Manitoba Teacher Society code of professional practice

As future teachers, we learned this week about the MTS code of professional practice. I was surprised to see how clear and concise the document was! As a professional, we needs rules and codes of conduct to refer too so  this is the role of The Code of Professional Practice. It establishes the required standards of conduct for all members of The Manitoba Teachers' Society. A teacher's professional behaviour must reflect the spirit as well as the letter of the Code. Through 13 different points,  that you will find at the following website http://www.mbteach.org/inside-mts/professionalcode.html , it is showing what is expected from usas a teacher. I think it is mandatory for each new teacher to learn about it and discuss about it!
Representing 15 000 educators in Manitoba, I found that the code was using a lot of common sense, the first professional responsability being the student. Also, we have to be faithful and honest between colleagues. If there is a problem it is so much better to face it right away than to leave it because the relationship between the other teacher and us will deteriorate and it is hard to come back to normal relationship after and we do not want any situation to affect our teaching in a negative way. Saying that is easy but let's face it, teaching can be very stressful at times and we might not always be at our best so if we know that we are not alone and we can trust our colleagues, I think, it is a peace of mind! I hope my colleague will tell me if they think I am not doing something right and I will do that for them too. It is so much healthy to adress it right away instead of talking to someone else like a principal. I think most of the times we do not want to hurt feeling so we do not want to talk about it, but as hard as it is, this is our responsability! As we seen in the case scenarios studied in class, some are really touchy decisions to take but think what is the best for your student, for you and for your colleagues!
There is also one thing that I did not know about: teacher can not go on strike, did you know?
To conclude, I would say it is  good to know that MTS is there for us with professional counsellors that we can consult anytime when in doubt. It is reassuring to know that we are protected!

Professionalism

What a big word that seems so hard to define! I think it is a whole concept that is including the relationship that you have with your school, students, parents, collegues, community, division... As a teacher you have responsabilities towards all of those people at various levels, your students being the first one! Trough standards, values, codes of conducts we have to be at our best to fill up our mission of teaching. We have a commitment as a teacher.The hardest thing is that we pretty much have to act as professional all the times, like a police officer would, I guess. We are teachers 24/7 and especially in small communities. I liked your example Jacky of cleaning up the snow in your lane way wearing pyjamas! That is what I am talking about here. It is only a detail some would say but when you are becoming a teacher you have to realize that it comes in a package and being professional 24/7 is included in it! They are some grey areas where you would have to use your own judgement, that's all!

Professil vs Subject knowledge finally!

Ok, so here is what I think about the subject...
I do agree that depending on which level you are teaching subject lnowledge is more important for middle and senior years because you go more in depth in the subject. On the other hand, for younger grades, the emphasis might be more on the professional side. But honestly, I do not think you can be a good teacher if you do not have a minimum of each. You have to show that you know your subject other wise you will not get any credits. Children are smart. Even in younger grades they know if you know your subject or not. Also, if you do not know how to teach how are you going to pass around the message you want them to retain!
Choosing between professional and subject knowledge for me is like choosing on which leg to walk, it might work for a while but you would sure walk longer and will feel more confortable if you could walk on both !!!

Professional vs Subject knowledge

Jacky, I was away Thursday so I do not have the info to fill up this blog but I will catch up with others. Promise!!!

Why teach

When I heard this question, I instantly remembered an anecdote that happen to me while I was working in a Frech school as an Educational Assistant. It was at the time when I was still wondering if I should quit my job and become a teacher...
 It was around January, the kindergarters had now been exposed to French for few months. Some knew French when school started and some didn't. That was the case of this little girl. Cute as a button, everyday she would have story to tell us in English but not many words of French were coming out. One morning, she came to me and explained something that was happening to her in class in a perfect French sentence. I was so happy that I had tears in my eyes! I couldn't believe it!!! I took her to the teacher and asked her to repeat and she did. We were both really emotional at this moment! She never stopped  talking French after that. It was at the time when I was still wondering if I should quit my job and become a teacher. That day, I knew this is what I wanted to become for those special reasons!!!
This is a really rewarding mission to teach a child and see the spark in their eye when they get it! This is magic! Also, as teacher, it is a life long learning curve which I think is really motivating for me. I enjoy learning new things everyday, it is always different that's why it's more interesting. It is interactive and working with children is never boring. I can recall many child's stories told in class that made the teacher and I burst into laugh!!!

FAVOURITE TEACHER

We all had a favourite teacher. We can remember his name even many decades after we graduated, even if we can not even remember what's on our shopping list that we wrote few minutes ago! We do remember him/her because they made a difference in our lives. They knew somehow to get the best of us. This is the kind of a teacher we want to become. After talking about our favourite teacher with my classmates, despite our different personalities, it seems that there are common traits that students appreciate in a teacher. The sense of humour is for me number one. School life could be boring sometimes so let's learn while having fun. The emotional is related to the learning process so students will remember better if they are emotionaly engage and if they have fun!  The teacher has be positive and give feedback to his students. He has to show that he cares for them. They are not names on a list! By seeing the strength in each child, he will be able to build a relationship with them and boost their self-confidence and make them important. Then, they will enjoy being in the classroom and the learning process will occur easily!!! Also, I do think as a teacher you have to reach outside the box and make each day a new adventure!!!
I realize those are wonderful ideas but it must be hard to apply everyday,  but if we have them in mind and work on them daily, we can make this happen and make a difference in a child life!!!

FISH PHILOSOPHY

When I heard about the Fish philosophy, I thought right away it was made for me. I am always trying to have fun in everything I do. I think one day without smiling or laughing is not a good day. We do not know what the future will held so let's today be a good day and have fun! So the first two concepts of this philosophy, Play and Make their day, make sense for me. On the other end, I need to focus more on the two other concepts that I think are also really important to become a better teacher. "Be there" is something I need to work on. Multitasking trough various responsabilities during the day does not help to accomplish this behavior. But I think it is making a big difference to the person you talk to. I tried it this week in class and I noticed other people trying it too: what a difference. When people are showing you that they care by "being there"!Your self-esteem is boosted ! So I obviously see an advantage to showing students that we are there for them and we do care about them. What a nice feeling for a student that does not necessarly get that at home. Then there is a real connection with the teacher!!! The last concept is so simple that we often forget that we are in control of our own attitude. Of course, we are all facing daily challenges and some are more serious than other, but we should always focus on the positive (if available!). Remember Hapiness is contagious but also is the bad mood ! So be Happy !!! LOve this philosophy!!!