational knowledge with these three steps and mini sections.

 

At the beginning of the course I felt that I did not have enough knowledge of professional standards but now that I have put together this portfolio I have enough evidence there to say that I have a better knowledge and understanding of it. Across the rest of this course I am hoping to find more evidence to go into my professional standards as I know that I could learn more about it.

 

My strengths have increased because my subject knowledge of performing arts is developing rapidly because of my hours that I have put in with my placement as well as being a V100 staff member at the course. By this I mean I am spending more time teaching my students that a typical PGCE student will because I am a member of staff that has a job there. My drama knowledge has also increased as I am researching different practitioners as I think this is something all performing arts students need to learn when they progress onto their chosen steps when they finish college. As I am a staff member at the college I am also being welcomed more by staff and seem to develop more relationships with other staff members because of this I am able to use this as my advantage as I know I can rely on these staff members to help me with any queries I have when teaching or for the course.

 

What I need to develop is my teaching such as different teaching methods and behaviour management technique. I still do not have the confidence to name all the teaching methods or what teaching methods I use for my subject to teach. I will do this by researching more in my own time. Behaviour management has been an issue with my students as I have a big variety within the class. Mature students seem to be my problem as they look at me as a “student teacher” rather than there actual tutor. Therefore they seem to ignore my input at times and talk down to me as if I am a child. I need to learn how to gain their respect and ignore any negative attitude they bring to the lesson.

 

At this point I have achieved four grade 2 observations which I am very pleased with. One observer is an area manager from the college who also had to observe me as I am a staff member. For this I also gained a 2 which we were all very pleased about. I have been able to collect as many resources as I can to keep my students interested and focused as I know they are all kinaesthetic leaners and rather practical work.

 

I am still struggling with my academic work because of child care and work involved but I seem to find more time at the Teesside University library which is good as I seem to work better within that environment.

My next steps to increase my knowledge towards professional standards would be to develop my teaching methods and techniques as I now feel confident with my specialist subject and to still work on my behaviour management technique.