Today I am pleased to feature an interview with a Remedial Teacher at a Primary School – Alice Stegmann! This interview forms part of my Women at Work series of posts.
What is your current job?
I am a Grade 4 class teacher at a remedial school
How did you end up in your current position?
I taught mainstream foundation phase for many years (grade 2 and 3) and during that time did my ACE in Learning Difficulties through UNISA… after 7 years at my previous job I decided it was time for a change and started looked for a remedial post. I have always wanted to teach remedial and like the special connection one has with a class so wanted to try find a post at a remedial school instead of working in a mainstream school and seeing kids individually.
When did you know this is what you wanted to do?
A longgggggggggggggggggggggg time!!
What did you study?
Studied B. Ed and then went on to study part time while I was working – an ACE through UNISA
What’s the best part of your job? And the worst/ most challenging part?
The children are the best and that moment when their faces light up when something finally clicks for them! The worst is the admin (so much paper work – we kill forests) and writing reports…
Who would be your “dream” job, or are you doing it? What do you still want to achieve in this position or another?
I think one day when I am a mommy i’d like to work only part time…. maybe mornings or 3 days a week and then see children 1 on 1 or in a small grp and not have a classs anymore.
What is your typical day?
7:15 Arrive at school , open windows, turn the lights up, set up…maybe copy a few worksheets.
7:30 Staff meeting (and grab a cup of tea and yoghurt as breakkie during mtg)
7:50 Fetch kids at line
7:70 – 8:10 Greet kiddies, deal with admin (collect reply slips, sign diaries, check for messages) / Kids read
8:10 – 9:00 Maths….
9:00 – 10:30 English (different days we focus on different concepts: writing, comprehension, language, reading)
10:30 BREAK (YAY YAY YAY) Off to staffroom for tea and my lunch! BUT alas most breaks end up spending a good 10 min dealing with admin or copying worksheets…
11:00 – 12:00 ADMIN…. kids off to Art / Computers etc (it varies day to day some days admin before break)
12:00 – 1:00 Literature hour – a special hour where the kids get extra input in phonics, reading and comprehension
1:00 BREAK AGAIN… yay yay yay expect not so yay if you are on break duty – 2 duties a week 
1:30 – 2:30 write down homework and content (history/geog/science)
2:30 bye bye kids….
Me…. prep (make worksheets, copy worksheets, plan, mark and more marking, meet parents, file, phase meetings or extra murals……)
4:00 – 4:30…. home….
Most evenings after supper involve making more worksheets, marking or prepping…..
Thank you so much Alice for taking part in this series and giving us a bit more insight into your life as a Remedial Teacher. It’s so inspiring to hear stories from real women who are working in jobs they love and have achieved a dream of theirs! Congratulations. What a special role you play in helping children believe in theirs too! Thank you!
The aim of this series is to introduce women to a variety of interesting careers. This is in order to inspire women of all ages to aspire to a career (either full or part time) which they LOVE, especially teens, university leavers and moms who have been raising kids and have been out of the job world for a while!!
If you, or a woman you know, has an interesting job and would be happy to be an interviewee please do contact me.
images: Alice Stegmann
