Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development.
As an educator it is important to understand where students are at in order to meet them in the place that is best for them so that they may learn. In my current practicum this is especially important as in my grade seven students were entering the most explosive growth phase in their life, aside from their first two years of life. These students crave validation, while trying to assert their own independence. They are constantly questioning, but at the same time their higher reasoning is not yet fully developed. Given these factors I make sure to engage them in ways where I acknowledge them as a person, and provide the support, structure and direction they crave, but from a background role so that they feel like they’re leading the way, and choosing where they want to go.
In my grade one practicums this meant understanding what they are capable of, and how best to stretch them to exercise their learning muscles as well as understanding when they need a break and how much focus they are capable of committing to any one task for a period of time, and providing learning movement breaks or alternative learning activities to ensure everyone stays engaged and excited about the topic on hand.