I now sat down and had a long though about it. To be honest when I grow up I wanted to be a lawyer. But I’m sure, again, on my first day they won’t let me exactly sort out a case will they? No, I didn’t think so. They would make it sound hard and probably give me papers to read. I know it sounds stupid, but I just want to be a lawyer. I don’t want to sit and study for 5 years in college or university; I just wanted to be a lawyer. I had been watching too many movies and it’s tempting. Movies like, Legally Blonde or similar types, makes it sound like being a lawyer is fun and no actual hard work is needed. But I knew that was impossible! Out of my three options, I chose the primary school.
My overall experience working in Carlton Primary School was quite good. I had lots of fun during the week. I never expected it to be like that. I walked to school and arrive there at 8:30am, feeling nervous. Questions buzzed in my mind, like what if they don’t like me? What if they say I look funny? What if they laugh at my clothes? You wouldn’t expect someone to be fully excited in there first placement would you? I was excited but had a nervous feeling inside too. But as usual, everything went great! I was introduced to the children and they all seem to like me, they were a bit quite and shy on my first day there, but after that, it’s like they’ve known me for years! I worked with children between the ages of 7-8 years old (year 2), listening to them read, helping them with there work sheets, explaining how to do things, etc. It was just like a real teacher’s job. I had fun working with them and did a different activity everyday. They respected me and always listened to what I had to say. So they didn’t drive me mental after all! It was quite shocking actually (my placement), because everyone was sooooo nice!
Choosing my placement wasn’t that hard. I thought about it, all the pros and cons. After looking at the three options that I had thought off, the Primary school was the best. I did like children and liked helping them do there work. I thought it would be a good experience. Just because my brother drove me bonkers, didn’t mean tat all of then would! If you think that you would like to try a certain job, you should just do it. It’s not like if you chose to work in an office, you’d be stuck there forever! It would only be for a week, and if it turns out totally different from what you expected, then, it’s not the end of the world, and you can still find something else do to in the future. Choosing a work placement isn’t what you intend to do in the future; it’s what you think you want to do in the future. You might want to work in an office, but after you work experience, you might not enjoy it and that helps you in the future. It shows you what it really is like, instead of you imagining what it is like. So pick a placement and don’t be afraid if you don’t like it, there’s always another job out there.
My expectations for my placement was that all I would do was photocopy and sort out papers and wouldn’t really have anything to do with the children, because I wasn’t a “trained teacher”. But, as usual, I was completely wrong! Ok, so I did photocopy papers, but it wasn’t that bad, because I like pressing buttons and it was easy to use, as long as I know what I wad doing. The staff and children where really friendly, I knew they would be friendly, but not this friendly! They made me feel as part of them and got me involved in everything they did. The children respected me and all liked me. And the staff where always asking if I was okay and if I wanted any tea or coffee. I thought that was really swell.
My favorite day would have to be Wednesday because I think it gave me the real glimpse of what teaching and working in a year 2 was like. That day, I photocopied papers, listened to the children read individually. I helped them with there English, maths and science worksheet. Explained what to do. All this took a lot of patience, because it did take long for all of them to understand. And if they didn’t, I’d let the ones who did do the sheet and those who didn’t, explain it again to them. I also glued nametags on there books, and read their English summer coursework paper. I than had to choose between the two, which was the best grade, and record it down in a book. I thought it was fun and was exactly what a teacher did.
The things that I have learnt where, how to have patience with dealing with little kids, how to understand the, I leant how to improve my communication skills and how to be kind and also have a happy face on. I don’t think that I would like to actually be a teacher. I mean I did do the placement for a week only; it’s not always going to be this fun and easy as a teacher. I know sometimes it does get hard and children have a different attitude very week. Maybe I came in a good week. It was fun while it lasted, but I know people that actually work in primary school and they often come home with migraines or feel wear out. Teaching kids can be difficult, because sometimes they don’t listen and you can’t actually hit them or anything like that, you need patience.
I would recommend this placement to any one who likes children and likes helping them out. I think it would be a good experience and it some how uses full. It can be a trying job, depending on what school you get into and what class you help. But it is a good placement. Good luck to anyone who wants a placement in the future!
