Today, I had a reason to smile. I’ve spent the last four weeks teaching a Year 6 class at my old school. I’m a relief teacher, but I’m part of the furniture. In these few weeks, I’ve helped run a global project, and learnt a lot about myself and my students. I’ve loved the opportunity […]
Continue reading →I’M A TEACHER I was once an idealist. Now I’m more of a realist. I once believed that our political leaders could positively change the face of education in my country. No longer. I have dreams. They’ve been shattered – twice. My first year of teaching left me feeling alone and disillusioned. BUT, 2 […]
Continue reading →I’m proud to announce the very first guest post on A Relief Teacher’s Journey, written by Pooky Hesmondhalgh (@creativeedu) in response to my PLN Voicethread Project. It was first published here. About our Guest Blogger Pooky Hesmondhalgh (@creativeedu) represents Creative Education: the largest independent provider of training for school staff in the United Kingdom, … […]
Continue reading →I’m a new teacher, returning to relief / substitute teaching after 3 months in (several) classrooms. My PLN has changed the way I learn, and the way I teach, for the better. Yet, I am still to meet a new teacher in my part of the world who’s ever heard of, or has a PLN. […]
Continue reading →They say life has its twists, turns, and setbacks; and it can certainly throw up a few surprises. The last two weeks have been one wild ride, as I’ve embarked on my first full-time contract teaching position for the duration of Term 1, 2011. Michael Graffin (2010) An “Interesting” Start To the lady who left […]
Continue reading →As of 9AM this morning, on the first day of school, I became a classroom teacher for the very first time. While sitting there watching this mornings #edchat, and contemplating the QLD cyclone, I received a phone call from the Department of Education – and began a new phase in my professional journey. I’ve been […]
Continue reading →Well, 2010 has been an incredible year. It was a year in which I passed some significant milestones in my fledgling teaching career, and it was a year of immense, transformational change in my personal and professional life. As my year draws to a close, I am finally starting to realise my aspiration to become […]
Continue reading →As the Australian school year draws to a close, I have had the time to reflect upon and review my experiences teaching upper primary science during 2010. March-May 2010 – Year 6/7 Science & Arts Earlier this year, I replaced a science/arts teacher in a small independent Christian school in Perth’s southern suburbs. I taught […]
Continue reading →As a new teacher, I established a reflective journal; documenting and reflecting on my teaching experiences, observations, and ongoing professional development throughout my first year. I view my journal as a very personal record of my experiences. As I flick through my handwritten entries, recorded in multiple exercise books, I can trace the low […]
Continue reading →Reflecting on my classroom management approach for A Relief Teacher’s Journey, I have gained some surprising personal insights into my relief teaching experience and professional development. I am not an expert classroom manager by any means, but I have become a much more effective and competent relief teacher. I still have a few areas for […]
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