Name: Alda Benjamen
Contact: alda_benjamen@yahoo.com
Position: Teacher/ Student
Field: Education and Near and Middle Eastern Studies
What is your Educational Background? (i.e. Degree, Diploma, Certificate, etc.)Completed?
• Bachelor of Science with Honours (Specialized in Psychology)-York University 1994
• Bachelor of Education (Junior/Intermediate-Science)-OISE @ U of T 1995
Working towards:
• Near and Middle Easter Studies
Are there any Special Certifications/Licenses Required? If so, please describe them?
*To become a certified teacher a university degree must be acquired, and followed by a Bachelor of Education from an accredited university.
*There are three types of divisions with in teaching: Primary, Junior/Intermediate, and Senior. Each division adheres to specific grade levels and specialization (i.e. concentration in a specific subject; for instance, Biology, Computer Science, Political Science…etc.).
Primary: Kindergarten - grade 3- No teaching subject required.
Junior: Grades 4 - 6 - No Teaching subject required.
Intermediate: Grades 6 – 10 - One Teaching subject required (i.e. Science, Phys. Ed. Math).
Senior: Grade 10 – 12 – Two Teaching subjects required.
*Further Professional Development Certificates might be preferred or required by specific school boards, and can usually be completed at Teacher’s College or offered by School Boards.
*Such Certificates or Additional Qualifications might include the following:
• Special Education
• English as a Second Language
• First Steps Writing
• Tribes Learning Community
What are the Day-to-Day Responsibilities in your Position?
• Addressing Ontario Curriculum expectation and planning lessons/units accordingly
• Implementing planned lessons and teaching them to students
• Assessing student learning, and progress and reporting periodically to parents
• Assisting and supporting students and scaffolding their skills
• Modifying curriculum expectations and accommodating to student’s unique learning styles and special needs
What is the Work Environment for an Entry Level Position? (i.e. Clientele type, Working Space, etc.)?
An Entry level teacher, similar to a senior teacher, is given a regular Homeroom classroom (specifically in elementary schools, High school Teachers rotate to different classrooms) and between 25-30 students. However, since first year can be challenging, new Teachers are usually assisted by grade or division partners during the academic year.
What is the Highest Position you can reach in this Field and Describe it’s Work Environment?
Teachers can complete additional qualification courses that are offered regularly at various Universities. Acquiring such qualifications or entering a graduate program will allow teachers to advance in their career in various fields that include: Teaching an upper division, becoming a department head, working in administration (principal, superintendent, Board of Education), and teaching as a University Professor).
What is the Most Valuable Thing you have learned in your Career?
Throughout my teaching experiences I have come to realize that teaching is a very noble occupation. It is very important to create a safe, inclusive atmosphere and approach each subject taught with enthusiasm. Students spend about half of their day in a school setting; consequently, it is crucial for teachers to develop a rapport with students, and allow them to communicate with them regarding educational and social issues. Further, an understanding of diversity and equity is needed. Students come from different cultural and educational backgrounds and as such teachers must be empathetic, patient and understating and take into account students’ varied experiences and individual learning needs.
In order to address all of Ontario’s curriculum expectations, and assess student’s progress, a lot of inter-curriculum integration is required. Therefore, it is vital to be organized, creative and flexible.