WESLEY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, KUMASI
COURSE TITLE: FOUNDATION
COURSE CODE: EDU 151
INDEX NUMBER: 20877044
NAME: OKYERE AGNES
PROJECT TITLE
Developing a positive mindset towards the
teaching profession
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Introduction
It is almost impossible in our modern age to be ‘naturally’ positive. There is so much fear, scarcity,
violence, resistance, apathy and other negative things thrown at us from every angle. For this
reason, it is absolutely necessary to cultivate a positive mindset to be able to bring out the best in
you. A positive mindset plays a critical role in learning anything. If you maintain positive mindset
it makes you more receptive to new ideas and thoughts. This will in turn make it easier for you to
learn new things.
Having a positive mindset means that you are optimistic about the world around you, and you
expect that good things will happen to you. In other words, it is the practice of focusing on good
in any given situation.
There are a lot of things beyond our control as professional educators. We can’t control poverty,
or what experiences our children have when they are not in school, or the level of cooperation we
receive from parents. Having positive mindset, will enable one to look beyond these setbacks and
look up to the positives in the environment. The wonderful thing about having a positive mindset
is that it does not just affect one area of your life. It affects every area. Positive mindset makes it
easier to achieve your goals. Positive mindset gives one courage to persist in even unfavourable
condition this positive results are yielded
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Methodology
The research focused on how to develop positive mindset towards the teaching profession. The
research was carried out both Rockanje Presbyterian Experimental School and Wesley College of
Education both in Ashanti Region of Ghana. The population comprise of a student and a teacher.
Population was chosen out of random.
The data collection instrument used for the study was interview. Structured interview was used to
maintain the uniformity throughout the study. Both closed-ended questions and open-ended
questions were used. Closed-ended questions were used to understand respondent’s preferences
whiles open ended questions were used to gain more details from respondents.
The researcher used test-retest reliability to validate the data collected. The same questions were
asked from the same population but on different occasions. This was done to confirm their
responses
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FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION IN GHANA
SUBJECT PROJECT FOR 2021/2022
1. Substantial Section 40%
i.
a. Name: Richard Osei
b. Age: 21
c. Parental background (occupation, economic status, no. of siblings)
Occupation – trading
Economic status – actively working and earning income
No of siblings – eight (8)
d. Why did you decide to be a teacher?
I want to become a teacher so that I can make a real difference in children's lives. I take the task
of developing young people into kind, thoughtful and contributing adults very seriously. I have
always been so grateful to my teachers and the educational system for making me the person that
I am today. I only hope that I can make that same kind of positive impact on the minds and hearts
of my learners.
e. Did your family background influence your choice to be a teacher?
No
f. What did you like about teaching?
I love to teach, but I also love to learn; and teaching offers lots of opportunities for learning.
Whether it’s researching a topic related to student interests or questions or exploring new
ideas for how to teach something, I get to explore new ideas a lot. Add a wide mix of cultures
and backgrounds in the classroom and the different experience children bring to the
classroom and I learn something new daily.
g. What is your perception of teaching now?
Teachers are most a times in the news for irresponsible professional behaviours, misconducts of
all kinds including defiling and rape have been leveled against some few bad nuts in the teaching
profession. Also, Bad work ethics such as lateness and absenteeism exhibited by a few teachers do
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not speak well of teachers. This creates problems for the masses of dedicated teachers. Dedicated
teachers do their job and mentor minds, hearts and hands of learners into holistic trained and well
molded members of society.
h. How do you want to improve the perception you have about?
Reporting to work on time, looking presentable to work, abstaining from teacher-student
relationships, abstaining from indecent acts like drinking, smoking etc.
2.
a. Name: Mrs. Osei Priscilla
b. Academic and professional background: B.Ed. Mathematics
c. Why did he/she choose teaching as a profession:
Becoming a teacher gives you the opportunity and privilege of making an impact on society by
shaping the next generation through providing them the tools and knowledge to form their own
opinions, make a contribution, and influence society in the future.
So many children need love, reassurance and attention, and I strive to be that person that builds
them up when no one else ever has. I want to not only tell, but show my students that with
commitment and hard work, they are capable of anything and can be anything that they want to
be. I hope to create a safe place for the children in my classroom, where teamwork and empathy
are rewarded just as enthusiastically as a good test score. Through love and understanding, I
believe that I can help students achieve their highest potential.
d. What did he/she like about the profession:
Kids have amazing ideas and perspectives. It’s fascinating to hear how they approach problems
and explain concepts in their own words. I love the creative ideas they come up with for art and
writing and building and the connections.
Furthermore, I love to teach, but I also love to learn—and teaching offers lots of opportunities
for learning. Whether it’s researching a topic related to student interests or questions or exploring
new ideas for how to teach something, I get to explore new ideas a lot. Add a wide mix of
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cultures and backgrounds in the classroom and the different experience children bring to the
classroom and I learn something new daily.
In addition to, you can share that enthusiasm with students. Nature lovers can bring that into
science lessons or through book selection for reading. You can share a favourite author or
illustrator with your students or use your love of music to help students remember new ideas.
3. What does he/she want to be improved about the profession?

Teachers incentives need to raised

Quality working environment I.e., classrooms, laboratories, libraries, etc. need to be 8n
place

Teaching materials need to readily available
i. Based on the two interviews conducted, develop an action plan to guide your
professional development using the following. Kindly state three Action Plans for
each Approach:
S/N
APPROACH
a.
Appreciating Teaching as a
profession
ACTION PLAN
1. Prepare adequately for every lesson
2. Have your students at heart and always teach in
ways that will suit them
3. Abstain from bad work ethics like truancy,
absenteeism, etc.
b.
Professional Development
1. Always reflect after each lesson to identify your
strengths and weaknesses
2. Always learn widely I.e., learning beyond your field
to have great knowledge
3. Take online and distance programmes to enhance
your knowledge
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c.
Avoiding mistakes of other
Teachers
1. Learn from experiences shared by fellow teachers
2. Ask for help especially when new in school or on
the job
3. Be humble and don’t be too knowing for others
teachers to help you whole heartedly
d.
Developing positive attitude
towards teaching
1. Research and prepare adequately for every lesson
2. Be punctual and manage your time efficiently
3. Seek for methods students grasp content effectively
e.
Appreciating
the
School
Curriculum
1. Study the scope of the curriculum to be able to
identify the complete coverage
2. Identify strategies that will help students grasp
concepts easily and effectively
3. Use examples and samples from immediate
environment to aid comprehension
f.
Appreciating
policies
the
and
School
teaching
environment
1. Know the school policies and collectively,
implement to achieve consistency in school
2. Create positive environment to be able to get the best
your students
3. Improvisation needs to done where resources are
not there
g.
The structure of the new B.Ed.
1. Study the Curriculum to you develop good strategies
Curriculum
to teach and effectively evaluate learners
2. Find practical way of teaching to make learning
easier and enjoyable
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3. Make use of available technologies to fast-track
learning
h.
How to effectively relate to
1. Make it a habit of having meetings to address their
your school community
grievances
2. Establish a good rapport the community
3. Occasionally, let the school community evaluate
you’re your general behaviour towards them and
improve your setbacks
i.
Leveraging on Technology for
1.
Use
teaching and learning
projectors,
technological
among
devices
others,
in
like
computers,
your
learning
environment
2. Guide students to research on subjects using Internet
devices like smartphone and computers
3. Guided and productive use of social media
platforms like Google classroom and zoom
j.
Developing appropriate
strategies for life long learning
1. Try many teaching strategies during your lessons
2. Reflect on the various applied teaching strategies
as a teacher
3. Try to identify the one that suits the students
learning
k.
Inclusive environment for
1. Allow everyone the chance to participate fully in
teaching and learning
class
2.do not discriminate among students; treat all learners
equally
3. Expect response from class as a whole and not
section of learners
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l.
Critical thinking in learning
1. Guide students to come up with General meaning
they have on concepts and develop from there
2. Put students into groups and give them problem
solving questions
3. Do not spoon-fed students but rather provide the
right environment for them come out meaning their
selves
m.
Communication Skills
1. Always communicate with students and colleagues
in English language to enhance your confidence and
ability to speak
2. Learn the rules of the language
3. Use mobile applications that improve your language
speaking and writing skills
n.
Respect for Diversity
1. Take the time to learn about each student’s cultural
background, hobbies, learning styles, and what makes
them unique.
2. Lesson plan needs to incorporate examples from
varying cultural backgrounds.
3. Diversify approach and methods that are used to teach
lessons.
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3. Conclusion (Half a page) 30%
Based on question 3(I), (ii) and (iii), what is your Philosophy of Teaching?
Philosophy of teaching is a self-reflective statement of your beliefs about teaching and
learning. It develops these ideas with specific, concrete examples of what the teacher and
learners will do to achieve those goals. Importantly, your teaching philosophy statement also
explains why you choose these options.
A teaching philosophy is an integral part in learning about a candidate, their willingness to
reflect and change in response to the feedback from students and peers, and their future ideas
and goals for teaching and learning effectiveness.
I believe that all children are unique and have something special that they can bring to their
own education. I will assist my students to express themselves and accept themselves for who
they are, as well embrace the differences of others. Thus, the teacher maximizes the positive
benefits that naturally come along with any self-fulfilling prophecy. With dedication,
perseverance, and hard work, her students will rise to the occasion.
Every classroom has its own unique community; my role as the teacher will be to assist each
child in developing their own potential and learning styles. I will present a curriculum that will
incorporate each different learning style, as well as make the content relevant to the students'
lives. I will incorporate hands-on learning, cooperative learning, projects, themes, and
individual work that engage and activate students learning. I believe that I owe it to my
students, as well as the community, to bring consistency, diligence, and warmth to my job in
the hope that I can ultimately inspire and encourage such traits in the children as well.
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