Teaching is not just about the child’s learning process, but also about the development of the teacher. I chose the teaching profession because I am a student at heart, and I will get to learn all my life as an educator. Some learning moments, as recorded in my field journal on practicum and at work:
“Teaching is repetitive, structured like any other job, but to me it has more outcome. It is very satisfying. It requires me to serve as guide, practice humility, patience, love, and support. It requires me to be the best person I can be, to model good citizenship and work habits for my students. Sometimes I am tempted to give up, from exhaustion or burn out, but I always persevere because I think of teaching as a form of investment into these children’s lives. I believe that I make a difference. ”
“There are going to be some extremely rude students who can be so caught up in their own worlds/development that they will undoubtably test your boundaries. How do you react? By calling them out on their disrespect? Don’t take things personally. At heart, be patient and kind. Even the student eventually may admit that adolescence is when they are impatient and impulsive and blunt. They don’t mean to be offensive.”
“Hearing students think out loud is the most curious and amusing wonder.”
“Teaching is about dynamics: every mood and personality affects the classroom atmosphere. In the summer as a language instructor, I was tested on my patience every single day. My triggers were: students acting out, not taking their work seriously, constant disruptions, tedious slow- progressing days, sleepiness. But peace is: seeing students adopt good work habits, respectful attitudes towards each other, and confidence in their own ability to do well. Thinking about the positive outcomes allows me to stay constant and maintain as unaffected as I can be by the negative/ discouraging moments in my teaching day.”
“Students need spontaneous and flexible teachers to know that they can be confident and express themselves without fear of judgement. The classroom should be a safe space where they are unafraid to try new things.”
Inquiry questions I have:
How does the curriculum support differentiated teaching?
How does a structured classroom support learners better?
How are language learners supported in the school?
What are aspects of the school that ensure safety for students from different family and cultural backgrounds?
How can the theme of social responsibility be integrated into all subjects?
What is the role of a library program in the child’s developing literacy?
How are students encouraged to ask questions?
How can SmartBoards be better utilized in the classroom?
How does technology facilitate student learning? How can it be a tool for transforming literacy instruction?
Why are primary students not reading well? (are they?)