Teaching...
- Never make empty threats. Consequence, without lots and lots of warnings!
- Point out who's going a good job, rather than yell at someone.
- Use competitions and prizes for all they're worth.
- Play on their pride as well. Are they proud of being a part of a good class? If they're the worst, never tell them. They will find it cool and fun to be the bad guys. Thus, continue.
- A constant hassle, but as a substitute, you wont always know their routines, so try to get them in order as quickly as possible. You wont know what they have done before, and there are a lot of things you are not supposed to start teaching them.
- Some kids are so fast to do their tasks, that you run out of things for them to do. And some just don´t do them. Be prepared and bring options.
- Be Careful with making exceptions! Only make an exception if its for the purpose of reward, so that you can tell others "no", and motivate to good behaviour.
- Don't let physical play go too far. Normally, with kids, they will go too far and get angry.
- If all else fails, play some bbc documentaries like "the power of the planet" or "around the world in 90 minutes" (for older kids).
I´m liking kids more than I used to, up to a certain age... You learn a great deal about kids; how they work, learn, etc. But it pains me to have to give orders I feel brainwash us from birth: "Do as the others". One of the first graders was a curious little thing, asking me all about the creation of the stars, the earth and the beginning of life. I was able to re-tell a simplified version of National Geographics explanations, with illustrations. The crazy part was that she got it! I also taught dimensional line - drawing to a talented seven year old. The kids had discovered that I could draw, so they all ordered portraits.
17.01.11
This morning I hospitized(?) at my old biologist-teacher's chemistry class at high school, as I have my chemistry exam in may, and worked with fourth graders. It's funny how some of my colleagues remember me as a child. I expected to hear some crazy stories, as I'm known in the family for being quite of a personality. - Good entertainment.
I was not disobedient or mean, but I was so decisive as I knew exactly what I wanted and how I wanted things to be. I would enthusiasticly make up games and fantasies that others were alsokeen on joining in on(I thought I was a lone wolf my whole childhood). All of them had remembered me, despite the vast amount of kids they'd had. And they had thought that I would truly be someone one day.
Its brought back a lot of memories, being back in my old school. I realized that a memory that has guilted my through my whole life, is actually blurry. Every recess in second grade, I used to protect a guy that was being bullied. Everyone else was against him, though he never did anyone harm. It hit me one day that I don't really know if I had pushed him away, or him me. But since that moment, he was alone against everyone, until he moved. I wonder whatever became of him...
28.01.11
I´m now in Oslo. I have actually left home! Such freedom to call it a day last wednesday, and after having said my goodbyes, I was off. I´m now staying at my sister´s place, and my brother is coming tonight. He is leaving for four months in Bali, the day after me. I´m trying to realize that I am going back, and went on a two hour walk today... Impossible. Its just too crazy. I must have been Ghandi in my past life, cuz my life is just too darn good!
