SCHOOL PLACEMENT 1
Student: Shaun Horan
Date: 13/10/17
OBSERVATION
From this placement first-hand
experience of the classroom
teachers professionalism was
observed.
My fellow colleagues and I
intended to be early for our first
placement. Although we were
on time, the class teacher was
still on the school premises
before us. She greeted us with a
firm handshake and a smile.
Before the class began the
teacher discussed with us
critical thinking, the teaching
council of Ireland and about the
code of professional conduct
for teachers. She also discussed
the plan for the day. Todays
schedule consisted of spellings
tests, reading and maths. When
it was time for school to start
the teacher instructed their
class to line up inside the door
of the class room so she could
take the role and greet them
both as a class and individually.
2016/2017
Class Observed: 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th
Topic: Professionalism
CRITICAL REFLECTION ON THE OBSERVATION
I felt that the teacher showed her professionalism by being at the
school early. I think she showed a very professional attitude as she
greeted us with a firm handshake and a smile. For me personally
it was nice to meet the teacher before class commenced. She made
me feel that I was important enough to give me her time before
class began and she made every effort to make us feel relaxed and
less nervous on our first day of school placement. I think the way
in which the teacher discussed critical thinking and the teaching
council of Ireland showed her knowledge on the principals of
education. The teacher discussed this with us as she was
explaining how she felt it was important that her students
experienced critical thinking from a young age. The fact that the
teacher knew so much about critical thinking and about the
teachers council and the code of personal conduct and she wanted
to ensure that we were aware of it too showed her professionalism.
She spent time explaining why she felt critical thinking was
important in the classroom with us so that we would understand
what she was doing with the students for the day. The teacher
offered each student the chance to discuss any chosen topic with
the class if they wished. I think this promoted openness between
the students and the teacher. It also gave the children a feeling of
self- worth. Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework
states children need to feel valued, respected, empowered, cared
for, and included. (Aistear, Principles and Themes, 2009, pg.
16). I felt that the teacher had covered all these with her class. I
noticed that some students were rather quiet and shy but the
teacher enticed them slowly to speak among the class. She
achieved this by simply asking the shy students their thoughts on
the other students discussions and from their they opened up and
gained confidence to speak out in front of their class. The fact in
which the teacher wished to hear the thoughts of her students
showed that she was caring and compassionate to them on a
professional level. I felt this was a good method to get the students
to focus on learning and felt the teacher gave the students the
confidence to speak to their classmates if they wished. During the
spelling tests, some did better than others demonstrating there was
a varying range of abilities in the classroom. But I feel the teacher
showed respect for her students, by not criticising the words they
spelt incorrectly but praising the words they spelt correctly. Erik
Erickson believed that there are eight psychosocial stages, one of
which is Competence: Industry vs inferiority (around age six to
puberty) Child comparing self-worth to others (such as a
SCHOOL PLACEMENT 1 2016/2017

classmate). Erikson places some emphasis on the teacher, who

should ensure that children do not feel inferior. Flood 2010 pg.
153
On reflection on my first days placement I felt that the teacher
showed her professionalism to us throughout the day and I hope
in the future that I will prove to be as professional as she is.

Bibliography

Flood, E., 2010. Child Development For Students In Ireland. s.l.:Gill and Macmillan.

NNCA, 2009. Principles and Themes. Dublin: Stationary Office.