Gregory Ryder

I am a devoted Wellness and Physical Education teacher with extensive experience across diverse educational settings, including schools, sports teams, individual coaching, and development environments. Over the years, my expertise has grown in fitness, well-being, lifestyle improvement, and physical education. My teaching philosophy centres on fostering an inclusive and learner-centric environment, accommodating various learning styles and abilities.

My primary aim is to deliver interactive, clear, and participatory learning opportunities. I encourage all students, regardless of their confidence level or academic background, to actively engage in the classroom and ask questions. I believe effective learning happens when there is room for experimentation and growth. In addition to creating a secure environment, I consistently uphold high academic standards, reinforcing school policies and laying a foundation for lifelong and comprehensive learning.

I seek to nurture students' confidence and cultivate essential skills such as collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. My goal is to instil physical skills and confidence in students, empowering them to embrace physical activity and well-being throughout their lives.

Education, for me, is about making a positive impact on students and reaching as many people as possible. Demonstrating to students that they matter and that I genuinely care about their well-being is key to influencing them positively. I aim to share my passion for sports and healthy living, hoping that students will pass on this enthusiasm. I want them to understand that dreams and goals are achievable at any stage in life and to recognize the importance of setting, pursuing, and achieving them.

I am committed to providing a safe, consistent, and nurturing learning environment that caters to diverse students' needs, promoting their academic, social, and emotional development. Through cross-curricular experiences encompassing literacy, numeracy, and digital competency, as well as engaging in high-quality oracy practices during lessons, students will learn through dialogue and deepen their understanding through meaningful interactions with teachers and peers. Using stimulating, interconnected topics, cross-curricular learning motivates children while enhancing their skills, knowledge, and understanding.

As a Physical Education Teacher, I am dedicated to removing barriers and addressing the diverse needs of my students. To facilitate holistic and meaningful learning, I remain open-minded, adaptable, and willing to modify teaching and assessment strategies to suit the diverse student body. It is essential to consider the whole student, acknowledging their various backgrounds, physical differences, and personalities.

My teaching approach is characterized by conscientiousness, thoroughness, and well-organized planning, teaching, marking, assessment, and discipline capabilities. Regular collaboration with colleagues, teaching assistants, specialist coaches, and expert staff members enhances my practice to ensure that all students receive an education tailored to their needs. I strongly believe in evidence-based teaching, commencing each lesson with a recap of prior learning, clearly outlining learning objectives, and referring to them frequently throughout the lesson. When introducing new material, I do so in small, manageable steps, providing model examples when needed and allowing students ample practice time.

Over the past decade, I have served as Head of PE and Curriculum and Athletics Director. These roles have equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies and challenges involved in overseeing sports programs. Successfully leading sports teams, managing sports facilities, and coordinating sports events, I consistently demonstrate the ability to inspire athletes, build strong teams, and cultivate a culture of sportsmanship and camaraderie.