A bit about me:My name is Lyndsay Saywell, and I am a passionate graduate teacher. I recently graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Primary Education. Over the course of my degree I took particular interest in units of health promotion. During my degree I studied abroad at the University of Northern Colorado for one semester. I have a great passion and enthusiasm for teaching and cannot wait for a life-long

career of learning and teaching!

My teaching philosophy:

My philosophy of teaching is based on a belief that learning needs to be student centred and that students need to be equal partners in the learning process. I hope to give every individual child equal opportunity to learn by providing them with the tools they need to explore and discover on their own. I aim to teach my students the skills and knowledge necessary to be active and informed citizens of our community.

Goals & Foundational Principles

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve - Roger Lewin.

My ultimate objective as a teacher is to facilitate learning by helping students to gain the necessary skills to take control of and become active participants in their own learning. I believe that knowledge gained through active participation is knowledge that will stay with an individual student. Thus my approach to teaching reflects this philosophy and I endeavour to practice teaching that engages students in their own learning within my classroom. This approach has been proven to be successful through inquiry learning where students are active participants in their learning through questioning and problem solving. Ultimately I want my students to actively participate, rather than passively learn. 

Commitment to being a life-long learner“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” – Phil Collins

I believe that as a teacher, continuing to learn, taking on new research and experimenting with new information is a valuable part of achieving the best results from students and yourself as a teacher. As a teacher, the best learning comes from reflective practice and learned mistakes from within the classroom. I endeavour to be continually moving forward and growing by making a conscious effort to be a life-long learner as a passionate graduate teacher. Constantly reflecting and seeking the feedback and assistance from those more experienced teachers will be an essential part of my teaching practice to continually grow and develop. As I approach my teaching, I

will do so with enthusiasm and with a wealth of learned knowledge to keep up with the growing changes and successful teaching philosophies.

Learning and teaching through collaboration“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is

success.” – Henry Ford

I strive to implement collaborative strategies through multiple levels to create a safe and successful atmosphere that encourages the application of knowledge to new situations. My philosophy of teaching asserts that students are entitled to quality instruction in an active and stimulating learning environment with the active participation and involvement from all stakeholders. I believe that optimal learning outcomes require strong home-school partnerships, as well as strong school-teacher relationships. Accordingly, I endeavour to provide clear and continuous communication and encourage parent participation in the learning environment. Within my teaching profession I endeavour to explore and communicate with fellow colleagues to develop my teacher-teacher collaborative approach to achieve success from all students.

Professional Skills and Aspirations:

The personal strengths and skills I bring to teaching.

My professional goals, strategies and skills I aim to develop through my teaching career

I am:

enthusiastic about teaching, and learning; dedicated to providing each child with an

equal opportunity to learn, understanding to children’s needs and

stages of development; passionate about providing a safe and

nurturing environment; willing to learn under any circumstances,

taking direction from any mentor or role model;

empathetic towards children and what issues or problems they may be confronting;

flexible to change; hard-working and willing to commit as

much of my time to achieve results and success in the classroom;

 excited to learn new techniques and broaden my knowledge of practices that are effective in the classroom;

determined and committed to becoming a high quality teacher.

I want to:

continually reflect on my practice and demonstrate my commitment to lifelong learning by seeking out appropriate collegial support and furthering my own professional development;

meet the needs of all students and stakeholders involved in the learning process;

actively engage all my students in learning experiences;

earn the respect of my students through my knowledge and professionalism in the classroom;

exercise a variety behaviour management practices;

monitor individual achievement and provide appropriate on-going feedback;

foster individual learning experiences; recognise the importance of flexibility

within the school program; plan and prepare effectively; provide my students with the skills and

knowledge necessary to equip them to be active and informed citizens.