Teaching Blog

Service-Learning Log:

For my social action project, I organised a donation drive for the Care Centre in Midstream. This experience was both meaningful and rewarding, as it allowed me to give back to the community while growing in confidence and professionalism as a future teacher.

Effectiveness of the project:

The project was very successful. Our main goal was to collect donations such as chips and biscuits for the care center while creating awareness among the learners about the importance of giving back. The response from the learners and parents was incredible, we received more than enough donations to make a real difference. The project showed them that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the community.

Personal growth through service-learning:

Service-learning has changed me personally by helping me develop empathy and compassion for others. It reminded me that teaching is not only about academics, but also about helping the learners understand values such as kindness, service, and responsibility. This experience strengthened my sense of purpose and made me appreciate the value of community involvement.

Professional development:

Professionally, this project helped me develop my communication, organisation, and teamwork skills. I had to design posters, prepare a presentation and a speech, and make sure that all donations were collected and sorted on time. Working with the teachers in charge of service-learning at Midstream Ridge Primary School also taught me how to collaborate effectively and take initiative. I also learned the importance of planning ahead and managing time efficiently.

Benefit to the school and sustainability:

This initiative benefited the school by promoting empathy and community spirit among the learners. It encouraged them to think beyond themselves and see the value of helping others because it was a simple yet meaningful project, it can easily be repeated each year, making it sustainable for the school. This initiative also strengthens the relationship between the school and the community around them.

Final reflection:

Overall, the donation drive went extremely well and had a positive impact on everyone involved. There were more than enough donations to give to the care center, frail care and retirement care.

Online Microteaching:

What went well:

What went really well during my microteaching lesson was how interactive my peers were. They participated fully, engaged with the content, and responded to my open-ended questions. I was well prepared for the lesson, and I maintained good communication with my peers who were acting as my learners.

Challenges and how I addressed them:

One of the main challenges I faced was dealing with disruptions during my presentation. There were a few background noises and distractions that threw me off at one point whilst presenting. Another thing I noticed was that I was not always looking directly at my screen. I caught myself looking around instead of maintaining eye contact with my peers. Going forward, I will focus on keeping better eye contact and managing distractions more effectively.

Meeting learning objectives:

I believe I met the learning objectives. My lesson focused on synonyms and antonyms, and my peers showed clear understanding through their participation and answers during the Kahoot quiz. The responses they gave during the activity showed that they understood the topic well, which made me feel confident that the lesson was successful.

ICT tools used:

For my ICT tools, I used Kahoot as my main interactive activity, and I designed my PowerPoint presentation on Canva. Both tools worked really well together to make the lesson more engaging and visually appealing. Canva helped me create bright and simple slides with graphics that supported my explanations, and Kahoot added an element of fun and interaction.

Incorporating feedback:

After the lesson, we were given a link to provide feedback to each of our peer’s lessons. I shared my thoughts with them, pointing out what I enjoyed about their lessons and what could be adjusted if taught in a classroom setting. The feedback I received from my peers was very helpful and encouraging. It gave me new ideas on what to improve on next time and helped me reflect more deeply on my teaching style and classroom management.

Overall reflection:

Overall, this online microteaching experience was nerve-wracking at first, but it turned out to be such a valuable and enjoyable experience. It taught me how to use ICT tools creatively, how to handle challenges calmly, and how to communicate effectively in a virtual classroom. I truly enjoyed presenting my lesson to my peers and supervisor, and I feel that this experience has prepared me for both online and in-person teaching going forward.

Life of a Teacher:

In Block 1, I completed one full day, and in Block 2, I completed two days of Life of a Teacher. By this time, I already knew the learners’ routines and how the classroom operated, so I could step into the role confidently and manage the day on my own. I noticed a big difference between my first day and my second and third days of doing Life of a Teacher. My confidence grew a lot as I spent more time teaching and interacting with the learners.

Taking on responsibilities:

During my Life of a Teacher days, I had to take full responsibility for the class. This included teaching subjects such as English, Mathematics, First Additional Language, and Life Skills. I also had to mark books, manage the classroom, and assist the learners with their work and any needs they had throughout the day. Stepping into the teacher’s role completely gave me a true picture of what it is like to manage everything at once such as teaching, admin, and learner support.

Challenges and how I overcame them:

One of the main challenges I faced was classroom management, especially because I was still new to the class. At first, some of the learners tested the boundaries and tried to take chances with their behaviour. To handle this, on my second day I clearly set my expectations. I told them that although I might not be their usual teacher, I was their teacher for the day and deserved the same respect I gave them. I reminded them that the same classroom rules still applied, including losing smart dots (Merit system) if they did not follow instructions. After setting those boundaries, I noticed a real improvement in their behaviour.

Self-evaluation and growth:

After completing my self-evaluation survey, I truly feel ready to step into the classroom as a beginner teacher. I still want to improve on handling small disruptions, like side conversations during work time, but I now have strategies to manage them calmly. My mentor teacher’s feedback highlighted my growth in confidence, planning, and professionalism, which encouraged me even more.

Final reflection:

This experience showed me that being a teacher is about so much more than just teaching lessons, it is about patience, empathy, and balancing many responsibilities at once. It taught me how to care for the learners while managing the demands of teaching, and it reminded me exactly why I chose this profession.