and just for something new...
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I had an entirely new teaching experience today. One that put me a little bit out of my depth, but that was equally interesting, invigorating and rewarding.
One of the reasons I came over here was to enhance my breadth of experience as a teacher - to see how it's done on the other side of the world. Embracing this mantra, I've taken work in 5 different schools over here, some for a few days, some for a few weeks. And most interesting to note, of these 5 schools, 2 of them have been high school... and 3 of them primary schools. I'm fairly certain teaching in the toughest high school in Brighton then the cutest little Anglican primary school in Worthing, having year 9 English one week, then year 1 French a week or two later is a clear reflection of how unique this experience has a been. But it wasn't until today that I realized I'd pretty much taken a walk (or a desperate and frenzied run - as the situation demands) down a number of brand new avenues in that fathomless and enigmatic city we call teaching.
Today I worked in the nursery. Not the nursery one may consider frequenting to source life and colour for their garden, but a nursery where one would discover life in its earliest blossoming stages, on the cherubic faces of tiny ones in their first year of school. We're talking 3 and 4 year olds.
Now anyone who's seen me with a baby knows that it's all very awkward and foreign to me. Truth be told, I haven't a clue how to hold one, and I have a grave fear of hurting their weak and wobbly little necks (very very grave, verging on being petrified). All this aside, I do think they're just the sweetest little things and I know one day I will have one or two of my own little awkward bundles with wobbly, weak necks to contend with.
of course the littlies at nursery school (or kindergarten) don't need to be carried around, nor do they have necks that are of any concern. But they do demand the kind of attention that's a bit out of my realm of teaching experience.
Today I spent time singing about raindrops, and playing with water wheels. I've read 'In the Night Garden' stories and can now tell you who Igglepiggle is. I've turned skipping ropes, pretended to fly on an airplane and buried 'treasure' in the sandpit. I've also, chased a child through the school (she's a little runner who seems to delight in being chased), I've rubbed tiny little sore arms better, I've washed shoes that caught wee instead of the toilet, I've cut up lunches into tiny little bite size pieces and I've listened to words, sentences and long speeches containing words and squeals that I can barely decipher. And you know what? I've actually really enjoyed it all, well maybe not the wee part, but that's all part and parcel of guiding little minds towards growth through learning.
I've come to realize that little people are pretty amazing. And it's so special to see those bright sparks of sheer intelligence in minds so young (I was humbled when a little boy told me the paper airplane would fly better if I threw it more gently). How wonderful it is to be young and approach the world whole-heartedly with such wonder, excitement and positivity. There's a lot we can learn from those younger than us, namely to remember to delight in the tiny discoveries of daily life, to smile more, to dance and sing without inhibition and to laugh fully, right from the heart.
So guess where I'm working tomorrow? Yup, back in the nursery for the day, because there are stories to be read, treasures to be buried, skipping ropes to be turned and little lives to guide that are evolving at the speed of light.
One of the reasons I came over here was to enhance my breadth of experience as a teacher - to see how it's done on the other side of the world. Embracing this mantra, I've taken work in 5 different schools over here, some for a few days, some for a few weeks. And most interesting to note, of these 5 schools, 2 of them have been high school... and 3 of them primary schools. I'm fairly certain teaching in the toughest high school in Brighton then the cutest little Anglican primary school in Worthing, having year 9 English one week, then year 1 French a week or two later is a clear reflection of how unique this experience has a been. But it wasn't until today that I realized I'd pretty much taken a walk (or a desperate and frenzied run - as the situation demands) down a number of brand new avenues in that fathomless and enigmatic city we call teaching.
Today I worked in the nursery. Not the nursery one may consider frequenting to source life and colour for their garden, but a nursery where one would discover life in its earliest blossoming stages, on the cherubic faces of tiny ones in their first year of school. We're talking 3 and 4 year olds.
Now anyone who's seen me with a baby knows that it's all very awkward and foreign to me. Truth be told, I haven't a clue how to hold one, and I have a grave fear of hurting their weak and wobbly little necks (very very grave, verging on being petrified). All this aside, I do think they're just the sweetest little things and I know one day I will have one or two of my own little awkward bundles with wobbly, weak necks to contend with.
of course the littlies at nursery school (or kindergarten) don't need to be carried around, nor do they have necks that are of any concern. But they do demand the kind of attention that's a bit out of my realm of teaching experience.
Today I spent time singing about raindrops, and playing with water wheels. I've read 'In the Night Garden' stories and can now tell you who Igglepiggle is. I've turned skipping ropes, pretended to fly on an airplane and buried 'treasure' in the sandpit. I've also, chased a child through the school (she's a little runner who seems to delight in being chased), I've rubbed tiny little sore arms better, I've washed shoes that caught wee instead of the toilet, I've cut up lunches into tiny little bite size pieces and I've listened to words, sentences and long speeches containing words and squeals that I can barely decipher. And you know what? I've actually really enjoyed it all, well maybe not the wee part, but that's all part and parcel of guiding little minds towards growth through learning.
I've come to realize that little people are pretty amazing. And it's so special to see those bright sparks of sheer intelligence in minds so young (I was humbled when a little boy told me the paper airplane would fly better if I threw it more gently). How wonderful it is to be young and approach the world whole-heartedly with such wonder, excitement and positivity. There's a lot we can learn from those younger than us, namely to remember to delight in the tiny discoveries of daily life, to smile more, to dance and sing without inhibition and to laugh fully, right from the heart.
So guess where I'm working tomorrow? Yup, back in the nursery for the day, because there are stories to be read, treasures to be buried, skipping ropes to be turned and little lives to guide that are evolving at the speed of light.
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