Tag: teaching

Rightly, or wrongly, I often compare my classroom to a zoo. A zoo is full of different and unique animals, just like my class is full of different and unique humans.

I know what you’re thinking… “She’s loopy”. Either that or you think I am the worst teacher in the world. But…hear me out. There are so many similarities between wild creatures and children, and passing up an opportunity to make and share the correlation, was just something I could not do.

Ever seen a Kindergartener or Year One student go full toddler-tantrum on you? BOOM. There is your gorilla.

Ever beg a student to hurry up because it takes them ten million years to do anything, including find a pencil or open a page in their book? That is because they are like the land tortoise who moves at less than one mile an hour.

Oh, wait. Did someone in your class open a snack, that looks tastier than the others? No way they’re going to enjoy that little goodie without the 23 other children asking for some! Children have this sloth-like, keen sense of smell and great eyesight.

And, how about those lorys who have no concept of respect for personal space. Just like children, right? As a teacher you are constantly reinforcing the “bubble” and students just can’t seem to not tug, touch, or demand your attention.

You know what other animal children are like? Giraffes — moody and often resist complying with the requests of handlers. Who does this sound like? Who else can be ill-tempered, rebellious and non-compliant? I don’t think I have to tell you who — pretty sure you have that one figured out.

You also can’t forget about how children, typically stink like a warthog (those farts!) and spit like a llama whenever they talk excitedly to you.

Finally, there is one last comparison to be made. However, this one might surprise you. A butterfly. How are butterflies similar to children? Well, just each child, each is different and unique. Each had different mannerisms, Each one takes a different path and flies in their own way. Each butterfly is beautiful and makes us smile. Just like the children in our class.

Just like animals in a zoo, each child needs to be supported, fed (think learning) and cared for in a way that is specific to their needs. It is this aspect, that truly makes being a teacher, simply…a privilege.

P.S. This is my last post for the A-Z Challenge, 2019. Yay! I made it *insert happy dance*

I hope you have enjoyed my posts on the “A-Z of Teaching”…and now, for a well-earned rest!

A-Z Challenge, 30 April 2019 – Z

Nearly all teachers in all schools are required to engage in yard (or playground) duty as a routine component of their day. Some teachers despise having to do this duty whilst others tend to enjoy it.

Love it or loathe it, it is a school requirement for teachers to attend and complete yard duties. Teachers have a responsibility to exhibit duty of care that is, what courts would define as ‘reasonable care’.

In some schools, teachers wander out of the staffroom 5 or 10 minutes late, coffee cup in hand (a risk in itself!) and stand with other teachers, chatting, whilst making the odd cursory glance at the children playing around them. This may occasionally be peppered with a loud call to admonish a child for inappropriate behaviour. This always worries me. Do these staff know it is required of them to be vigilant and approachable whilst on duty? Are they also aware that failure to attend duty on time or provide active supervision is a very real breach of their duty of care?

Luckily, at most schools I’ve worked at, teachers ARE aware and move amongst the children, engaging them in thoughtful ‘out of classroom’ discussions such as, ‘How is your baby brother? I bet you are being a great big sister?’ or ‘What did you and your family do over the weekend?’ This garners much more respect when gently reminding children about suitable play or behaviour. As such, yard duty also becomes FAR more enjoyable because time is take to develop relationships with your students outside of the classroom.

A-Z Challenge, 29 April 2019 – Y

The Xerox copy machine is a teacher’s best friend, and also sworn enemy.

Don’t get me wrong, I am quite capable at using the machine itself. I can do the works – double-sided copies, re-sizing, printing on card, you name it! I’ve even been known to clear a few paper jams in my day.

But when things go wrong, they really go wrong – and always at the worst possible times leaving you high and dry right before a lesson. A seemingly simple job can leave you rocking in the corner after repeated misfeeds, error messages, and of course, that ominous “beep beep beep” that lets you know you’re doing something wrong.

Adding to the ongoing complication that is the Xerox machine are access codes and copy limits, as schools nowadays try to minimise costs and unnecessary copying.

“But wait,” one might ask. “Don’t you work in a school? Why is there a need to lock the copy machines?” I have no idea.

I have never seen anyone make massive amounts of copies for personal use — only copies used for classroom or school activities. Why then, if we need copies to do our jobs, must we jump through the various hoops put in place by random school personnel?

Our jobs are challenging enough without these arcane photocopier rules. Can’t we be treated like the professionals we are?

A-Z Challenge, 27 April 2019 – X

One thing is for certain…just as every person is unique, each teacher has their own distinct “style”. Bored Teachers wrote a fabulous article describing 14 different teacher types you’re sure to find in any school. I can say with certainty that this is spot on! The diversity found between teachers is what can make schools the best (and at times, worst!) places to be. You can read the article below.

Fellow educators, what number are you?

14 Types of Teachers You’re Sure to Find in Any School

Me? I’m number 11 – just in case you were wondering!

A-Z Challenge, 23 April 2019 – T

Staff meetings. Need I say more…

Video credit Bored Teachers.

A-Z Challenge, 22 April 2019 – S

Many people make the mistake that letters and sounds are how you teach a child to read. In fact, reading is a complex function that requires a layered approach. Reading is not just decoding words – students need to understand and think about what they are reading.

Here are some hints and tips for helping children learn to read:

1. Use songs and nursery rhymes to build phonemic awareness
2. Focus on the sounds letters make rather than the names
3. Play word games
4. Understand the core skills that need to be developed:
   – Phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate the different sounds in words)
   – Phonics (recognising the connection between letters and the sounds they make)
   – Vocabulary (understanding the meaning of words, their definitions, and their context)
   – Reading comprehension (understand the meaning of texts)
   – Fluency (the ability to read aloud with speed, understanding and accuracy)
5. Read and enjoy texts together
6. Encourage a broad reading “diet” e.g. genre, non-fiction and fiction etc.
7. Memorise high-frequency sight words that can’t be decoded easily (e.g. who, was, what)
8. Use a range of strategies, not just “sounding out” – this doesn’t work for most words! Use this in conjunction with picture clues, initial sounds, “chunks” of the word, reading on, flipping sounds, but most importantly – what makes sense!
9. Ask questions about the book
10. Be patient and have fun!

Obviously, there is a lot more to teaching reading than just these 10 steps. My biggest word of advice is to heed the warning about relying on sounding out alone! See the video clip below for a clear example of why…

By Sarah ©2019

A-Z Challenge, 20 April 2019 – R

There’s no such thing as a stupid question… but sometimes I’m not so sure. While questioning is an effective technique for probing deep understanding and clarifying ideas, at times, questioning can make you face palm and reach for a glass of wine.

Here are some fine examples…

1. Does chocolate milk come from a brown cow or a black and white cow?
2. Why is there so many words in this dictionary?
3. Were cubes discovered in Cuba?
4. Are all of the guys at NASA named Houston?
5. Can you see the equator from space?
6. What are those pyramid-shaped things in Egypt called?
7. Is the Earth round like a ball or round like a plate?
8. When the snow melts, where does all the white go?
9. If there’s a speed of light, then what’s the speed of dark?
10. Did I miss anything while I was absent?

Courtesy of Thought Catalog

Then of course, there are the questions we ask ourselves…

By Sarah ©2019

A-Z Challenge, 19 April 2019 – Q

There are lots of things teachers can say…and there of lots of things they can’t!

Being “politically correct” and professional with our prose is a must in this career. But that doesn’t mean we don’t say things we would love to in our heads!

Enjoy this little clip that expresses all we cannot say out loud…

By Sarah ©2019

A-Z Challenge, 18 April 2019 – P