Experience a Day in the Life of a Teacher at Concordia Shanghai: Elementary School

 The students are eager and engaged, and I love helping them build a supportive classroom community.

 

6:00 a.m.

The familiar chime of my morning alarm gently wakes me up. I slip into my slippers and sit up, ready to embrace the new day. I think about my daughter in grade 4—her school projects, her upcoming soccer game, and how I can support her from afar. I also quietly reflect on my wife, who’s already started her own busy day.
 
6:30 a.m.

My daughter gets up. I gently wake her, pull back her curtains, and help her start her morning routine. While she gets dressed and ready, I read a quick devotional to set a calm, focused tone for the day. I smile, thinking about how she’s growing and learning.
 
7:00 a.m.

I finish my own preparations—getting dressed, packing my bag, and making a quick breakfast of open egg sandwiches with cheese and avocado. I also check on our birds, listening to their cheerful chirping, reminding me to start the day with gratitude.
 
7:15 a.m.

I spend a few moments with my wife, sharing encouragement before she begins her day. I then help my daughter finish packing her bag and give her a quick hug.
 
7:20 a.m.

We leave home. I drive or walk to school, arriving by 7:30 a.m. I greet my colleagues and prepare for the day, feeling grateful for the start.
 
7:45 a.m.

Students start arriving. I greet them warmly as they come in. We begin the day with some informal greetings and settling in.
 
8:00 a.m.

It’s time for our morning meeting. We gather in a circle to share exciting news, set goals for the day, and pray together for a positive start. The students are eager and engaged, and I love helping them build a supportive classroom community.
 
8:30 a.m.

It’s time for Phonics and Writing. We focus on phonics skills—blending sounds, phoneme recognition—and practice writing. The students enjoy engaging activities that build their literacy foundation.
 
9:25 a.m.

Phonics and writing session concludes. We transition to our next activity.
 
9:25 a.m.

Recess duty begins. I supervise the playground, making sure everyone is safe and playing kindly. I enjoy chatting with students, encouraging teamwork, and observing their social interactions.
 
9:55 a.m.

Snack time! The students gather for a quick, healthy break. I walk around, chatting with them, and making sure everyone is settled and happy before we continue.
 
10:10 a.m.

Back inside, we begin Literacy—reading and small-group work. I meet with small groups of students to support their reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. It’s inspiring to see their progress as they share their stories and ideas.
 
11:20 a.m.

Small group literacy work ends. We prepare for lunch.
 
11:25 a.m.

Lunch & recess! The students head to the cafeteria or outdoor play area. I supervise and chat with students, enjoying their lively conversations and outdoor fun.
 
12:00 p.m.

Students return from lunch and recess. We settle back into classroom routines, preparing for the rest of the day.
 
12:15 p.m.

Social Studies: We learn about being agents of change—how individuals can make a difference and bring positive change to their community and the world. The students brainstorm ways they can help, like sharing kindness, recycling, and standing up for what is right. We discuss how even small actions can create big impacts, inspiring the children to see themselves as changemakers.
 
12:50 p.m.

Math class begins. We focus on addition and subtraction strategies, problem-solving, and engaging activities to strengthen their math skills.
 
1:50 p.m.

Math class ends. We transition to our next activity.
 
1:50 p.m.

Specials time! The students go off for their scheduled classes—music, art, PE, etc. I use this time to prepare for upcoming lessons.
 
2:40 p.m.

Mandarin class begins. The students go off with their Mandarin teacher, eager to learn new words and characters.
 
3:20 p.m.

The school day ends. I say goodbye to my students, proud of their progress and excited to see what tomorrow will bring.
 
3:30 p.m.

I head to the boys’ soccer practice with grades 3–5. We focus on teamwork, sportsmanship, and skill development. The boys are energetic, and I enjoy coaching them—seeing their confidence grow with each game.
 
4:45 p.m.

Practice wraps up. I go to pick up my daughter from her basketball ECA. We chat about her game, her friends, and her plans for the evening.
 
5:00 p.m.

We head home together. I help her with homework, and we prepare dinner as a family.
 
6:00 p.m.

Back home, I spend quality family time—listening to stories from everyone’s day, sharing encouragement, and supporting each other.
 
7:30 p.m.

We gather for family devotion and bedtime stories. I reflect on the importance of community, kindness, and supporting each other—values I strive to teach my students every day.
 
8:30 p.m.

Finally, I relax with a cup of tea, review plans for tomorrow, and catch up on emails. I feel grateful for a day well spent—balancing my roles as teacher, husband, and father.
 
9:30 p.m.

As I wind down, I remind myself to rest well. Tomorrow is another day to inspire, learn, and grow—both at school and at home.