Assessment Day

Welcome back to my blog!

Today was one of those big days. It was the day my teaching supervisor came to observe and assess me as part of my journey as a student teacher.

My prayer this morning was simple: “Lord, let everything go smoothly today.” My peer and I arrived at school extra early we wanted to make sure everything was just right. Charts in place, board written up and all technologies tested. After an uplifting school devotion, I did a final check on the electronics, and then, just like that, my supervisor appeared.

The moment I saw his foot at the classroom door, my heart dropped for a second. I won’t lie I was a little nervous. But I took a deep breath, reminded myself of all the work I’d put into planning, and said to myself, “You’ve got this.”

We started our lesson on Symmetry in Geometrical Shapes, and it was one of the most fulfilling teaching experiences I’ve had so far. We kicked things off with a fun and catchy “Lines of Symmetry” song that had everyone singing and smiling. It was the perfect way to ease into the topic and get those brains and bodies moving. After that, students interacted with a hands-on Symmetry Chart. They explored different shapes some with perfect symmetry, and some without. Using removable parts and mirrors, they tested their ideas and made some thoughtful discoveries about how symmetry works.

 I was especially excited to use my interactive symmetry chart a tool I created myself using Velcro. I carefully attached Velcro strips to the chart and to the backs of each shape so that students could remove and replace them easily while exploring the lines of symmetry. It took a lot of time and effort, and I was proud of how it came out. But just as I was about to demonstrate with one of the shapes, things didn’t go as planned. As I was pulling off one of the Velcro backed pieces, instead of it coming off smoothly, the entire cartridge paper started to tear. I paused for a moment, completely disappointed, because I had put so much work into building that chart. Still, I didn’t let it throw me off. I calmly left that piece in place and quickly moved on to another shape. The students barely noticed what happen, and the activity continued smoothly. It wasn’t what I had envisioned, but it was a reminder that even when things don’t go perfectly, its how you handle it that really counts. That moment taught me that flexibility and composure are just as important as preparation in the classroom.

Next we split the class into two groups. Half of the students went on an indoor symmetry scavenger hunt, looking for symmetrical objects like doors, books, windows, and charts around the classroom. The other half went on a short outdoor symmetry walk, exploring nature for symmetrical finds like flowers, leaves, benches, buildings and even the patterns on the ground. They sketched what they saw and labelled each item.

Back in class, we moved into our Explain segment. Students proudly shared their drawings and talked about whether each object was symmetrical or asymmetrical, and whether it was man-made or natural. Their responses were thoughtful, and some even surprised me. One student pointed to a tree and said, “This is asymmetrical because the branches grow to reach the sunlight from different sides.” I was blown away.

Next, we took the concept a step further by examining an image of the Eiffel Tower. Students folded printed outlines to test its symmetry and were fascinated to learn how architecture often uses symmetry to create balance and beauty. To make it even more exciting, we had a special Zoom call with a real architect, who talked about how symmetry is used in building design. The students were locked in from start to finish, asking questions and making connections between their surroundings and the lesson.

My supervisor observed everything from the energy in the room to the depth of the students’ understanding. He gave me valuable feedback and asked some reflective questions. But overall, he was impressed. And I felt proud not just of myself, but of my students for showing up, engaging deeply, and making this lesson come alive. Today, I walked away feeling a little more confident, a lot more inspired, and incredibly grateful for the journey I’m on.

Afterward, we wrapped up the day with an engaging science lesson on types of materials man-made versus natural made. It was the perfect way to round off a productive and fulfilling day.