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.

NEVER TOO EARLY TO ACQUIRE A SKILL

Something interesting happened this week, one of my sisters who is on the verge of completing her high school came home. She needed to do an interview for her choice university and so she was at home for a few days. The night before she was to go back, she came into the room with a box. She had chosen photography as a subject from SS1.

‘You guys see what I did in photography for WAEC practical,’ Unwana said as she carefully unzipped. She brought out a gigantic photo album (over a hundred capacity), she had snapped a lot of creative and beautiful pictures; nature, buildings, people and many more. We, every member of the family present could not hide the surprise and joy.  Next, she brought out handmade frames mage from boards, then other frames that she had bought, all with amazing pictures in them. I was very pleased.

You cannot begin to imagine all the ideas I gave to her since she would be studying journalism in the university.

Meanwhile, way back in high school as I sat during a valedictory service, I was in SS1,I recall the principal telling the parents why the school wasn't offering vocational subjects. 'We are not interested in training menial workers, we are grooming professionals' he said.I remember that line because it was followed by a loud applause, I actually thought my principal was on point at that time. It caused a disruption in my mind.

Prior to that time, I loved destroying my old clothes and re sewing with a needle and thread. I would wear them and tell people I sewed them myself. With my new mind shift, I only continued as a hobby, since I was made to believe that it was only the uneducated who learnt such skills (poor me).It took so many years to realise that I was misguided.

Today, I am a preacher of the need to acquire skills, 21st century skills to be precise. When I came across this post through a phenomenal educator as I, Halimah Bello- Osagie, I was overjoyed. Take a good look at the vocational skills being offered. I commend the organizers of this programme, they are trendy and forward thinking.

I called my brother who just finished his junior WAEC and told him to choose a skill. I sent for his friend and right now they are so in for this programme. He is definitely going to sharpen some old skills and learn new ones.

What are your teens doing this summer? Do not leave them to play all day aimlessly. Let them acquire skills, gain a work experience or create something. Better still, register them on the programme, it's for only a week. 

MY EXPERIENCE WITH A DISSATISFIED PARENT

I want to believe most teachers share the same phobia with me - DISSATISFIED PARENTS. Even the best teachers must have come across a dissatisfied parent on the job, more experienced teachers may have even found ways to minimize this, but every once in a while, they are all out in your face. Do you know that having a dissatisfied parent is neither because you are a bad teacher nor he/she is a bad parent?

To be sure we are in agreement, I would like to say that I see a dissatisfied parent as one who thinks that you are not doing enough or not trusted enough to cater  for the educational needs and a lot more (as promised by the school)  for his/her child. This could range from the child’s consistent missing pencil to a not so good feeling towards a teacher. Before I share a recent experience, you should know that I believe strongly that parents know or have an idea of what they want for their child (ren); this guides how I relate with them.

Just a few weeks back, I was summoned by my supervisor, while I was still trying to finish up what I had to do, she showed up at the front door of my class. Very professionally, she informed me on how displeased a certain parent, Mrs. Lovelyface (that’s what I call her in my mind), was about her son’s handwriting. Prior to that day, I had discussed with Mrs. Lovelyface, she seemed very concerned about her son’s handwriting, I tried to make her aware of her son’s academic standing (more of a concern to me than his handwriting), but soon figured out that her first goal for him was the handwriting. The little chap and I had worked really hard on the writing even though he was not consistent yet. I kept on asking about his mum as I couldn’t wait for her to see his improvement, but she had been in ‘the abroad’ for quite a while.

Now, as I was being informed of the situation, I couldn’t help turning away to look at furious Mrs. Lovelyface, pacing angrily at us; she looked ready for war. Honestly, I wondered to myself why this fine lady was stressing her face so badly, the lovely face had disappeared. In less than a second later, I was terribly pissed because it didn’t even make sense as she had been unavailable and then suddenly returns to report me to the school without confirming her son’s progress from me. Without batting an eyelid, I said to her, ‘madam, but you have been in America since, your son has made so much progress.' The only evidence was his notes and my supervisor really wanted to get to the root of the matter, alas his notes arrived and there was a clear progression, my lovely lady lacked words and calmed down a bit. My supervisor began to commend me on the boy’s improvement and looked through the notes together with the lovely lady then left both of us to talk and sort out ourselves. The whole experience spoilt my day, I didn’t like it at all.

I needed to talk to someone, I didn’t think it was right of her to have reported me to the authorities without finding out from me, especially, because she also hadn’t been around (she insisted I should have called her since she always roams), but deep down, I knew the woman wanted more from me. My head was not ready to think, so I spoke to a trusted colleague, who I knew would be sincere with me, he was. 'All this woman wants for her child right now is for his handwriting to become really good, give it to her,’ he said to me.  I tried to explain that his handwriting was a lot better and that the mother wanted a complete transformation which may not be very possible judging from a lot of factors.  After everything, I assured myself that I would push myself to make Mrs. Lovelyface a satisfied customer.

I made a few decisions and a took a few steps.

1.   I told myself that I couldn’t keep being angry (the customer is always right). In my case, the customer desperately wants something and if I am to say I am good enough, I have to meet and exceed her expectations.
2. My reaction must never change negatively towards the child even though I did not like what his mum did(which actually is not wrong, teachers just don’t like to be reported )
3. I thought of a colleague who mentored me in my early years in teaching, Sarah Jatto, she is absolutely amazing in working with children. ‘’She is the best person to help me in the total transformation of his handwriting,’’ I assured myself.
4.  I met Sarah Jatto who poured her wealth of wisdom to me, priceless (we must learn to identify colleagues who have strengths that we lack, super stars don’t necessarily know everything).
5.  I gave him a student mentor and coach (Mrs. Lovelyface had earlier shown her admiration towards the child’s writing), his goal was to write like him.
6.  I was patient with him even though there was a backlog of notes, it cost him a lot of pain and time to write legibly let alone nicely.
7.   I followed through with him consistently and gave him rewards, more targets and more rewards.

Finally, one morning, by 10:18am, I receive a message on my phone. Guess who it was? If you said Mrs. Lovelyface, you are right. I personally learnt a lot from this experience,uu even though I have written about aligning your goals for a child with the parent’s, this was a reality check. To my amazement, the child’s academics which I was more concerned about has also become better. Yes, that handwriting is still a work in progress, nevertheless, we aim for the sky.

Be Knowledgeable

Collaboration 4 -#doingitright