This is my story... Elias Ditshwene

Dear New Teachers,

It's finally the end of the school year and now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I'm ready to finish.

In 2012 I came to Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng as an intern in the Science Department   brought by the Royal Bafokeng Institute. I was just a young teacher full of energy for teaching. By then I anticipated teaching as a way of facilitating learning and teaching. Lebone college broadened my knowledge as they had their own way of showing support to their teachers through CPD and New Teacher Café for new teachers coming to teach at the school for the first time. These programmes offer teachers opportunities to talk about their difficulty within the class room context and also implement practical tools to help overcome the challenges. A resource that is frequently used is the book called Teach Like A Champion. It’s filled with a range of techniques that path a way for teachers to further their training.

In 2013 I was offered the opportunity by the school to work as the Natural Science teacher for Grades 8 and 7. My fear was how am I going to manage the three Grade 8 classes and Grade 7 class, bearing in mind that we have students with different learning abilities. However, with the support that I got from the team of new teachers and my department, especially my Head of Department, was really exceptional. She provided me with extra support methods and material to use. The classes I had were very naughty and I sometimes felt the emotions taking control of my lesson. But I understood that as teachers and educators, we are probably more prone to “Emotional Hijacking”. The encouraging message I got from Mr. du Toit turn about the wheel of discipline (management ) within class was when he mentioned that to students, behaviour challenges are a game that students like to play. As a teacher you may chose to get involved, however if you get involve you should know that the students are in-control. You as a teacher you have lost.  

CHALLENGES THAT A NEW TEACHER MAY ENCOUNTER:

• Discipline within the class room
• Differentiation of students
• Classroom management
• Structure within the class
• Constructive communication
• Respect

HOW DO YOU COME TO A POINT OF GETTING IT RIGHT

I believe as a teacher you need to be open for new ideas, even if you have been in the field of teaching for years . Will Rogers  once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”. I started by putting my goal ahead of other thing when I wanted to understand students through the process of constructive communication to develop mutual respect. This in turn escalate to students behavior being manageable, as well as having a structure within my class and the implementation of different learning techniques.

As young as I was I was hoping for the best from the students; the best that I believe you will only get it if you teach a student about what is expected not assuming that they already know.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

My first task I had to do was to prepare a lesson for my class and deliver it to the class. The lesson was supposed to have a focus area on what I wanted to see and how I wanted my students to learn. The challenge that I had to work on was the group work method within the class, namely how students can learn within their groups and their interaction with one another. The lesson had to be presented to the teachers in my department so we could reflect on how to improve it. The most important thing is to have a lesson plan throughout the preparation and note the specific learning objectives. This helps teachers to reflect and also to make improvements. I believe as teachers when preparing we become full of energy on how the lesson is going to look like but also plan around the students you have in the class. This makes learning easier for students who have a complete understanding of their target.

NEW TEACHERS CAFÉ:

The New Teachers' Café had a creative and positive impact to my teaching. I had to do lots of my teaching using the techniques I choose for myself which created huge growth within my students and my self-esteem .These techniques were used within the teaching context and lesson planning with your mentor chosen by you. Thanks’ to our peers for the encouraging words and belief that they had in us. These sessions helped open a bigger picture of learning the content in Science. Through the lesson study that I had to do and present to my fellow new teachers I started having fun with them, at first it might be difficult but the second time becomes easier. “Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so” - the word of Doris Lessing.

LEARNING ABOUT MYSELF AS A TEACHER:

As a teacher I need to comply with the instruction give by the authorities before complaining which gives me an opportunity to think. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Learning what routine worked for me was something very useful to learn about myself. I discovered that solid preparation makes my work as a teacher easier to do without me having to tell students every day what to do.

IN ENDING:

Sometimes the psychological price we pay is so high but we still love teaching because we know there is nothing in this world so rewarding as to plant the seeds of knowledge in somebody's mind and watch these seeds grow and blossom into a better citizen, one who would tend to us and provide us with comfort, love and tenderness when we grow old. Education is a progressive discovery of our ignorance.

In closing I would like to send my vote of thanks to the special team we had within our department, the school for putting a working system in place for teachers to embrace their career and every individual who made an impact in my teaching at Lebone. Once more Lebone is not a one man show. It is about being a person of integrity. We should embrace the opportunity day by day in our space which is student and teacher friendly.  Motswana sare ngwana sejo wa tlhakanelwa (English translation:"Iit takes a community to raise a child"). 

This is my story... Rachelle Elmes

I was reluctant to move back to Rustenburg at first, but I wanted to start a new chapter in my life and I heard great things about Lebone. When I arrived for my interview at the school, the grotesque structures, the modern flair (which for me indicated progressive thinking) and the politeness of the children convinced me that this was the place I wanted to work at. And luckily my dream came true and I got the job.

When I arrived, I tried to learn all my pupils' names as quickly as possible. I also wanted to get to know the students as soon as possible, in order to decide on the most effective way of helping each child progress.

There were a few things that I wasn't convinced about at first, but my colleagues were wonderful and I could ask them anything at any time. I decided to approach my new job like I would approach a new piano piece:

To first learn the basics, then to focus on the finer detail, to memorise the work and to perform it with great conviction. The art of any good musical rendering, is to stay true to what the composer has written, but to add your own unique interpretation without compromising the integrity of the work.

That is what I aimed to do.

It didn't take long to understand how things are done and to assess my students in order to determine their needs. I also come along so well with my fellow music colleagues and have the utmost respect for them, thus my working environment is really very favourable. The main thing I realised, was that these piano students were craving stability. They needed someone who could provide continuity and I promised them that I am going nowhere and would stick with them for the long run.

The other difficulty that I have never encountered before, was that a lot of these students don't have pianos at home. And this is the case with about 15+ of my students. Unfortunately the instrument I teach can't be thrown over the shoulder and taken home to practise in the evening and this proves to be quite a challenge.

There are practise rooms at the music department, but most of the students are busy with activities after school and have difficulty to make time to practise. Other students' parents aren't able to alter their programs so that the child has a little bit of practise time before going home. One of the children proudly came to me and told me that his dad had downloaded a piano application for the child on his cellphone. Great way of practising the ear, but it is going to do absolutely nothing for the fingers. 10/10 for trying to be resourceful though! The difficulty is that I have to deliver results, but that it isn't always possible without discipline and hard work on the student's part. And this is one of the main things I try to convey to my students. You can't expect to become good if you don't work hard. Where there is a will, there is a way and ten minutes of focussed practising, can equal another student's 30 minutes of practising.

One of my students told me that he had to say what he wanted for Christmas and there was quite a long list that included an X-Box, a PSP, a piano and a computer. When his mom said that he can choose only one thing, he chose the piano. An eight-year old boy choosing a piano over a PSP?!

I was beyond myself with excitement, because the realisation is starting to spread roots amongst the children:

• Nothing in life comes without dedication.
• Quitting when something gets difficult, is not an option.
• To become really good at something because you worked hard, is a rewarding experience.

In short, IT FEELS GOOD! And most of these children are capable of much more than they think. They just need to start believing in themselves and that has to start here in my classroom.

Another thing I experience over and over again, is that children whose parents are involved, who encourage them and who are actively part of their music world (to remind them to practise, to help them practise and to make sure they remember their books) progress much better than the other children. So it is important to make parents aware of the fact that the responsibility for their children's accomplishments not only lies here at school, but also at home. 

The best thing I have ever done in my life, was to come here to Lebone. I feel as if my horizon has been broadened and I am forced to think out of the box again. I accept the challenge to help my students exceed their own expectations because here is such a lot of talent that just has to be managed and nurtured in the correct way. At Lebone I also find myself in a creative environment where I feel that I as musician can be creative and grow.

The fact that I have very talented musicians as colleagues, that we actively have concerts and form bands to play at certain school events, that I can accompany the Lebone choirs with pride because they sound so good, that I have the freedom to make my own suggestions and to run with my own ideas....all of these things makes Lebone a wonderful creative space and my goal is to contribute to further the excellence of this school.

Wanted #2... John Naiker

Dear 2^nd Year Teacher,

Please dwell on the following classroom curricular polarities. Each side of the continuum has its place, even if it is just momentarily. Remember that the master teacher is like a circus performer, a professional musician or the man who balances eels on his nose.

Serious -----------------Humerous

Listening---------------Speaking

Reading----------------Writing

Moving-----------------Sitting still

Shouting out--------Ordered turns

Academic Rigour----Fun and games

Discipline------------Freedom

Prescription----------Description

Routine----------------Out of the ordinary

Some continuums exist in the moment, some in the lesson, some in the week and some in the year.

Sincerely,

A almost 3^rd year teacher

Wanted #1... John Naiker

Wanted: 2^nd year teacher to teach an asylum of children. Must be as mad as our clients. Complete and utter abolition of memory at day end a necessity. Deranged flashbacks of moments of lunacy may occur but should not be the norm. If grudges, vendettas and resentments are not washed away by the rolling tide of enlightened amnesia, imminent and irreparable insanity will take root.

Clients, while mad, are still cunning. Friendships may be forged but may well reveal themselves to be shackles rather than cuff links.

Teacher will have to apologise often. Both to clients and self and God.

Sickness  of body is acceptable, sickness of mind is not.

Preparation of temporary bouts of lucidity (aka teaching) an explicit requirement. Preparation of preparation an implicit requirement.

Teacher will need to know what he is talking about. This appears trivial, but it is not.

Please apply to the spirit of Classroom 14. Attach recent photo of self and R 500 personal burial money. 

A day in the life of Richard Sibeko

It’s not about the income – it’s’ about the outcome!

Dear reader,

Congratulations! I am glad that you’ve made it this far.

Others started the journey and missed a turn somewhere and have ended up sitting in a fancy office doing some mind numbing-number-crunching job. They’re most probably envious of all the time we get off during the year. Well, good luck to them!

I am typing this at home (avoiding my marking) after a long day at work; this is most probably my tenth attempt at writing this. Yes, I know what you’re thinking; this should be very easy for me because I am an English teacher. You’re most probably expecting a lucid piece of writing with “perfect” grammar and stuff… well I can assure you that this will not be the case…

I started my journey as a young teacher at St Stithians Girls’ College as a Teacher Intern in 2010 at the age of 19. Attempting to juggle work and being a full-time student at Wits was challenge at times, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this! This was a familiar environment in which I was very comfortable to be in ( I am past St Stithians pupil ’08) . I managed to lean a lot while I was there (classroom management and dealing with 25 hormonal teenage girls at the same time) and this has definitely helped me and prepared me for my big move to “The Burg”. I also realised that being a teacher also meant being a “father figure”, disciplinarian, lawyer, psychologist and in some cases, a shoulder to cry on.

Living and working in Rustenburg is very different from the lifestyle I have in Johannesburg. If you had told me that I would be working here a while back, I would have laughed in your face! I mean who moves to Rustenburg…

This realisation came with one of many lessons I have learnt thus far; the first being acceptance. I’ve had to accept the fact that I no longer live and work in Johannesburg and that Rustenburg has become my new “home” for the next few years. This realisation has yet to sink in; however, it’s a work in progress.  I’ve also had to accept and understand the new rules and ways of doing things here and to accept the fact that the two (Johannesburg and Rustenburg) are very different. I’ve also had to accept the fact that I could not change the world and have the kids calling me “Oh Captain, my Captain” after the first lesson.

Another challenged thrown into my direction was trying to find a balance between being “Mr Sibeko” and “Richard”. As a young teacher, the kids in your class can smell your “fear” from a mile away and they can often take advantage of your being young. Numerous attempts of threatening their lives do seem to help, however, I strongly advise you to stay away from the Doom; they’re immune to this!

This past year has been both rewarding and challenging. I developed as a person and as a young professional and I am looking forward to the challenges coming my way in the New Year.  

Enjoy your journey!

PS: I strongly advise you make friends with the finance, IT , kitchen, admin  AND security departments in your first week! You will thank me later…

This is my story... Thapelo Masemene

I will always cherish my last parting words from my last year’s Mentor, Mrs Frankiskos.  She said, “Thapelo, I’m releasing you to the sharks.  I've equipped you with skills to help you to snorkel your way to success.  Like an eagle that’s pushing its eaglet out of the nest to learn how to fly, it’s time for you to fly.  I’m so proud of what you've achieved in such a short space of time – you’re a gifted, powerful and intelligent African lady, there is no doubt that you will be successful.  Go out there and make me proud!”.  Fly like an eagle – that is the phrase that keeps me going.

“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree” – Proverbs 11:28.  

My name is Thapelo Masemene, and this is my story... 

I am a spiritual being, therefore it made perfect sense to me to dedicate my career to the Lord.  The reason for this is that it’s not about me; it’s about living a purposeful life based on the will of God – to be where God wants me to be.  I want a career based on Education and working with young minds; to mould young minds into something great.  It made perfect sense for me to go into the teaching field.  It’s not that I never tried the corporate environment; I did and I hated every moment of it.  I explored the corporate world while doing my students jobs back in university.  The job entailed a whole lot of routine, it lacked challenges and I did not see myself there.  Then I started to question what my true purpose was.  What on earth am I here for?  In the book of Colossians 1:16 we read that “Everything got started with Him (that is God), and finds its purpose in him”.  Therefore, basing my career in the Education field felt right; I found my true purpose. 

Each and every single day of my life this year had so much meaning.  It’s not that life in the classroom went by smoothly all the time. There were instances where I felt that I did not have everything under control.  My main problem was dealing with behaviour and classroom management.  I taught three classes, namely Grade 7, 9 and 10 Mathematics.  My Grade 7s were my little angels!  They were little sweethearts who I always looked forward to teaching.  My Grade 10s were more mature and generally easy to work with.  Then there were the Grade 9s – little boys with tiny horns!  My Grade 9s always tested my patience – they were little Godzillas!  I tried my level best to get the discipline on track – on some days I would be successful and on some days my efforts would fall flat.  I guess that the one thing that helped, to some extent, with instilling discipline was my big voice and “the look”!  It got better as the year went by and they are much better now.  In fact we get along very well, and it is such a breeze to teach them.  Finally, I really got the hang of them.  However, my Grade 7s are now starting to develop tiny horns and all the innocence and our pink “lovey-dovey” aura is getting lost.  Well, I guess that this is in fact a cycle.  Like Mrs Frankiskos used to say, it always gets better by the day. 

Over and above the teaching, I had my PGCE to complete.  Now that was a mission!  For the first time in my life I found myself having to juggle school and work, and it was not easy.  There were moments where I felt that I was totally loosing it, where I found that I was now becoming all emotional when something went wrong.  It got worse when instead of getting some support and understanding from some of my fellow colleagues about what I was going, some people were judgemental.  (It was a small fraction though, and not in the Maths Department).  They did not understand!  What I needed was support and an understanding of what I was going through.  As I went through this phase in my life I realised that it is not about pleasing other people, it is all about achieving my goals and ensuring that I do my best in everything I do.  The main thing that kept me sane was prayer and knowing that God will not let me do something that was impossible to accomplish.  In my moment of weakness I knew that God was carrying me through, for we read in 2 Corinthians 13:4 that “We are weak... yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you”.  This scripture says that in your weakness there is the presence of God’s power, for His thoughts are higher than ours.  We also read in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that the Grace of the Lord is sufficient and that his power is made perfect in weakness.  Rick Warren in his book The Purpose-driven Life he mentions if God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done.  To live with a purpose is, in itself, living life to the fullest.

At the beginning of the year I planted some good seeds, now I’m harvesting good fruit.  I worked really hard, and it feels really great to see good results coming out of my hard work.  2014 is going to be an even better year – I know what to expect and like Auntie Hettie said, it gets better with experience.  To everyone that made this year possible – Mr Thomas, Mr Morake, Mr Harris, Mr du Toit, the Mathematics Department, Mr Reynolds, Mr Ryan, Mr and Mrs Prins, Pastor Kgabo Nyikiza, Apostle and Prophetess Tshehla, Richard, Charlene, Mme Masala, Mme Tshweu, Elias, my friends, my family... thank you for believing in me.  

My Second Year at Lebone College: This is my story... Caitlin Mason

This year has been one hundred times more successful than last year. I think that this was due to a different bunch of children, but also, more importantly, it was due to the way I handled and owned my classroom from the very beginning.

I went into this year knowing that I was going to be a whole lot stricter and more confident. I started this on day 1. As soon as someone started turning into a monkey I jumped on this, and then on the next thing and then...on the next thing. My class is not perfect. They do not always keep quiet. They don't always pack up in their allocated 5 minutes. They think they’re on holiday if I'm not speaking at that moment. Some hardly ever do their homework.  But if I glare at them, they keep quiet. And this, is a GREAT victory for me!

I don't shout as much as I did last year. I had to actively work at this. Now it is very rare, and if it does happen I am usually pretty aware of it. I realise that it’s because I'm in a bad mood, or that it’s important that I shout right now! There are still some of those awful banshee-throat-screaming moments, but when they happen I try not to take them too seriously and laugh at the way my throat hurts!

I love the way I can sit or stand in front of my class waiting for them to keep quiet and that it doesn't take them too long to get the message. I don't have to shout to get this to happen. Folded arms and a bored look will do! I love the way my students sit on the carpet and can (usually!) be quiet and listen to the other children. Even if they’re not listening – at least they are quiet!

My success stories of this year: 

• Going to a Whole Brain Teaching Workshop and learning about the Super Achievers Board, where individual kids can get recognised for anything they do. This has been great for me and my kids!
• Timing EVERYTHING they do on the Promethean board. I am structured and so are they. And I can tell them how long they've been doing NOTHING for. Or celebrate how quickly it took them to do a task.
• Doing a ‘pack-up’ competition that encouraged them to pack up quickly. At the end of it, the classroom looks spotless too!
• Morning Meetings. Every morning we meet as a class for about ten minutes, some days are longer as we discuss issues that have been brought to the ‘agenda’. This has been a wonderful time where the kids get a chance to be heard - “what if your friends says she doesn’t want to be your friend anymore”, or I get a chance to tell them if the routine is interrupted in some way or if there are certain classroom things that I'm not happy with. There is also meeting protocol, everyone must sit up straight, be quiet and no fidgeting! I always ask the person who is messing around to remind us of all the rules!

Things that were difficult for me: 

• Teaching maths. A big challenge. I have many different levels in my class and I find it so hard to juggle all these. I also find it difficult to get kids to understand things that I find so easy!
•  Monitoring homework! Following up on the sneaky ones.
• Losing my temper without thinking first (screeching-banshee moment!)
• Battling with kids who have emotional issues. Trying to get them to behave, care about their work, make an effort to listen and understand.
• Letting go of the things I can't change and not being so hard on myself. Sometimes a child won't change (yet) and doesn’t realise that he or she is just making it worse for themselves.

I have endeavoured the whole year to keep getting better. Through the year I started to realise, however, that being a teacher, or at least being a grade 5 teacher, is not the best thing for me to do. I realised that in the moments when I wasn’t as patient as I could have been or while I was standing at the board battling through division with my class. Children deserve teachers who are passionate about what they do. Being just less than passionate about teaching is not going to help the world in the way I want to. I love the kids and I love being loved by them, but I'm not sure I want to make them do their homework!

Through all this though, when I look back at my year, I am overwhelmed with love for the children in my care and wish that I could see where they’ll go in their lives!

And... this is my story!