How My Class Looks Like During Lesson: Be the Respected Teacher.

Me, slowly taking the camera (mobile phone) out of my handbag, intending to take their picture silently.....but, oh well! They're just too alert and sensitive to the camera! Hahaha!

Here goes:

The typical look when their 'antenna' sensed the camera!

Let's see more photos of them! ^w^

Making themselves feel at home. Feel free to move about~

Are you crowning me with your tie, friend? Lol

Bro, can you help me with this question, please?

Let's check the dictionary together. Checking......checking......checking.....

While the two are completing their work together......there will be someone at the back to photobomb

Photobomb successful!

Look at his shocked expression! He got shy after that! Haha!

Hey bro, I need your help again!

Yeah, I know. Looks messy, right?

But you've got it wrong~ They are in control. 

I like my class to be this way. They are active in learning. They move about to ask questions to me or their peers. This is the best time to let them actually practice using the language! 

Some teachers asked: 

How do you do that? How do you keep them in control while letting them move and talk?

How did you make the problematic pupil to do your work?

Wow, you are very successful in gaining their interest in your lesson.

My answer: Be the respected teacher.

I wouldn't expect every teacher to be able to do like this in a short while. This actually takes time. But, do not give up. Continue to do your best for them.

For this class, I have been with them since they were in Year 3. They gave me quite a headache at first. I learnt from my mistakes along the journey with them.

Get to know your pupils better. Listen to them instead of just lashing out without giving them a chance to speak for themselves. 

Imagine, how would you react to a boss who doesn't respect you as a person? Yes, you will tend to not have the motivation to work your best anymore. Same goes for the pupils.

One of my weakness which I learned to overcome: >>  Expectations!

Lower down your expectations! Underachieved expectations will lead to frustrations. 

Frustrations will lead to more disappointments. 

Accumulated disappointments will lead to giving up...and that's where everything starts to crumble.

We need to remember that they are still children. Let them have their childhood, if not outside, create one in your classroom! This is where teacher-pupil connections and mutual respect are built. 

When relationships and respect are built, it is easier to get your message across to the pupils. Why? Of course! Let me ask you then; Do you listen to someone whom you like or dislike? That's right. To the one whom you like~  ;)

On a note; be stern and firm on discipline!

Teach for mastery, not test scores! 

Just like building a house, the foundation is the most important! 

Imagine a four storey house will be built.

First, they have to prepare the base. After the given time, inspectors came and said "Ok. 75% done".

Then, they continued doing the first floor because of time frame. And again, after the given time, it was 70% done. 

They continued to the 2nd floor: 80% done.

3rd floor: 60% done.

By the time they continued to the 4th floor, everything came crumbling down because the weak base couldn't support the heavy top layers.

Same goes with education!

There are many more things for me to learn in the coming years. But for now, I just want to give my pupils enjoyable time in school. Children nowadays are so much burdened with tuitions! Everything is about studying, studying, studying......for EXAM! Their face is literally in the book from 7.30a.m - 10 p.m everyday in average. They are still so young (6 years old - 12 years old) but already deprived of their childhood.

Do you know that playing is one of the way children learn things best?

We need to balance out study and play! Help bring back the smile on the children's faces.

Another reminder for myself too~

All the best, educators!