MMMiii!

And so ends my 10th week of being a Student-Teacher… and supposedly the First Quarter of the school year… It ended with a storm. Just another 10 weeks (No, I think just 8 weeks left… or less… but then, it could be more.)

Recap: I am a student-teacher at the laboratory school of the University of the Philippines (UP), UP Integrated School. I teach Grade 9 (3rd year High School) English in a heterogeneous class–a mix of really intelligent students and really crappy students (not really THAT crappy. They actually have to maintain a certain grade to stay in their school). I’m the only student-teacher under my supervising teacher, and she treats me like an apprentice. Classes are only Mondays and Thursdays and I only handled one class for the 1st Quarter, but will soon be handling another class once the 2nd Quarter officially starts (eh.. already started but unofficially)

What I have learned so far from being a teacher:

1. Be patient. Some students can give you stupid answers or ask stupid questions in all seriousness, and sometimes they’re just being that–stupid. Or better yet, they’re being smart alecks. Don’t get mad. If they’re being stupid or smart, be funny. Be a smart aleck yourself. Throw the stupidity/smartness back at them. If they’re really serious, then just answer them properly. Being a heterogeneous class, you can’t expect every student to be really good, so have the benefit of the doubt and just answer them seriously.
2. Smile. Even when you’re angry at them. Smile.
3. When they’re getting horrendously noisy, just be quiet. Don’t shout. You’re just abusing your vocal chords. Unless you’re running out of time and really have to finish a lesson for an upcoming test or exam and you want to be on time.
4. Make them learn how to listen. Kids these days don’t know how to listen. You tell them something and speak at the same time, and then ask you to repeat what you just said. In tests where you read the questions, only read the question once (tell them beforehand) and stick to it (I’ve yet to master this).
5. When you tell them something, follow through. If you tell them you’re going to throw them out the window, be sure to do it. If you tell them you’re going to give them a ZERO if they don’t do something, do it.
6. Don’t give threats you’re not ready to do (see #5).
7. Don’t PROCRASTINATE. Learn how to manage your time. It seriously messes up with stuff if you put off things again and again. Checking papers, for example, would pile up and you’ll end up checking a mountain of papers if you don’t check them after every test.
8. There are some things that must be done. Sometimes you have to be heartless. It hurts giving zeros or failing a student, but you have to do it when they deserve it. You could try giving considerations, an extra half-point here and there, and if it really doesn’t reach the passing grade, then you’ve done all you could.
9. Make a list of things you have to do or discuss in class, so you don’t miss out on important stuff.
10. Don’t be late. Coming in on time means being there at least 30 minutes so you could review what you’re going to do that day. If you just come right on time, you could still be flustered and miss a lot of stuff.

When you’re a student, you LOVE the sound of “No Classes” but it’s actually horror for a teacher sometimes, especially when you’ve got a perfect (or tight) schedule and things just have to be done on time. This 6-day weekend is indeed a horror and a lifesaver for me because I haven’t finished checking papers, but then grades are still incomplete because they still haven’t submitted their group projects… That’s all that’s left actually. *sigh*

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