Day in the life of a teacher

All I can say is wow. Nobody fully understands the roles and responsibilities of Foundation Phase teachers until they stand in their shoes for a day. Completing three days "in the life of a teacher" without assistance has been an eye-opening experience. It has deepened my appreciation for the dedication and hard work that educators put into their profession. I've gained a better understanding of the challenges they face, from lesson planning to managing classrooms and addressing individual student needs. These days have reinforced the importance of patience, adaptability, and effective communication in teaching. It's clear that teaching goes beyond simply imparting knowledge; it involves nurturing young minds, fostering a positive learning environment, and being a source of support for students. I've also learned that time management is crucial as a teacher, as balancing various responsibilities can be demanding. It's not just about teaching lessons but also about assessing progress, providing feedback, and constantly improving one's teaching methods. Overall, this experience has left me with a profound respect for teachers and the crucial role they play in shaping the future. It's a challenging yet immensely rewarding profession, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to step into their shoes, even if only for a few days. I do believe that I was able to manage my three day in the life experiences well and gained valuable experience as a 'real' teacher. I can also reflect on the fact that my 2nd and 3rd day in the life experiences were easier than the first as I was not so anxious, I had a good understanding of the school routine and processes and I knew my students better than I did before.

My days started around 7am when students began arriving at school. As soon as the first student enters the school, your responsibilities as the class teacher begin. From 7am until the last school bell rang, I felt that I assumed many roles other than being a teacher – being a doctor, a personal assistant, a general manager, a care taker, an assistant… the list goes on and on - which was a challenge. As soon as the first bell rang, it was straight into the swing of things as we had line up, register and tuck-shop orders. My anxiety at the prospect of the days immediately subsided as my Grade 3s shared smiles, hugs and laughs with me first thing in the morning.

When my class went out to specialist teachers, it was not a 'free lesson' or break, it was into marking and prep for the rest of the session, all while still having to keep an eye and ear out for students, staff and parents. When students were back in the classroom, it was straight back into maths, English and science lessons, all of which need concentration, engagement and application. I did my best to keep the lessons fun and light hearted to ensure my students were able to follow along and enjoy the process of learning rather than feeling as if they are forced to sit through long, boring lessons. As exhausting as school may be for teachers, it is important to remember that young minds tire too. Keeping up with the crazy school day was a challenge for me as I like to spend time perfecting lessons, however, I learnt to adapt and I got through it all.

My students engaged with me throughout the days, which, when you are just one teacher with 22 students, can be exhausting. At the end of each of the three 'day in the life' days, by the time the bell rang for the end of school, my eyes were ready to close and my words were running short. As soon as the clock ticked 2.30pm, I was absolutely exhausted. I could have slept right there at school! Albeit they were three very successful days where I accomplished a lot, learnt and achieved my goals, I was so done. I have never felt so tired and ready to sit down and do nothing. Hats off to all teachers – I have a new respect for the multi-faceted role you play every day. I guarantee that the work of a teacher is the most important job anyone could ever have, after all, every person in the world has had a teacher. I am proud to be a part of this profession, to share my love of teaching and to do what I love every day. Bring on tomorrow, and the rest of my life. I am ready to teach! On analysis of my self-evaluation survey, I believe that I evaluated myself successfully and that I was able to uphold the high standards of which I hold myself accountable. Through the three days of teaching, I developed my passion for the profession, learnt how it feels to be a class teacher and the amount of responsibility it takes. I have developed my teaching competencies hugely and am now feeling ready to take on the role of a class teacher. My mentor teachers comments and results for my three day in the life days align well with what I have mentioned. Although there is room for improvement, I believe I am ready to take on the challenges and experiences of being a full time teacher and that I am competent in the profession.