First day of school.
Early in the morning. Woke up at 8am. Nervousness building up albeit class hasn’t started soon. It’s going to be the orientation week.
12 noon. I went to school early because my mentor asked me to. With mixed feeling of anxious and excitement, I walked to school. My mentor kindly shared her table with me, makes me feel kinda bad because the teacher sitting next to her wondered whether there’s enough place for both of us because she’s the subject head. Therefore, she has a lot of documents and resources that will take up her place.
Conclusion: I sat anyway.
She is a kind, helpful mentor. She asks me to go early due to the reason of coaching me on how to write the “green” book. The book. Where all teachers are required to write their daily plans. All classes in one A4 paper.
Confused – was the feeling that I felt. No idea how to write. What about the lesson plan? How should I write? How to fit in? Objective, school teacher told me I should give according to the class level. In other words, Bloom’s taxonomy. Lowest to lowest, medium to medium and high to high. Thus, I was told to teach only TWO objectives out of ten objectives to the kids from weaker class. At last, I practised writing on a piece of paper before I proceed to the book.
At around 2, before the briefing began, I went to gather at the specified place. During that moment of hearing what one of the teachers mention about punching card, I was like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot to punch my card!!!! Feeling totally bad for forgetting this on my first day, I rushed to the office. Unfortunately, it had turned RED! As small as it seems, it bothered me. I took the initiative to apologize to the principal when I met her. She seemed to understand me, however, it didn’t alleviate how bad I feel, until now.
Students:
Before this, on Saturday, I talked to one or two kids and they seemed to be fine with studying. They didn’t look forward to it but they were okay. So, on the very first day, Ayun and I went around trying to talk to the kids when they’re free. It seems like they are quite surprised that teachers (I had the feeling of they were actually wondering whether we’re teachers) will take the initiative to interact with them. They seemed to be decent kids. I was excited seeing them. Of course, teaching them soon.
Diversity, Community, Achievement (DCA):
During prayer time, non-Muslim students were brought to the resource room to wait for the next briefing session. Most of the non-Muslim students are remedial class students. I was shocked. The teacher in charge actually said that students from remedial class, none of them can get to the best class – 1 Al-Yakin. They get the ‘last’ classes – 1 Pintar or 1 Karisma. I was hurt when I heard that, indeed, I should suspend judgment but I couldn’t help but thinking that the teacher actually blamed the kids for not being to get into the good class. The teacher used mother tongue sometimes to communicate with Indian students, at first, I thought that was racist. To use own language when other races were there was inappropriate, that was my thought that time. Back then I didn’t realize that I was wrong. Completely.
Event:
Assembly. 610pm.
When students all lined up, some of the teachers followed to the assembly site. Not long after the assembly started, suddenly, someone said a student fainted. Hafiz, having doctor’s blood running, rushed to help. At that time, I didn’t follow, because in my mind, I assumed that there’ll be teachers able to handle the situation, plus Hafiz. But I was wrong, again, a voice in my heart told me that I must go to have a look. I went and if I’m not mistaken, I saw only ONE female teacher who’s trying to wake the girl up. I cleared the surrounding, second to Hafiz’s instruction. When she tried to help the student to sit up, Hafiz tried to hold her hand to get her up, was being pushed away. That time, I didn’t hesitate but to help her stand before moving her to some other places.
Other teachers came to help and they led the student away from the site to the canteen. Hafiz then came out and asked for water. I offered mine and when I trailed to see how was the student I saw the teacher are not actually aware of how they should do first aid in a more proper way. Until the student was able to walk, I kept an eye on her. After I punched card, when I was about to see whether she feels better, she had left. That was my first day.
As always, encouraging stuff from Teach For Malaysia (TFMers) =)
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