I mostly do writing with Nicey. Writing is challenging to teach. Most
children can get into reading if it is interesting subject material for them.
Writing, on the other hand, is actual "work"! Right now, I can make
this entire post technical and bore the heck out of anyone who cares to read
it; however, I won't.
Last school year, Nicey
wrapped up Grade 5 with an A- for writing. This school year, our aim is to end
with an A or A+. I believe she can do it. To that extent, the child is
dedicated. Even when our one hour was up, she would continue to write. Her
parents would be concerned and would compensate me with food for the extra
time. It was super sweet of them. Then, they decided to actually extend the one
hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Even so, their only child continues to go past
her scheduled time! I am fine with Nicey taking a few extra minutes. I would never want to interrupt the creative
process or end it abruptly!
Last Saturday, Nicey had to
write a poem as part of her Secret Santa gift. So, we first talked about the
receiver. Who was going to read this poem? What sort of a person is this
person? Then, we really needed to zero in on the theme and vocabulary. Finally,
we had to decide "to rhyme or not to rhyme". It was a lot of fun.
Nicey wondered if she could do some origami to go with her poem?! I was like sure, let us do it since this is the last
lesson. The child received that quite literally and went into a bit of
panic mode. She was like this can't be my
last lesson with you?! I am coming back, right?! It was the single most amazing
moment in my entire career of teaching anyone. This child loves to learn and
she is afraid of not having that opportunity anymore with her teacher!
When Nicey's mom came to pick
her up, she wondered how I could teach poetry on such short notice?! She meant
that as in I am not a real teacher.
Fair enough. I do custom lessons for children and I am not in a classroom on a
daily basis. However, it feels like the most natural thing to do. And I believe
Nicey's mom meant it in the best way possible!
On a related note, I am volunteering in a Grade 5 classroom on Mondays.
Usually, my job is to work with this one ESL child. Today, he partnered up with
another student, and I felt like I had nothing to do in the classroom. So, I
decided to walk around and find out if anyone else needed my assistance. It
appeared like no one did. The classroom was literally buzzing and I love it
when students are actually talking about the task at hand. In all that
commotion, somehow I spotted this one child who was by himself. He did not have
a partner and looked a little sad and confused. I approached him and wondered
out loud if I could be his partner. The child literally started crying quietly.
I asked him if he wanted water and rushed off to fill his empty water bottle.
When he had some water, I let him know that he doesn't have to work with me.
The child looked up at me and said that he wanted me to stay and partner with
him. All this through big drops of tears and huge sniffles! I was almost ready
to cry. However, I did not and we managed to get through the 2 pages of Math.
When I went back to the teacher, he commented that I made myself useful by
looking around and I found the one child who needed me the most.
And that's what I want to do with my life. Find my classroom and
hopefully find those children who need me the most. At this point in time, I
need them just as much! Here is hoping for a good ending...
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