It's only been 5 months since I walked across the stage and was handed my teaching degree and nearly 3 months since I stepped in the classroom all on my own in Melbourne. That day was terrifying but in this short time I have had the opportunity to grow and learn as a teacher. Being a supply teacher was a challenge - as most students did not want to take you seriously but I can now say that having your own class can be difficult as well. Not difficult in the sense that the children are not following rules etc. but difficult because everyday you change the way you organize yourself (lesson plans), find new management strategies, follow curriculum, and just trying to find enough time in the day to fit everything in.
Words can not express how much I have learned since gaining my position as a teacher at Bundalaguah Primary School. The staff there is amazing and everyday I am learning how to better my teaching strategies. Not all days are easy- as us teachers know- but I always try to look at those days as learning experiences. I might ask myself: Why didn't that lesson work? What could I have done? How could I have made that more engaging? etc. Just as I have done during my teaching placements in university, I still write monthly plans, weekly plans, and from there write daily plans. One thing I have learned to do more often is preparing different learning centers which has the students working together and doing independent exploring, which leaves me time to work one on one with a group. I have also become more comfortable with Smart Board technology and using the computers in a lesson
I arrived half way through term 3 and now that we are into term 4 I have a permanent schedule which looks like(it seems chaotic but I love it! haha):
Monday: At Bundalaguah(generally) as a CRT
Tuesday: P.E Teacher at Araluen Primary until 1:00pm- then grade1/2 class till home
Wednesday: Prep(kindergarten)/1/2 Spelling, Prep Time, Prep ICT/Art till lunch, 2/3/4 Art class until home
Thursday: Prep Spelling, 3/4 class until lunch, 5/6 class till home
Friday: Prep Spelling, 5/6 class rest of the day.
Although I am not with these classes 100% of the time I am still responsible for the lesson planning and I attend all staff meetings, PD sessions and I am still involved in assessment discussions and long term planning. This schedule definetely keeps me on my toes! I love teaching and I know its what I want to do in life! I am going to be so sad leave!
Enjoy some of the pics I have time to snap during one of my days!:
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| All ready to go! |
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| Working on subtraction with a grade two student |
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| Maths games on the computer |
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| Subtraction again |
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| Prep/1/2 class |
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| Handprint dragons we made |
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| Me, teaching art to the 5/6 class |
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| Charcoal portraits |
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| Cricket day with the 5/6's |
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| The blue tongue lizard that lives in the school garden |
