ECT 1 Reflection

ECT 1, wrapped up!

I'm taking a moment to reflect on things I've learned and experienced. It's been full of challenges, growth, and moments that have reinforced my passion for teaching.

Facing Challenges Head-On

Walking into my classroom on the first day, I was both excited and nervous. I quickly learned that teaching is as much about managing a classroom as it is about delivering lessons. There were days when things didn’t go as planned, but each challenge taught me something new—whether it was finding creative ways to engage my students or learning how to manage the unexpected twists of the day. What I learnt the most was that you’ll never know whether something works if you don’t try. If you try and doesn’t end well, what’s the worst that can happen? You move on.

Finding my own teaching style

Throughout the year, I feel I’ve grown immensely as a teacher. Finding my own teaching style was another challenge. It was tempting to emulate experienced teachers, but I soon realized the importance of being authentic and true to myself. Through reflection and feedback, I started to develop a teaching style that feels natural to me, one that combines my personality with effective teaching practices. This helped me build confidence and connect more meaningfully with my students.

One of my favourite tools that I’ve used this year was the visualiser. This item here has been a vital part of my year, the uses of a visualiser is endless. From modelling questions, displaying students books, reminding students of the expectations of presentation of books, it’s endless. It was a very powerful tool.

Consistent Communication with Parents

Consistent communication with parents has been a game-changer for me this year. Keeping parents in the loop about their child’s progress, especially around assessment times, has been incredibly beneficial. Before assessments, I made it a point to share what we were working on in class as well as topics lists and ways they could help at home. After assessments, reaching out to discuss results and provide feedback allowed us to celebrate and find ways to improve. These conversations have strengthened the bond between home and school.

Celebrating Successes

My favorite moments this year have been seeing my students’ eyes light up when they finally grasp a difficult concept. Building those connections and seeing their progress has been incredibly rewarding. Watching them grow and knowing that I’ve played a part in their journey is why I love what I do. At the start of the year I received emails from a few parents telling me that their child has low self-esteem in Maths and lacks enthusiasm. Come towards the end of term, these same kids are designing posters on how great and useful Maths is, while also achieving some of the highest scores in the class.

At the end of each term, I made sure to recognise and reward student’s hard work and dedication. I wanted to make sure that each student felt appreciated. More often than not it was through a small postcard. Seeing the excitement and joy on their face when they realise their efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed reminds me how important it is to make every student feel valued and motivated.

Building strong meaningful relationships

One of the most rewarding parts of this year has been building meaningful relationships with my students. These connections have been crucial for establishing trust in the classroom, which, in turn, has made managing the class much smoother.

Any teacher that has walked into any class of mine will tell you about the positive energy amongst the students. They feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, knowing that they are in a safe space where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. It was hard but we’ve cultivated a culture of error, where making mistakes is not only okay but encouraged as a way to grow and understand.

Looking Forward

As I prepare for my second year, I’m excited to dive deeper into this journey alongside being Deputy Head of Year 7. I’m eager to continue growing as a teacher and making a positive impact in my students' lives.