Turnover

Well I am approaching my 2nd anniversary. I feel as if so much more time has past than just these two years. I have come into contact with hundreds of students...so many lives that now have something to say about "Miss..."

Vacation is here and I miss school actually. Miss my passion. I think I am a workaholic. lol. Is it weird for a teacher to say that? I think so. I am looking forward to the new year. New faces. new challenges.

Till then.

Finally!

Wow...it's been such a long time since I've written!!

First things first. I have completed (and passed Thank You Jesus) my Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Who say BIGGGGGG Teacher!!!! Yeah me! I am very proud of this accomplishment and I DARE anyone to do this programme. lol. It was INTENSE. Worth it? Definitely.

What's next?
Applied to do my Masters in Education. I know...I am such a nerd. lol. However, I am looking unto the horizon - when I will need new challenges. And since I ain't got no kids yet, I figure its as good a time as any.

What's new?
My first Biology class that I had (Form 4, Form 5) is leaving! **tear tear...** I have learnt so much from them and I hope they can say the same thing. They were my testing ground. They allowed my such freedom to carry them on this two year journey. For this - I certainly thank them.

I am looking forward to teaching All boy classes - it should DEFINITELY be an adventure. Since the DipEd is done I am back on the grind. Will be back blogging. Learning, teaching and living.

Student and friend?

I have gotten pretty close to the students of my Form 5 class. I mean it is indeed a pleasure to know what they like, what they enjoy, what makes them upset - it pays to KNOW your student.

I have come to a strange point in the road. One of my students wants to add me as their FB friend. I created a "child friendly" account, that I gave them access to, but I have the REAL one under wraps basically. So one of my students from this very class asked to be my friend. Honestly I am unsure as to what to do. How much do you share with students? I use FB on many occasions to release stress and my various notes and statuses reflect that. Some things I do not necessarily want students to see. I think of it sometimes as a private space - separate and apart from work.

But is wanting that being hypocritical? Am I seeking to be more than one person at a time? Hmmmm...I think the schizophrenia is acting up again :/

I do love them. I do respect them. But ultimately I don't think that I want them to be a part of every aspect of my life. That might lead to madness. lol

2010 people! Let's go!

Teaching For Life

I thought today as I taught my Form 3 Biology class that students learn more about us and life skills than they sometimes do the subject.

Walk into class
"Miss, ah fine yuh looking very swanky for the 2010"
"Yuh fine?"
Class :"YES!"
"All for u darlings!"

lol You would be amazed to know just how much I love teaching this class. They are not a bunch of "smart kids", not a bunch of "delinquents" not a bunch of anything - just kids, trying to learn and not fail. Today we were talking about endangered and protected species within Trinidad and Tobago and they had to role play. Poachers, game wardens, endangered animal. What bacchanal! lol

It is amazing to see how they learn to value things differently when they get an opportunity to gaze from a different perspective. It is just a beautiful thing to see. Me? Sit down and call out notes right through? Never. And miss this? Never.

2010 People. Let's go!

2010 - Let's Go!

Well another beautiful year has started and thankfully we get two extra days to prepare for our students.

I have lots of plans for this year and I am praying and hoping that they all come true.

MEd? Maybe

Completing DipEd? DEFINITELY.

When I tell you experiencing this Postgraduate Diploma in Education may well be more difficult than the 3 years I spent doing my BSc! Is real wuk we...steups.

So I am off - new year, new things, new knowledge. Let's Go!

MPD

Since I began my career as a teacher I have realized that I may have developed multiple personality disorder (MPD). Professional MPD if you may, and I am contemplating whether or not the school and Ministry of Education will compensate for psychiatric help.
I step into my Form class and immediately had to assume the role of "mother hen".
"Are you sick?"
"Did you have breakfast?"
"Why didn't you hand in your Food and Nutrition assignment?"
"Explain to me why you were rude to Ms. Singh..."
The bell goes. New hat. Warden.
"Get to class!"
"Please see me after class!"
"Explain to me, and take your time, why you did not complete my assignment."
The bell goes. New hat. Counselor
"Don't cry. Everything will be okay. Please, don't cry."
"I understand your problem, but you have to learn to rise above it."
"Please.Don't cry."
The bell goes. New hat. Investigator/Police woman.
"Where did you get that?"
"Why were you in the town at that hour in school uniform?"
The bell goes. New hat. Confidant and friend.
"I understand."
"Think about the choices you make. They are important."
"No I will not add you on facebook."
"Gaza or wha?"

All this, and it wasn't even time for lunch. My training I do not think adequately equips me fully take on all these roles - hence the dilemma and inevitable personality switches. I beleive that 9 out of 10 teachers would corroborate this, as I think it may be spreading at an alarming rate throughout staff rooms- giving even H1N1 competition. The fact is as a teacher, it comes with the territory. It is not written in any document you may sign, but deep in the eyes of the students that need you. More and more you realize that the role of the teacher is vast and wide, deep and broad and if you are not prepared for it - it can get overwhelming. True teachers have to be so many things to so many students. We cannot afford, when we put on these hats to fail them. Slowly, as I wear the hats more regularly, they fit a bit better, though unfamiliar. Can we afford to sit and say, "I wasn't trained for that. I was trained to teach." I am in no way implying that any teacher attempts to deal with any situation above and beyond their capability, but when faced with the questioning eyes do you ignore them?

So what about this vastly deteriorating mental condition? Well...put on your hat and go to class.

Counting Down...

I am slowly counting down the days till the term ends. I know when people hear teachers saying "Gosh I cyar wait for school to close" they be thinking that we are slackers or don't like children or our jobs - and well for some percentage of Trinidadian teachers this may be the case - but not for me and many others.

Teaching is a very mentally and emotionally taxing job. Plan lessons, plan assessments, plan field trips, plan school functions, solve problems [home problems, clothes problems, form class problems etc.], plan lives. I wonder sometimes how can I even attempt to fit in a husband and children into that mix. Maybe I tire easily - but all I know is that I damn tired! lol

If not for love of the art and science of teaching, I would certainly become very agitated and irritated by the students around now. No project done would be good enough, no answer right enough, nothing good enough.

I am learning slowly to accept the 'imperfections' I come with. I cannot be on every committee, I cannot solve every student's problem and I certainly cannot protect them from life. I have become quite attached to the students I teach. The contrasts to when I started - I felt for some reason that I should not be close to them - i should not love them. Well I do - so THERE. As a child, my younger sister died in a car accident. Lots of our teachers attended the funeral, one of them was inconsolable, as she cried at my sister's graveside. I think back now to this and wonder how I would feel if one of my students died, or was seriously injured - just the thought....

I am counting down the time till my mind could be distracted with other things, and I can relieve my mind of the various issues that we as teachers are faced with. I see our students as gift wrapped packages sent to us sparkling and new in Form 1 - but as you remove the wrapping, u see that some of the boxes contain broken toys...unpainted faces...missing limbs....sigh. You stand with it and wonder...I was never taught mechanics.