Samantha Williams
Bunbury,WA
Summary
It is undeniable that we hold a heavy influence on students' lives. To elaborate on this statement, I interpret teachers as the individuals in student’s lives that not only educate them on the formal curriculum but also the hidden curriculum. We influence student’s decision-making towards their learning, their future and societal choices. As a teacher, I am to create a nurturing environment that enriches student’s willingness to succeed whilst connecting it to their aspirations and beliefs. Two theorists that influenced my education as a teacher are Piaget and Gardner. A famous quote that I value from Piaget is "intelligence is what you use when you don't know what to do" - through this quote I have aimed to reflect a classroom that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving strategies and key questioning to guide higher-order thinking. Gardners' theory is we have multiple intelligences; a quote that really resonated with me was "it's not how smart you are, it is how you are smart". Every child is exceptional in their own way - it is the teachers' job to recognise this ability and adopt activities/ strategies that incorporate these abilities, creating a learning environment where every child can succeed.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Childcare Educator
Bunbury Baptist Early Learning Centre
Bunbury, WA
08.2020 - 07.2024
- Coordinated with other staff members effectively in order to provide a cohesive childcare program promoting teamwork and collaboration.
- Enhanced children''s cognitive and social development by implementing age-appropriate activities and games.
- Streamlined daily routines, resulting in increased efficiency and smoother classroom operations.
- Collaborated with parents to address individual child needs and discuss progress reports regularly.
- Implemented hands-on learning opportunities that encouraged exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills among children.
- Developed strong relationships with families, maintaining open communication channels for optimal support of each child''s growth and wellbeing.
- Established a safe, secure, and inclusive classroom setting where all children felt welcomed and valued.
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Ensured the health and safety of children by consistently monitoring their activities both indoors and outdoors.
- Supported the emotional well-being of each child by providing compassionate care during moments of distress or anxiety.
- Promoted positive reinforcement techniques, fostering a nurturing learning environment for all children.
- Continuously updated knowledge on best practices through professional development workshops and training sessions for consistent improvement in teaching methodologies.
Educational Assistant
St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic School
Carnarvon, WA
09.2016 - 07.2020
- Provided support to help students with special needs learn and grow.
- Developed strong rapport with students, fostering trust and mutual respect to create a positive classroom atmosphere conducive to learning.
- Supported students with special needs by adapting lessons and providing necessary accommodations in collaboration with special education staff.
- Encouraged social-emotional growth among students by modeling appropriate behavior and guiding conversations around self-awareness, empathy, and responsible decisionmaking.
- Enhanced classroom management through the implementation of positive reinforcement techniques and clear expectations for behavior.
- Improved student comprehension by utilizing differentiated instructional strategies tailored to individual learning needs.
- Supported student learning objectives through personalized and small group assistance.
- Supported classroom teachers by monitoring behavior, taking attendance, and completing other administrative tasks as needed.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Partnered with teacher to plan and implement lessons following school's curriculum, goals, and objectives.
- Applied specialized teaching techniques to reinforce social and communication skills.
- Participated in professional development opportunities regularly, staying current on pedagogical trends and incorporating new strategies into teaching practices.
- Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall student achievement and wellbeing.
- Assisted in extracurricular activities such as clubs or sports teams, providing additional support for students outside of the classroom setting.
- Collated classroom materials to help teachers prepare for daily instruction and activities.
- Coordinated with other staff members to ensure seamless transitions between classes or grade levels for students requiring additional support services.
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to develop interdisciplinary units, promoting cross-curricular connections and deeper understanding of content.
- Increased parent involvement by maintaining open lines of communication and providing regular updates on student progress.
- Reported on student progress, behavior, and social skills to parents.
- Monitored students on field trips, handling roll call, and group movement to keep youths safe in public settings.
- Administered tests and assessments to evaluate student progress and performance.
- Mentored and tutored individual students needing additional help.
Education
Bachelor of Education - Primary Education
Curtin University
Perth, WA09.2024
Skills
- Patience and Empathy
- Designing Curriculum-aligned Activities
- Experience (Primary and EL)
- Problem-solving and initiative
- Differentiated learning approaches
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Creativity
- Documentation abilities
References
Bunbury Baptist Early Learning Centre
Director: Kylie Reid
Email: elc@bunburybc.wa.edu.au
Phone: 9790 0022
St Marys' Star of the Sea
Principal: Steve O'Halloran
Email: admin@smsc.wa.edu.au
Phone: 08 9941 1328
professional learning
- Good to Great Schools: Explicit Direct Instruction pre-service training.
• Accreditation to work in a Catholic school: Module 1.
- Accreditation to work in a Catholic school: Module 2.
- Accreditation to work in a Catholic school: Module 3.
- Accreditation: Faith story and witness.
- CEWA: Making space for learning.
- Beyond Blue: Affirm.
- Beyond Blue: Embed.
- Protective behaviours workshop.
- Autism Association of Western Australia: Early signs of Autism.
- Autism Association of Western Australia: Understanding and supporting my child's behaviours.
Timeline
Childcare Educator
Bunbury Baptist Early Learning Centre
08.2020 - 07.2024
Educational Assistant
St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic School
09.2016 - 07.2020
Bachelor of Education - Primary Education
Curtin University