The Professional Knowledge domain stresses a deep understanding of my students and the subject matter I am required to teach. I acknowledge that developing a solid understanding of content is not only my professional responsibility as a teacher but also an ethical obligation to my students. Additionally, I need to understand the physical, social and intellectual development of my students and how this affects their learning. I strongly believe in cultivating a deep understanding of how students learn, acknowledging the importance of their cognitive development (Piaget, 1936) in conjunction with how the brain processes and stores information (Sweller, 1988). 

Lastly, positive teacher-student relationships serve as the foundation for effective learning to occur. Pierson (2017) supports this by stating “students don’t learn from teachers they don’t like”. Consequently, students are more likely to engage in their learning and seek guidance when they trust their teachers. I particularly like this quote as I believe it highlights the importance of making a connection with every student as positive teacher- student relationships are at the centre of successful teaching and learning.