• Home
• /
• Education

Behind classroom doors

Muaz Shabandri gets a glimpse into the life of teachers who face the tough task of making the day more interesting for students.

From rising early to seeing off the last student after school hours, working as a teacher is not easy. Thousands of teachers across the UAE schools face the tough task of making the day more interesting for students. Muaz Shabandri gets a glimpse into the life of teachers. This is the last of the series.

Muireann Carroll

Dubai British Foundation

About yourself …

I have been teaching for 12 years. I have taught all class levels from 3-12 years and have had experience teaching mainstream classes, English Language Learners, Special Needs children as well as “Gifted” Learners. Every child has the potential for success and I feel strongly that it is a teacher’s role to facilitate these successes.

Favourite memory as a teacher …

I have had countless wonderful moments during my teaching career. Perhaps my most memorable was when I was invited to attend the graduation of a child with special needs who I had taught for many years during primary school. Parents had been advised that it was unlikely that their child would develop in mainstream education. Despite this, the child succeeded in a mainstream school environment and was an integral part of his school. He had made lots of friends and these friends clearly benefitted from knowing a person with educational and physical challenges. It was a very special experience.

Different roles played by a teacher ….

The teacher’s role is first and foremost to educate a child. However, to educate a child holistically, we must firstly ensure that the child is well, happy and stress free. For example, if a child comes to school worried, upset or hungry, we must leave the formal educator role and satisfy the child’s basic needs first. It is at this point we enter into a variety of roles, be it mother or mentor. When these basic needs are met the child is then ready for formal lessons.

Technology as a tool to educate …

Teaching has always been a challenging profession as it requires constant energy, enthusiasm and motivation. If however you are your lucky enough to be a teacher who loves his job, you will have countless moments of joy and fun! To be a truly effective teacher you must be up skilling regularly. Teaching with new technology is simple another area of learning we have had to develop.

Biggest obstacle to teaching …

Teaching requires constant patience, motivation and differentiation. We are all aware that children, like adults, learn in a variety of ways, be it through listening, seeing or doing. Ensuring that the class teacher accommodates these types of learners and differentiates each lesson in fun and imaginative ways is a constant challenge. However, with hard work, enthusiasm and experience a teacher can create a classroom environment, which allows all children to become successful and self-motivated learners.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com