Flowers in my heart

Having attended a recent course on the KSSR system, some on the contents were more like refreshment course. I enjoyed them very much especially when most of the speakers are those who are in-charge in building the new curriculum and had gone through the previous curriculum as well. In short, they are the people who know the maze very well.

But that's not my story.

Fresh from the course, I am more rejuvenated in my teaching strategy. I learned those strategies, techniques and what not before... or at least, have heard of them. Unfortunately have not really put them in good practice. Well, much thanks to the detailed explanation of the new curriculum, I am able to visualize what my T&L class shall be and how my kids are supposed to learn from it; the new curriculum.

So you guessed correctly.
I kind of re-structured my T&L strategies, guided by the Document Standard (important!) and Teaching Module. It is more hands-on activities in my classroom with lots of materials (important!), lots of movements and lots of freedom of speech. It is amazingly true when one of the speakers said that children will be more participative when you let them pick a choice of their liking. For instance, when telling a story, let them pick which animal they love to be included in the story. (Of course teachers need to learn class control first hand or else you'll end up having kids with too many choices and unending decision of which animal to be included in the story.) I am more surprised how responsive children can be when they are given options. Their border-less imaginations emerge one after another and although some may not be logical, it's more interesting how this illogical ideas can be connected with dots to form a rather logical meaning when properly guided by teacher. Really. It sorts of give children the feeling of contentment when their ideas are being accepted in real world.

That's what I did.
At least I think I have.

I wasn't expecting a quick outcome but today...

Just as I about to conclude my Maths lesson, one of the children, a boy, came forward.

"Alaaa teacher, besok tiada Maths. Hari 5 baru ada. Lama lagi oh."

"Yalah, ikut jadual kan," I replied.

"Ala, tidak syiok oh."

Tell me, which teacher will not have flowers blooming in their heart listening to this?

Angry child

This is my 8th year of teaching. All through these years, I have always gotten flowers or cards or sweet words from my kids. Even when I have squeezed their ear when not finishing their homework. Or made them standing outside the class. Or let them write the Multiplication table 50 times in their exercise book. In short, I have never encountered pupils who showed their despise toward me openly. Or in writing.

Until yesterday.

When this vandalism act was showed to me, I remember having one boy's face flashed quickly in my mind. But I realized he wasn't in the group of punished kids on that particular day. So my suspicion was narrowed down to two out of the four punished kids. However, it made no sense to me cos these kids are not the type that keep hatred in their heart. At least not that I know of them.

"Tidak apa, cikgu tidak marah. Kalau cikgu marah, cikgu memang bodoh macam yang kena tulis di dinding tu. Tapi sebenarnya, yang bodoh tu ialah orang yang menconteng dinding hanya kerana dia marah dengan cikgu."

That was all I said to them as a reply.

The rest of the kids nodded their head in agreement to my statement.

I relay this incident to my close colleagues, one of them being the class teacher of that particular class as part of my sharing of the day.

At home, I thought of this matter. I was not angry. I was more bugged by the thought that an eight year old can be so angry at me. Kids that age don't usually keep their anger long. Unless I have been scolding them too often to leave a scar in their heart. At that point, I have only one name kept repeating; the boy who flashed in my mind at first thought upon seeing the writing on the wall.

I know I have to at least interrogate the suspects. It's not about finding whose fault is it but more to let them know, writing on the wall like that is wrong. It's vandalism.

But before I did anything, my colleagues had made my interrogation easier the next day. To cut the long story short, the suspects were pinned down to one person - the same first boy I suspected.

I threatened him just to get the truth. It was wrong, in some sense but it worked. I also dig out why he was so angry at me. His answer made sense. I made peace with him, offering my apology to him for making him feel the way he felt. At the same time, I let him know what he did wrong and why I scolded him.

His tears flowing like waterfall.

I offered him tissue to wipe off his tears. Made him helped me carry my books just so I get to re-kindle our relationship on our way to the staff room. That's how it should be, right?

That was an eye opener alright.

Heart fills with loves

Yesterday, before letting the kids in my Maths class out to go home, someone passed me a folded paper.

"Teacher, dari si Bryan Eric", said the Ketua Kelas when handing me the paper.

I slowly unfolded the paper and one look at the hand-drawn picture inside, I felt warm feeling flushed into my heart.



I wonder if the necklace with love shape pendant is his interpretation of me as a kind heart teacher. Well, I hope so. ^__^

What a nice thing to end up my weekdays.

Happy New Year 2012

Hello fellow teachers!

Gee, I've been neglecting this blog for quite sometime now. I guess, too many talks in the classroom that my hands were unable to cope with. ^__^

Anyways, here's a toast to a brand new year and hopefully, where my teaching career is concern...another successful and fruitful teaching year.

Bring it on 2012!