I have to post again this afternoon after the day that I just had. My teacher did not come to school today so I had to teach the entire day with nothing really planned. I was pretty much thrown in there and did what I could based on what I have seen. It ended up going sort of well and I am definitely closer to the kids now. The group that came here last year told us that it happened quite often that the teachers would just disappear or not come to school once the VIU students arrived. So, I had been warned but when it becomes your reality it can be a little freaky.
When the day began and my teacher hadn't arrived I thought that maybe she was just late, like yesterday. But mid-way through the morning the principal came to tell me that she wouldn't be coming in today and that I pretty much had to handle the class on my own. Not such a big deal except that she made it very clear that I had to teach things in the curriculum because they are being tested next month and don't have time to just do whatever I feel like teaching them. Yeah, that threw me for a bit seeing as I didn't even know what my teacher had planned for some parts of the day yet I was then supposed to cover it! How does that work?
Fortunately, I had some help from one of the other VIU girl's that is teaching the same standard as me and everything ended up being fine. I had some really good, productive conversations with the students too throughout the day and we were able to get into each others heads a little and gain more understanding from both sides. I asked them at one point why they don't listen to me as well as their teacher and they said it was because I was nice. So, basically they are behaving out of fear of punishment.
This experience is all very interesting because as frustrating and disappointing as it can be to see some of the things that are happening in the school I can connect with the kids and be a positive influence. Already I wish that I could stay forever and be a catalyst for change. It is interesting to think about our different perspectives and what we all think effective teaching and discipline looks like. Students shouldn't be behaving well out of fear, but rather because it is the right thing to do. It sure gets the wheels in your head turning about all of the possibilities.
Tonight, I am getting stuff ready in case the teacher is not there again tomorrow. Now I know to have lots of backups and ideas. Oh, the mystery of what tomorrow will bring!
