Teachers and professionalism

I loved school. LOVED it with a passion. I have many friends I have asked what their memories are about school, and it is sad to say they are not pleasant ones (on the most part). I am yet to find a friend who loved school as much as I did.

There are many reasons why. The teaching style didn't suit them, we all remember the chalk and talk method that was so prominent. Lessons had no link to their interests. Lots of reasons and probably lots of blogs. What made the difference that made me enjoy school and everyone else I know hating it? Probably because I am a linguistic and spatial learner. School provided lessons that suited me just fine. Moving on...

Recently I was at a friends house having a coffee, and we were chatting about school and teachers. He is another one that didn't enjoy school, he gave some of the many reasons I have heard many a time. But he gave an additional reason which has had me thinking for the past couple of days. He had some comments about teachers and his portrayal of them that made me cringe. I had to agree with him.

He said:
Teachers seemed to always look down on us, like "we're" up here and you students are down there. The way they dressed, the way they stood, the way they wore their glasses, the way they held their coffee cup...

Interesting isn't it...

Why is it we are constantly reminded about our need to act like professionals? Even in uni it was a major focus. I recently received a phone call from a parent 'thanking' me for playing a game in the classroom. It's so nice for them to be kids and have fun... she commented. Yea... I lost sight of that. I was too focused on fitting in all the curriculum. Hindsight, and reflection has taught me much this year.
I've spent some time thinking about the teachers I work with. One made me laugh... Mrs R. She always has a coffee cup in her hand but I doubt she ever gets to drink any lol. I have no clue how many mugs she has but they have been sighted all over the school, literally. She is in another block, and another floor level!!! One of her mugs was found outside my room just last week. My class had a laugh about it, then one of them volunteered to courier it back to her. I love it, that she is just that little bit 'crazy,' it sure makes me smile.

I'm definitely not one of them professional looking teachers. I'm in jeans and a shirt, messy hair and constantly losing my sunnies. I like to think I am approachable for the kids. I did wear a skirt and top with my hair done up one day, and had many comments about how different I looked. I was asked why I was all dressed up. I actually had a date after work (lets not go there... disaster!!!). But I simply replied "no reason. Just felt like it". Maybe, every now and then is o.k for me. Every day would make me mental.
Yes there are definitely limits. For goodness sake cover yourself up, no need for bits and pieces to be on display. Hmm yes I do dress appropriately with this in regard.

I often think about what students will remember about me. These comments made by my friend made me think about my favourite teachers. It was the crazy ones I remember most fondly. They are the ones where life lessons stick out the most.

Mr Bell. Who had a hollowed out old car put into the playground for play equipment. We had the best school fairs, with horse drawn carts and games and laughter. Every parent came.
I used to kick my shoes off the second I got to school and run down to the paddock and talk to the cows.
Mr Bell was the teacher to 26 kids. He was also the only teacher in the school. He was my year 3 teacher, year 3 was made up of 4 kids. IMAGINE that!!! It was the BEST school I ever went to. Mr Bell taught kids from kindergarten to year 6 in one room, and yet me, a year 3 kid still managed to learn and have fun. What an achievement.

There are more. Another time.

I think I am going to be one of them teachers that resists the whole 'professional' thing. How about you?

Mr Brown

My first weeks of teaching were so confusing. I will never forget them.

In those first few weeks there are 2 teachers that really stand out in my mind who were helpful. Not by offering suggestions or feedback on how I was going, but just by general conversation, I didn't feel like such an alien. Because seriously, when I started work full time it really did feel like an alien place... the routines, the traditions of the school, the staff members, the children... not to mention the work load!!! Every school is different it takes time to adjust and learn all this.

My first week was the toughest. Those 2 teachers... both male. One is the school librarian he's tops. So down to earth I always enjoy his conversation and no nonsense attitude. The other was a veteran teacher to the school named Mr Brown. This is how we met...

"so you must be Voldemort?" he said to me. At first I didn't realise he was talking to me, but then I realised I was the only other person in the copy room.
"sorry" I asked.
"you're the one whose name can't be spoken" he replied.

I was confused... then I clicked!

My surname is not very common, and I had introduced myself to the staff using only my first name. I must have mentioned to someone that my last name had always been an issue so I don't bother telling people what it is.

Oh haha very funny. Great nick name!!!

We had a chat, I explained I had 5 children and lived in Newcastle etc.

Mr Brown would come and visit me in my classroom some mornings and afternoons to chat about the day. Very comforting as I am painfully shy and don't approach people Mr Brown saved me from doing this. One morning he came into my classroom saying "I am sorry for your loss" ... I had learnt by now that he often spoke in a cryptic manner and this was one of those times. I waited for his explanation. Apparently he had discussed me with another staff member and they had told him that I had 3 children. So he was saying sorry about the loss of 2 of my children. Hmmm, we laughed about the power of Chinese whispers and how things can get twisted by gossip.

The following morning he breezed through my room before school saying "you better come with me" ... crap!!! Ok damn I was not going to question him so I followed him. It was Friday and there is a staff meeting every Friday morning. Of which I was not aware.

Little things like that, things that he did helped me adjust to that confusing time. I genuinely appreciated it. I don't think he ever knew how much.

Sadness about this story. Mr Brown was killed last Wednesday afternoon in a traffic accident. He's been a teacher at the school over 20 years. More sadness to this, his wife is a teacher at the school too. It's not merely losing a teacher, this situation is more like family. I feel for her.

However, I am not always sad when I think of Mr Brown and that's why I'm writing this. Many things about him make me smile. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind... who he offended in the process, well, to him it wasn't intentional they had to know what he thought. So many little conversations like that make me smile.

He was also a passionate teacher. This year he had his class create a short film for a competition. The video was submitted to Kids Witness News video competition. They won the NSW Primary school section. Awesome stuff.

This is the video the children, with the help of Mr Brown created.

Who killed the cockroaches?

This Thursday we say goodbye to Mr Brown. He will be missed. He will never be forgotten.

Charlie the unicorn

Classrooms ask for lots of discussion. Answering questions in front of 30 other people can be a very daunting thing to do.

The important thing to promote is that mistakes are a part of learning. Embrace them. If you don't there won't be that environment where children feel comfortable to take a risk and speak up in class to answer a question.
I know what I'm talking about. I was one of them... one of them ones that never answered questions. I'd avoid eye contact, pretend I was busy working, busy thinking, whatever the case may be even if I thought I knew the answer I did not want to be picked to answer it.

WHAT IF I WAS WRONG?!?!

God forbid!!! No thanks. Just don't put me in that situation in the first place.

I'm a very shy person, even now as an adult and a teacher. That part of us never goes away. I recognise the children who, like me prefer not to brave it up and speak in front of the class. I can vividly remember those times when I was chosen... the face would burn up with embarrassment... inside I felt physically stressed and anxious. It's not a nice feeling.

I try to encourage those children who prefer not to speak up in class discussion by providing subtle cues during the exploration stage of the lesson. For example I might have some one on one questioning with a student, then during whole class discussion 'discreetly' ask that child for their input. It's nice because that child feels comfortable as they have that knowledge that they know the answer is correct, and it still allows them to have that feeling of success.
This is not my idea, it's what my own teachers did. I just didn't realise what they were doing at the time.

That is the wonder of hindsight. I LOVE HINDSIGHT!!!

We have a new friend in our class to help with this concept, more toward helping children be accepting about making mistakes. I got the idea as a combination from some students in the class who sang a song to a student who was sad (Put a banana in your ear), and from a colleague who told me about Charlie the unicorn... *Hi Amy*. Perhaps it is just my humour but I found it very freakin funny here is a link:

Charlie the unicorn. Hahaha I'm still giggling thinking about that one...

Charlie is a purple unicorn (purple is my favourite colour), and has magical powers.
Did you make a mistake??? Charlie!!! It was Charlie he is trying trick you...

If someone makes a mistake I place Charlie on their desk. Now Charlie is watching extra close he's still going to try and trick you, and anyone else close by.

A little bit childish you think? Yea but that's me. I've discovered that you should at least go with your ideas it's surprising how things can turn out.

I think it's a nice way to brush away mistakes. I will see how it goes.

In the meantime... welcome Charlie.

Cuddle monster

I got a present. I know it must seem like I focus on all the lovely gifts I receive but I mean WOW that's really special.
Our school had a production this week, it was based on 'healing the world'.
My class shared an item with the other year 4 class and sang the song 'Rip, Rip Woodchip' by John Williamson. It's a fun song I loved it. There was some axeman in flannies and hard hats, and the children were dressed in green shirts and jeans. We had one child dressed as a tree. I've mentioned this child before she's 'Janie' mentioned here... Pick me pick me!

I arrived at school last Monday morning and parked my car behind a white car. When I got out the lady in the white car got out and yelled 'Miss K________, I have to hug you' .... ummmm! I didn't know who this lady was but hugged her anyway LOL. Ohhh, I figured it out pretty quick I saw her daughter! JANIE!!! O.k so this is the first 'parent hug!' Crikey!!!
She apologised for the possibility I may think she was a crazy lady, but 'Janie' was so excited about being a tree and was so grateful I made the costume, so she had to say thank you. Isn't that lovely.

The production was awesome. Very demanding, but worth it.
On Thursday morning I arrived at school and 'Janie' handed me a bag with a wrapped gift and a thank you card in it. The card was more than enough it was enough to see her face so eager.

The gift... hahahahaha, what a treat! It's a singing and dancing 'Cuddle Monster' who moves to the tune 'Mahna Mahna' it's awesome I love it.
It will be a treasured and sentimental item always :)

Put a banana in your ear!

Sometimes... a kid will be sad... for whatever reason... :(
Recently it's been because of all the Father's day stuff we've been doing in the classroom.

I thought it was really lovely and sweet when a pair of girls who had noticed a fellow student who was sad would ask me if they could sing them a song to cheer them up!
Hey who am I to stop some fun and singing.
I asked the girls to write down the lyrics for me.

You have to imagine this being sung by 2 girls crouching down to the sad persons height and bopping up and down and swaying from side to side.
Change the name as appropriate, this time we will call the child Katie

You look so down
With your big fat eyes
And your big fat frown
The world doesn't have to be so greeeeyyyyyy
Katie when your life's a mess
When you're feeling blue
Or are in distress
I know what can wipe that sad away
All you have to do is
Put a banana in your ear, put a banana in your ear
Put a banana in your eeeeeaarrrrr
It's true
So true
Once it's in your gloom will disappear
The bad in the world is hard to hear
When in your ear a banana cheers
So go and put a banana in your ear
Put a banana in your ear
You will never be happy
If you live your life in fear
It's true! So true!
When it's in the skies are bright and clear
Oh, every day of every year
The sun shines bright in this big blue sphere
So go and put a banana in your
Earrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Try and make it to the end with out laughing....

Is this one of those 'you have to be there to appreciate it' kinda deals?!?! :D

7 is right next to 8...

One of my challenging students but also most funniest. I'll call him Fred. He sure doesn't look like a Fred but it will do.
He has aspergers. The stuff he comes out with is quite extraordinary at times. Being truthful, he doesn't really participate in the class curicullum too much. It's a challenge to get him motivated but if I have a chat to him one on one he takes in alot more than you'd realise. His curriculum is focused more on socialising factors.

He struggles to display appropriate social ettiquette. He's constantly trying to give hugs, clinging onto my arms or legs, whatever is in reach! I'm trying to teach him about personal space and about how most people feel uncomfortable about uninvited hugs and people invading their personal space. How is that going??? This should give an indication...
On Thursday he had some advice for me. He said Miss K you should go to church so you can learn about love...
WOW!!! I laughed so hard I just couldn't help it. Through the eyes of a child. I feel a little sad in a way that he thinks I don't know what love is...

This same little boy. He is an atrocious speller and usually gets 3 or 4 out of 10 in his weekly spelling tests. He told me at the beginning of term 2 when I began teaching him that spelling was a waste of time and so was writing. If someone had something to say they should just pick up the phone and call that person and say it. We had a rather long discussion about my friends in America and the benefits of emails etc. I managed to convince him that it was worthwhile at least doing our best for spelling and reading and writing.
2 weeks ago he got 9 out of 10 in his spelling test and it went in the dimple files. We came to an agreement that if he got 8 out of 10 any other week it should go in the dimple files. This week he got 7. I was very impressed I have to say.

He said ohhh c'mon Miss K... 7 is right next to 8 it should go in the dimple files... LOL. I was tempted to cave but I didn't. I know he can do it so I'm going to expect him too.

He's a funny little guy. How lucky am I to have met him.

Classroom jobs

This weekend I spruced up my classroom jobs. I've made them more fun.
If you can think of alternative names or some more to add to the collection. Please... let me know :)