It's only two months into the school year and yesterday, I felt bogged down by the responsibility of making my pupils succeed in their level.
The weight of the teacher's responsibility burdened me. Having to contend with the whole pupil, not only the mind in relation to the lesson, but the factors that affect retention and focus. These factors may include their health, mood, and distractions from the world. The child's world is their home and there are times, unfortunately, when the home does not help in the pupil's learning process. They need to process whatever is happening in the home, and when it is not pleasant, the pupils need to process that on top of what they need to learn in school.
In my case, as I have been teaching for years now, almost 17 (if I include my pre-diploma teaching years), and I sometimes forget that the learning process should be child-centered, as opposed to lesson-plan centered. This is a tall order when teaching in a class.
Good thing today our school has started practicing for dances (which we do yearly) and this summoned my endorphins or happy hormones, so much so that I have leveled off with the pupils who need emotional affirmation that despite everything, they are okay. Of course practical measures such as talking with their primary care givers (their parents) is needed. More creativity on my part, and not resting on complacency of my track record of having taught for years, needs to be updated as well.
Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of song and dance. And the insight that the child is the center of the learning process. These children are our angels and they are the best teachers of what the important things in life are.
Thank you, God for my humble vocation.
The weight of the teacher's responsibility burdened me. Having to contend with the whole pupil, not only the mind in relation to the lesson, but the factors that affect retention and focus. These factors may include their health, mood, and distractions from the world. The child's world is their home and there are times, unfortunately, when the home does not help in the pupil's learning process. They need to process whatever is happening in the home, and when it is not pleasant, the pupils need to process that on top of what they need to learn in school.
In my case, as I have been teaching for years now, almost 17 (if I include my pre-diploma teaching years), and I sometimes forget that the learning process should be child-centered, as opposed to lesson-plan centered. This is a tall order when teaching in a class.
Good thing today our school has started practicing for dances (which we do yearly) and this summoned my endorphins or happy hormones, so much so that I have leveled off with the pupils who need emotional affirmation that despite everything, they are okay. Of course practical measures such as talking with their primary care givers (their parents) is needed. More creativity on my part, and not resting on complacency of my track record of having taught for years, needs to be updated as well.
Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of song and dance. And the insight that the child is the center of the learning process. These children are our angels and they are the best teachers of what the important things in life are.
Thank you, God for my humble vocation.
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