Life of a Teacher

How did I cope completing the three days?

I must admit that I was nervous on the first day, but as the day progressed, I applied what I learned in lectures as well as the knowledge and skills I gained in the classroom during my previous years. This made the day run much more smoothly, and when there were difficulties, I was able to readjust the classroom. The next few days were spent determining which classroom management tool works best for that specific class (as I was in multiple classes) and how these specific learners are stimulated. Overall, I saw it as an opportunity to develop as a person and a teacher. As a teacher, I discovered a lot about myself.

How did I feel taking the responsibility of the teacher?

As a teacher, I felt at ease accepting responsibility because I was able to apply my own teaching strategies and classroom management styles and see for myself what worked and what did not work. Smaller classrooms, as opposed to my previous teaching practicums, put my mind at ease because my classroom management in larger classrooms had been relatively successful. I was excited to finally get the chance to be the 'teacher'.

 

What activities did I find challenging? How did I overcome them?

When I was put in a classroom as a substitute teacher and there was little to no prep available, I had to think on my feet to keep the learners occupied until I had time to ask the other teachers what needed to be done for that specific day. Another thing I found difficult was figuring out the learners' routines and what worked best in that particular classroom. This included classroom management and what was and was not permitted to be done or said. It was critical for me to be firm from the start and lay out my rules and expectations together with the class. When my learners became a little too loud or rowdy, I used my classroom management tool, brain breaks. This allowed learners to reset and refocus on the task at hand.

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Would I rate myself higher on the self-evaluation test? Justify how I improved.

My self-evaluation test would remain unchanged. When I finished the test, I felt confident in my abilities as a teacher; even though I still have a lot to learn and will continue to learn throughout my life, I believe there is always room for improvement and growth. During my time at this school, I believe I have grown as a person by stepping outside of my comfort zone and, more importantly, as a teacher by appreciating and comprehending my teachers' teaching styles and classroom management methods as well as believing in my own abilities.

Feedback from my mentor teacher and comparison to my self-evaluation.

My mentor teacher's feedback was both informative and positive. She helped me recognize and appreciate my own strengths as a teacher and as a person. She pushed me out of my comfort zone on numerous occasions, which essentially helped me grow and see things in a new light. My self-evaluation reflected my work and passion, as evidenced by feedback from my mentor teacher.