This month, I would like to introduce you to our featured teacher, Rhiannon O’Hara. I recently heard Rhiannon being interviewed on the Wine With Teacher Podcast and was inspired by what she had to share.

Rhiannon is currently in her sixth year of teaching. She is an English and Drama High School teacher in one of my favourite places in the world; Adelaide, South Australia. You can find Rhiannon sharing her stories on Instagram @dramateacherdiaries, laugh aloud at posts using her hashtag #stuffmystudentssay and download great resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers store that are all on offer for free!

Enjoy.

1.      Why did you become a teacher?
As a child, school was my favourite place in the world. It still is really. It was the one thing I felt truly ‘good’ at. For me, school was a really safe place where I felt loved and supported. I almost see it as a pay it forward type thing some days in the hope my students feel the same in my classes as I did in school. I was also really fortunate to have amazingly passionate teachers through all my schooling which also helped. 

2.      Tell us your favourite; year to teach, subject to teach and platform for resources.

Oooh hard one. It’s a toss up between Year 7 and Year 10. In Year 7, the students are like sponges who love learning and run with pretty much anything you give them. This is very rewarding. In Year 10, it’s a massive year of personal growth. If you’re lucky to get them for the whole year, you see them really grow up and become young adults. It’s something that really stays with you and them and it’s a year of schooling you both really remember. 

3.      What is one of your favourite teaching memories?

There are so many! Earlier this year however, I attended the Year 12 Graduation for the class of 2020. Every student gets to walk on stage and collect their graduation certificate from the principal. As they walk on, a quote about their schooling is projected onto a really large screen for the audience to see. I had two students from this cohort write that their favourite schooling memories were moments that occurred in my classes when they were in Year 10. These projections were shown to nearly 900 people.

We always say that teaching really is like planting the seed of a fruit tree. Sometimes we never see the fruit on the tree blossom though. It was really one of those moments where I got to see the fruit and it was so heartwarming. A moment I’ll never forget. 

4.      What is the most important thing you have learnt while teaching?

Patience, flexibility and the to-do list is never done! No two days are the same in this profession. It’s really important that you are adaptable to whatever comes your way and understand that it is all part of what makes this job so rewarding. 

Additionally, I learnt a few years into the profession that it didn’t matter what I did, there would always be more to do. Making peace with that fact changed the way I went about my day in the sense I now set myself daily achievable goals rather than trying to get everything done. Much better on my mental health! 

5.      If you could invite one guest speaker into the classroom who would it be

I often think about people I’ve met in my life who have inspired me and how I think they might be able to inspire others. When I was in school there was this guy in the year below me who couldn’t read. His parents were deaf and he really struggled academically as he never had the support at home. He was exceptionally gifted when it came to public speaking though. The kind that would hold a conversation with a tree if it would talk to him. Nowadays he runs two businesses including an Italian restaurant and an events company. I think if an opportunity ever arose, he would be perfect to have speak to a group of students. He is the definition of someone who has risen above his circumstances to get where he wants to go. I think it’s really important for students to see people who have ‘made it’ from all walks of life. He’s also just a regular person! 

6.      What is your best teaching tip for beginning teachers?

Don’t waste time and money on buying resources. We’re all guilty of this I think and you end up having all this ‘stuff’. It all looks great but hardly any of it is practical. You are better off inheriting resources from colleagues and your school in general and then developing new resources as you go. You are then tailoring resources to the students you actually have in front of you instead of students you think you might have. 

7.      Teaching can be very demanding. How do you achieve a work/life balance?

I don’t know if anyone ever achieves balance as sometimes weeks are just busier than others in this profession. I do have some non-negotiables though. I make sure I get eight hours of sleep every night. If I don’t do this, I’m not my best in the classroom. When I leave work, I don’t do anymore for that day. I’m someone who operates better in the mornings, so I’d rather get to work earlier and do more then, than in the afternoon. I also go to the gym and go for a walk every day. This is something I do for me. Finally, I don’t have my work emails on my phone. Simple but effective! 

8.      What is one thing you like to do every day with your students?

Roll Call Questions. Every grade, every lesson, everyday! I ask them simple questions at the start of the lesson. Not only do I make sure I address every student in the class by name at least once in the lesson but it’s the perfect opportunity for me to get to know them as people. 

9.      How do you minimize your environmental footprint in the classroom?
I’m really lucky that the Learning Management System where I work is extremely innovative. It almost eliminates the use of paper entirely. This means I don’t have to print handouts often nor really print at all. I’m also fortunate I work with Gen Z. The true tech age! They don’t really like paper anyway! 

10.  Plan a perfect teaching day for us.
Any day I get to laugh is a good day in this profession! 

A perfect day would consist of coffee, 100% student engagement, laughing & technology cooperating. 

Thank you so much Rhiannon for sharing. I love your philosophy and the way your teaching journey has evolved. Thank you for your contributions to teaching. You really are making a difference! What a special feeling.

To read past teacher profiles; click here.

If you are a teacher and are interested in being featured in the blog, we would love to hear from you. Shoot me an email at laurathexplaura@gmail.com or comment below.