Reflection on Life of A teacher.

By: Zanele Mazibuko

My experience with Life of a Teacher was both tough and fulfilling. Over the course of three days, I was able to take on the complete role of a teacher and learn what it takes to manage a classroom, deliver lesson, and respond to the needs of learners. This experience provided me with great insight into the daily obligations, demands, and accomplishments that characterise the teaching profession. As I began the experience, I felt a mix of excitement and worry as I assumed the responsibilities of a teacher.

I had to plan classes, provide learning materials, teach several subjects, assess student work, and maintain discipline. Initially, I found it difficult to balance all of these activities while keeping students involved and motivated. However, as my confidence grew, I began to enjoy the process and saw the value of planning, adaptability, and reflection in teaching as my mentor was also assisting me. Compared to my first few weeks of teaching experience, I felt more competent of managing classroom activities and dealing with obstacles in a calm and professional manner. One of the most difficult issues I had was classroom management, specifically maintaining discipline and keeping all students on task. With so many different personalities and learning skills in one classroom, it was difficult to keep everyone engaged. To combat this, I implemented tactics such as positive reinforcement, group effort, and  communication of norms and expectations. I discovered that being consistent, calm, and fair promotes mutual respect between teachers and students. I also recognised the significance of empathy and knowing that teaching requires patience because learners and their learning techniques vary.

In closing, I am prepared to enter the teaching field after completing my final teaching experience because I have learned a lot about teaching and developed significantly as a teacher from first to final year. My mentor teacher's final comments on my school evaluation record and report were very positive. They demonstrate that hard work and dedication pay off in the end, as people notice your efforts to teach and aid students.