Our first secular vacation is round the corner; we are getting a ten-day break as from Friday. All in all it has been a very pleasant period: a successful exchange, a meaningful Yom Kippur followed by an unexpected meal in a Sukkah and lots of sunny and dry weather.
The most surprising feature of these seven weeks however has been my students. Those who read my blog regularly may remember that I have complained at lengths about the pupils’ behavior in my school and the administration’s passivity.
This year things seem quite different. Most of my students are quite agreeable and teaching them is much more pleasant than last year.
My favorite group is a class of 27 ninth-graders. They are full of enthusiasm. They arrive in the classroom and greet me and each other in English. The oral participation is dynamic, relevant and they like to use the vocabulary they learned in previous lessons. Even the weaker ones seem to enjoy the lessons and are eager to show they can say something, even if it is not much.
I am grateful that I have such satisfying students and savor every minute of it. This blissful atmosphere reminds me of why I wanted to go into teaching and makes me feel useful again.
I’m glad that this year has renewed your enthusiasm for teaching!
So am I! Thank you for visiting and commenting.
So nice to hear your happiness as a teacher! Glad you feel rejuvenated in your teaching.
Chag Sameach – last one for a while!
“rejuvenated” is a great adjective to describe how I feel! Hope the Chagim went well for you and your family.
That’s wonderful that you’re once again enjoying teaching!
Chag samei’ach and Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you Mrs. S. Hope you have had a great month of Tishri so far.
Yay! That’s great to hear! When things like that happen, you must feel really great. Good job
It does make me feel good I agree. I also realize how necessary it is to feel good once in a while.
That is so wonderful to hear about your students! Perhaps it will be the beginning of a new trend. Hope your holidays were good.
I am on vacation right now Rivki but will let you know how it went when I get back
Classroom teaching must be one of the most difficult undertakings there is, especially when support from the administration is lacking. I’m so glad you get to have such a rewarding experience this year. As a musician and occasional instrumental teacher, I interact mostly one-on-one with students, and sometimes with small groups. Most of the time I wind up at the end of a session feeling tired but renewed, from contact with all that kid energy. But I never have to handle as many as 27 at once!!
Thank you for the comment. Teaching can be great but also very difficult.
Yay, I am so happy to hear this. I hope your whole year proceeds in this manner.
So do I!