“Bye teacher! See you tomorrow!”, yelled Jess as she hugged me and ran off with her friend into the arms of her mother who was waiting outside to take them home.
Sighing, I got up and stretched, the exhaustion of the day finally settling in.
I looked around the empty classroom, it was a mess.
The desks and chairs were pushed aside towards the corner leaving an empty space in the middle, it was a group activity day after all.
Little knick-knacks were lying around, toys, pieces of paper and of course pencils. The ever-elusive pencil, we will never find one when we truly need it.
I started cleaning up and arranging, my thoughts drifting off.
………….
The muted sounds of the air conditioner seem too loud. “Was it always so loud?”, I wondered as I threw all the empty pieces of paper into the trash can.
Silence is rarely found in a classroom you see, even when the students are working quietly, there is always some or the other noise; scratching of the pencil over the paper, or hushed voices as the students whispered and giggled. They always think the teacher cannot hear them if they whisper.
But once the children leave, its deafening, the silence.
……………
I started arranging the desks and chair in order, seating arrangements always seemed like a puzzle with no corners. Everyday arrived with another piece of the puzzle missing.
There never really is a “perfect” arrangement for the students to sit in. Children are easily adaptable. We can’t expect Jason to behave simply because we separated him from Michael. Jason is perfectly capable of befriending his new bench mate. Neither can we assume that Julie will learn better if she sits next to the class topper Susan. Children defy expectations. There is no magic wand that will spell away all the problems within a classroom.
……………
Stepping away from the last desk I glanced around the classroom, it seemed wrong. Too empty.
Was a classroom really a classroom if there were no children in it? It just seemed like a room.
I walked towards my desk and started sorting through the student folders, smiling as I flipped through their work. Emily was really improving in math; she was working so hard. Roy had again skipped through questions.
It’s almost too predictable, the expectations that we have of our students.
- Follow classroom rules.
- Be on time.
- Be prepared for class.
- Be considerate and respectful.
But a classroom must not be balanced on this alone. There should be reciprocity. A child has expectations too, whether it be about the class, the school or even the teacher. This is what leads to reality and impacts their behavior.
The very first day a child enters the classroom, we pull out our projectors, slides and pointers and start chanting the rules and classroom expectations, as though it’s a holy mantra.
But is that enough?
We must remember, children are clever and understand far more than we think, the initial steps we take, sets the tone for the entire year.
Let them state their expectations.
What do they want from the teacher?
How do they wish to be taught?
A teachers expectation allows the student to improve, and a student’s expectation allows the teacher to improve. We are never too old to learn, and I have spent just as much time learning as teaching within the classroom.
……………
Gathering all the folders I move towards the lockers and start arranging them inside, planning for next weeks activities and projects.
What makes a good class activity?
Whenever I plan an activity, I always worry about the mess or if its time consuming. This however shouldn’t be the case. The basis of an activity relies on the fact whether a child manages to learn something from it or not.
What is the takeaway?
An activity is fun when things get messy because it shows their involvement. It allows them to build something with their own hands and learn from it.
This reminds me one of my favorite quotes by Benjamin Franklin:
“ Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
It’s true. No matter how many times we repeat something, students will forget it. Because they are mere words, to teach them we must involve them.
……………
Closing the lockers, I make my way towards my desk, I smile. Cards with tiny drawings, candies and stickers littered my desk.
Affection is one of the greatest gifts a student can give you. Often, I recall how I used to chase respect as a necessity within the classroom, but respect grows hand in hand with affection. Stern words alone cannot manage a classroom environment.
A student spends nearly 6 hours within a classroom, getting scolded for every little thing will only lead to frustration and resentment. Communication is key within a classroom, talk to them, listen to them, and understand them.
A teacher plays many roles within a classroom, first and foremost being a source of support. We are the foundation upon which our students build their knowledge.
……………
Packing up my things, I head towards the door, my mind already running through a checklist for what needs to be done for tomorrows’ class.
A teachers’ life involves 10% teaching, 40 % planning, and 50% improvising. Mostly because nothing goes according to plan. But this is what makes teaching interesting, the spontaneity, the chaos, all the excitement and laughter. It makes it worth every single effort that we put in, all of it.
Turning off the lights before exiting the classroom, I turn around once more, taking in the empty classroom.
I smile as I close the door behind me, already excited for tomorrow.
