Teaching Excellence Awards 2012

 Teaching Excellence Award- 

 Recognizing and Rewarding the Dedicated 

The TE Award was initiated by Dr. Mustafa Lutfy, acting Minister of Education in 2010. The process allows for anyone in the Maldives to nominate outstanding teachers, heads of schools and staff members who are making exceptional contributions to the schools in Maldives. The awards are catagorised in such a way that all key players within a school community are acknowledged. 

The Ministry of Education is greatful to the various partners who continue to support the award categories and those who assist in the process of event planning, management and selection. Quality Schools Blog hopes our readers start looking for that special dedicated school member in their school. Categories and the nomination details are given below.

Award Categories:

10 different award categories recognizing different ranges of people and skills

1.    Four Seasons Resorts Award for Teacher of the Year in a Pre-school

     All certified teachers (including head teachers) working with pre-school children are eligible

2.    ADK Group Award for Leading Teacher of the Year in a Primary School

3.    Media Net Digital Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School

     All certified teachers teaching primary students (including leading teachers, in-charge of primary students/teachers)

4.    Villa College Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School

5.    Alia Investments Award for Leading Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School

      All certified teachers teaching secondary students (includes higher secondary within the eligibility category)

6.    Global Links Award for New Teacher of the Year

      Certified teacher in a school who have up to three years of teaching experience

7.    Air Taxi Award for the Principal of the Year

      All heads, principals and deputy principals are included in this category

8.    Ensis Award for Life-time Achievement

      All certified educators with at least 25 years of experience (working or retired)

9.    Island Aviation Award for Support Staff of the Year (1 award)

     All working in the support staff category; it includes, counselors, health assistants, librarians, lab technicians, sports supervisors, secretarial staff etc.

10. Orchid Holdings Pvt Ltd Award for Special Educational Needs Teacher of the Year     

      All teachers teaching SEN classes/students are eligible

Happy Children's Day

Children are a gift from God
And mean so very much
They are here for us to teach them?
Though seems the other way round as such!

They teach us patience
Beyond all doubt
Gentleness but also strict
tempering our personalities right out.

Everything we do, we do it for their future
But have discovered one day at a time enough;
Learning something new each day as is recommended
Good manners and respect for life is tough.

So today of all days we will say to themYou are the future for this world.

So listen, watch and learn and then

Fresh focus and acumen,let YOUR wisdom unfurl.  

-Maggie-May-

How Can I Adapt My Curriculum to Influence Student Interest

According to D.B Wright, 9 types of curriculum adaptations can assist you as a teacher to influence your students' interests, behaviours and achievements. As teachers we want our students to become all they can be. Identifying students' needs and helping them transform takes effort and time. Let's do our best!

Quantity

Adapt the number of items that the learner is expected to learn or complete.

For example: Reduce the number of social studies terms a learner must learn at any one time.

Input

Adapt the way instruction is delivered to the learner.

For example: Use different visual aids, enlarge text, plan more concrete examples, provide hands-on activities, place students in cooperative groups.

Participation

Adapt the extent to which a learner is actively involved in the task.

For example: In geography, have a student hold the globe, while others point out locations.

Time

Adapt the time allotted and allowed for learning, task completion, or testing.

For example: Individualize a timeline for completing a task; pace learning differently (increase or decrease) for some learners.

 

Difficulty

Adapt the skill level, problem type, or the rules on how the learner may approach the work.

For example: Allow the use of a calculator to figure math problems; simplify task directions; change rules to accommodate learner needs.

 

Alternate Goals

Adapt the goals or outcome expectations while using the same materials.

For example: In social studies, expect a student to be able to locate just the states while others learn to locate capitals as well.

Level of Support

Increase the amount of personal assistance with a specific learner.

For example: Assign peer buddies, teaching assistants, peer tutors, or cross age tutors.

 Output

Adapt how the student can respond to instruction.

For example: Instead of answering questions in writing, allow a verbal response, use a communication book for some students, allow students to show knowledge with hands on materials.

Substitute Curriculum

Provide different instruction and materials to meet a learner’s individual goals.

For example: During a language test, one student is learning computer skills in the computer lab.

(Source: Diana Browning Wright, 2003, Teaching and Learning Trainings at http://ahaa.tusd.us)

  

Can Behavioural Issues be My Problem as a Teacher?

How often we as teachers think the student is the problem.
We see their disinterest, talkativeness, inablity to stay on-task, distractions, aggressiveness, resistance or over-dependency on others as their problem not ours.

But student problems are our problems!

According to Haim Ginott...
(Source: Diana Browning Wright, Teaching and Learning Trainings, 2003 at http://ahaa.tusd.us)

 

Between the Teacher and the Child

 

I have come to a frightening conclusion.

I am the decisive element in the classroom.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized.

                                                                                                                           

Teachers, do you agree? 

How do you modify your curriculum to better meet each student's need? 

Learning to do so may improve student behaviour and achievement.