Every day is a ‘big adventure’
For Michaela Austin every day is a celebration of milestones for some of the most special young minds in the Gold Coast.
Ms Austin, who has worked at Mudgeeraba State Special School for six years, said teaching prep students like Iyla-J and Harrison often meant no two days were the same.
“Our prep students this year are adventurous, fun, eager to learn,” Ms Austin said.
“They bring so much joy to all our junior teachers and teacher-aides each day. (They’ve) taught us to be creative, use our imaginations and to have fun while getting messy.”
At Mudgeeraba State Special School, each child is taught and catered to according to their special needs throughout junior, middle and senior school.
And as students like Iyla-J and Harrison progress through school, partnerships with community and businesses mean they will have the opportunity to further develop skills and gain access to “real world” opportunities.
For Ms Austin, the most rewarding moment as a prep teacher is helping her students kickstart that journey. In December last year, the school officially opened a new “Dino Raceway”, a fun and interactive outdoor learning space, partly funded by Bond University, the Gaming Community Fund, Rueben Pelerman Benevolent Foundation, P&C and the local community.
Ms Austin said resources like the Dino Raceway and in-school events like concerts and shows helped students to reach their individual learning goals.
“Each key learning area is taught through ageappropriate pedagogies, so our day is filled with lots of hands-on learning of real-life experiences, lots of movement, sensory exploration and most importantly a whole lot of fun,” she said.
“I have always been passionate about helping others and making a difference. Teaching has allowed me to have a positive impact on other lives and be a role model for young learners.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin’s My First Year series celebrates your child’s first steps into school. Don’t miss exclusive access to the photos online.