Every child has a different personality, as does a class, as does a teacher. It is 'fun' finding that out and gelling with it.
The Unit I worked in a unit attached to a high school. Disabilities etc. The woman who ran this unit was very stern and very strict with all she met. Almost scary. Why? Because she loved the unit she kept a tight rope and, in my mind, it ran really well. I absolutely ‘loved’ her and, I don’t know why, it seemed she, me. Crazy! I overlooked the stern, the strict, the scary, and made her laugh.
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I put it down to the 10% rule. There is always going to be people who trash the universe. However, it is also mine/your universe too. So I clean it. I set an example, and clean it for all of us, as do others I see occasionally in the schools. Mostly, though, teachers have more pressing things to do, so I do my bit for them, going to great lengths at times. A school is such a (mass) learning environment...
I lived in a caravan at Piha Do you know where Piha is? One Sunday, I was walking the beach picking up rubbish. Rubbish that came in from the sea, yet mostly, rubbish that visitors left behind. Hey, I am still getting my website done which will be out hopefully in a soon.
I was delighted to find some people are following my blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am being a bit coy at the moment, wait until I really get going!!!!! Respect One HUGE school I went to – from Day Care to Kindy, Pre-School, Primary, Secondary – HUGE … Locks on ALL the doors, esp. toilets and staff room. Tricky to get around, as WE don’t get keys (especially when you want to go to the toilet!!!). Who gets time to go to the toilet???? Not like yet another school where the car park was locked, AND when and IF you got into the car park, THEN YOU COULD NOT GET INTO THE SCHOOL!!!! And wait for it – AND YOU COULDN’T GET OUT of the car park either!!! I am told that with modern technology we are getting further and further away from relationships, both with others, and also, ourselves. I have a real bee in my bonnet about having ALL students from 5 years to 18 years choose a word. I started to doubt myself and wondered what I was up to. I continued going, and, now I see how purposeful, how personal, and how empowering it is for them. Give them a chance I say ... Integrity Give me a word. This gorgeous high school boy sincerely told me he could not think of a word. I will put a ‘dot’ by your name and you tell me later. I passed by him several times – no word. Then I went to him and I said ‘integrity’! “No, no, no, - I couldn’t have that word.” "Think about it", I said. I forgot about it, the bell rang, when next thing – This gorgeous boy came up to me and said: “I’ll take it!” I was really touched. He had thought about the word integrity ALL that time, decided he wanted it, then he took it home with him – forever … Great choice, my lad … Hall of Fame Let's make life meaningful. I hear some fabulous songs that teachers take the time to seek out for their classes to sing. The Hall of Fame was one of these. 75 kids All singing a song about the ‘Hall of Fame’. THE Hall of Fame. I got to thinking, it is all very well singing about something being ‘out’ there, ‘away’ from us. Yet hey, what about our very own, inside of us, ‘Hall of Fame’ … We can build our very own Hall of Fame. What of? Heard of the 3 pigs? Lets get some ‘core values’. Even grab some off the classroom walls, strength, resilience, direction. YOU, you just go looking for them. They are everywhere. YOU can chose what you want? YOU can choose where you go in life by creating your own Hall of Fame. Exciting? Let's start building … The first three blogs are really an introduction as to how and why I call myself Ms Harmony as silly as it may sound to some. In the end it became such a tool for the students for them to realise, they too, can be who and what they want to be, in their lives. If we have a challenging beginning, we actually can change and reinvent ourselves, can't we? WATCH THIS SPACE ... Under the persona of Ms Harmony . Who? Harmony? What for? WHO does she think she is? Well, she is actually a human being doing what she can for humanity and the planet. Hey, Ms Harmony! What do you do? “I connect!” I connect with myself, and with life. I want to encourage the kids to do the same. What does Ms Harmony stand for? What doesn’t Ms Harmony stand for? The kids fill the while board up with what Ms Harmony means / stands for! They ‘get it’ and "guess what?" "What?" I then ask them what ‘they’ stand for? A word Their special word for the day Hey? That’s special!! Very special … I write it down beside their name. This makes it tangible This is me! This is what I stand for? What do YOU stand for? Times are changing whether we like it or not. The way we address each other has weakened somewhat. "Miss"! I guess that is an equivalent of "Mum" Different schools have different takes on what to call the staff, which is nice- even refreshing, at times. I was in a senior science class one day. The class were rather eye balled when I told them my school name was Mzzzzzzzz Harmony (like a beeee)! What does ‘Mz’ stand for? No young people seem to know the difference between Ms / Miss / Mrs and Mr / Master, and there is another, meaning not Male, not Female. So, what does Mr mean? Male So, what does Ms mean? Female That’s right. Remember that! Gone are the days when a relief teacher can spend time 'connecting' with her class, so to speak. Mostly, we have only 5 mins to get the roll completed, then alas a 'new' class is created, and that combination will, possibly not be seen again. So, when I do have the time, I consider myself very lucky, and we play hangman.
Kids love playing hangman. I make it ‘purposeful’ hangman What is my name? Hangman - - - - - - - - - Ms Harmony The two letters at front is confusing for all.. We spend a little time on learning that one, understanding all the different alternatives Someone has to teach them that, cause no-one seems to know! The harmony bit is fun. Cause then we talk about what it means???? peace love joy unity music in tune yah! OUT of tune nah! If time, fill the board with to overflowing with words It really gets them thinking ... Oh Then I add - - - - REAL (Hangman) I am real I want real You be real I will be real Can’t lie Can’t fib when you are real Let us be honest and real with each other. And, if I am not real, you tell me! And, if you are not real, I will tell you!!! |
Author Says:Our teaching days are memorable, if not for ourselves, for the children. Let's grab those memorable moments and give them momentum. Even the negative are learning tools, and hence useful for us. I am so grateful I have noted these moments, and trust you feel the same. Please send me any moments of yours you would like to share. Happy reading! ArchivesCategories
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