REFLECTION FIVE
REFLECTION FIVE - 26/09/2010
It is all done! I have learnt so much from this prac and I now believe that I am ready to be a full time teacher.
I have enjoyed my time on prac. It was extremely hard work but it was well worth it. I think I have reached my goals of communicating with fellow teachers, working on classroom management and knowing the geography content.
With my difficult year 10s, many teachers helped me along the way. All teachers of that class struggled so there was no sure way to get them to behave. The boys were telling me that they were actually better for me then they were for other teachers!
Teachers at the school helped me with resources at times, especially with geography. This was extremely helpful and I was able to reciprocate.
Other teachers can significantly help in the profession because you need other like-minded people to help you wind down and comprehend situations. They help you make decisions and help you in the job in general.
Classroom management is something that I feel I got better at but still need to work on. I know that I definitely want to start a lot stronger and more disciplinarian next time. It is amazing how different techniques work for different classes and that by knowing the students, you can use those techniques to create a better classroom environment.
It is hard teaching something that you are not familiar with but it can be done. I found teaching geography extra hard because the class was extremely difficult to teach. However, I do believe that I taught them what is necessary.
During my time at the school I called two parents and had an interview with one of them. It is critical to keep contact with the parents. They are the ones that are paying for their children’s education and they have a right to know what they are doing. Parents can be a helpful tool in managing difficult students and keeping students on task and learning.
Keeping parents involved in all that is happening at school is extremely important. Some parents may not care or do anything about the information. However, it can make a significant impact.
The parent that I have a meeting with tried to settle things with her son and create a better environment in our class. After the meeting, the student had a significant change in attitude towards me. It did seem a little sarcastic but it was much better than before. It definitely worked!
So it’s all done! I can’t believe I have finished. I am going to miss my boys and going to school every day. It was enjoyable and I can’t wait to get a full time teaching job.