Sarah's response

"Being educated and opened minded about the gender bias or otherwise of my students is important. Open dialogue, active listening and honesty in the teacher- student relationship, will hopefully provide a better understanding about gender issues for myself and my students. Maintaining my integrity and focusing on gender issues only when relevant will help me as a teacher. Understanding gender in terms of differences rather than as limitations will ensure a positive outlook and I believe will result in a better teaching and learning outcome for my students. As a teacher is important to acknowledge and try to understand where my students come from. The role models in their live, their cultural understanding of the roles of men and women and the relationships they have had with the same sex and opposite sex are factors which can influence their gender bias.

Sarah's response

The homes in which all people live are unique and influenced by cultural traditions. Being sensitive to other cultures is important as is maintaining the Australian cultural in the classroom. To effectively teach, I will educate myself on some of the cultural setting that my students are apart of. Encouraging a cultural exchange in the classroom between students will also be a powerful experience for my students in understanding and better empathising with their peers and myself. It is important not to want to change anybody, including yourself, but to grow with an appreciation for what different cultures can contribute in the classroom.

Sarah's response

Socio-economics are unfortunately an aspect for which can effect a student-teacher relationship. I do not is believe it is important to necessarily know the specifics of a students socioeconomic status, it is important that I as a teacher do not draw on economics status in my class room. Everyone is entitled to an education, irrelevant of their financial status. I feel it is fortunate that in Australia we do not have a class system which can dictate our educational outcomes. As a teacher is important to understand how money can buy experiences that can have an educational impact. In a class where most students have travelled overseas it is relevant to draw upon this experience if it has educational relevance and help to contextualise a subject.

Sarah's response

The interpersonal intellegence of both teacher and students can potencially limit the relationship and experience in the school environemnt. I feel that is one area where I have a strength- interpersonal intelligence. I feel it is important to acknowledge a students past difficulties with other teachers, but rather than rewrite those chapters help students to understand their part in this experience. I also understand that there will personalities that will not "gel" with my style, however with non-judgemental discussion and the formation of a fair and solid teacher-student relationship, I feel it is possible to have a positive experience for both student and teacher. Constructive criticism must be two way in the class room setting. I should be as accountable to my students as they are accountable to me.

Sarah's response

People are wonderful, the young ones, the teenaged ones, the middle aged ones and the mature ones! Our motivations for doing something can be determined by our preferred "Love Language". To feel important my students may need one, some or all of : Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service. I will firstly need to understand what helps my students to be motivated. Upon understanding this I will then have the ability to know when and what is appropriate to help motivate and help my students to feel good about learning. As a person who enjoys words of affirmation, it is the other "love languages" for which I will need study so that I can understand how to use effectively for those students needing motivation.