Weeks of a Beginning Teacher – Week 2: Provide Structure

Takeaways in 10s

• Find joy in every class—each class brings something different to look forward to.

• Structure matters—seating plans, student roles, and clear expectations help in the long run.

This Week in My Teaching Journey

Though this was a shorter week, it certainly wasn’t easier. I’ve started noticing what excites me about teaching—finding joy in each class. Each of my classes has a different energy, and I’ve been learning to appreciate what makes them unique.

For example, my Secondary 4 class is preparing for exams, and I find myself challenged to make revision engaging and clear. My Secondary 1 class, which is high-ability, has given me great insights into student empowerment—they’ve pushed me to think about giving students more ownership, especially when it comes to class roles. And then there’s my Secondary 3 Normal Academic class, which remains my toughest class, but I am continuing to try enjoy figuring out how to improve my lesson delivery. I’ve noticed they respond better when given longer assignments with clear, step-by-step guidance so they can work at their own pace while I walk around to support them individually.

Beyond the classroom, one of the biggest challenges has been adapting to the many tasks suddenly thrown at me. I’ve learned that simple systems—like enforcing a seating plan from day one—can make a huge difference. It helps with classroom management, taking attendance quickly, and learning names faster. What’s more, students can take ownership of these structures. Having a subject representative set things up can work surprisingly well.

If I Could Tell My Younger Self One Thing…

"A well-structured class runs smoother. Have a seating plan, set expectations, and follow through."

Each class is different, but what helps across all of them is getting to know students well, setting clear expectations, and being consistent. If you say you’ll do something, follow through—even if they don’t like it at first. That consistency builds trust.

And lastly, never underestimate the power of worksheets and hands-on activities, especially for Normal Academic classes. Sometimes, the best way for them to learn is simply to do, and it also gives us a chance to walk around, check for understanding, and offer timely help.

Disclaimer: This blog post is a summary of my written takeaways by ChatGPT, and the cover image is generated by using the takeaway as the prompt in Gemini.