Students in the third year of the degree programme in Preschool Education received a visit from Anna Alabern, a veteran teacher with more than 45 years of professional experience, who shared her classroom know-how and anecdotes.
Anna Alabern spent most of the session giving advice on how to make it easier to teach phonological awareness by accompanying the sound of each letter with a significant gesture, as well as the art of storytelling. As the teacher explained, “Stories are a great tool for addressing delicate topics in class”. Alabern specified, “Stories should not be read, but told with your own voice and gestures”.
When speaking about the profession of school teacher, Alabern said that the key to being a good teacher is “knowing yourself and how to act in the situation depending on the needs of each boy or girl”. She added, “You have to treat children with respect. Providing them with a relaxed, positive atmosphere creates a better learning experience”.
Though she is retired, Anna Alabern still has ties to this world as a member of the Rosa Sensat Teachers’ Association, a group of Catalan teachers and educators who pursue quality teaching and education in general.
