Life of a teacher

Life of a Teacher

The three days of fully stepping into the shoes of a teacher felt like crossing a bridge from being a student teacher to beginning to think and act like a real teacher. Nothing truly compares to the lived experience of holding the class together, teaching multiple lessons, and managing all the responsibilities that come with the role.

How I managed the three days

On the first morning, I felt both excited and slightly nervous. Having the entire class and all admin duties under my care felt weighty, but I approached it with structure and prayerful confidence. I relied on clear routines, preparation, and time management. By the third day, I felt more confident in pacing lessons, managing transitions, and maintaining calm under pressure. I learned that consistency and calmness are powerful tools in the classroom.

Growth from the first to the last weeks of Teaching Experience

During the first four weeks of Teaching Experience, I was still finding my rhythm and relying heavily on mentor support. Taking on all responsibilities at that stage would have been intimidating. By the last four weeks, however, I felt more capable of managing the class and other teacher responsibilities independently. My classroom voice was stronger, my behaviour management strategies were more consistent, and my lesson delivery was more fluent. This growth shows how practical exposure over time builds competence. After reflecting, I feel like it would still be beneficial to learn more about the responsibilities teachers take on other than planning and delivering lessons, and managing the class.

Challenges and how I overcame them

The biggest challenge was juggling multiple responsibilities at once. Teaching the lesson while keeping an eye on admin tasks, break duty, and learners who needed extra support was tough. I overcame this by setting clear routines. The learners knew what to expect, which made the transitions smoother. I also learned to prepare materials well ahead of time. Another challenge was staying energised throughout the day, but pacing myself and staying organised helped me remain present and engaged.

My self-evaluation and readiness as a beginner teacher

When I completed my self-evaluation survey, I realised just how far I’ve come. I now see myself between “competent” and “proficient” in many of the Beginner Teacher Competencies. My strengths are classroom communication, curriculum knowledge, and lesson planning. I still want to grow in adapting lessons for diverse learners and refining my pacing to match the learners' needs. Overall, I truly feel ready to step into the profession with confidence and a willingness to keep learning.

Comparing mentor feedback with my initial self-evaluation

At the start of my teaching experience, I rated myself quite modestly. My mentor teacher’s final feedback highlighted how much I’ve improved, especially in managing the class independently and delivering content confidently. This aligns well with the MRTEQ exit level outcomes, especially in pedagogical knowledge and professional conduct. Seeing that growth affirmed that my time in the classroom at Victory Christian School, and at all the other practical schools I attended, truly shaped me.

Becoming a reflective practitioner

These three days made me reflect deeply on the realities of teaching. It’s not just about delivering a good lesson. It is about leading, adapting, and caring all simultaneously. I learned to make quick decisions, stay flexible, and be intentional about how I show up for the learners. Reflection has become part of my daily routine. I aim to always, from now on, be asking myself what went well and what I could improve.

Final thoughts

Living “a day in the life of a teacher” for three days showed me that teaching is both demanding and deeply rewarding. I walked away feeling slightly overwhelmed but fulfilled, and more certain than ever that this is the work I’m called to do. I’m not a perfect teacher yet, but I’m becoming a more effective teacher one step at a time

Reference: MRTEQ (2015) Beginner Teacher Competencies. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U7IxnpeoNusOPgTLXIMuXdiVKiS_QBsN/view