When my two older sons were young, I did lots of casual or relief teaching – in Sydney, in the Southern Highlands, and in Goulburn.

I taught classes from the pre-school level through to grade six. I spent some time teaching children with special needs. And I did relief work in our local high school.

This was my teaching career for 15 years.

When my youngest son went to school, I picked up a term’s work at the school he attended and the following year took on a full-time role at his school. I was now the teacher in a multi-grade classroom, programming for and teaching children from ages 5 to 12. All in the one room!

What I hadn’t realised while I’d been doing all that casual and relief teaching was just how much I was learning. I was being given an overview, a bird’s eye view in fact, of how children progress through the stages of learning. And in this new class setting I could see that what I was teaching the grade one children in maths, about addition perhaps, I was teaching the same thing to the 12-year-olds, only at a deeper and higher level.

All that I had learnt about how to work with and teach children of different ages over those 15 years of relief teaching was coalescing into a united whole. The classroom was a vibrant place where different age groups mixed easily, and where children could learn ahead (or behind) their set grade level as needed.

While this was a huge challenge, rather than being overwhelmed I felt like I’d stepped out onto centre stage after years of waiting in the wings. I was no longer the understudy – I was the prima donna. I was doing what I was made for – rising to a challenge with courage and faith in my own abilities.



I’ve had to step out of the wings more than once. And each time it’s been easier, safer and more comfortable to stay in the wings, watching on from the side line. Perhaps feeling a little jealous of the star but unwilling – or not yet ready - to take that step into the limelight.

I feel a little like that at the moment. I know my next chance to take centre stage is just around the corner and, as much as I’m ready to step into the spotlight, I’m a little hesitant as well. But when the time is right I’ll take a deep breath, step forward with confidence with my arms spread wide.

It does take courage to step out of the wings onto centre stage.

But I do courage.