Professional development is an area of teaching that enables you to develop areas of your practice.
Though sometimes, when you are busy and in the middle of an educational project, it can feel like another task to fit into an already brimming schedule.
Though, this is not the right way to look at it.
Instead of considering professional development a chore, you can look at it for what it actually is… an excellent chance to positively influence your own teaching practices and the learning opportunities for the tamariki at your Centre.
Keep reading to find out how you can use professional development to support your growth and effectiveness as a teacher.
How Professional Development Helps
Professional development is a critical component of any teaching career and is vital at all stages. However, it is particularly significant during the provisional teaching phase. In these early stages, ongoing learning and development provide a strong foundation for building core teaching practices.
Yes, professional development will help enhance your knowledge and skills, and by undertaking certain development opportunities you can ensure you are meeting the professional standards and requirements of an NZ teacher. Though, it is so much more than that too!
Here’s how professional development can help you:
Build Confidence
When transitioning from a student to a full-time teacher you can feel the pressure of ensuring you make an effective transition. The uncertainties and challenges you face can really test your confidence. Professional development to the rescue!
By taking opportunities to refine your skills, seek guidance and learn from experienced colleagues, you can develop yourself in a supportive environment. You can gain practical insights and advice that will build the confidence you have in your own abilities and allow you to develop the competence needed to navigate the complexities of early childhood education.
Reflective Practice
A cornerstone of effective teaching, reflective practice helps you refine your practices and methods. Professional development is a great way to undertake reflective practice as it encourages you to critically assess your teaching methods, interactions with your Centre community and the impact you are having on the children’s learning.
By engaging in reflective practice, you can identify areas for improvement, set personal and professional goals and adapt your practice to better meet the needs of the tamariki. Reflection is integral to continuous improvement and ensures you remain responsive and adaptive in your practice.
Career Progression
Right now, you might not be envisioning your entire career path, but it should be something you remain mindful of. Professional development is not only about meeting your immediate needs, but also about setting yourself up for continual career growth.
By actively engaging in professional development now, you can acquire strong skills and knowledge to set you up for a successful career ahead. This could even include leadership roles, specialised positions or further academic advancement. Continuous learning and improvement will ensure you always have great prospects and opportunities.
Improving Learning Outcomes
While professional development is great for your own advancement, the ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of education and care you can provide to the children at your Centre. With continuous growth and development, it empowers you to create enriching learning environments that support the cognitive, social and emotional development of the children.
When you invest time into your own professional growth you can contribute to positive learning outcomes for the children, setting the foundation for a life filled with learning and success.
What Is Considered Professional Development?
Professional development can come in many forms. Sure, there are the usual workshops, seminars, webinars and courses that you can attend. But, you aren’t only limited to these traditional forms of further education. There are plenty of other development opportunities available to you.
Many Centres utilise goal setting and the professional growth cycle to guide their development strategies. Goal setting is a great way to drive progress and Inquiry work.
Another of the most popular forms of development is external mentorship. An external mentor is a skilled ECE specialist who intimately knows and understands the early childhood environment. They can provide targeted support and understanding tailored to your specific needs.
As an experienced ECE Mentor and teacher myself, I provide customised support to provisional teachers to help them develop their personal strengths and to fill any gaps they feel they may have. This is in addition to the support they receive from their Centre assigned mentor.
External mentorship can be a powerful development resource as you get,
- Diverse insight and perspective with a broader view of the ECE landscape
- Access to a wider range of development opportunities to help you foster a more comprehensive skillset
- Holistic support that can help you navigate challenges within your Centre
- Personalised growth plans that address your individual and professional needs
- Feedback from multiple sources to enhance your accountability and promote continuous improvement.
Every Day Is Development Day
Professional development is key to the progression of your skills and understanding. When you have the support of a great mentorship team, every day can be a development day. Attending formal personal development sessions is one powerful form of learning. And that can be supplemented with mentorship.
It’s all about reflecting on what you want to achieve professionally and personally, then exploring ways to achieve that. When you work with your mentors – both Centre assigned and external – you can get tailored support. You can approach your development in a way that it aligns with not only your professional goals, but your personal ones too. You can assess what you are doing to build on the quality of your teaching while still balancing all the aspects of your personal and professional life.
Plus, you can do it all with the nurturing support of a mentor who understands exactly where you are at and what you are going through.
Does this sound like a way you’d like to tackle professional development? Then, it might be time for you and I to have a chat! As an experienced ECE mentor, I can help you create focus and achieve your goals without the feeling of overwhelm. Book a time to chat with me and see if we might be a good fit to work together.
You can find out more about Kete Ako here or simply get in touch if you have any queries about how external mentorship might work for you.
I also have resources that can be added to your toolkit. Click here to read more about the Roadmap or click here to purchase the Roadmap to Certification e-book for Provisional Certified Teachers. Alternatively, if you are wanting to learn more about my packages, reach out today.
Useful links:
My Website