the teaching chronicles 3

another week!

school has lent me use of a laptop! finally! i am now efficiently prepping for class haha. it is much better. i feel like i'm getting the hang of teaching. i still don't have total control of all my classes, but i feel i react faster and without too much thought or hesitation. i also manage to enjoy more of the classes, this is important to me because i don't want to be burnt out or hate work. of course there are still problematic classes, but at least there is some joy to be had, which balances things out.

you're exactly right about classroom management. 1-2 monkeys are bad, some classes have 3-4, which is impossible. with the laptop i am better able to prepare a meatier program and this helps to hold the majority of the class's interest. busy, engaged students are less prone to making mischief.

i think we do have a support officer, but im not sure who she is haha. we have a counsellor. thing is, i'm not sure if it is a new development that they are integrating the ADHD and autistic children into mainstream? or is it just that teachers are more aware of these diagnoses and start to identify the afflicted students? i duno. some are obviously with problem, i've come across students who are totally not in tune with the program. they just play or do their thing at the back of the class. actually those are not the problem, once u accept that they will not be participating. once they are familiar with me, they know that they'll be left alone if they leave the class alone, and they'd mind their own business. one of such boy is actually very sweet - he just can't help himself.

i find the biggest problem are the functioning children without discipline. regular kids who just refuse to listen, sit, follow instructions, and go haywire any chance they get. school is like their playground. they still think they're little children at home playing the whole day, no rules no restrictions. these kids you need to teach, need to engage, but first need to discipline, and are very difficult to. if i had them full time e.g. form teacher, probably it'd be easier cos then i can really hammer them into submission haha! but with half an hour a week, it's tricky.

i had my observation last friday, and just met my reporting officer for the report, and it's good! she said i did well for a 3-week old teacher, there is room for improvement but overall good. I got a B, no further observation required for me. i'm happy! i guess this means NIE later this year! i know my class contributed a big deal to my results, this was my best class, most focused and intelligent, i couldn't have done it without them.

u must have been to the foodcourt at the top level. im glad it allows the kopitiam card. that place has the nicer, more expensive food outlets.

[sic]

let me know what are your plans! now that you are more free we can meet up soon :D