Shaakirah Dunn: Day in the life of a Teacher Reflection

1. How did you cope/manage completing the three days of “Life of a Teacher”

The first day of life of a teacher was nerve-wrecking and a whirlpool of emotions, I was excited to take on all the responsibilities and duties to prepare me when standing in my own classroom one day but, I was also scared of making mistakes. Thankfully, I had great support from my mentor teacher who guided me through everything before I took on my first day. The lessons I taught in the first block of life of a teacher went well, my mentor teacher only taught Mathematics so I was well prepared to teach that subject to the different classes. There were lessons that did not go as planned but I adapted, there were two lessons where learners did not get to complete the activity because the periods were shorter that day, that meant learners had to continue with it in another lesson, I had given them a certain amount of time in the next lesson to complete because I had work planned out for that lesson, I ensured that I allocated enough time so that it would not take away from the teaching and learning and that I would complete my lesson objectives by the end of the lesson. The lesson went the way I had planned it out to be, learners completed the activity and I managed to complete all the worked planned. I did have some classroom management difficulties in the first two periods of my first day as life of a teach that my mentor teacher assisted me with, thereafter, I took a stronger stance in the classroom and I watched how my mentor teacher manages discipline and his strategies were effective, I then implemented it throughout the rest of the day and I was able to control the classroom. In the second block of life of a teacher I managed all the responsibilities successfully, I was fully prepared, I managed my classes effectively, I managed my time to meet the lesson objectives and I catered for the different learning styles.

2. How did you feel taking on all the responsibilities of a teacher in Block 1 compared to Block 2?

In block 1 I felt nervous in performing all the duties and teaching the learners for the first time. In block 2 I was much more confident and comfortable with the learners in the class. I struggled with classroom management in block 1 but I found effective strategies that worked and implemented it in block 2. I felt more prepared for block 2, I felt more confident to teach the lessons. I was able to identify the learning needs of the learners in block 1 and implement effective strategies to support these learners.

3. Which activities did you find most challenging? How did you overcome these challenges?

I found classroom management and the admin most challenging. I underestimated the amount of admin teachers have and the deadlines that need to be met, books needed to be marked before the next lesson, marks had to be collected and handed in, it felt overwhelming in block 1. In block two I managed my time wisely, I was less anxious and planned out the different tasks based on their priority. I also struggled with classroom management and discipline, there are certain ways my mentor teacher disciplined the different classes that just worked for that specific class, I had to adapt and find a way to discipline the different classes and I managed to find effective ways and implement them in block 2.

4. Analyse your results of your self- evaluation survey where would you rate yourself higher?

I would rate myself higher for the point “Newly qualified teachers must be able to manage classrooms effectively across diverse contexts in order to ensure a conducive learning environment." My classroom management has definitely improved after teaching experience, I just had to find effective strategies to manage each class.

5. Justify how you have improved these competencies through this experience

Through this experience my subject knowledge has improved, I worked hand in hand with the CAPS to ensure that I taught learners everything they were required to know. "Newly qualified teachers must know how to teach their subject(s) and how to select, determine the sequence, and pace content in accordance with both subject and learner needs" as each day passed in teaching experience my lessons were better than before, I got to know all my learners better and I was able to identify and accommodate their different learning needs.

6. Look at the exit level outcomes and the final comments of your mentor teacher in your School Assessment Log & Report. Compare this to the initial self-evaluation you had completed at the beginning of your teaching experience.

Comparing the exit level outcomes with my initial self-evaluation I have definitely improved in some areas. My subject, curricular and pedagogical knowledge has been rated higher than what I evaluated myself as well as the reliable methods of assessment to assess learning and improve teaching and learning. In that criteria I can now say It is distinguished, I know I have developed in those areas. My mentor teacher helped me in catering for the different learning styles and my self-evaluation and what he had marked me has remained the same, proficient.