Thus unit focuses on knowing and understanding your students and developing positive relationships as being foundational to creating effective, supportive and inclusive learning environments, and how strategies for supporting parents/carers’ engagement contribute to achieving this. You will examine the ecology of the learning environment and critically engage with theory and research on best practice, as well as system, curriculum and legislative requirements and apply these and Christian perspectives in order to examine the role and responsibilities of teachers in creating an effective and inclusive learning environment. In this unit you will develop understanding of students at the class and individual level. You will examine variance among students, and teaching strategies that respond to the learning strengths and needs of diverse learners in order to support inclusive student participation and engagement, and create a safe, vibrant, challenging learning environment. The unit covers the principles and strategies for differentiating teaching in response to the learning needs of students with diverse abilities, including a range of communication strategies and relevant ICT. The unit also focuses on understanding student behaviours, including behavioural theory and practices that promote desirable behaviours, as well as examining the influences on and triggers for challenging behaviours, and practical approaches to manage and respond to them. During the unit, you will develop a classroom management plan appropriate to the expected developmental stages and diverse needs of a group of students. You will incorporate and synthesise these areas of focus to begin developing a personal philosophy of teaching. You will engage with the work of experts on diverse learners, teaching, differentiation and classroom management including Colin Marsh, Carol Tomlinson and Peter Senge, and Christian perspectives including the work of Harro van Brummelen and Donavan Graham. Linked to this unit is School Observation B entailing a block of 5 days in a placement school during which you will focus on observing and reflecting on how teachers respond to students’ diversities and range of learning needs, manage students’ behaviour and support student safety and well-being to create supportive and inclusive learning environments. Through conversations with experienced teachers you will expand your knowledge of and reflect on strategies used create effective, supportive and inclusive learning environments. You will attend a preparation class prior to the placement and a debriefing class after completing the placement, both are on-campus classes. Topics: * Classroom ecology – analysing the key elements * Understanding student diversities and the need for inclusive practices to support student engagement and participation * Making connections to school, system, curriculum and legislative requirements that underpin practice * Understanding differentiation – principles and strategies * Knowing the students and responding to student variance through differentiated practices, communication strategies and learning experiences * Creating and managing safe and effective learning environments that support student well-being * Classroom values, rights, responsibilities and rules * Classroom routines and procedures * Promoting positive behaviours and managing challenging behaviours * Classroom management with ICT integration * Designing safe and effective physical spaces * Redefining understandings about our students and engaging parents/carers in building community * Forming a philosophy of teaching and developing reflective practices * School Observation B placement – observing students and experienced teachers