Defensive optimism and defensive pessimism

Dear reader,

Recently I learnt the dangers of extreme optimism and pessimism.

While optimism can be good, it can lower expectations beyond acceptable levels. For an instance, a teacher may be satisfied even if half the class is asleep because "at least they are in school".

On the other hand, extreme pessimism can be a defensive mechanism. It can also lower expectations till we are happy once something is better than the worst possible outcome. For instance, when called to the principal office, the teacher may automatically assume that he is getting fired, and is relieved when he is not.

That's all I have to share.

Give me your eyes if it's just one second

Dear reader,

During my election duty, I saw many acts of kindness from various parties. It was all what my contemporaries talked about. One of the Workers Party candidates bought lunch for his tired polling agents. I heard about fellow election officials helping the aged and disabled to vote.

And they remember that. Not what they said. How should that influence my teaching?

Happy Teachers' Day!

Dear friends,

Happy Teachers' Day!

One of my favourite things to get for Teachers' Day is the "thank you" messages. Sometimes they reveal appreciation for things we have done, while others highlight our hidden faults.

However, one thing I am wary of is to not make such messages and gifts as motivations to teach. They are simply placebos to get me through the day.

Regards,
Reuben

How to do a parade

Dear reader,

Happy National Day!

Recently, my peers had complimented me on the well-organised parades during the St John day and the National Day observance in school. Actually it was more the students' effort than mine. The only issue was to get the students to be responsible for running the parade. Here are some tips:

1) Explain the importance of a parade
To me this is the most important step. If the students see the parade as a chore, rather than a meaningful activity, they would do a mediocre job of it.

2) Divide the parade into sections, and make various students in charge of it
For instance, I divided the parade into flag-raisers, marching contingent and commanders. This gave me opportunities to give the students many leadership positions.

Hope this help!

Owning up to mistakes

Dear reader,

Due to my clandestine actions, I have made many mistakes in my course of teaching, hurting both my colleagues and students. This hits me the hardest, as I have often encouraged openness and honesty.

One of the hardest thing I find as an adult is to admit my mistakes. But yet I have to. As a teacher and good example, I have to.

The cost of genunity

Dear reader,

I was chatting with one colleague about being genuine and not a fake. I concede, it is hard to be a genuine person.

Basically it involves surrendering one's mask and outward appearance for people to know the real person inside. The benefits include building trust among students and colleagues.

But the fact is there is a cost to it. Being genuine puts us in a place of vulnerability where we may feel uncomfortable because it can be used against us. Will people really like the real you?

That is why sometimes I feel I am the biggest fake of all.

Whose side are you on?

Dear reader,

Sometimes in the workplace I do not know what to do. When my students want me to take sides, how neutral can I be?

It is far too easy to take the populist side and ignore the cries of the discriminated. Yet it is equally dangerous to help the alleged oppressed without getting the full details.

I pray for wisdom to do what is right, and not what is instinctive or popular.

The Alpha

Dear reader,

Sometimes I fear that it is not about control. It is about managing whatever I have by being the most influential person in the class.

Similar to how the alpha in a pack manages the entire flock via the management of the betas and charlies, I wonder if that is all I am doing, rather than achieving real change.

Regards,
Reuben

What greater love is this?

 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. -- John 15:13

Dear reader,

Recently, the Sabah quake claimed the lives of 10 Singaporeans. Two of them were teachers. Personally attending the wake, the mother of one of victims told me that the teachers were heroes. They had rescued some students and brought them to a safe spot, and returned to the quake site to rescue the rest of the students.

Why did they do this? Was it a sense of duty? Was it a fear of the consequence of public backlash? No, I would think it would be more of a nobler reason. It was out of love for the students.

And this makes me wonder if I am ready to do the same thing, if I face the same circumstance.

Man in the Iron Man

Dear reader,

Much have been advertised about use of technology in teaching. After with the use of videos, games, simulations and even online textbooks, it seems that the teacher's job should be getting easier. In fact, one of my friends suggested that a simple CD would replace the role of a teacher in the future.

However, it misses out two important points:
1) Personality of the teacher
If we take lessons as purely impersonal, then maybe the teacher is not that important. While it is possible to learn without a teacher, we must remember that a teacher brings more interactivity than a book or a computer programme can hope to accomplish.

2) School is purely an academic exercise
Furthermore, learning is not purely academic. Let us not forget about the group projects, social interactions and the friendship that school brings.

Conclusion
Often we focus too much on the tools of the teacher, but fail to realise there is a "man behind the Iron Man". Let's not forget to inject our character in our lessons.

Iron in the Iron Man

Dear reader,

The use of technology has changed the way we teach. By simply connecting to the internet in the classroom, I can show students various topics I would have difficulty explaining. Imagine explaining the colour lilac to the students without being able to display it on the projection screen.

Technology can also help enhance the lesson through the use of graphics and summaries. For instance, the youtube channel Crash Course has excellent introductions to biology, history and economics.

So here are simple ways to make your lessons entertaining:

1) Videos from youtube

2) Simulations from PHET

3) Games from Science channel/Kongregate

That's all I have for now.

Questioning a student and sticking with him/her

Dear reader,

One of the skills I apply for the Skilful Teacher course is to stick with a student when questioning. The idea is to inisist that a student that was picked answers a question despite being unsure of the answer.

If the selected students struggles, the teacher should (i) prompt the student or (ii) allow the student to check around from answers or poll his/her friends. After the student finally answers correctly, the teacher should get the student to answer the question again, this time all by him/herself.

This shows that we do not give up on the student.

Thanks,
Reuben

The problem with being a buddy

Dear reader,

Some of my peers have remarked that I have established a quite potent buddy-buddy system of discipline. However, upon reflection, I am beginning to think my methodology is wrong in the first place.

I forgot to model true authority-- we should learn to have at least a higher respect for our leaders, regardless of who they are. Instead, I have been teaching students to respect authority because of potential benefits they might received.

My teaching and management should be more principled next time.

The teacher who wasn't there

Dear reader,

One of my colleagues noted that I am able to control my class well. While I think he overrates me, I will share one tip here:

Proximity
Even though students know that we teachers are there for them, they actually want to see us physically there.

One way I do this is that for my CCA, I with my students in the same classroom during their training. In this way, I am instantly accessible to my cadets and officers for information.

This is a display of care and investment to the students. Thus in return, they are more willing to listen. Or at least I hope so.

Thanks for listening!

Let them impress

Dear reader,

Recently, my CCA was asked by St John HQ to provide a performance item for their Chinese New Year.

Being less talented than my cadets, I assigned them to do a 5 to 10 min guitar show. Despite certain pressure to play traditional songs, I allowed my students to choose whatever tune they wanted. (Of course I restricted the lyrics-- no swearing, violence or suggestive language.)

For me, the fact that they were willing to overcome their nerves to perform is an achievement in itself. It was the first time in a long time I allowed my students to run their own programme, and I am proud of them.

Regards,
Reuben

Meet the parents

Dear reader,

One of the tasks of a teacher is to meet the parents of our students. Although there may be some well-publicised stories in the news and parodies, most encounters are cordial and simple.

Here are some of my tips:
1) Recognise that both parties want the same thing: the best for the child.
While most disagreements come from the differing methodologies, let our intentions never been in doubt. We want the develop the child as far as possible.

2) Be polite
Remember, few parents want to meet unless they absolutely have to. So on our side, it pays to be professional and polite in our words and body language.

That's all I have for now.

Regards,
Reuben

The curse of rhetoric

Dear reader,

One of my biggest fears as a teacher is that I abuse my rhetoric. I fear that my students and peers listen to me because of my speaking style, rather than what I have to say.

Looking through the histories of various cult leaders like Jim Jones and Fred Phelps, I worry about my charisma and my debating skills.

In the future, I have to empahsise the following:
A) To focus on the facts, not intentions.
B) To allow students to express dissenting opinion
C) To encourage my peers to question my assertions if unsure.

Regards,
Reuben

The Superior Teacher

Dear reader,

I fear sometimes I am too obstinate to be a skilful teacher. Often I dislike working with others and it hinders me from learning from them.

In my arrogance, I may have ignored many good ideas and stepped on many toes.

Hopefully I will learn to be better.

Regards,
Reuben

The Initiative

It's a new year; it's a new start  

It's a life with the beating of young hearts  

It's a new day; it's a new plan

I've been waiting for you

Here I am

-- Bryan Adams from the song Here I Am

Dear reader,

It's a new year and it's time to try something new. My co-teacher has many ideas for the new class, and I am more than willing to let her try them.

She has interesting ideas about seating arrangements, duty rosters and class committees. I smiled as she shared her future goals.

Novel or experimental ideas are good, especially since I feel particularly stale after two years of teaching.

Regards,
Reuben