My EDUPPPEYP3 experience was an important stage in my professional growth as an intern teacher. It helped me understand that teaching is not only about presenting information, but also about creating a safe, meaningful, and engaging learning environment where every child has the opportunity to participate and succeed. Throughout the placement, I developed my personal attitudes, teaching philosophy, and practical skills. At the beginning, I sometimes felt nervous about classroom management, timing, and making sure that all students were included. However, through planning, teaching, receiving feedback, and reflecting on my practice, I became more confident and more aware of my role as a developing educator.

One of the main areas of growth was my understanding of myself as a future cultivator. I learned that students need opportunities to think critically, communicate their ideas, work with others, and solve problems. Because of this, I tried to design lessons that were not based only on listening to the teacher, but also on active learning. For example, in my mathematics lesson about centimetres and metres, I used real-life examples, visual resources, group discussions, and an exit ticket to help students apply their understanding. Instead of only asking students to memorise that one metre equals one hundred centimetres, I encouraged them to explain their thinking and choose the correct unit for different objects. This helped me see that meaningful learning happens when students are active and involved.

Technology also supported my development as a future cultivator. During my placement, I used digital tools and interactive resources to increase engagement and support the learning objectives. I learned that technology should not be used only to make the lesson attractive; it should have a clear purpose. For example, interactive slides, digital challenges, and online activities helped students practise skills, collaborate with peers, and show their understanding in different ways. This experience helped me understand how technology can prepare students for future learning by encouraging independence, creativity, and problem-solving.

My teaching philosophy also became clearer during PPP EYP3. I believe that young learners learn best when lessons are connected to their real lives, culture, and interests. For this reason, I integrated UAE heritage, Emirati landmarks, national symbols, and familiar local contexts into my lessons. This made learning more relevant and helped students connect the curriculum to their identity and community. I also learned that cultural appreciation is not only about adding pictures to slides, but about making students feel that their culture and background are valued in the classroom.

Another important part of my growth was becoming a community collaborator. I learned that teaching is a collaborative profession and that improvement happens through communication and feedback. During my placement, I shared lesson plans, slides, worksheets, and teaching resources with my mentor teacher. I also discussed students’ needs and listened carefully to her feedback. This helped me improve my lessons, adjust my strategies, and become more responsive to students. For example, when I received feedback about student participation, I worked on using clearer instructions, open questions, and activities that allowed students of different levels to take part.

Although I did not communicate directly with parents during the internship, I supported school-family collaboration indirectly by sharing useful observations with the teacher about students’ learning, behaviour, and progress. These observations could support the teacher when communicating with families and planning further support for students. This helped me understand that being a community collaborator includes working professionally with teachers, contributing to discussions about students, and supporting the wider learning community.

Overall, EDUPPPEYP3 helped me grow as an effective professional, future cultivator, and community collaborator. I became more confident in planning lessons, using assessment, differentiating activities, integrating technology, and reflecting on my teaching practice. I also realised that I still need to continue improving my time management, questioning techniques, and ability to support all learners during lessons. This experience strengthened my belief that teaching is a continuous learning journey. In the future, I will continue developing my skills, accepting feedback, and creating learning experiences that support students academically, socially, and emotionally.