6RES/RET: #RESTART

#RESTART

It has been a longggg- too long- time since I blogged here. Somewhere along the line I probably got too absorbed with my personal life (desires, wants, longings /facepalm/ )

Somehow in the haze of my mind this class evoked something from me. A new challenge? Something I can change? Mindsets I can / need to shape?

I have heard of a few students. Never positive. I have relieved them, once or twice. Interesting characters. I have been warned about them, when I was given this class in sem 2. So it has been at the back of my mind. But somehow today (and I do thank God for that shove, if not I would have been raising up my walls of authority and defense aka poker face), while I was walking up to that class, I just thought of G's sharing of "how can I help you?" (also triggered by a reminder of Mdm S's dealing with Haziq) and I told myself that I would do just that. If they misbehaved, I would come from a place of "How can I help you learn better? How can I help you improve?"

"We have always dug deep within ourselves to deliver value for our citizens. However today that is no longer enough.

We need to look thorough their lenses,

understand their problems and seek opportunities to improve their journey experience with us, whether it is by how we innovate, digitalize, engage, or adapt and skill up."

-Transformation starts with an I.D.E.A. (PSW 2019)

I actually went in and they were doing testing, so I focused on those doing testing, nodding in encouragement. There was some noise when I came in (guess the students were surprised) but I ignored them and the noise died down.

There was once that I stepped over and spoke to them, and Eric (sherwin's brother) tried to be funny. I said "let's please let them learn" or something to that effect and he made some funny noise and gestures, so I invited him to step out with me. Then I told him what I expected of him from seeing him play soccer and just being sherwin's good older brother, and how I was disappointed by what I saw today. I think he felt the truth behind my words (I think I talked until I wanted to cry) and he sobered up after. Jayden tried to make some funny noises but I dont know him (like I told eric) so I didn't have expectations of him.

Post-music, they had PE with Ravi. I hung around till Ravi came and I saw how they interacted with him. I realised that they give up easily and and have low self-esteem (they are linked), and they need encouragement and small steps to success... THESE are the kids.

Not the kids who think they can do it- those kids don't need small steps to success, those kids need to learn to fail!

At least that's my take, after 2 scarce years in teaching.

Let me know if you differ in opinion, I would love to hear why!