This was my first half-term as a qualified teacher in England. Although everything was new and fast-paced, a new persona emerged in the classroom and this was a positive experience.
When I was a trainee teacher last year, I always felt like an impostor in front of my students. I had butterflies in my stomach before every lesson until about June 2021 when the year was almost ending
Unfortunately, my lack of experience was always in my mind and I have no doubt this permeated my lessons and influenced the way I taught or behaved at school. No matter how much I prepared or rehearsed whatever I was going to do in my lesson, I was often uncomfortable and a bit apprehensive.
Several people observed my lessons and provided weekly feedback. This was constructive and it helped me to improve. However, people usually pointed out at my lack of confidence and presence in the classroom. I did my best every day but I felt inadequate most of the time.
At the end of my training year, I was ready for a new experience. One of the last and most valuable things my mentor said to me was that leaving would give me the opportunity to have a fresh start and to reinvent myself as a teacher. I could begin a new year with no preconceptions from myself or others.
On my first day, I decided to walk into the new school as a new person and left my previous modesty about myself at home. I met new colleagues and new students and just decided to present myself as a confident, straight forward person who (at least outwardly) knows what to do. To my surprise, this has had an incredibly positive impact in myself and also in my students, it is like a brand new world opened up for me.
I have been able to walk into my classroom with confidence and have set my expectations and main routines. My students are lovely and I am getting really well with my classes and building relationships with both students and colleagues.
I am really glad to see how things fall in place day by day and to look back and see how valuable my teacher training was. What made it outstanding though was not the school or the training provider (although they were very good), it was the people around me. My colleagues were key to my development and I am very grateful for all the things they taught me. I would not be where I am without their support.
The quote below appears in my welcome postcard which my mentor gave me. When I began my training, the journey seemed endless and things were very unpredictable.
Nonetheless, my professional and personal life improved as a result of the daily journey as a “teacher to be”. I am grateful to look back and see how far God has allowed me to come. The journey continues day by day and it just gets better and better!
This post is day 8 of my #100DaysToOffload challenge. Visit 100daystooffload.com to get more info, or to get involved.