Taking on the role of a teacher was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
I think that I managed quite well in this role. I felt like I had a lot more control in the second block because I got to know the students a lot more during this time. In block one, I still felt like an outsider who was trying to familiarise herself in the school culture and environment.
I found classroom management to be difficult in the first block especially because I was still getting used to the school. As time progressed, I learnt how to deal with it and found common ground with the learners. The classroom management tool I made in second block helped with this issue which is why I have decided to keep this as a future tool.
I also found break duties a bit difficult because there was a lot of issues with bullying amongst the grade 7 learners. As a teacher, it was difficult to handle this situation which is why I made sure to speak to my mentor teachers about this so that the issues could be resolved.
Earlier in the year, I completed a beginner teacher competency survey. I looked through this again and saw areas which I have improved on. I would increase my results in communication, in supporting learner needs, in my subject knowledge, as well as reflection. I would make these proficient because I have slowly started to build and develop in these areas during my time at the school.
I have improved in my communication by taking the time to get to know my learners. This has helped me a lot because I would know how to approach them in a way that would be beneficial which further allowed me to help support their learning needs. I also improved a lot on my subject knowledge. I made sure to go the extra mile to make the work exciting. I would do additional research on topics and find various ways to implement these into my lessons.
I also started reflecting a lot more on my lessons. This really helped me understand what I can change and where I can improve in the classroom. The more lessons I taught, the more I could see where change was needed and how I could implement this to make a change.
My mentor teacher told me that I developed well and that she could see the improvement from block one and two. I received verbal feedback from her. She reassured me and made me feel like I am ready to take the next step in my life and in my career.
https://st101207818.wixsite.com/teaching-blog/post/life-of-a-teacher
The student teacher is very interested in her education and in growing as a teacher in general. In order to reach her long-term objective, she takes the extra effort and makes sure to grow personally in a variety of ways. She enjoys what she does and would love to support a wide range of students as they work toward becoming better teachers.
Your reflection on your journey as a teacher provides a valuable glimpse into your evolving experience and growth during the two teaching blocks. It's evident that you have come a long way in developing your skills and classroom management. Your willingness to learn and find common ground with the students is admirable.
The challenges you faced with break duties and bullying among the grade 7 learners demonstrate the complexities of being a teacher. Seeking guidance and support from mentor teachers is a positive step in addressing such issues, and it highlights your dedication to creating a safe and nurturing learning environment.
Student teacher shows a lot of interest in her studies and in her development as a teacher as a whole. She puts in the extra initiative and makes sure to develop herself in many ways to accomplish her long term goal. It is evident that she loves her career and would love to help many diverse learners in the process of developing herself as a teacher.