Didactic assignment 7

1. DIDACTIC
ASSIGNMENT 7
Student: Mariela Gisela Iannaci
Año: 2018

2. Constructing our Student - Teacher Identity through Reflective
Practice.

3. When I started studying this subject, I thought that it was not going to be an easy goal to
reach. Nevertheless, I love facing great challenges and I considered that it has been one of
them.
This subject has enriched and shaped my knowledge and I reflect on the following citation:
According to Johnson (2009): “…how and why teachers do what they do.” I mean that I
analyze all the thing that I must do as a teacher.
Another relevant point is that I have always applied all the issues which I learnt from this
subject. For instance: when I receive feedback, I become aware of my strengths and
mistakes. With respect to my mistakes, I take them and I propose to enhance them in future
situations. In this way, I have been constructing knowledge and I will be doing so through all
my experiences. This subject leads me on my learning journey which is a winding path.
How do you feel when first started studying this subject? (The being area)

5. Considering the knowledge area, I have learnt relevant theories, principles and strategies which
are fundamental to integrate within lesson plans.
With respect to theories and principles, they have offered me different points of view such as:
(Beloglovsky & Daly,2015)
• Knowing and interpreting specific children`s behavior and abilities which help teachers to
know what to look at when they work with young learners;
• Providing a comprehensive way to understand how I can organize and reflect on my lesson
plans;
• Reflecting on my own practices.
Also, I learnt how to apply different strategies within lesson plans. It allows me to focus on the
contents and skills and what I expect children to learn from the EAL learning experiences. I plan
with the purpose of developing their knowledge and capacities.
Finally, I have understood the prominent role of play, multimodality and creativity for
children`s development and how these aspects give children the possibility to construct their
own knowledge.
What knowledge do you feel you have gained so far in this subject?
(The knowing area)

6. This image represents the linking between theory and practice in my
learning. I mean that it is part of my process of my own identity.

7. With respect to the doing area, I considered that teaching to young children is a
significant challenge for me for the following reasons:
• When I plan a lesson, they must contain meaningful games and multimodal
activities. In this way, the lessons allow children to engage in exploration, discovery
to construct and make meaning of the world.
• After practice, I reflect on what practices that went right or wrong, in so doing, I
analyze what could be improved in future actions. In this way, it provides me “..the
potential to engage me in an analytical process.” (Gibb, 1988) It makes me
reconsider potentialities which I have to reinforce to get positive results.
As a future teacher, I think that I must give the best of me to foster “..children to
develop mentally and emotionally through play and multimodality.” (class booklet,
unit 5, 2018)
What are the challenges and potentialities of teaching at an early age?
(The doing area)

8. This image reflects on my self-reflection about my challenges and potentialities of teaching
children at an early age.

9. I strongly believe that I have picked the right path which contains my motivations, aspiration
and desires to become an outstanding teacher. However, I know that it is a long way and I still
have much to learn. On the one hand, sometimes I feel stuck on the way but it is not an
impediment for me. In these moments, I try to overcome to face my obstacles to pursue my
purposes. Some other times, I consider that I am making a great progress and it makes me feel
proud of myself and I feel motivated to go ahead.
To conclude, the path is not easy but I completely agree with Vygotsky (2007) when he asserts
that: “ … connecting everyday and scientific concepts rest on the principle of ascent from the
abstract to concrete”. It helps me to reexamine my everyday understanding through my
experiences. It allows me for a conceptual change in teaching practices and deepen my views
and knowledge.
How would you describe the path you have undergone as EAL student teacher
of very Young children? (The becoming area)

10. This image represents that it is a long way and I still have much to learn

11. Teacher identity is constructed in a relationship between the personal self and the
professional self, through interactions with others. It responses to the social cultural,
historical and ideological contexts in which we live and work. (Davey, 2013, p: 163). It
is part of my construction as a teacher and my identity construction which is a
dynamic process.
As a teacher-to-be, I construct my knowledge - building within and educational
community. It means that I take relevant teachers´ experiences to enrich my own
learning. Since then, I apply them to my lesson plans to enhance my practice as a
teacher to be.
All in all, I also believe that my theoretical and practical knowledge I gained helps
other early educators recognize my qualifications.
In what ways may recognition by other members of the educational
community influence your self-image? (The belonging area)

12. This image refers to when other teachers share their experiences. In this way, I can access to
wider discourses and practices and I learn from them. Moreover, I also contribute to other
teacher´s practices since I may have different viewpoints and experiences.

13. I strongly believe that I am on the right path!!