I will be teaching in a private learning center this coming September and I am honestly wondering how it’s going to be because this is unlike any class I’ve handled before. I’ll have four different groups of pupils and each group will only have a maximum of 8 pupils. The pupils are 2 to 4 years old and they will be in the class with their parents. The parents are told to participate so if I ask the pupils to jump, the moms and dads should also do so. They are also told not to interfere with the lesson. They can, of course, participate and assist in activities but that’s all. They are not to tell me what to teach and how to teach and I hope that they will adhere to that because I especially hate it if I am being interrupted while teaching.
I somehow know that I’ll do well with the kids but I don’t know if it’ll be the same with the parents. I know for a fact that parents want the best for their children and if they are not satisfied with the way the teacher teaches, they will most certainly complain. I just hope that they will give me a chance by being not so critical in the class. Sure they can be critical because critiques will also help me see the things I need to work on and therefore will eventually make me a better teacher but I hope they will do this after the class and I hope that they will only complain when they really see that their kids are not learning anything. They should give it some time before they give their assessments because learning doesn’t always happen in the span of 45 minutes. I hope they see that in this case of classroom setup, their children’s success will not only depend on me but on their participation too.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
hi myla
i can relate.
i used to teach in a prep school (my first job – i don’t consider working in fastfood chains as a real job). I had 19 students, mostly 3-4 years old, and there was also a 2-year old girl who was a “saling pusa”. almost half of the children wouldn’t let their parents leave during classes hours. they’d cry, throw things, escape, lock themselves on the CR, hide under the table, etc (but my students weren’t brats, just too young. still wearing diapers and sucking pacifiers haha!). so, i allowed the parents to stay inside the classroom for just one week. but we had an agreement that after that period, they will have to wait outside. besides, it’s in the school policy. parents/guardians are strictly not allowed inside the classroom premises. I don’t know why … but they were so stubborn. Two months later, they still couldn’t leave their kids alone which made me feel uncomfortable. Imagine teaching while the nanays and yayas are gossiping or coaching their kids during recitation or doing the activities for their kids. I told them like a million times to let the child draw the flower or answer the quiz by herself but they wouldn’t listen. what bothered me most was the fact that my students treated me more like a playmate than a teacher. They felt like they can do anything just because their parents were there. also, I didn’t want to appear to my superiors that I was tolerating their attitude. so, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I scheduled a meeting with the legal guardians (and declared war – joke), yayas are out, and then I told them in a polite yet firm tone “i don’t want to see mothers and nannies inside my class starting tomorrow. if i’d see one, she’ll be going out with her child and i’ll be deleting the student’s name in the master list. i’ve already given you two months and that’s more than enough” the next afternoon … surprise! it’s just me and the tods! my co-teacher was right, i just needed to show them i have authority. but the real challenge has just began. next step was to show the children that we can be friends, we can play, we can joke, but you know, still have that respect.
so there, my story is not inspiring haha! but have to say those two years are one of the highlights of my life. teaching is very challenging and exciting. I could have stayed but then I had a lot of “buts and what ifs” add the fact that I am not an education grad.
good luck to your teaching career and happy blogging!
PS. pahiram ako ng comment ko ha? wala kasi ako update sa blog ko eh. re rewrite ko naman
ang title “Sterndal: the terror teacher” nyahaha!
hello sterndal!
wow, that’s a very long comment and i thank you for spending the time in writing it. i didn’t know you also have teaching background…
so anyway, i just can’t send the mommies out just like in your case because the principles of the learning center include that parents should be inside the class too (in classes with pupils from 2 to 4 years old). i don’t know if that is good or bad… i will have to see, then i’ll let the world know..
about you using your comment as an entry in your blog…SURE. I am surprised that you asked for my permission. It’s your thoughts so it’s yours and you can do anything with it.
cheers!
There is an association for parents and teachers in the Philippines too. They elect officers (parents) to become the representatives. Then when there is a major project that needs attention. they held a meeting to agree or disagree with the project.
Mharms