Professional reading for renewal
Teachers have traditionally valued professional reading which connects teachers to the profession – to research, knowledge and practice in other settings, etc.
Professional reading enables teachers to access research, educational theories, historical and international approaches to teaching and learning in their own time and with their own interests as a guide
The advent of the internet and the globalisation of knowledge enables teachers to easily access educational literature in ways not possible 20 years ago
The advantages and possibilities of this need to be balanced with discernment. For teachers to fully benefit from wide professional reading, critical reflection is essential. Teachers need to relate what they read to what they know and what they do.
The Professional Standards for Competent Teachers in the Northern Territory (the Standards) provides a framework for this reflection. The standards enable all teachers to think about what they read and what they know and do using a common language
Keeping records of professional reading
Professional reading does contribute to the professional development requirements for renewal. To validate professional reading for renewal purposes, teachers need to record what they have read and keep a written record of their reflections. These records should include a record of the time spent reading and writing these reflections
Some questions to guide your reflection
- Which Standards are most clearly related to this text?
- Does this text relate more closely to your knowledge as a teacher or to your classroom practice? In what ways?
- To what extent does this text reflect your understandings and beliefs about education?
- Which ideas from the text could you use to develop your practice?
- What obstacles might you find to applying these ideas? How might you overcome these obstacles?
- How could these ideas be shared with colleagues or applied by you and your colleagues to contribute to teaching and learning in your school?
- How will this text contribute to your ability to meet the learning needs of your students?
- Which ideas from this reading will assist you in challenging and engaging your students more effectively?
- What further reading might this lead you to?