Lauren Bloem
Primary School Educator
Cape Town
Summary
Dedicated and passionate educator who has been a primary school teacher for 9+ years. I have experience teaching the South African CAPS curriculum and the British National Curriculum. I taught Grade 1 for five years and have been teaching Grade 3 for four years. I am committed to ensuring that my students are engaged in my lessons, by using whole-class and small group teaching methods. I believe it’s important to take a holistic approach when teaching young students. Aside from being a Grade 3 educator, I am also Head of department (H.O.D) for the Foundation Phase (Grade 1 - 3). I am SACE registered, have a CELTA certificate and have experience teaching English as a second language.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
1
1
Language
Work History
Grade 3 Educator
Rosebank Junior School
10.2022 - Current
- Daily teaching in accordance with the CAPS curriculum – core subjects include English (Home Language), Mathematics, Afrikaans (second language) and Life Skills (Combination of History, Science and Social Studies).
- Follows the Jolly Phonics and Science of Reading literacy programs.
- Increased the annual Systemic Test results by 20%.
- Facilitate Group-guided reading and small Mathematics groups.
- Liaising with school management and parents.
- Assist with extra-murals – softball, netball and Chess Club.
- Established a positive classroom culture by promoting respect, responsibility, and mutual support among students.
- Provided ongoing feedback to students on their progress, helping them set achievable goals for academic improvement.
- Served on various committees that contributed to overall school improvement efforts including curriculum development, safety initiatives, and extracurricular programs.
- Designed assessments that aligned with instructional objectives, ensuring accurate measurement of student learning outcomes.
- Enhanced classroom management skills, leading to a more focused and productive learning environment.
- Improved student comprehension by incorporating real-world examples and hands-on activities in lesson plans.
- Participated in professional development workshops to stay current on educational trends and best practices in elementary education.
- Developed strong relationships with students and parents, fostering open communication and collaboration for academic success.
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Created lesson plans to correlate with state curriculum standards and devised educational programs to meet educational objectives.
- Maintained knowledge of school curricula, standards, and policies to correctly prepare students for higher grade levels.
- Met with parents to review Individualized Education Plans for at-risk students.
- Reinforced positive behavior by encouraging efforts through affirmation statements and praising accomplishments.
- Maintained student portfolios to monitor learning progress and completion of work required for promotion to next grade level.
- Prepared and administered grade-specific tests and examinations regulated by school district to monitor students' growth and to report progress to parents.
- Taught lessons encompassing skill-building activities in speaking, writing, reading and listening.
- Built positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process.
- Created supportive and inclusive learning environments, fostering positive classroom atmospheres supporting student growth and learning.
- Increased student engagement through the use of interactive whiteboards, tablets, and other multimedia tools in lessons.
- Coordinated school-wide events such as field trips, assemblies, and parent-teacher conferences to promote community involvement.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff.
Reception Teacher (Maternity Post)
Blouberg International School
04.2022 - 09.2022
- Daily teaching in accordance with the British National Curriculum.
- Prepare daily and weekly lesson plans and create my own resources.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Prepare and teach literacy lessons using the Jolly Phonics program.
- Enhanced literacy skills with targeted reading programs.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Facilitate extra Mathematics lessons for learners needing remedial support.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Liaising with parents and the school management.
- Assisted with Fine-motor skills and Craft Club.
- Assisted with extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
- Designed and implemented differentiated instruction strategy to meet diverse learning needs, enhancing educational outcomes.
- Served on school committees focused on curriculum development, teacher evaluations, or community outreach initiatives to contribute positively to the overall school climate.
Grade 1 Educator
Riverside College
01.2017 - 03.2022
- Daily teaching in accordance with the CAPS Curriculum.
- Enhanced classroom management, establishing a positive learning environment with clear expectations and consistent consequences.
- Prepare daily and weekly lesson plans and create my own resources.
- Adapted lesson plans to meet the needs of diverse learners, ensuring all students were challenged appropriately and supported in their academic growth.
- Incorporated social-emotional learning into daily lessons, promoting empathy, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making among students.
- Utilized formative assessments to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly for optimal learning outcomes.
- Prepared and administered grade-specific tests and examinations regulated by school district to monitor students' growth and to report progress to parents.
- Assists with extra-mural – mini cricket, netball and chess club.
- Attended students' concerts, sporting events and performances to offer support and encourage extracurricular activities.
- Maintained student portfolios to monitor learning progress and completion of work required for promotion to next grade level.
- Reinforced positive behavior by encouraging efforts through affirmation statements and praising accomplishments.
- Assists with new student application assessments for Grade R – Grade 3.
- Developed strong relationships with parents, maintaining open communication to support student success both inside and outside the classroom.
- Organized class field trips that enriched the curriculum, allowing students to make connections between classroom content and real-world experiences.
- Coached, mentored and evaluated student teachers for progress against program objectives.
- Maintained 100% pass rate in the Grade1 class.
English Second Language Educator (ESL)
Mechai Bamboo School
09.2014 - 09.2015
- Teaching English as a Second Language.
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans to keep learner attention.
- Designed curriculum-aligned assessments to measure student progress and inform instructional decisions.
- Created my own English curriculum for the school.
- Facilitated student-led, inquiry-based activities in classroom to enhance learning experience.
- Facilitating homework and other activities for boarding students.
- Created engaging and informative lesson plans to cover required curriculum standards.
- Assessed student performance and provided feedback to facilitate student success.
- Team leader for the English camp.
- Hosted and delegated duties for foreign visitors.
- Monitored student progress and adjusted instruction to meet individual needs.
- Improved student comprehension by incorporating visual aids and real-life examples into lesson plans.
- Met regularly with team of teachers to discuss best practices and develop innovative teaching strategies.
- Implemented classroom management techniques that fostered a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
- Maintained 100% pass rate for all learners.
Education
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) - Foundation Phase
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa01-2016
Bachelor of Arts Honours - Psychology
Rhodes University – Post Graduate Studies
Graham’s Town, South Africa01-2012
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Psychology, Sociology and Classical Civilization
Rhodes University – Undergraduate Studies
Graham’s Town, South Africa01-2011
Skills
Classroom and behavior management
Parent-teacher communication
Collaborative teaching
Curriculum aligned teaching – able to adapt to various curricula and teaching methods
Project-based learning
Leadership – Head of department for the primary school
Differentiated Teaching – small-group teaching based on ability groups
Staff Wellness Co-ordinator
Affiliations
- Rosebank Junior School Committees: 2022 – Present School Management Team (SMT) Head of Department for the Foundation Phase, School-Based Support Team (SBST), School Governing Body (SGB) – Teacher member, Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) co-ordinator, Staff wellness committee.
- Riverside College Committee: 2017 – 2021 Prize-giving committee member and Athletics Meet co-ordinator.
- Mechai Bamboo School Committees: 2014 – 2015 English Camp co-ordinator & English Volunteer co-ordinator and facilitator.
Certification
SACE Certificate
South African Council for Educators
2017
Canvas painting, reading, researching historical events
I enjoy being creative and I am always willing to try new things. I am a team player and I enjoy interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Apart from being a Grade 3 teacher, I am also the Head of Department for my phase. My duties include: ensuring the curriculum is being covered correctly, pre& post-moderation of continuous assessments, Book perusals, observing lessons, enforcing discipline and adhering to the school's code of coduct, meeting with parnets and having quarterly meeting with the principal and management team.
Timeline
Grade 3 Educator
Rosebank Junior School
10.2022 - Current
Reception Teacher (Maternity Post)
Blouberg International School
04.2022 - 09.2022
Grade 1 Educator
Riverside College
01.2017 - 03.2022
English Second Language Educator (ESL)
Mechai Bamboo School
09.2014 - 09.2015
Bachelor of Arts Honours - Psychology
Rhodes University – Post Graduate Studies
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Psychology, Sociology and Classical Civilization
Rhodes University – Undergraduate Studies
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) - Foundation Phase
University of Cape Town