Life of a Teacher

Taking charge of all the duties of a teacher for three days was a challenging yet satisfying opportunity that allowed me to see a snippet of what a teacher's daily life looks like. I was given the responsibility of conducting the morning duty which involved traffic control and ensuring that the learners were crossing the road properly, I had to be an overseer at the tuck shop at break time ensuring that the learners were lining up correctly. I also had to conduct math lessons for different classes, and lastly, supervise the afternoon traffic. It was a challenging experience that required planning, and flexibility, but ultimately led to significant personal growth.

During the three days, I was challenged to juggle numerous tasks at the same time, putting my time management abilities to the test, I had to adapt promptly to the high-speed pace of the school day. Juggling classroom teaching with additional tasks such as managing traffic and running the tuck shop was difficult, but I mastered the art of separating each duty and tackling them with concentration and perseverance. Through the establishment of a daily schedule and maintaining order, I was able to successfully finish all tasks, despite the high level of effort required.

In Block 1, the teaching duties were easier to handle as I was slowly introduced to the position. I was working together with my mentor teacher where I could observe closely and take over the duty. Being in charge for two days in Block 2 made me step outside my comfort zone because block 1 enabled me to gain confidence, whereas Block 2 demanded that I utilize all my knowledge and fully take on the role of my mentor teacher, the change in duties helped me understand the seriousness of the job and the endurance needed to manage everything during the school day.

The challenging part was managing teaching math in different classes, while I had other non-teaching responsibilities, teaching mathematics requires concentration, clear communication, and patience, particularly when working with various skill levels in each class. To conquer this challenge, I made sure to prepare the night before by arranging and planning all my lessons and applying active classroom management strategies where I established clear expectations at the start of every lesson to ensure continued control and smooth operation throughout the day.

After going over my self-evaluation survey, I feel much more prepared to start my career than I did at the beginning, my confidence has increased, and my comprehension of the complexities of teaching has broadened. Although there is always space for growth, particularly in juggling multiple responsibilities, I believe I can handle a classroom and meet the many demands of being a teacher. Over time, I have enhanced my adaptability, communication skills, and planning skills, and this last teaching experience reinforced my passion for the profession.

Reviewing my mentor teacher's final remarks in my School Assessment Log & Report, I believe that my progress is in line with the self-evaluation I had. Initially, I recognized classroom management and lesson pacing as crucial areas for improvement and my mentor emphasized how much I had improved in various areas, specifically mentioning my skills in leading, this comparison gave me confidence that I was making good progress and heading in the right direction to become a skilled teacher.

This experience has provided me with valuable skills and insights into the reality of teaching, it strengthened my dedication to the field and made me feel ready to take on the full responsibilities of a teacher.