Nikolaos Francis Mcgarry

I am a self-directed, enthusiastic educator with a passionate commitment to the development and learning experience of students. The skill of designing challenging, enriching and innovative activities addresses the diverse interest and learning needs of each unique child. By acquiring outstanding communication skills I am able to present information in a variety of ways, emphasising the relevance of learning material to society and the world beyond the classroom. I am an active team member who effectively collaborates with all levels of staff members and establishes quality relationships with students.
School experience has enabled me to develop and use skills that are necessary to be an effective and outstanding classroom teacher which I have incorporated in my own classroom during my first teaching post. I use a range of teaching methods, including discussions, games,collaborative activities and individual focused tasks. Through development of my own resources, lessons have been interesting, challenging and relevant to pupils’ prior knowledge and skills. I continually endeavour to motivate and encourage pupils through the use of positive feedback and praise. These factors all contribute to the establishment of a rich and purposeful learning environment. The dynamics of children are diverse, so it is vital to listen and respect their thoughts and ideas and offer the relevant support, in order to help them feel confident, positive and safe within the classroom atmosphere.
I monitor and assess pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills through formative and summative assessment and incorporate assessment for learning when planning lessons. Sharing assessment criteria is fundamental for motivating and encouraging progression as well as maintaining focus and ensuring that high standards are met.
I aim to set high expectations for all pupils from the beginning, in terms of behaviour and achievement, whether working with an individual, small group or the whole class. I use this as an approach towards establishing effective classroom management, as well as developing and using a range of other strategies, including use of praise, varying the tone of my voice and setting targets for individuals.

Promoting equal opportunities requires teaching and learning to be set at an appropriate level for each individual. Within a classroom this requires differentiation of activities for those with special educational needs (SEN); those with English as an additional language (EAL) and those who are identified as being gifted or talented (G&T). Access to the curriculum can thus be achieved through appropriate support, encouraged participation, appropriate resources and relevant extension activities.
I continually consider the needs of individuals when planning in order to ensure that all class members can participate, learn and achieve. Educating the child holistically requires planning for the development of pupils socially, morally, spiritually and culturally. To achieve this successfully, respecting and understanding a child’s background is imperative as well as having a robust parental partnership. Having a class with a diverse ethnic mix provides a rich source of learning opportunities for the group as a whole.

Throughout my teaching career, I have acted with the utmost professionalism and have become fully integrated, embracing the school community. Professional development has continued throughout placements by attending staff meetings, school trips, creating display boards and INSET training.
Additionally, attending external subject training such as Ruth Miskin's Phonics training, has supported me in my teaching and learning of Phonics, aiding me to teaching children in Key Stage 1 to the highest standard. I communicate practical and theoretical knowledge of the curriculum subjects at hand, at a level that pupils can relate to. My aim is to extract difficult or complicated tasks and use real life examples or references to expand or explain terms or processes. I am looking forward to learning new concepts and developing my skills in teaching and learning throughout my teaching career and beyond.

I am confident that your school will provide me with a diverse and stimulating environment in which I can further develop my skills to best use.