Life of a teacher Reflection

This blog post will be about my experience in my three days of "Life of a Teacher" during my teaching experience.

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

I coped well with my three days of my "Life of a Teacher" days as I had a strong support system as my mentor teacher guided me through the days as best as she could the day before so that I felt prepared and knew what to expect for my days of "Life of a Teacher". It definitely was not what I was expecting as there was a lot of different aspects that I did not know about until being put in the position of being a teacher for a full day and not only doing one lesson.

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

I felt more prepared and felt as though I knew what to expect in Block 2 compared to Block 1. I was extremely nervous for Block 1 "Life of a Teacher" as this was the first time that I would be taking on all the responsibilities of a teacher, however I prepared the best I could with the help of my mentor teacher and everything went smoothly. In Block 2, I felt more prepared, as I knew what to expect this time. I was still a bit nervous, as I knew that many different things could come up unexpectedly as a teacher and I would have to take on those responsibilities. However, nothing unexpected came up and I definitely think that Block 2 went better than Block 1.

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

I felt as though preparing for more than just one lesson was the most challenging for me as there was a lot of preparation that went into preparing for the "Life of a Teacher" days. There was PowerPoint presentations with all the different subjects that were going to be taught that day as well as making sure that you are meeting the requirements of CAPS and not just making lessons to keep the learners busy. There is making worksheets, printing the worksheets as well as making the lesson plans per lesson that I was to teach. I overcome these challenges by preparing to the best of my ability and if I forgot anything, I believed in my ability to be a teacher and think on my feet.

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

I would rate myself higher on having a sound subject knowledge, pacing the content, having a highly developed literacy, numeracy and Information Technology (IT) skills as well as having a positive work ethic, display appropriate values and conducting themselves in a manner that benefits, enhances and develops the teacher profession.

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

I have done a lot of research into the subject knowledge and gained knowledge through doing these "Life of a Teacher" days. I have tested my IT skills as well as literacy and numeracy skills. I have learnt to pace the content well throughout the day and I have conducted myself in a manner that is appropriate and I have had a positive work ethic throughout the experience.

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

My mentors final comments suggested that I have grown a lot as a teacher personally and professionally which I agree with as I would rate myself higher in many of the competencies now than I did at the beginning of my "Life of a Teacher" days.