Yeah, nobody likes that four-letter word. Neither do I. But I've been struck by more virus than one, and now I feel like a lethargic old girl with loads of marking to do. I straddle between trying to get my fair share of rest, and trying to meet my deadlines for marking and setting of exam papers.
But putting that aside, I think I had a swell of a week. When the new term started, I was already trying to fight off the flu bug. I pressed on. I had my lesson observation coming up and the last thing I needed was to fall sick.
It didn't help that I wanted to deliver the best lesson I could for the lesson observation. I tried not to pressurise myself, but the perfectionist in me just couldn't do less than what I was capable of. On the other hand, I was also afraid of over-taxing my poor old body. It needed rest, I know. But I had to push myself too.
Actually, I was more concerned if my kids would learn what I had intended for them to learn. Will they see what I wanted them to see? I tried to focus my lessons, and cut short activities that didn't seem to contribute to the lesson. Finally, on Tuesday, I felt I had what I wanted to teach. My supervisor saw my lesson plan and said it was OK. She said it'd be pretty interesting to see how it would unfold. I prepared my materials - colourful cards, papers, worksheets.... It was now all up to me, and my students.
My kids at 2 Unity are a wonderful bunch. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I know how boisterous they can be sometimes, and it can get pretty draining when I try to teach and there I have a bunch of kids just doing their own thing. But on a whole, I find them really endearing. My fellow teacher tells me that each time I speak of them, there's a sparkle in my eyes. Yes, in a way, they are my favourite students. After all, amongst all my students I have this year, I've taught them for the longest.
I didn't know how they'll be for the lesson observation. I did tell them my supervisor and the Principal will be coming in. I did tell them to ensure the classroom was clean. I did tell them to make sure they are neat and nice so they won't get into trouble. But I didn't tell them how I want them to be for my class. I just felt that that would be too make believe. I just hoped that they would rise up to the occasion during the lesson.
Well, my kids did surprise me that day. The classroom was sparkling clean. The tables were in neat rows. They got themselves ready into groups even before I told them to. And when I started the lesson, they were all ears. I love it when they look at me and listen earnestly with that look of enthusiasm in their eyes. They don't know it, but seeing this just makes my day.
They knew when to stand to greet the Principal when she walked in, and they knew when to reply to my questions. When it came to group work, all were engaged in the activity - every single one of them. But the best was yet to come. It was time to discuss their answers, and those that I called to present did so with such eloquence and intelligence, even they marvelled my observers, not just me. Indeed, the ideas and thoughts that ran through their minds, verbalised in words made the lesson much better than I had anticipated. Surely, they rose to the occasion higher than I ever thought possible.
My lesson ended well on time, and left them yearning for more. My Principal was so pleased with them she gave them a little speech at the end of the lesson, praising them for their behaviour. She said she was amazed at how each one of them listened when another classmate was presenting in class. She said she only saw this in Sec 2 Unity.
I felt proud of them. Like a parent seeing her child go on stage to receive her award, I was proud of these kids of mine. Suddenly, all the shouting to get them to listen when another was presenting seemed worth it. Suddenly, teaching them respect paid off. And maybe they didn't realise what they had done or learnt, but they had manifested it, and it showed it was in them. They are capable of exceeding expectations. They are capable of excelling. It's now just up to me to push them in the right direction.
And so my Sec 2 Unity - if you are reading this. Yes, thank you. Thank you for making my week a special one. Thank you for showing me that with perseverance, hard work will pay off. Thank you for encouraging me and letting me know that my mission of throwing starfishes in the sea is not an aimless one. You are a constant reminder for me, that I have a mission, and that I have to push on come what may. Thanks for making me smile. I hope I can do the same for you too.
:)
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