TFS - Canada's International School

Teaching is a vocation for Kathleen Currie. She cannot recall a time when she did not want to teach, and as a child she liked to teach to her peers. After doing a double major bachelor of arts at the University of Toronto in history and political science, with a minor in English, she went on to acquire a bachelor of education at OISE, and took additional qualifications (AQs) in guidance and French as a second language. This Montreal native, now in her second year at TFS, is a guidance and learning resource teacher at the Junior School, working in the Learning Forum. In this role, she supports the classroom teachers by suggesting different learning strategies, or by taking part in small groups to allow teachers the time to work with an individual student or with another group. She also teaches lessons on a Kathleen Currie: Kathleen Currie: The Leading Light The Leading Light Guidance and Resource Teacher, Junior School Guidance and Resource Teacher, Junior School "What is important is that a student finds the solutions on his or her own and views this process as an opportunity to grow." variety of topics, such as how to be a good friend or how to manage one's emotions. Ms. Currie likes to tell her students that school is supposed to be complex, challenging and confusing, but that only by challenging ourselves do we learn and grow. Every time we practise something, we are building layers on that neuron in the brain, so it is not so much a question of natural ability as one of personal effort. Ms. Currie practises what she preaches. She is constantly learning in order to find new and better strategies to help teachers in the classroom and students in their work. Insatiably curious, she stays current and informed by reading every book she can get her hands on about whatever subject she might be interested in, and by networking and attending conferences. She enjoys distilling information for others and sharing what she learns with her fellow educators. She is appreciative of their support and input as well, and enjoys the collegial aspect of TFS, describing her Learning Forum team as rich in ideas, thoughtful and curious. She also thrives on the dynamics of the classroom. For Ms. Currie, a classroom is a living organism, with its mix of personalities and all the factors that make each day different. Helping students is the challenge she loves the most. "They could be struggling with writing, reading or with math, but as a guidance teacher it is my job to find out if there is an underlying issue preventing a student from learning. For instance, students who don't feel calm or supported can face challenges in learning. What is important is that a student finds the solutions on his or her own and views this process as an opportunity to grow. Sometimes the difference in just the space of a year can be amazing. I'm actually happy when a student who has needed a lot of support from me in the past no longer needs me." 30 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2016

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