Becoming a Quality Teacher: My Professional Growth

 As I reflect on my teaching journey, I’ve come to see that professional growth is not just about gaining new knowledge—it’s about transformation. After moving through the Novice and Advanced Novice stages, I now look ahead to the next three stages in Trotter’s Theory of Teacher Development: Effective , Expert , and Master . Each one represents not just a new skill set, but a deeper mindset shift—a new version of myself as a teacher. ✨ Effective Stage ✨ The Effective stage is where teachers begin to master their classroom practices. Instruction becomes more intentional, classroom management becomes smoother, and reflection becomes a regular habit. Teachers at this stage are no longer just learning from others—they begin to contribute meaningfully to their schools and peers. This is the stage I hope to reach soon. As I complete my training, I’m already thinking about the habits I want to build: consistent journaling, analyzing student outcomes, and actively participating in PLC...

    This quote has stayed with me throughout my journey as an aspiring educator. It reminds me that teaching is not just about delivering knowledge, but about constantly evolving—adapting to students’ needs, embracing new strategies, and growing both personally and professionally. This simple yet powerful idea reminds me that to teach well, I must also keep learning. Teaching is not a one-time skill—it’s a lifelong commitment to growth. Whether through formal training or real-world experience, I believe that every step I take should contribute to my  continuous professional development (CPD) ,   professional learning development (PLD) , and  lifelong learning journey. ✨  Novice Stage  ✨ In Trotter’s Theory of Teacher Development, the  novice stage  is where a teacher begins their journey, often relying on structured guidance, clear instructions, and support from mentors or supervisors. It’s a phase filled with uncertainty but also with discov...

When I first became a teacher, I thought I just needed a solid lesson plan and a loud enough voice (speaker-like) voice. But I quickly learned that teaching is less about surviving the day—and more about evolving every day. Like one of my lecturer, Mr. Barath said  Belajar hingga ke liang lahad👌 Over time, my role as a teacher has changed in ways I never expected. From the anxious early days of managing a classroom to the joy of experimenting with fun activities, each stage of my growth has shaped not just how I teach, but who I am as an educator. In this post, I want to reflect on the key stages of my professional development. Drawing from Frances Fuller’s Concerns-Based Model of Teacher Development , I’ll share how my focus has shifted—from surviving (barely surviving) 😹, to refining, to truly making an impact. This journey is ongoing, but here’s how it’s unfolded so far. Stage 1 - Self-concerns (Am I doing right?) My first real classroom experience began during my practicum ...

👩‍🏫 My Why: The Heart Behind My Dream I chose to be a teacher because I love seeing that “aha!” moment in my pupils’ eyes—when they finally understand something I’ve taught them. That moment of clarity, that spark of learning, fills me with joy and purpose. My love for children is what drives me. Sure, they can be energetic and sometimes challenging to handle, but they’re also full of curiosity and heart. I’ve always believed that teaching requires a big heart, lots of patience, and a genuine passion for people . As a Muslim, I believe that sharing knowledge is one of the greatest good deeds (pahala) . It’s a lifelong gift you give to others—and in return, it keeps rewarding you in ways you can’t imagine. 💫What Inspires Me Most Before my first practicum, I attended an eye-opening teacher training programme where I met many inspiring educators from across Malaysia. One of the speakers was Mr. Sam Isaiah —a name I’ll never forget. His passion for the Orang Asli children and his u...