In Class

 Welcome to In Class.

    We all know that every classroom is distinct, and each student is a completely distinct world. That is why I want to try to get to know as many students and situations as possible, and keep those experiences in this weekly blog.

    I want to try not to make this just a record of the practicum but a diary that keeps all my thoughts during this practicum, all the challenges that this is going to represent, what my students can learn from me, besides the school topics, and what I can learn from them, and all the mistakes that I can make in a lesson, hopping this would help others students in my position. 

Why do I want to become a teacher?

    First, I would love to introduce myself. My name is Antonella Méndez, and I currently live in San Ramón, Alajuela. However, I am originally from a small town in the south of the country called San Vito, Coto Brus. I lived there for almost 14 years of my life, and even if it is not a very recognizable place, San Vito is a beautiful little town in the mountains.

    I am the second of five girls in my family, so since I was a kid, I was the one who was in charge of checking the homework of my little sister and my cousins, or the one who helped them to study for an exam, just because I actually enjoyed it. 

    Also, when I was in kindergarten, I had the best teacher that anyone could imagine, her name is Miss. Jeniffer. She is the main reason why I chose to become a teacher, too, because of her warm way of teaching, her passion, and how she always shows her love to us and her job. 

    I am sure that I love to teach, that this is what I am meant to do, even though it is not an easy path. I know that I have loved every minute of it, and I am going to enjoy every moment of this new experience. 

    I want to be a teacher because I want to make some significant changes in my students, make high school and classes worth it, and together search for their capabilities, let them know their worth, their intelligence, and how capable someone can be if they are willing to fight for it. 

My Teacher’s Decalogue: Ten Promises I Make to My Future Class

    During my years in the major, I have learned that teaching is not just about delivering content; it is about connecting, forming curiosity, and guiding their growth. From this practicum experience, I felt really connected with my students, even though this can be a difficult experience, and because of that, I want to outline 10 promises that I make to my future students.


This is my personal teacher's decalogue:
- To listen before speaking, because every student has a world inside, and their thoughts matter as much as ours.

- To create a space where they are comfortable enough to make mistakes and not be shamed about it.

- To know and understand every student's situation, allowing me to connect with them through the lesson.

- To adapt, because rigidity in teaching is like teaching a rock to talk.

- To challenge complacency, but not by pressure, by inviting wonder, asking them "what if?" or " how else?".

- To speak clearly always, but also to listen to their pauses during class, while they think.

- To remind them of their worth in case they forget about it, honoring their strength and potential.

- To be kind, humble, and honest. If I don't know something, I will say so, and we will explore it together.

- To love what I do, to share with them my enthusiasm, and joy of teaching and learning with them.

- To teach them to learn from the successes and from the missteps, to share and accompany my students in the process. While we both learn from each other.


    Of course, these are not guarantees, but they are intentions, and I have hope to navigate this path, while completing these promises, for me and my future students. As I walk through my practicum, I always revisit these promises, ask myself if I'm putting them into practice during my classes with my students. Teaching is a voyage that we share, and I'm eager to begin with it.

What has my practicum taught me?

    So far, during my time in the practicum, I have realised that learning, for students and for teachers, is not just about grades or rigid content. Learning is about the relationships that are shaped during classes, about the environment, and having the right mindset. I have some tips that I have learned during teaching, and I would like to share them with you.

Tip 1: Mistakes are the best teachers. I have made some mistakes during my practicum, and got really worried because I thought that everyone expected nothing but perfection from me, but I was super wrong. As a student, I am still learning, and mistakes are made to learn from them and correct the next time I get caught in the same situation.

Tip 2: Build trust. Before the content, I take a few minutes to greet my students, ask them how their day was, or share something about us. This creates in them a feeling of trust and shows them that I actually care about them.

Tip 3: Stay curious, ask questions. Some students may think that they have to know everything that you ask or teach. We have to remind them that it is ok to ask, that questions are signs of growth, not of weakness. This also applies to ourselves as teachers.

Tip 4: Reflect and revisit. After every lesson, I like to review what worked, what didn't, and why, and how I can make it work. Growth is a loop between teach, reflect, adapt, and reteach.

Tip 5: Use multiple modes. Some students learn more when I use visuals, others with writing activities, others through discussions, or movement. So, the more diverse and the more ways I present the materials, the more students will connect with something.

    Learning happens when we teach our students that mistakes are stones to step on and go forward, when their hearts are open, and when we, as teachers, share this journey with them.

This practicum shows me that teaching is not just growing together, but also guiding, and I try to make these tips part of my daily practice.

My take on the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) new policies. 

    As a new teacher stepping into the world of teaching in Costa Rica, I see the new policies from the MEP as opportunities and changes, but also as a really big challenge.

    On one side, I appreciate the intention of more inclusive classrooms, the integration of technology, the focus on the students' well-being over the scores, and the stronger teacher support. These directions align with what I want and expect to bring into my future career, more centered on human teaching and less driven by exams or scores.

    But these policies could only be good if they had a good implementation, and yet, this could be a pitfall. As an example, we have the integration of technology; we all can agree that it is a necessary resource, but what happens with the rural schools or high schools that lack stable internet? This can widen a gap instead of closing it.

    Also, I worry that a policy this heavy on standardisation or control over the students may stifle their creativity, their relationship with the high school, the administration, or the teachers, and also could silence their voice. My hope for these policies is to allow teachers autonomy, flexibility, and value the local context.

    I hope that MEP listens to the administrators, but also to the teachers, and more importantly, to the students. Those policies had to evolve as living frameworks shaped by the classroom, because the real heart of education beats in what happens in those classrooms, not just in the law.

    I can commit to engaging with them, to provide feedback from the field, and contribute so that they become tools for empowering learning, not to constrain it.

Tips I would give to future colleagues as a new teacher.

    As someone who is still learning and growing, here are some tips that I would like to share if you are going to embark on the teaching path.

- Become a learner. Know the fact that, as a teacher, you don't have to know it all; you have to adapt, to grow with your students, and always be curious.

- Find your teaching voice. Do not try to mimic someone else's style; blend your personality, values, and story to get your own path through the practicum and your career. 

- Mistakes are good. If by any chance there is a moment when your class happens to be too much for you, or if your students are misbehaving that day, take a moment, and after finishing the class, ask yourself  "what happened?", "why does it happen?", and "how can I adjust it?". 

- Keep your why alive. Whenever things get difficult, always remember why you chose this major. For me, it is seen that my students get interested in something that I show them, or when they say that I am a good teacher, and they enjoy my class. 

- Reflect daily. Keeping a journal of my lessons was the best piece of advice that I ever got. Tracking your lessons, your feelings, your doubts, or successes is the best way to know that you are moving forward. 

- Celebrate small wins. When a topic lands, when the group collaborates, or when a student raises their hand to speak, those are really meaningful things. Recognise them, to you and your students. 

- Share and ask for help. Teaching is something communal, not a solitary way. You can connect with your peers, your mentors, supervisors, and even other experienced teachers. Ask for help when you need something, and be willing to help your classmates when they need it. 

- Plan and be ready to stray. Having a good lesson planned takes a weight off your shoulders. But we have to be ready to change it if the classroom takes you on a new route. 

- Take care of yourself. Teaching is an emotional rollercoaster. Always make time for yourself, for your hobbies, and to spend time with the people you care about. A healthy and well-being teacher makes the best teacher. 

    Throughout this practicum, I have learned that teaching is made of small moments, when a student understands the topic, when you manage the whole class to work, and even when they ask me to explain again something that they do not understand. All of these moments taught me that teaching is not perfection; it is about being present, choosing every day to teach with kindness, curiosity, and respect; it is about being interested in helping your students, and being part of their lives. 

     At the end, this practicum taught me that teaching is a journey of learning, not just for the students, but for us as teachers. We learn to see our students not just like learners but as humans, and to see ourselves as someone who is capable of guiding them. 

    I feel completely grateful, super inspired, and more prepared than when I started. Even though I have a long, long road ahead of me, I know that I'm walking it with a purpose, with compassion, and certainty that I chose the right path.