In the act of teaching. Because she's a new teacher, she still gets very nervous while at the chalkface.All of my students failed the test, despite the many hours I spent at the chalkface on that subject.
at the chalkface
a teacher who is at the chalkface is teaching students, and is not working in any other kind of job connected with education The media give a picture of falling standards in schools, but there is optimism at the chalkface.