# data[].attributes.body
All children can learn when they are accepted for who and where they are in their educational journey. It is a teacher’s goal and aim to endeavour to assist every child to be the best versions of themselves and bring out their abilities. As a teacher, you have to understand each child’s requirements, needs and weaknesses to assist in the best way possible. Effective learning requires a collaboration between teacher, child and parents. Teaching is a combination of a variety of instructional strategies, methods, learning styles, the use of and inclusion of technology in the classroom as well as actively engaging children. Preparation is a key element to delivering a well-executed lesson and reflection enables one to acknowledge all the positives and negative’s of the lesson, ensuring for better lessons in the future. It assists a teacher to improve themselves, teaching methods, skills and content.

Elisha Nair

# data[].attributes.headline
The demands of education are multifaceted. Being an educator is not just about teaching a curriculum but rather about changing the lives of learners that face the harsh realities of today's society. Educators have to understand the different learning challenges amongst learners as well as learners family problems which leads to learners lack of motivation towards their education. This requires educators to work extra hard to encourage and support learners beyond the classroom. Apart from teaching, educators are bombarded with administrative tasks that goes beyond the curriculum.

# data[].attributes.subject
The demands of education are multifaceted. Being an educator is not just about teaching a curriculum but rather about changing the lives of learners that face the harsh realities of today's society. Educators have to understand the different learning challenges amongst learners as well as learners family problems which leads to learners lack of motivation towards their education. This requires educators to work extra hard to encourage and support learners beyond the classroom. Apart from teaching, educators are bombarded with administrative tasks that goes beyond the curriculum.

# data[].attributes.body
Teaching has always been my passion, as it reveals my inner desire to help others, to impart my knowledge to them. My perception has changed over the years as I now realise that learners are becoming more dependant on teachers for support due to their socio-economic  circumstances and home situations. I love what I do and I feel a sense of joy knowing that I make a difference to the lives of others .

S Peters 🌺

# data[].attributes.body
My perception of Education has changed tremendously not by the usual developments and advances of technology but by the instantaneous lives that we lead. In the past there were less complexities and more relevant tactile learning. Teaching was slightly more rigid and autocratic, however education prevailed. Education now has to be encouraged and at times children have an air of entitlement that creates an adverse reaction to what's actually important. Education has been stifled and remodelled to accommodate children whose interests and mind spaces are altered by their stress factors of life, society or their parents. Education then does not just mean focusing on learning modules or classroom activities, the educator has to extend themselves with regards to pastoral caregiver,mentor and possess all the other facets of concern to assist the learner to strive and bring out the learners full potential. My perception has been altered to an extent that I believe a far more interactive and relevant induction of teaching should take place. Despite our advances and development,we have overlooked two factors that have been compromised such as child's play and the human factor. Children look at education as a form of punishment or chore, instead of an opportunity to learn new things, be intrigued or fascinated. The world we live in is so theatrical that if you cannot capture the child's attention atleast once, the child and you both would have learnt and taught nothing.
Education in my personal opinion has to resurface and keep up with the fast pace we live in, hence the chalk and talk is now redundant and children are not good receptors of mediocrity, plainly put how can we expect incredible from children when we put out basic. SD Indhur

# data[].attributes.body
When it comes to teaching, there are numerous challenges that teachers must overcome. Teachers are overworked in today's society, and they are also expected to create the nation's future with extremely few resources. There is no amount of textbook knowledge that can prepare you for teaching in South African schools considering the factors that are faced i.e flooding, lack of water and sanitation, COVID pandemic. In my experience working in a rural school, I have learnt to adapt and work around these challenges. Being a teacher is not just a mere position but a passion driven career as seeing growth in your students is rewarding regardless of the circumstances. Students are easily motivated or demotivated by the character of a teacher. I have learnt that if we instil positive values we will be able to achieve some positive growth towards these learners.

# data[].attributes.body
My first teaching experience taught me a lot about being a teacher and about myself as a future educator.

For example, I've always known that creating lesson plans was difficult, so I'm grateful that I was able to gain this experience to help prepare me for the future.

I also discovered that I do not have a good sense of time when I am teaching, so I now make a schedule of what will be done when.

# data[].attributes.body
I have a an amazing opportunity to teach kids the way my first ever teacher helped me🎈

# data[].attributes.body
My teaching experience have really evolved a great deal when I started working with special needs learners. Although they have the same diagnosis they are still unique and different. No book can teach you the skills that you gain in practical experience. I love my job. It is my passion.

# data[].attributes.body
My perception of education during experiential trainings helps me realise that it is important to know that education is meant for everyone who are willing to hold hand with other in a sense that shoulder to shoulder caring for you 100 percenteaning we care for one another while holding each other's shoulder with aim to achieve the important goal.

# data[].attributes.body
Through my teaching experience I've realised its not just about imparting knowledge but inspiring and motivating our students to become better and successful human beings.
Some of the challenges I have experienced earlier on where classroom management and finding ways to manage every individual uniquely, balancing the different learning needs of students, respecting expectations from school admins and time management.
I've realised that its best to build relations and believe in your students, create flexible learning environments and most of all working together with other teachers and parents to assist students to succeed in a classroom.
As i continue to grow and develop in my teaching career and facing continuous challenges on a daily basis, watching my students grow and learn is most rewarding!

# data[].attributes.headline
My perception of Education and how teaching changed my perception

# data[].attributes.subject
My perception of Education and how teaching changed my perception

# data[].attributes.body
I don't think teaching changed my philosophy of education. I still believe every child needs a champion as per Rita Pierson's video. But, I think teaching made me more aware of how limited time is for teaching. Of all the perceptions I had, I think the physical limitation of time, has been an eye opener for me. You just start enjoying the class, and then the bell rings!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
My perception of Education has never changed. 

# data[].attributes.headline
This is why I became a Teacher and why I am still a teacher.

# data[].attributes.subject
This is why I became a Teacher and why I am still a teacher.

# data[].attributes.headline
How has my perception of education developed through my teaching experience? 

# data[].attributes.subject
How has my perception of education developed through my teaching experience? 

# data[].attributes.body
This is an interesting question. I feel like no amount of teaching practice can prepare you for the teaching world of work. It is so fast paced and presents challenges daily. Things like management of discipline, time management, completing administrative duties, lesson planning, break duty, excessive marking, staff meetings etc makes being a teacher super daunting. We have to learn new skills on a daily basis to overcome Barriers. It’s also strange that sometimes you don’t get to teach the subjects you majored in but have to take what’s available. It makes me think that that’s why some teachers don’t know how to teach in a way that learners understand or don’t want to answer any questions your may have. They just read the textbooks. It could be that they lack in that subject knowledge which hinders the performing snd quality of education of the learners. Education is supposed to create opportunities for people to gain knowledge, academically and socially. I realized that collaboration and teamwork is the only way to succeed in the world of education. You always going to need another’s help to successfully complete your tasks. Education is everywhere and we need to learn how to embrace it.

# data[].attributes.body
My perception has changed a lot. Every time I teach a lesson or help a student, I’m brought back to my years as a student. The teachers I interacted with were not always empathetic or kind. I’ve realized I teach more through my actions than I realize. My students are not only learning math. They are learning social emotional skills too. This is why it’s important to model self-awareness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Are there any challenges that shaped you as a teacher?

# data[].attributes.headline
How has your perception of Education developed through your teaching experience?

# data[].attributes.subject
How has your perception of Education developed through your teaching experience?

# data[].attributes.body
When I decided to become a teacher, I already knew I wanted to make a difference. I have learnt that teaching is a job best done in collaboration. As educators we need to work with other teachers, parents and management to develop best strategies to uplift our learners. There have been times where I felt like I wasn't prepared for the challenges that arose, but through my experience I have learnt how to overcome some of the hurdles and to continue to make that difference. Some of the challenges I initially faced include managing discipline, time management and  curriculum coverage. I have learnt ways of adapting to different situations and it has become easier with time as I am now aware of more strategies that I can use in the classroom. As educators we do more than teach a curriculum. We teach learners how to be resilient, kind, optimistic and so much more.