During my first placement, I was understandably nervous and lacked confidence in my teaching and delivery. I still remember teaching my very first lesson and feeling terrified. However, once it was over, I felt a real sense of achievement and knew that teaching was the career for me and as I reflected on each lesson and gained more classroom experience, my confidence grew significantly. Over time, I developed an energetic and engaging teaching style and became much more comfortable leading lessons.

Initially, I found it challenging to balance being approachable with maintaining high classroom expectations but with the support of tutors and experienced teachers, I developed confidence in managing this and established my own teaching style. One of my most memorable moments was receiving my first thank-you card from a student, which was a rewarding reminder of why I chose to become a teacher.

The most valuable lesson I learned from my teaching placements is that there is no such thing as a perfect lesson. This applies to both the planning and delivery. While most lessons go well, there will inevitably be occasions when things do not go as expected and that’s ok. By learning to reflect, adapt and move forward is an important lesson I have learnt.