Teacher's Truth Series 4

Teacher's Truth Series 3

THE TECH TEACHER

BANG! BANG! BANG! The beginning of beginnings was like a big bang on my head. I had sponsored myself to a camp in the United Kingdom just after finishing one in Nigeria. I really wanted to learn more, how to train girls, the camp was a blast. I met women and girls of different professions from several countries, including Singapore. There were so many new things to learn and I told myself that every holiday was going to be a new learning experience. I was full of excitement which was soon cut short by this monstrous thought of mine ‘How much time and money do I have?’

Time and Money stood tall before me like raging demons but as you ought to know, there’s no hindrance to one who is set to achieve, every problem has a solution. I knew I couldn’t spend every dime of my ‘newbie pay status’ to give myself the amount of training and exposure I desired. One day, on my way back from work, I bought a Visafone modem; I believed that the internet could solve the problem.

SO MUCH INFORMATION FOR FREE!!!  I read something everyday, asking questions and getting answers for free. My search was vast, learning how to teach certain subjects, topics and then getting appropriate resources for my lessons. Before this time, I would spend hours creating my slides not knowing some of them were available for free online. Teaching started becoming a lot more fun and nobody needed to tell me I had become a better teacher, I knew it.

In 2013, I had advanced so much that I wanted to share my own resources to other teachers online. I visited some websites and felt so happy that I had become so resourceful. Just recently, a colleague that I respect a lot showed me some platforms where his work had been downloaded more than a hundred times. This is a vital topic I would love to share very soon because it alarms me to know that some teachers would rather keep their resources than share even in their local school community. Such teacher already shows that he /she lacks a very vital 21^st century skill that he /she is supposed to pass to the students he/she teaches.

I joined an online based academy in 2013, European Schoolnet Academy, I learnt new things. I participated in a number of their courses (free) of interest to me and for the first time, I understood what collaboration really meant in practical terms. From that platform, I discovered a website that changed the face of teaching Spelling in my classroom. There’s so much information out there, sitting in the comfort of your classroom and school makes you a very local champion. When you sincerely begin the quest for knowledge and development, you will admit that you don’t know enough.

The skills (critical thinking, problem solving, creativity...)our students need to become outstandimg individuals transcends academic prowess and morals. Do you even know about these skills? Do you know how they can be incorporated into your daily lessons? These skills are not to be recited to the students, the teacher must understand them, own them and then disseminate tactically. There’s so much to say on different things we must do to improve on our present status, we will take them one at a time in upcoming posts.

  

Summary

• Understand your present status
• Admit your weaknesses
• Seek help by researchng online
• Collaborate with your colleagues(you are not limited by the school you work in)
• Learn to share and receive resources, you would be shocked that there are better resources than yours all over
• Join educational communities ( Google has alot)
• You can use Google Drive to preserve your files forever 
• Practise the things you learn, don't just be a recipient
• Learn new trends in technology, you can't run away from it.

Teacher's Truth Series 2

This is a really tough one considering our personal strengths and weaknesses which could even be the product of our backgrounds.

One thing I know is that  being a teacher is a growing process,we should be unwavering in our quest for perfection. I always take a peep back at when I started teaching;it's a long way from where I am right now. The little baby steps have walked a pretty long way.

Remember the popular saying ' It's tiny drops that make a mighty ocean.' However, the journey never ends.

Teacher's Truth Series

Teachers and Parents need a Positive relationship for the sake of the child

About 4 years ago, one of my pupils shyly came to my seat and told me some really personal things about her sister and herself. I was really dazed as she went on and on, "Have you told your mum?,"I asked curiously. She said "no, my mummy's pregnant and it would make her angry and would make the baby in her stomach begin to cry." 

I felt so honoured that this pupil trusted me so much as to tell me all she did, but then, I knew that I had to do the right thing. I advised her about the matter  and quickly made her understand that her mother was a very important figure in her life. I made her aware that her mother should always be her number one go-to-person.She was going to be my pupil for only a session but her mother would be all hers as long as she lives.I called her mum and retold everything to her  including my thoughts about it(already letting the child know what I planned to do). 

Do you know, her mother was oblivious of everything going on with her girls? These two fast growing girls had begun to confide in each other,with the 10 years old sister being the adviser.Their mother thanked me and even mentioned she would quit her job to make more impact on her girls.That phone call was an act of collaboration by both parties,without prejudice, for the sake of the child.

Many times, parents blame teachers when they notice something strange or different in their child saying the child probably picked it up at school. Interestingly, teachers are also inclined to believe or even say a child's parents are not doing good enough in raising their child.From my little experience, children are bound to express themselves in certain ways as the circumstances permit; at school,home or a party.

I once had a pupil who suddenly started acting really badly at school and it bothered me so I called his mother and told her about it. It was a big deal, I remember being called back by his parents(it was a conference call), it was a long call. We all agreed on measures to take on the boy's behaviour which had even begun to affect his grades. At the end of the day, his grades got better again, he became conscious of his behaviour and everyone was happy.

Finally, I am a strong believer of parents and teachers believing in each other and working to make the most of the child, this way we are securing the next generation. So, I appeal to teachers and parents to acknowledge the duty and place of each other and create an enabling atmosphere for the child to grow both in character and in learning.

Photo credit: Augusta School District.

HERE'S MY PLAN TO START THE YEAR STRONG.WHAT'S YOURS?

Happy New Year to all my readers!!!

It's been such a while I must say and I am so glad to be back.

The change of weather descended on me mercilessly with a chesty cough that had no regards for where I was,who I was with or what time it was. A few of my pupils and I battled with  cough for weeks before we vacated yet I am still recuperating from mine. 

Enough of that, it's a new year and I wonder what you have cooking up your sleeves. It is true that the teacher's year begins at September but there's always something special about the New Year which begins at January. Can I get a witness?

As for me,I scanned the first term results countless times and took notes on the pupils' performances. You know you do not seem to totally know your pupils' capabilities until after the first examination.I keenly observed and thought of strategies I could use to improve their grades next term.

Firstly, I went into a bookshop and bought various kinds of text books related to the subjects I teach. Having an assortment of books in my subject area would afford me the opportunity to be more versatile in my teaching methods. It is not enough knowing about a topic, I was desperate to gain mastery of all the subjects I teach in such a way that teaching every topic is more effortless and more impactful to the pupils. 

Secondly, I drove all the way to a children's bookshop at  Iponri, Lagos,  to purchase classroom resources to improve on the ambiance of my classroom. There were loads of bulletins and charts to pick from but I decided to be focused. I sought for charts that could help improve the children's vocabulary for both spoken and written English. Fraction, geometry, inspirational charts and many more were purchased as well. I am extremely excited about my purchase.

Thirdly, I have drawn up a success plan  which I intend to share with my pupils upon their resumption; it is both academic and behavioural. This plan is supposed to enlighten each child on his/her present  standing and help them set realistic goals for themselves next term. I am optimistic that this would have a great impact on their social and work skills which would at the end, have a positive contribution to their grades.

Teacher Idara has just shared her short term goals for her class, have you considered doing same for yours? It is not too late to get a pen and paper to write those notes on your mind or make that move on your mind; you would be happy about it. Let us start the new term strong so we can end it excellently.

Have a great year ahead....