I am a first year teacher. I am currently in my second term and enjoying it immensely. The first couple of weeks were a rather intense. I was thrown into the deep end and struggling to stay above the water. It is exhausting. I have 30 little people who all have incredible personalities, values and means of dealing with society. I had to go in and create a safe environment. I would go home and cry daily. I was thinking, "How am I making a difference?", "What if I am doing it all wrong?", "How do I get them to respect me and love learning?'. My university had not prepared me in the slightest. Everything they taught me flew out the window as soon as I became the leader in this environment.
Initially I was a nervous wreck, I resorted to a tight shift as a means of control. But within a few weeks I moved more to extrinsic motivation and the development of intrinsic motivation. It is amazing how effective positive reinforcement is. Children love to be praised or rewarded for good behaviour as do adults. We love to be thanked or congratulated for doing something right. Rather focus on the positive than the negative in any working environment and see how effective it is.
Towards end of my first term I was totally in love with my job. It is hard work, however, it somehow doesn't feel like work. My weeks fly by. It goes Monday... Friday, Monday....Friday. Everything in between is just a fuzzy blur.
Some funny stories...
I have a little boy in my class who is way beyond his years. Initially I could not believe he was eight. He was cocky, aggressive and incredibly opinionated. He would say what he thought without consideration of his peers. I was very strict with him...or so I thought! He was a nightmare and was making my job very difficult. After spending days with this boy I have truly grown to love him. He is a character of note. We are able to have a silent chuckle and share adult humour. It brings a different dynamic to my environment because I often feel as though I am talking to an adult but I have to remember he is just a child.
One day Todd* was playing soccer with his class mates at break. After the children had lined up and come in to the class, I had two little boys come to me and complain about how Todd* wouldn't let them play. He apparently shouted at them and spoke to them in a disrespectful tone (he is what we would call forward and rather aggressive). The one little boy was in tears and could not contain his emotions. I let him lie down for a while to compose himself. I called Todd* over and asked him what he had done to make these two boys so upset? He said he just told them they couldn't play (at least he was honest). I went on to telling him that he cannot speak to people with such disrespect and in such an aggressive tone. He apologized. I then went on to explaining that not all children are used to being spoken to in such a harsh tone and find it offensive. I told him that their parents talk to them differently and not with such force. He then nodded his head and accepted what I had just said. He then went on to saying..." So their mom's and dads say my sweetie, my darling...Ag man that kid... He is just too emotional..." ha ha ha! (You have to remember he said this with a staunch cape coloured accent and he is only 8). It is hard to comprehend. This situation was extremely funny but I had to contain myself and not let him see it was acceptable to behave in this manner. I have told this story over countless dinner parties. I still laugh about it to this day.
I will fill you in on many more very funny stories with Todd*. He truly brings a flavour I have never mixed with.
Until next time
x
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