DianaLearning Teaching the Hard Way
March 7th 2008 03:44
Exctract from Teaching Rounds Journal
The day started badly when I sliced into my thumb cutting an orange for breakfast. The wound was fairly deep and there was blood all over the place. I was late for school and frantic when I arrived. Today I had to teach the year 8's on my own.
I had observed these kids once and was depressed at the total lack of skill in getting these kids motivated by my supervising teacher.
The students had been asked do some arranging of songs, something which is quite hard and complex to explain and do. Some of the girls were enthusiastic to start with and wanted to do a song with recorder and glockenspiel, and had even worked out a counter-melody. But no, they had to do it on triangle and maracas and fill in a rhythmic background.
Their interest extinguished, they lost all keeness and spent the rest of the class doing absolutely nothing. They are the bright ones in this mottley assorted elective class. Two of the boys are nice, intelligent kids and they were soon copying out melodies and counter melodies quite industriously. The other boys were disruptive and thoroughly usesless. They had no interest to start with and it was with these kids that most of the teacher's time was spent, patiently helping and correcting, while behind her back they pulled faces, made obscene comments and drew crude pictures all over their music folders. It really was a terrible lesson.
Just before it was my turn to take the class, I was told by my instrumental supervisor that I was requested to attend the band excursion to the Royal Show as they were short of players. I was pleased but hassled as I would have to leave halfway through my class.
As it turned out I was glad to escape. The kids were atrociously behaved. Really trying me out, they were as rude and disruptive as possible. It took me at least ten minutes to make myself heard. In the end Ros had to step in and go mental at them before they finally quietened down.
I gave them lots of work as pay-back, although I had thought they might like it cos it was rock and roll, but they grumbled the whole time.
I wasn't scared, just plain angry at them and in the end doled out the assignment I had prepared then escaped to the show.
During the excursion I vowed that although I enjoyed the challenge of classroom music I was only going to focus on getting work as an instrumental teacher.
The day started badly when I sliced into my thumb cutting an orange for breakfast. The wound was fairly deep and there was blood all over the place. I was late for school and frantic when I arrived. Today I had to teach the year 8's on my own.
I had observed these kids once and was depressed at the total lack of skill in getting these kids motivated by my supervising teacher.
The students had been asked do some arranging of songs, something which is quite hard and complex to explain and do. Some of the girls were enthusiastic to start with and wanted to do a song with recorder and glockenspiel, and had even worked out a counter-melody. But no, they had to do it on triangle and maracas and fill in a rhythmic background.
Their interest extinguished, they lost all keeness and spent the rest of the class doing absolutely nothing. They are the bright ones in this mottley assorted elective class. Two of the boys are nice, intelligent kids and they were soon copying out melodies and counter melodies quite industriously. The other boys were disruptive and thoroughly usesless. They had no interest to start with and it was with these kids that most of the teacher's time was spent, patiently helping and correcting, while behind her back they pulled faces, made obscene comments and drew crude pictures all over their music folders. It really was a terrible lesson.
Just before it was my turn to take the class, I was told by my instrumental supervisor that I was requested to attend the band excursion to the Royal Show as they were short of players. I was pleased but hassled as I would have to leave halfway through my class.
As it turned out I was glad to escape. The kids were atrociously behaved. Really trying me out, they were as rude and disruptive as possible. It took me at least ten minutes to make myself heard. In the end Ros had to step in and go mental at them before they finally quietened down.
I gave them lots of work as pay-back, although I had thought they might like it cos it was rock and roll, but they grumbled the whole time.
I wasn't scared, just plain angry at them and in the end doled out the assignment I had prepared then escaped to the show.
During the excursion I vowed that although I enjoyed the challenge of classroom music I was only going to focus on getting work as an instrumental teacher.
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