Being a teacher is one of the most important professions because it has a direct impact on our future. Teachers are the ones filling children’s minds with information, insight, and the right tools that they would need in order to face the world and hopefully, make it a better place. Having that kind of responsibility is a big task. But it’s something that Danika Ellis found challenging but also fulfilling.
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I taught at a small alternative school in British Columbia, Canada, and the circumstances vary wildly between schools, never mind countries. The first thing that struck me with the overwhelming amount of preparation.
In the week between my semester’s end and practicum, I spent what felt like every waking moment poring over resources and making endless lesson plans, second-guessing myself all the way.
In her experience, she was given freedom to choose which topics to teach and how to teach it, considering their curriculum didn’t have any mandatory texts. However, she also realized the difficulty in trying to choose.
Moreover, it comes point wherein you don’t feel as confident in yourself to teach what you’re teaching. She felt that she was by no means an expert in the field but also found that using her conversational approach works to her strength as it engaged students more.
What I really took away from the experience, though, was how much I became emotionally attached to my students, even after only knowing them six weeks. Coming in as a first-time teacher, I fully expected to have to win over a class of skeptical teenagers.
Instead, they were receptive and polite, and I ended up having a lot of great conversations with them. They shared vulnerable truths in class. They brought enthusiasm and humour. They showed creativity and insight.
(Image credit: You X Ventures/Unsplash)
Source: neatorama