Name: Rachael Wilding
Nationality: British
How would you describe your teaching style?
I would say my teaching is a mixture of fun and formal. I really enjoy changing ideas and having practical tasks included in lessons wherever possible.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I went to boarding school in South Africa and as part of our community service lessons we helped in township schools. It was then that I realised that I utterly loved working alongside children.
Your best moment as a teacher?
It is incredibly hard to pick one moment. Like most teachers it would have to be all those amazing personal progress stories. Seeing children achieve and progress is really what our job is about.
Your worst moment?
When half my class got chicken pox during our class assembly week!
One sentence of advice to someone wanting to enter your profession?
Don’t be afraid to rip up your lesson plans. Some of my best ideas have come to me whilst stuck in traffic!
Funny story from the classroom.
During my first week of teaching the youngest age group I have ever taught (FS 2) we were doing a fine motor skills lesson that included a cutting table. I had created a page where the children had to cut and fringe a dress on the paper. However, when I had a group of 3 girls come to me and say they were ready to come to my teaching table I looked over and saw their paper untouched. I questioned the girls as to why they had not done their cutting, it was then that all three girls proudly pointed at their own dresses that they had happily fringed!
What would be your life quote?
Keep calm and carry on.
Rachael Wilding is head of year 3 at Jebel Ali Primary School.