Teach and Learn Part5

My Naughty Students Have Improved

Today, I wasn’t expecting a good change from my beloved 5J’s. After the  heart to heart talk  last meeting with them , I wasn’t expecting much. I was used to their  broken promises.  I quietly waited for the class in my room as usual. They came in and settled themselves. As usual the leader of the class  announced to everybody to greet the teacher. So, all the students stood up and greeted me "Good afternoon". I started  the days’ lesson and hoped they will listen. To my surprise all of the  students  were all listening to me. What a mystery! Did heaven strike on them? Deep inside I was smiling and hoped this will last for centuries. I took  the chance  who knows this might not last for a minute, an hour  or for days.  I went on with the lesson. They were all participating in the discussion. There were still noise in the classroom but it was lesser than before and I could still manage. I praised the whole class  when they answered me correctly. I saw smiling faces .

 If Tommy has improved, my naughty students did, too.

How about next meeting? Well let’s see…. Coming up next…

Teach and Learn Part 4

My Naughty Students  Made Promises

Today I planned  to call on the names of my  students one after the other  so I would know who  owns  the notebook with the  word SE_ that’s boldly printed on the cover page . My students came into my room. They were very quiet this time because their adviser  sent them to my room. Oh, my beloved students were behaving good this time. I was a bit happy but didn’t let the students notice it. We finished the day’s discussion . I wrote the sentences on the board and instructed the students to rearrange  them according to the story. The students were quietly working so I was thinking this wasn’t be a tough day.  Before the bell rang,  I collected the notebooks . I started with number one ,  two, three and so on until I caught the culprit (who owns the notebook with the  word SE_) I set aside his notebook. Others followed to hand their notes and at the end I gathered 6 notebooks. They did not write anything. I dismissed the students leaving the 6 students behind. I asked them why they didn’t work while infact  the activity was easy. I started   to ask  Jessie ,pointing at the word, SE_”Do you know this word? Will you read it for me?” Instead of him answering me his friend Joshua read aloud and laughed. All of them began laughing.  I told Jessie to erase that word. Now I faced  the other student who doesn’t belong to the J’s group.  I asked her,  Poi (not the real name) why didn’t you work?  Do you do this in your other subjects?” YESSS!, the other five chorused. I went on.  “Who is your mother?” She answered me in Thai, ”TAENG TE GUET MA CHAN MAI KUEY HEN MAE LUEY”( Since I was born, I didn’t see my mother.) So I said, “Why do you speak like that. If your mother will know about it, will she be happy? BLAH, BLAH, BLAH . Now I faced the 5 J’s. “Last time , you promised to do good. But why ? Why didn’t you work? See your notebooks . There’s nothing in it except your drawings. How many times you made promises with me? (Jinky started counting her fingers to play jokes …)Do you like to me to talk with your parents?  Tell me honestly. Do you respect your parents ? If you don’t ,well this is the school whether you like it or not you have to. This your last chance I will  report this to the principal and you  will be reprimanded.” Blah blah blah my heart was aching. I didn’t know what to do with these students. I was fed up. But suddenly the  students chorused, “KOTHOT KAP ,TEACHER. CHAN JA MAI HAI TEACHER GROT EAK LAEW KAP, CHAN JA TANGJAI LEYAN KAP”. ( I am sorry teacher. I won’t make the teacher angry again. I will intend to learn.)They were all staring at me . Their eyes were turning red and were pleading. I couldn’t believe what ‘s going on.  But it’s enough am tired of them. I sent them  to their room after my last word. We were all quiet. I hope they meant what they said. They were sorry. UGHHHHHHHHHH my heart…..

What’s next ? Will they be the same?

Teach and learn Part3

My Naughty Students Made My Day

The  students made my day yesterday. I was really boiling in my  grade 6 English class .  I have a lot of naughty students that always make my day. They were naughty students that they do what they like to do depending on their moods.  There were some  other naughty students , too but they were easier to handle than this 5 peers of students.

Yesterday I knew surely that  something was going to happen as I experienced it for the past years every time I handled this class.  This was the story.  The students were enjoying reading their “Story Tellers book”  about  “ THE RICH GIRL,POOR GIRL  EPISODE 2”. When suddenly at the middle of the class, Joshua tore a small part of  the book  then  inserted it in his mouth  as if it’s a handful of food. He enjoyed  the taste while grinding between  his teeth. All of a sudden he spitted on the table with the accompanying sound , THWEY!  Off course he got our attention the very beginning that he tore a part of his book..NO, no, not  his book .It’s the schools book we were borrowing.  I was supposed  to attack him  and tell to  mind his manners but  oh my, oh my, my pulse …take it slow. I went near  his place and ask him, “ WHY WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?”  IF YOU DON’T LIKE TO READ JUST KEEP STILL . He didn’t say any word but his eyes were ready to attack me. I didn’t bother ‘cause I know it so well something might happen if I talk a lot minding him. I know I won’t stop for sure if I start to BLAH BLAH BLAH… I was  afraid I’d hit him.

But another guy , Jessie stood up and transferred to another group and banged  the chair with the table.  He settled himself with his right foot up. My head began to ache.  I asked him: Jessie, didn’t I tell everybody to sit in his respective groups? Look at yourself . Thank you for sitting  properly.  I told him  if only  he  just  walked slowly from his group to the group he wanted to join and slowly pulled a chair to settle but  he intentionally did it noisily to attract us. He didn’t like me minding his behavior. He pouted.

I finally related the story and changed my mind not to let them make a booklet instead draw pictures reflecting the story.  I was expecting  JESSIE, JOSHUA, JUDE and JINKY  will do their work like the other students do. The students handed in their work and I took the remaining time to check. I finished checking a  number  of notebooks and I saw this word written boldy  in the cover page..… SE_( can u guess the last letter?) This notebook belongs to one of the 5 peers. I didn’t say any word. I planned next meeting I will announce to the class whose notebook had  the word SE_?

TO be continued next meeting …..What is awaiting for me?