Thanks to Di-Verse

Thank you very much for sharing a part of your story. What I love the most about the presentation is the clear focus on the human and humane aspects and the central idea that human life-worlds are diverse and we inhabit the world in different ways...and maybe it leaves me with the question of how we might best work with/alongside this important central aspect of our vocation?

Thoughts on Di vs the ....

What an interesting presentation we had tonight. As a new teacher it is always difficult to know whether you are in sync with what is expected from you as both an educator and role model. From listening to Di's thoughts and reflections as she shared her memoirs with us, I felt comfort in hearing that I am not the only one to feel uncertainty at times.

I could associate with so many of her stories, though hers are much more interesting.Here at Lebone I feel that I have found a place where I belong, a place that I feel proud of. 

I feel as if I am already part of the ethos of the school. I see respectful and proud children who want to learn. I smell love, passion and kindness. I hear the rhythm of life and energy.

 May I also have many interesting and wonderful stories to share about my adventures at Lebone one day.

Sharing the emotions of life with students

As Di was talking about her most difficult and emotional time in her teaching career, she made me think of my own emotional time.  It was last week Monday, the 12^th of August 2013.  It was around 06:45 and I had just arrived in the school when I received a call from my father and he told me that my Grandma has passed on.  I could not hold back the tears. I was hoping that I would be able to contain myself for the day but no, I was wrong. 

My first lesson was the Grade 10 Mathematics class. I remember one of my students, Rhulani Tlakula, coming towards me to ask for a key to open the class where we normally have our lesson and the first thing she noticed about me was my puffy eyes and that I was not myself at all.  She said something along the lines of “Maam, I don’t know what is wrong but can I give you a hug just to comfort you?”  I was able to hold myself but right before the lesson started I lost it.  I realised that my students saw me at my lowest and my most emotional time, they saw my tears...  

When I came back to work on Wednesday, most of them came to me and hugged me.  I have never felt so much love, especially from young people that I tend to be hard on at times.  

It is true that being a teacher is not all about standing in front of the classroom and teaching, you will have those precious moments when you connect to students in the most extraordinary ways.  

I never thought that I would ever have a moment when I receive a comforting gesture from students in class.

Di-versus

Di’s stories were very interesting and insightful. The story about a young girl who wiped her hands on Di’s white dress, made me think back to when a learner wiped their runny nose on my shoulder. Moments like these, you never forget. Di said that the most important things we learn not at University, but from our students. In the short time I have taught here at Lebone, I have certainly learned many valuable lessons from my students. Today I had an interesting and revealing discussion with my Grade 8 students. They had to reflect on the past project. Some of the comments I was expecting, but some of them were surprising. 

At that moment, I was the student, and they taught me how to approach the project next time with greater success.

Some take-home truths

One thing that stuck in my mind from Di Robert's presentation was the motto that I feel needs to be used in our class and also be taught to learners “comply before complaining”. This kind of motto will help individual's to first think about their views before they voice their view. As a teacher I need to learn to give the benefit of the doubt before exaggerating or over reacting  to situations which in turn build a good relationship between students and teachers. Again resilience is an essential tool for new teachers. 

"Di-Verse"

It was great to hear such a variety of stories from Di’s experience teaching. It was refreshing to hear about the new challenges she faced in different schools and different contexts. It’s a nice reminder that it’s “normal” to experience challenges in a new place. It was also nice to hear the humour in which she told her stories. I think if we can’t laugh at ourselves and at the funny scenarios we find ourselves in with kids, this would be an impossible job! It is always helpful to find the humour or the bright side to these challenging scenarios.