Me, on my teaching journey

Carmel Debel
Jul 22, 2017 · 2 min read

It wasn’t that long ago I found myself sitting in a year 10 Maths class struggling to help a student understand his algebra worksheet. Of course I understood basic algebra and how to use letters to work out problems. At the time it seemed simple that letters could be substituted with numbers from a key to derive an answer. However this concept was something the student couldn’t get his head around.

Knowing this student achieved well using visual props I decided to use the letter concept and replace letters with objects. Goggling visual problem solving and using objects collected from around the school grounds the students began to solve problems and feel pride in accomplishing this math concept. The feeling of seeing a student learn something new and come to that ‘Oh’ moment is amazing.

While I was able to support students in class I found I lacked essential tools. Those tools were what teachers had — a teaching style to accommodate every kind of learner and the skills to share multiple ways of doing something in a safe environment. I started considering how to get more skills…..uni? surely I couldn’t….. there is no way I could be smart enough….. I already work full time…. people would see me fail…. however, I could be a role model? What if I actually did it, became a teacher?

Today, I a take a seat in a technology class at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney, almost 2500 km away from my home in Cairns. I am here in the hope of finishing one unit at a time and getting one step closer to my Bachelor of Education. My teaching journey begins with me obtaining the tools and skills so that I can assist student’s reach their full potential and fur fill their dreams.

Carmel Debel

I am currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Education — Primary at ACU Strathfield. I am interested in encouraging individual’s to reach their full potential.

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