Role of primary school

teachers
Practitioner knowledge and skills
Adviser
Reflective practitioner
Researcher
Social agencies

Reflective practitioner
Reflection: a process of self-observation and self-evaluation
Reflective teachers: capable of engaging in the practice of self inquiry
practice (social, emotional and academic).
Teacher education: emphasis on production of reflective teachers
Why do we need to reflect?
1) The practice of reflection is effective in helping teachers structure
their thinking toward mastery of pedagogical content knowledge.
2) Reflection allows practitioners to evaluate, understand and learn
from the experience.

 What do we reflect on?

Students achievement, suitability of the subjects content,
interest of the pupils and teaching activities.
Teacher as reflective practitioner should always question the
practice and not just act on habits or follow instructions alone.

Collecting information: teachers diary, peer observation,

recording lessons, students feedback

How do we reflect?
Reflective teaching: systematic process of collecting,
recording and analysing our thoughts and observations as
well as those of our students, and then going on to making
changes.
Think about teaching and talk to colleagues
e.g My lesson went well, My students didnt seem to
understand.
Focus and discuss on why things are happening
e.g Why the students arent able to sing along to the song?,
Why my students are misbehaving in class

Benefits of reflective practice:

Able to identify the strengths and weaknesses
within himself to achieve better performance.
Become a teacher who is more confident.
Teaching is more effective according to the
principles and models of teaching and diversity
techniques.
Actions and decisions based on knowledge and
pedagogical knowledge effectively.

Researcher
Teachers as researchers: in relation to up bring and increase the
professionalism.
Teachers are encouraged to do research to understand the
culture and practice of the learning environment and the
actions themselves to improve the quality of professionalism.
Teacher as researchers
- Familiar with statistical data grades, health, absentee records,
test scores
- Acknowledge case studies in context

Every day, teachers:

make various decisions related to teaching and classroom
management.
already involved in the research process:
-

plan lessons
help students in the learning process
classroom management
assessing student work
provide feedback student achievement to parents

Research:
-

Design action plan

Implement an action plan
Observe
Collect data
Analyze results
Modify learning plans to meet the needs of pupils

Advantages of the teacher as a

researcher in his own class
Adding theoretical clarity, language and learning.
Increase knowledge and understanding of classroom
practice and improve teaching skills.
Facilitate collaboration with students and other
teachers.
Opportunity to expand our mutual commitment
towards the improvement and enhancement of the
profession.

Socialization agents
School:
a place of opportunity for the students to acquire a wide range of
knowledge and skills needed to progress and development of
the country.
as a social institution emphasizes the development and change
of behavior of pupils based on values, norms and needs of
the community.
Teacher:
Impart knowledge + values + attitudes +personalities

Teachers as agent of socialization

Understand their own feelings and others
Have self control and self motivation
Showcase empathy
Help students develop emotionally
Should be easy to adapt, caring and respect
individual differences
Wanted and unwanted behaviour in accordance to our
society
Inculcate high emotional intelligence (manage
emotions, able to accept criticism, self awareness)

Society expectation:
Enhance the quality of life patterns
Preserve and maintain the culture and norms which
are well-regarded in the community
Therefore, teachers should display good practice of
moral values such as courtesy, good manners,
humanitarian values, being caring and affectionate and
respect the rights of others.

References
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reacher-researcher-ultima
te-professional-development-dorothy-suskind
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/master-teaching-margaret
-regan
http://www.ericdigests.org/1993/researcher.htm
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/1894
Journal of Education: Teachers as Reflective
Practitioners: Examining Teacher Stories of Curricular
Change in a 4th Grade Classroom