Life before Girton
I am Bendigo born and bred. My schooling was largely unremarkable yet I had remarkable teachers. I attended Comet Hill Primary School in Bendigo and Eaglehawk Secondary School then Bendigo High School.
I studied at La Trobe University, Bendigo. I received Diploma of Teaching (with distinction) in 1992 and went on to receive Bachelor of Education (with Honours) in 1993. I was also awarded with the ACHPER Outstanding Graduate in Studies.
On graduating, I worked at the YMCA Bendigo as well as teaching for a term at Spring Gully Primary School as their Physical Education teacher.
A lesser known fact is that I used to be a carpet layer as a summer job while studying.
What I Love about Teaching
I love to see curiosity in learning. I thrive on seeing students being challenged then coming up with solutions. I love to see the joy of learning.
I also love to see personal improvement. I value the notion of ‘personal best’ highly. Some students are great swimmers, some are great at spelling, some can do cartwheels –but what I love to see is students achieving more than what they thought they were capable of, and I love to help them on that pathway.
What is the best thing about teaching at Girton?
The best thing about teaching at Girton is the opportunity to work with remarkable people, both colleagues and students, in an atmosphere of creativity and innovation.
What do you like best about the year level you teach?
Year Five is an amazing year level. Students grow from the foundation years of their learning to be more independent, creative thinkers. I love the creativity and humour in our classroom. The children are the ones that make it great.
What do students enjoy most about the Year Level?
Students in Year Five enjoy the opportunity to shine. They learn new things and are treated as young people, not just young students.
I see the undoubted impact of technology immersing their lives. Children today are digital natives- they have grown up in a world filled with technology and the internet. It is essential to shift our teaching to suit the times. iPads, You Tube clips, 3D Software design, eLearning sites, to name a few, are all cornerstones of teaching and learning in the 21st century classroom. That said, it is just as important to get the basics right. Handwriting, Spelling, Writing and Mathematics are equally important.
My favourite classroom activity
I love implementing learning technologies in the classroom. Devices are tools. They can be used in many subjects to enhance learning. Devices can also allow students to work on different levels to extend their skills. This allows students to learn from the point of what they don’t know.
What do you feel your students get out of this activity?
Through learning devices, students are engaged and challenged. They have the opportunity to design and create. Most of all they have the opportunity to learn.
What difference can good teaching make?
Quality teaching promotes curiosity and innovative thinking. It is the ability to question and to think about a learning task and grow from the experience.
What attributes of your own do you hope your students benefit from?
I strive for my classroom to be a place where students learn through laughter –where students want to come every day in the knowledge that they will be cared for, they will be challenged, they will be curious and they will laugh. All good classrooms have laughter.
Other Hats
Other hats that I wear at Girton include
- Coach of the Girton Gold Basketball Team
- Teacher on the Student Representative Council
- Assist in Junior School Cricket
What are your passions or hobbies outside of work?
Outside of teaching, my passion is my three wonderful children. I also have a very naughty dog Border Collie named Daisy.
In spare time I like to play spend time with family, go bike riding, kayaking, walk the dog and try to landscape my garden, with varying degrees of success.
