We consider ourselves very lucky as educators. We have the autonomy to come up with our own curriculum, teach as we deem fit, and hopefully change a few lives. Life is not less stimulating than a corporate one- we meet interesting people, inspiring characters and get to reflect on our own.
I wrote this for my own pleasure a few years ago. Reading it now two-three years later, I think it still epitomizes my regular day pretty well.
***All in a day’s work***
Story 1:
Spoke to a student’s parent for an hour today.
The student’s in Secondary 2 this year and has been with me since P6. Mum is unhappy he got B3 for the latest exams and wants to see how I can help him. There are many elements to acing the exam and I think he has been consistently improving. He was previously getting a C and had gotten better results. That said, he has not been working as diligently outside of the class as he should have. Have been motivating him, even promising him a buffet meal if he gets his target. Having said that, I will be sad if he leaves because there’s so much emotions vested, seeing someone grow up. Can only hope he can buck up for the next test.
Story 2:
Have a new student today. He has slight autism so reading is tough and it takes more effort for him to process questions which are less commonly tested. Due to his hard work, he overcame his obstacles and got 256 for PSLE. After today’s lesson, he told his mum that the “teacher was fun” and “classmates were fun” but couldn’t elaborate why.
Am glad he likes the class.
Imagine if the boy from Story 1 has this boy’s diligence. How we take our “normalcy” for granted at times
Story 3:
A talented P5 student confided in me that he is starting to find the class unchallenging.
Having known him for half a year and thus, being able to assess his ability, I suggested he try the S1 class. It fitted him perfectly. He found the class more stimulating and told me he enjoyed it a lot. Happy his mum was open to letting her kid try it though it does not relate as closely to his primary school syllabus.
(Afternote: this boy even did better in the assignments compared to some of the S1s and gelled well with them.)
Story 4:
A P4 kid’s mother barged into my centre a couple of months ago, requesting her son skip a level and start P5 class. Was very persistent. I suggested he take the P4 class first and if he is suitable, I will make the switch. We are not rigid, but it should be by a case-by-case basis.
A month into the class, mum asked how he could get 16/20 for composition. I told her honestly, with his current standard, I am aiming for the kid to get 11/20.
Today we did a peer review of classmates’ stories. His class gave him an 8/20.
Story 5:
I had a student who quit the classes a couple of years ago after a tragedy in his family. It was his birthday last week, so I messaged his father today, sending birthday wishes to the boy. He had gotten into one of the top secondary schools in Singapore, but the tragedy has not been resolved. How fate plays a cruel joke on us at times. We had volunteered to sponsor the classes but the family has declined the offer.
Makes me reflect on my life priorities.
*
A friend asked me today how I made the switch to teaching.
Cliche as it sounds, I told her, a certain amount of love for teaching and the kids is needed.
There are definitely bad days but it’s also rewarding knowing these young punks.
And that’s my life now. And I’m loving it.