My Introduction into Teaching.

I completed secondary school in the year 2007,I accomplish five subjects from the cxc

examinations also known today as CSEC examination. I didn’t pass mathematics and neither

science. I felt miserable and week, it didn’t kept me down for long as I work at a store in the

town of Sangre Grande, during my time working at the store, I contemplated on pursuing

mathematics because I realise in store sales there is calculations to get the cost of an item and

it is a requirement to get a professional job in Trinidad. One year later I heard about the On-

The- Job-Training Programmes (OJT) where you get a stipend to learn. I left the work and

apply for the programme. I was successful in completing a two week training programme and

due to my career path of a teacher, I was place into my past primary school.

I started to work at the school where I was place with a senior teacher at the infant level, with

her training and guidance of her teaching strategies I learn some skills as to communicating

with children, solving problems faced by parents and caring for children. From my time to

going there as a classroom assistant, the atmosphere was different, teachers had a mentality of

conflict with staff members and administrator, the majority of teachers who taught me was

still there and after a few months the administrator rotated the trainees. From the infant level I

was now placed in a junior class. In the short space of time, my mentor who supposed to train

me give her responsibilities to plan her work and teach the class, The duties was

overwhelming and I felt sick. The training programme had field placement officers for the

programme was to visit and listen to queries if any and make sure we were regular at the

institution.Surprisely the rotation of others trainees had issues, in observing these facts, I

address the responsibilities given and the effects it had on me. I spent six months at this

school and was place at another to continue my training.

This school was situated on the Eastern Main in the town of Sangre Grande. The name of the

school was Guaico Presbyterian Primary School, The students who attended this school was

children of a high class status. The atmosphere was noisy but the learning experience was

enjoyable. I was placed in the infant department so I can assist all the teachers who needed

help. Sometimes the administrator would request me to other departments such as the junior

level to assist the teachers. The school population of children was about seven hundred and

fifty student, which therefore leads to approximately about forty teachers. Unlike the past

school, teachers were dedicated into teaching and engaging in extracurricular activities. I saw

myself engrossed in the school activities such as fund raisers, retirement functions, walkathon

to name a few, this made me motivated as they consider us to be just as teachers and not as

trainees. During my time there I rewrite the two subject failed was successful in passing the

subjects.

During the last six months of finishing the course, I was removed from the school and place

in another school by the programme coordinator. I complied and went to the school they

selected. The school placed at: was Guaico Government Primary School. I was placed at

infant level again because of my past experiences from schools. The population of the school

was small, they didn’t had a head of department but a senior teacher working with the vice

principal and administrator. The school was different compared to other school I have

worked. It had no worship because it was a government organisation. The children came from

low economic background; children lack love and affection at home. Some lack discipline

and values that would normally be taught at home. I was shocked and surprised. I used this

opportunity to understand students such as their problems encountered, some who lack

attention give encouragement to complete school work and encourage those to be respectful

and cooperative to teachers. I continue helping the staff with sales, fundraisers they would

have for their graduation ceremonies and Christmas treats.

During my time with the interaction, commitment around students, I got words of

encouragement to further my studies from teachers as they saw the dedication and

commitment outstanding from my abilities to teach children. After two years the programme

came to an end, however due to my economic status, I enter into the family business of

selling grocery items in a small shop, within this time of working in the business, I had hopes

to pursue my degree in education but my economic background could not fulfil this desire.

After two years I got a job in the public service, this was my entry to gaining my degree, I

started to work and eventually sign up to pursue my degree in primary education.