absolutwillie

Month: August 2013

  • When frustration strikes

    There is so much we can share with each other – so many ways in which we can enrich each other’s lives – and so much we can learn and discover together.

    But we don’t. 
    Some don’t know how to, and some just won’t.
    Why not?
    I suspect Fear keeps all of us neatly chained inside our boxes. The fear of losing face keeps us from sharing what we don’t know, in order to grow together. The fear of losing control keeps us from allowing freedom of thought, discovery and risking ideas that might change something. The fear of standing out of the crowd keeps us from fulfilling our own potential and reaching greatness.
    This is what frustrated me today.
    I don’t like being chained.
    I can’t stand it when people chain themselves.
    I absolutely abhor those who chain others.
    Am I the only one?

    As teachers, I believe that we should remain open to new ideas, new ways of doing as well as new ways of learning – especially when the learning party is oneself! There is no shame in stating what we don’t know, for this humanizes us and opens us up to learning whilst simultaneously encouraging our learners to do the same. I also believe that we should remember that teaching and learning are both social as well as intensely personal activities. We should work with the masses in showing the way, whilst remembering to allow for individualization. The internal learning process which should actively work towards encouraging personal growth and development of self in each of our learners. In doing this, we should be nurturing a group which recognizes,  encourages and celebrates the powerful beauty of each of its members.

    Break the chains of Fear – and live in the unique light of Potential!

  • Dear God in Heaven…

    … please let me never, ever be expected or requested to organize colleagues or staff ever again. And have mercy on my soul if it turns out that I have to, despite my plea…

    And also thank you Lord, for kids who step forward and make use of the opportunity to work with us one-on-one! My greatest joy comes from helping someone find some sort of solution. Even if that solution is merely a way to remember Figures of Speech.
    I had a learner come to me after dinner tonight and thank me for the additional tutoring (“study skills” evening class) we  had held at one of the residences. One “thank you” out of over a hundred learners – and it was exactly what I needed!
    Teaching: flame on!

  • Switching Gears

    Thus far my focus has mainly been on English classes as far as my curriculum specializations went. Today marked the halfway point of our school visit (practicum), and heralded in my focus shift to Life Orientation.

    Although I did observe several L.O. classes, I have only taught one lesson that was critiqued by my L.O. mentor. In the case of English, I’ve managed to teach my quota entirely. I will still teach my “Poetry 4 Enjoyment” class to the other Gr. 11s, as requested by the other English teachers. Beyond that, however, I’ll be concentrating on presenting as many L.O. lessons as my Mentor sees fit.

    Starting off, I’ll be focusing on adolescence (erm) and career guidance.

    Wish me luck!

  • Half-n-half

    This week was all about the matter – subject matter as well as the subjects that matter.

    Full immersion teaching, getting to know the learners, to engage with them on different levels, to see them play and excel in various extramural activities… to form some semblance of a bond with them. This is the joy of teaching. This is the stuff that lives are made of. And it is such an honor to be a part of it.

    Remember this in times to come when paperwork and admin, disappointments and conflicts as well as fatigue and frustration team up to try and overthrow us. Hold on to the joy, lest we get jaded.

  • International Schools Rugby and Big Band Brilliance

    Today was a day packed to the brim with excitement and activities. Not to mention work.


    SARU had selected our school to host several international rugby matches that were televised and broadcast throughout the rugby-universe. And everyone got a chance to take part! Even if you were part of the Under 14 D rugby team, and played waaaaay at the back on the secondary fields – you were a part of everything, and the excitement that filled the air was intoxicating.


    Even one such as myself, who barely knows what a rugby match looks like, could enjoy the day quite vigorously. Which I did. Starting with early morning security detail, to watching the sun rise over the snow-capped mountains, to supporting the U14Ds and all my kids playing before the main games. I don’t know how many of them recognized their student English/LO-teacher pacing up and down the fields – but seeing the faces of those who did light up made my heart swell.

    Similarly, at the Orchestra’s Winter Concert earlier tonight, it was such a pleasure to see kids shining in their passions, and living for what they do. I had such a great time watching them play, listening to the gorgeous music they made, and just being a part of their Big Night!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOaJkm1H9_Y?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata&w=320&h=266]

    I’m growing quite attached to these kids.

  • The Big Brag

    Today was all about building school spirit – gees – which pretty much translated to kids in red costumes bursting in controlled chaos. Fun most of the time, but pretty draining. Especially the day before the Big Rugby. Which will be followed by the Orchestra’s winter concert that very evening.

    All of which needed to be prepared for today. Of course I helped everywhere I could, and some places where I couldn’t… old habits die hard.
    Best news of the week though: the kids whom I helped with preparation for their English Language term paper all passed with improved grades! Yay!!!
    To celebrate, here’s a short clip of some Geesvang:

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fqi3sk9FJA?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata&w=320&h=266]

    I spent most of the day preparing the school hall for Saturday evening’s concert – which promises to be big fun!

  • Mid-August particles

    We had a bit of a balls-up with scheduling…

    As liaison student between the University and the School, one of my responsibilities is to compile and relay student teachers’ lesson schedules on the days that our Professors visit for official evaluation. I do this a week in advance, to allow for the required processes back at HQ. This week’s schedule was no different than all the previous weeks. All students to be evaluated submitted their times, the schedule was compiled and confirmed, and sent off to Mrs. Swart – who proceeded to check, compile and disseminate all the timetables of all participating schools.
    Only this time, when I compiled the visiting Professor’s schedule for today, one of our students realized that there was no class available during the time slot he had “arranged”. Following this realization, he first tried to bully another student out of his lesson (which was properly confirmed and secured with the relevant teacher). I did not allow this, which prompted him to try and blame me for the conundrum. I didn’t allow this either. Finally he proceeded to secure an earlier lesson at a time preceding the Professor’s visiting times. I relayed the information to HQ and all necessary steps were taken.
    Unfortunately, the Professor did not check his email for breakfast, and arrived “early” according to the previously confirmed time… 20 Minutes into the unforeseen lesson…
    Karma.
    Anyhoo! Back at school it seems I have been identified as one of the “go-to” students as far as organization is concerned. Thus far  I have been tasked with organizing Matric exam invigilation, Eisteddfod transportation, evening classes, extra English classes, a petition against Cambridge A-level results, and seating arrangements and preparations for the school Orchestra’s performance after the international schools rugby event taking place on our school grounds on Saturday. Fun all, but incredibly time consuming. I think I’ve erred in being too involved in the school’s activities – creating the impression that I can be counted on to help out, and ending up being counted on by too many people. True, I am a go-getter and willing to do what I can, but I suck at juggling. Something’s got to give.
     
    I just hope it’s not my academic obligations for PGCE.

  • Night Work

    Teaching English all day, every day, is still a lot of fun.
    Apart from the poetry (one of my greatest passions), I’m really enjoying Visual Literacy. I don’t recall ever focusing on it as extensively when I was in school – and I find visual literacy to be an amazingly important kind of literacy. Especially on this side of the information-age’s “Third Wave”.

    I never imagined that my design, copywriting and printing background would come in this handy in class!

    I do miss my Life Orientation classes. If only I could split myself in two… then I would be able to teach all the English periods and get to teach L.O. again! (I still have to teach the required Mentor-critiqued lessons in L.O. as well.) I hope to get a chance to regain that balance once my English Mentor returns to school fully recovered from this nasty flu.

    Tonight’s evening class was held in the study hall of the Ladies’ residence. I was delighted by the response I got for English! I had so much fun clarifying tense-issues and word-meaning confusions that I hardly noticed the time going by. I’ve never felt so happy about being asked so many questions – and I’ve never felt so good as I do when a light goes up for a learner.

    “Oh! I get it!!” is my new favorite sound.

  • The hunger

    For some reason, I couldn’t stop eating today. Chewing, thinking, asking questions. Nothing satisfied my hunger: no food nor any answer. So I ate and I pondered and I searched on a day where I was asked to take over all of my English mentor’s classes. Which I did.

    After school I invigilated and marked papers at the regional Mini-Mathematics Olympiad, where my subconscious hunger grew even more. Seeing kids really try to excel filled me with great awe. Marking their papers and realizing how few of them passed, knotted up my stomach.
    “Two towels take two hours to dry on the washing-line. How long do five towels take to dry?” From the Gr.8 paper. Assume that it is a controlled environment and all environmental factors remain equal. Did you get the answer*? Not many did…
    After the Olympiad, some of the Stellenbosch students got together at the boys’ res where I live. We had proposed conducting evening classes for “test taking skills” for all interested students. The school seemed excited about this – although the arrangements they had promised to make for us seemed to’ve gone over some personnel’s heads. Our first class was a bit of a jumbled affair that was moved into a disused room in the res – as the Study Leader had not prepared for us.
    But several learners came forward and took advantage of our offers of assistance. About a dozen boys at first… and we sat them down to tackle their concerns. 
    It was then that I saw it: the hunger in their eyes. These kids were desperate for clarity, and were grabbing hold of a life-line. Several of us were approached with requests for additional classes after school, for them and their friends who were too shy to step forward at the time.
    Yes, I think I can help these learners. Yes, I want to help these learners. Yes, I do wonder how long they will think of me as a “good student-teacher” – and how long it would be before I am considered old news.
    How do I remain relevant, approachable and useful for years to come?
    Perhaps by staying hungry.
    PS. The answer* was: two.

  • Finding Flow

    Today was D-day.

    Professors Beets and Carl came in to critique our lessons, and I was lucky enough to have both my subjects critiqued on the same day. Admittedly I was nervous going into a day filled with two crit-lessons as well as invigilating duties during the Matric English exam after school (which most of my colleagues forgot about).
    Preparation is truly the key to success in conducting a successful class. Having considered the curriculum, prescribed work and positioning of each class in respect to the work – I had a fairly good idea of what to cover in my lessons, and how to approach each specific class. Admittedly, spending all my free time pondering and researching my lessons didn’t make for the most restful weekend – but the work paid off! My learners responded very well to the work I presented and gave their full participation happily. I was surprised, in both Crit Lessons, to see them enjoy my lesson as much as I did.
    And yes, the professors enjoyed my lessons too ;0)

    Alas, my Monday did not remain delightful. When the time came for the Matric paper – most of my colleagues on whom I counted to invigilate didn’t show up. Apparently the verbal confirmation of invigilating during multiple papers during the week was forgotten, and only the text-message confirming Friday’s commitment would be honored. Disaster.
    Thankfully I could count on Miss. Bray and Mr. Van Huyssteen, as well as Mr. Pienaar (allocated to Worcester Gimnasium) to man the required posts for the full 150 minutes. Knowing your team, and surrounding yourself with people you can depend on, is invaluable.
    Lessons of the day: Preparation pays – and your heroes will reveal themselves in times of distress. Cherish them.