Meet a Teacher

Mrs Tabatha Peter

Life before Girton

I started my career as a Physical Education Teacher at Moorabbin Primary school. In this role I organised sports carnivals, swimming sports and weekly sporting teams such as netball, football, rounders and volleyball as well as teaching the Physical Education curriculum from Preparatory to Year Six. I was also involved in the District Association of sports and worked in a team to run district carnivals. After Two years in this position and wanting to develop my classroom teaching skills I was placed into a Grade Six Class which I taught for 5 years. From there:

Was involved in a literacy Cluster group looking at best practices in Literacy for Middle Years.
Moved to Grade One
Whilst I had my first child I did Casual Relief Teaching around the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne
Gained Full time Position at Carrum Downs Primary School and taught Grade 5 two years
Taught Prep 6 Months
Girton Grade 6 Position

What I Love about Teaching

Teaching is a profession where no two days are ever the same. Each day upon arrival at school you never know what you will get. One thing is for absolute certain is that you will be welcomed by smiling faces and students that are eager to learn. It is that eagerness to learn that inspires me to be the best teacher I can be. I learn so much from each student I teach. A catch phrase I employ in my classroom is you can’t do it YET! When a student achieves a goal they have set, the pride and sense of accomplishment they display, is what I teach for. There is nothing better than to see the light bulb moment. I feel extremely privileged and humbled to witness this every day.

What is the best thing about teaching at Girton?

Working with inspiring and motivating people every day. It is the sense collegiality and support that each staff member shows that makes coming to work enjoyable. I love being involved in the Co-Curricular Activities as I get to work with a different age group of students in fields that I am passionate about.

What do you like best about the year level you teach?

In teaching Year One, everything is still brand new and exciting for students. They are learning to write and form letters and numbers correctly. It is wonderful when they make connections with the world around them. I really enjoy when you introduce a concept and the next day the students come back stating that they found a word or a pattern at home. In Year One it is lots of singing and dancing and enjoying the power of reading that is most enjoyable.

My favourite classroom activity

Students enjoy picture story books and classroom novels. It allows their imaginations to grow as well as learning valuable life lessons through characters. There is so much you can do with one picture story book and the students and teachers enjoy the variety of lessons that go with each book. It also teaches students the love of literature.

What difference can good teaching make?

I truly believe that a good teacher motivates and inspires their students to be the best they can be by believing in them and developing that sense of belief in themselves. When a student feels valued and knows that their teacher believes in them, then they can achieve anything they set their mind too. My one attribute I hope that my students develop is motivation. Motivation to be better than you were yesterday in everything that you do. To achieve this is to know where you are going, work hard and don’t give up until you achieve your goal.

Other Hats

Outside of school I enjoy running. I have completed the Melbourne Marathon and wish to complete the Gold Coast Marathon. I am extremely passionate about netball. I played for numerous years at State League Level. Unfortunately due to a knee injury I no longer play. That is what I love most about the Co-Curricular program at Girton. I get to incorporate my hobbies of running with the City to Surf program and coaching netball with the Senior School. I also enjoy Tournament of Minds and seeing the creative and intelligent young minds at work.