Teaching Log Reflections

Life Of A Teacher

Being a teacher is like guiding stars, illuminating the path of knowledge and creativity. Their dedication and passion inspire students to dream bigger and reach higher. Ever since I was much younger, I have always wanted to become a teacher, and I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to be one and experience the reality of it.

I felt as the day progressed, I felt more calm and confident in my duties as the teacher. With regard to the ‘day in the life’ days, the first day out of the three was by far the most challenging. I was still in the process of learning all the students' names and understanding each learner's unique needs and learning competencies. So out of all three days, I would say the first day was the most difficult. The second day was a bit easier than the first, but I still found myself needing additional support from my mentor teacher. This was mainly because I was working on establishing my authority and reminding the students that I was, indeed, a teacher and they still need to respect me as such. Some students did not take me very seriously when teaching lessons, so it was difficult to correct that but in the end they respected me the same as their normal teacher. By the third day, however, things took a turn for the better. I managed to handle everything independently and didn’t require any assistance from my mentor. The students responded well; they paid attention, grasped the new material I was teaching, and followed all instructions accurately. Overall, it felt like a significant improvement and a successful conclusion to my initial days of teaching. I am walking out feeling a lot more comfortable and confident in my degree, as well as my methods in teaching students. I do believe I can work on being a bit too friendly with the students, but I am sure that will also develop through experience and practice.

I felt a lot more confident within myself completing the duties in Block 2. Taking on all the responsibilities in Block 2 was definitely a lot easier compared to Block 1. In Block 1, I was still navigating the basics, such as figuring out what communication books were and what to do with them, where all the students various books were stored, how to mark the books correctly, and the locations of different rooms within the school, the fields, etc. There was a lot of information to absorb and a lot of new routines to establish. By the time Block 2 rolled around, I was much more prepared and had a better grasp of the layout and logistics of the school. I had become more familiar with handling the learners, which allowed me to manage my tasks more efficiently. Being around the students for longer times allowed me to pick up on their learning abilities and preferences which made me feel more comfortable in teaching my lessons. Although being the teacher for the day remained a challenging and exhausting endeavor, gaining experience made a significant difference and confirmed my decision to study education. With each day, I grew more comfortable in my role and felt increasingly confident in fulfilling my responsibilities.

During my 'day in the life' days, the activity I found most challenging was swapping out the readers. The reason for this is my mentor teacher didn't allow me to get involved in this task until the last two ‘day in the life’ days, which meant I didn’t have much familiarity with the process until then. She was very particular about how the readers were handled and made sure to explain the procedure to me in detail. It took a few days of hands-on practice to get the hang of it and become proficient as I, of course, wanted to complete them perfectly. One of the difficulties was finding the time to complete the reader swaps during the busy school day during my ‘day in the life’. I was constantly occupied with standing and teaching, as well as other duties, so fitting this task into my schedule was a bit tricky. However, I made the most of the break periods and any free time I had to catch up on this responsibility. Over time, I became more efficient and adept at managing this part of the job and did not need to use break time and free time to complete it.

I feel quite ready to step into the teaching profession. Of course, I’m a bit nervous about the first year since it will be a completely new experience where I’ll be responsible for making all the decisions, and of course not having additional assistance from my mentor. Despite this, I am incredibly excited about the journey ahead and the experiences I am yet to see. I’ve prepared myself thoroughly with a range of teaching strategies, assessment methods, and general approaches to ensure I can be the best teacher possible. I’m confident that as I continue to teach, I’ll refine my skills and gain more insights over the months. Teaching is a practical career, and I’m eager to learn and adapt through hands-on experience. While I know I’m not a perfect teacher yet, I’m committed to putting in my utmost effort to continually improve and grow in the role.

After completing my self-evaluation, I arrived at an overall outcome of distinguished and proficient. This assessment reflects my confidence in my readiness to embark on my teaching journey and to take on the role of my own teacher. However, I recognize that there are still areas where I can improve and grow. I firmly believe that education is a lifelong journey, and as a teacher, the opportunities for learning are abundant. Each year brings a new group of students with unique needs, backgrounds, and perspectives, and this diversity will challenge me to adapt and refine my teaching methods. I see every classroom as a chance to learn something new, not just about my students but also about effective educational strategies and approaches. With each passing year, as I gain more experience and encounter different teaching situations, I will be able to build on various aspects of my professional and personal life. I am committed to continuously evolving and striving for excellence in my teaching practice. By embracing feedback, reflecting on my experiences, and seeking out professional development opportunities, I am determined to become the best teacher I can be. The path ahead is filled with potential, and I am excited to see how I will grow alongside my students.

My mentor teacher rated me as ‘Proficient’ in the following:

• Demonstrate sound subject, curricular and pedagogical knowledge through the practice of teaching.

• Identify and adapt teaching methods to the unique needs of learners in diverse settings.

• Use and develop reliable methods of assessment to assess learning and improve teaching and learning.

  
  

She also rated me as ‘Distinguished’ in the following:

• Reflect critically on practice, skills and ethics to enhance professionalism in the teaching profession.

  
  

From the beginning of Block 1 to the end of Block 2, I believe I have improved and feel a lot more confidence in my teaching abilities and skills. I have never questioned my degree as I have always wanted to become a teacher, but this teaching experience couldn’t have confirmed it enough for me. I enjoyed and loved every moment and appreciated every lesson and feedback I was given and able to learn from. I look forward to the new adventures life offers me in 2025 and I can confidently say that I am ready.