WORK LIKE THE LIONS

Ever heard of that feline called the Lion? I think that's an asinine question.  You see what I  did with the-ine words there?

 Well, when hunting the lion works in a team of "professionals" called a "pride", unlike its cousins the cheetah, tiger and the leopard.

Ever compared each animal's hunting success rate? Okay, that's for National Geographic to school us on the exact figures. But,  the clear definition of roles in the Pride is thrilling; the Spotter, the Distractor, the Catcher and all. Interestingly, that doesn't negate the fact that the lioness can also hunt (and succeed) alone, but the BIG kills in the jungle always require the team.

The professional environment is a "concrete jungle", involving competition with other companies and the same rules replicate themselves-in human form.

WORK AS A TEAM

Find the people who have the same goals as you do, so that the objectives and vision are clear, and always stay clear.

However, there are certain prerequisites that make for a "well-stewed" team. They are LOYALTY, HONESTY, NO BACK-BITING or GOSSIPING, CLEAR DEFINITION OF ROLES, DEDICATION AND THE POSITIVE MINDSET, RESPECT among other sub-prerequisites.

Most importantly for us, one ingredient that stands out is LOYALTY, a few of the other criteria are birthed from loyalty and that's why they say "Loyalty is expensive, do not expect it from cheap people".

Be loyal to your team. Be loyal to the organization. Achieve big things.

Go get them.

SUNDAY'S STORY

This little chap, Sunday, is a pupil of a school that we, David Obianyor, Idara Umosen and a formidable team,have been working with in partnership with the kind Obaforehanmi for about three months.

During our last leg of the first phase of the project, his father, our contracted painter, was full of joy and excitement.  He mentioned how his son had told him about the transformation going on in his school.
We patiently listened as he express his joy endlessly.

Soon, Sunday showed up to help his dad out and we were delighted to have a word with him. He kept on looking and moving around, marveling at the work done in the classrooms and the school at large.Afterwards, he stared endlessly at his own classroom without saying any words.

We are excited that the pupils will learn under better conditions and use a more befitting toilet regardless of rain or other harsh weather conditions

Furthermore, we met another student of the school (adult education) who we contracted to do a few carpentry jobs. He was excited to help as well.

Lessons learnt: Every learner enjoys and appreciates a more conducive learning environment.

We say a huge thank you to Obaforehanmi(TF) for leading our paths to this school and allowing us to partner with you on this project that was so dear to her heart.

TEACHERS: QUIT BLAMING EVERYONE-EVALUATE YOURSELF

There you go again, sitting down at the edge of your bed at the wee hours of the morning, head bent, hands clasped in grief and despair. One of your popular lines is, “When will things start working for me?” Wallowing in self-pity you console yourself that one day will be your day but to make matters worse, you remember that you are a teacher, a Nigerian teacher for that matter. Expectedly, you begin to curse everyone whom you believe could be responsible for your travails; the government, your employer, the circumstances of your childhood, the supervisor who you think despises you, the youngster at work who’s getting everything you believe you deserve but you never blame yourself for anything. Surprisingly, you have repeated this routine for many years, nothing has changed except the bulging bags under your eyes, the fine lines that have emerged on your face to remind you that you are getting older and that you have only a little time on your hands. It is the end of another year, you should not be doing that again, there are better ways to reflect on your life.

I beseech you right now to absolve everyone else of all blame and focus on yourself. Success is a choice, trust me it is not going to just fall into the laps of whosoever wishes for it, you have got to work it. This is that moment when you quit making excuses; just take the right steps. Life will always take advantage of those who will not do anything to take advantage of life.

In 2017, I gained new grounds; personally and as a brand. For readers who do not know me, I am a teacher without apologies and the brand, Teacher Idara is purely educational and it is owned by teachers, David Obianyor and Idara Umosen.  Teachers can gain new grounds if they take the right steps. In this post, I will be guiding you through practical ways to make your first baby step towards being a successful teacher. Grab a pen and writing pad and change the way you have been handling situations.

1. REFLECT ON YOUR GOALS (OR WISHES)

This may be in areas of personal development, classroom management, your community, your school, promotions, awards etc.

For example, this year, one of my goals was to become a visible teacher on the social media platform.

• Make a list of everything you aspired for in 2017.
• Tick off the ones you achieved.
• Put a question mark in front of the ones you did not achieve.

2.  LESSONS LEARNT FROM VICTORIES

This could be your victory or that of others.

For example; this year, I learnt that the more knowledge I have, the more power I have.

• Turn to a new page of your writing pad
• List out your achievements (or that of others)
• Enumerate five lessons learnt from each of them

3. LESSONS LEARNT FROM FAILURES

This could be from your failure or that of others.

For example, after my first radio interview at Eko FM (thank you Segilola for that experience), I realised that I found it difficult to address questions relating to a fraction of my audience (public school teachers) and I took steps.

• Turn to a new page of your writing pad
• List out your failure or unachieved goals (or that of others)
• Enumerate five lessons learnt from each of them

*Look out for more posts on more steps to take to become successful as a person and as a teacher.

*Feel free to drop your comments. 

*You can follow me by mail by submitting your email in the box at the top left side of this page.

SAFETY TIPS FOR TEACHERS

About two years ago, I was on my way back from private tutoring when this happened.

I had chosen the location because of it's proximity to my house without considering how much disruption traffic will cause.

At 8:40pm I drove off from the lesson hoping to get home in less than 30 minutes but that didn't happen. On that day there was a standstill.

I remember looking and the time going by, I called close people and told them what was going on. I got so tired that I kept dozing off.

Boom! I jerked up, opened the door to run out of the car and was pulled back by my tightened seatbelt. I stopped to figure out what had happen but could not tell. 

At the loud sound, I saw bright lights and splinters of glass flying towards my face. What had hit my car? I could not tellWhat had struck my car. I became extremely frantic, it was 10:35pm o was still stuck in that traffic, my glass was broken.

I remember some guys in a big truck kept looking at me and smiling, some guy told me sorry. A vehicle with a middle aged couple stopped by to ask me what was taken from me, that was when it dawned on me that I had been robbed. My handbag had been taken out, but my phone was with me. 

At this point I wanted to scream because I felt so vulnerable, there was still this bad traffic  and a few hawkers were coming around to look and sell their wares.

I endured it till we were able to move, I took a look at the point the police usually stayed but they had probably closed. I drove home in a rush and finally arrived around 11pm.

I had never been so shaken in my life like that. Shattered glass on my body, all over the car and a missing bag full of documents and money as I had just returned from a camp that weekend.

The nice part is that by God's grace, I got calls from market women and random people and received my important documents.

I remain thankful because mine ended wellbut we can never be careful to make sure we have got the loose ends tightened.

Lessons

1. The route from the location should be properly taken into consideration. What level of traffic it is prone to, and at what time it is.

2.  Teachers need to understand properly the timing for the lesson. It is okay to be aware of the duration and fix a start time. But, you may need to do your test to ensure that your expectations for time duration and start time are in order.

3-  Prevent your lessons from dragging into the night. Go early and leave on time so you can feel safe.

4-  Keep your possessions away from sight .

5- Choose locations that are close to you and not prone to heavy traffic.

6- If you like to have multiple lessons plan your days properly. Let proximity be a deciding factor so that you do not have to stay out late meeting up with your targets.

7- As a teacher, you have the liberty to pick out a timing that works for you. So next time you are on the negotiation table, ask for timings that work for you and then come to a compromise at worst case scenario.

I changed my lifestyle from that day and you can change yours too. Don't put  your life at risk by staying out so late for lessons. 

I still think about interesting conversations that ensued between a certain parent and me. I  was asked to start sleeping over  on the days I had lesson to avoid being out late. I did not accept the proposal but painfully had to stop.

The most important thing I have continued doing is to avoid driving late. 

Stay safe!!! 

when teachers cease to look like teachers

Scene 1

I got on board quite late as I was not keen on lining up with the long queue when I could just sit down comfortably to complete episode 11 of Jenifa's Diary in peace.

Just as I planned, I finished the episode and happily strolled in behind a couple people to get on board.

I sighted my seat partners from a distance, both elderly and stern faced, I knew it was going to be a 

5-hour flight properly planned so that I don't get bored.

While I was still settling down, the passenger beside me mentioned that he noticed I came in a group, 'yes sir,' as I nodded.We all didn't seat together so I wondered how he must have thought so. It is most likely that he saw us much earlier when we were all checking in.

You know how it is when you know the person beside you is staring and looking for a conversation? That was the case but was not ready at the time.

A little after, I had a brief chat with one of  the air hostesses who totally loved and wanted to get the wig I had on. Immediately she went off the man asked again, ' Did you come for a conference?' This time I answered but did not look away, it was appropriate to have that once in a while chat with my seat partner.

I could tell he was curious and was definitely ready to feed him with as much as he asked for. Typical of his age range, he spoke with light gestures when he wanted to stress a point.

'What organization are you from?' Hmmm....I could tell he was thinking differently and I wanted to burst those bubbles immediately. Tuning my voice to the desired pitch for making my 'killer' impression, ' I am a teacher.'

Obviously jerking with astonishment, he readjusted and demanded to know what organization I came from and annoyingly again I said, 'every member of the group is a teacher' and that we were being sponsored by our school, Corona Schools Trust, Council.

For a few seconds he started to stutter, he was totally in awe. He said he was amazed that teachers would travel for a conference in such a large group (sponsored by the school). I just quietly looked at him with a faint smile, waiting for him to gather himself back again.

He then began to tell me that he was a medical doctor who had just returned from a vacation in London and lots more.I nodded, smiled and chipped in a few words to keep the conversation rolling.

Teacher/ blogger like me, I pulled out a note and pencil to write. I spent a few hours writing, no doubt, I had my seat partner peeking at every opportunity. Thinking back now, maybe I should have engaged him in more conversations, but the introvert in me did not let that happen.

I have flashes of our conversations and I reaffirm that teachers can earn their respect if they behave and appear respectably.

Teachers are phenomenal because of what they do. Carry yourself with pride and watch how others desire to be like you.

Scene 2

Patiently opening and examining every single dish in the restaurant,  I needed to make a great choice for breakfast.Suddenly, I looked up to find someone cheerfully standing in front of me.

 "My name is Peter, a businessman from Zimbabwe. Are you one of the election observers?"

I wondered why he would think I was that. Without wasting anytime I proudly raised my conference identity card, mentioning my name and profession.

He found it difficult to believe that teachers were having a conference in that building and had flown in from other countries.

Curiously, I went around the meeting areas and saw that there was a banner by the EU, they came  to observe Kenya's elections. 

Two mornings later, while I had breakfast he asked to join my table which I obliged to. He asked more questions about the conference and I loaded it down to him.

Then, he started about education in Nigeria that was the point where I dropped my stuffed bread and began to talk. 

 Of course, I made sure to talk about Teacher Idara in all it's facets ( edu support for teachers, TCT Lend a hand project and business).

He was dazed because he probably hadn't met a 21st century teacher before. He didn't understand how teaching was my main hustle and I was so proud of it. 

 Businessman as he was he started offering business ideas and also offered to invest if the need ever arose.

What happened to my food? Your guess is right,  I got filled up with my gist, could not finish the main course and even skipped dessert.

When I got up to leave for my sessions that morning, I walked out of the dining area head up. I just had amazing and sustained  business, intellectual and political discussions and I nailed it.  

I left him with an impression that teachers are way more than the chalk and the board.

I am Idara Umosen, a teacher. Every morning, when my leg hits the ground, I know it's another opportunity to express myself to the world.

What's your teacher story?

TEACHER/FASHIONISTA/SMARTMONEYMAN/ENTERTAINER/MENTOR/ NIKEADDICT

'Regular is boring' is your usual line and you have proven that over and over. 

The extraordinary person with me in this video is David Obianyor, a teacher whom I would like to celebrate today. We first met in 2014 when he was transferred to my branch to become the Numeracy teacher in my class. 

Day one, was unimaginable, 'who is this crazy guy that was sent to my class oh? ' The first teacher I know who starts his lessons with a show(dance and singing performance). The pupils were crazy about him and in days, they couldn't wait for Numeracy classes to begin. I was worried because the excitement was so much I wondered how the children would learn anything. 

Whilst I was still in my pedagogical thoughts wondering why this guy won't organize his class normally like other teachers, he cuts in one day as I teach and whispers in my ears to say I wrongly pronounced a word;he was actually right. That was the beginning of my learning process with him. 

After many more encounters, I realized this new teacher had so much more 'upstairs' than I thought earlier. What broke the camel's back was the day I demanded to see my pupils' Numeracy test records. They were excelling, even the pupils who struggled in the subjects I taught. 

David changed my perspective about teaching. He challenged me a lot and I began to 'up my game'; becoming more open minded and making teaching more child centred in my class. Improving my grammar(which was above average before), vocabulary, pronunciation became a drive. 

I learnt from him how to make my lessons more fun, how to help children comfortable enough with me to say how they feel and get solutions. 

David, @daveoe075, I may not be able to tell you every time how much impact you have made in my life and classroom. Looking back at the last three years, I can see how much I have grown. Thank you for letting your light shine through. 

The Confident Teacher's Guide

Hello Teachers,

The new school year is fast approaching. It's that time where you start your planning and preparations.

Some teachers often don't know where to begin.

Worry no more, I have a guide to help you prepare for the new session so that you can start strong and be a CONFIDENT teacher all year round.

To subscribe to my mailing list, send a mail to teacheridara@gmail.com or drop your email address in the comment section.