Week 1 Term 3 - TRAITS

I spent this morning taking my Year 9 students through our film study for 'The Freedom Writers'. We were discussing character and in particular character traits for the four main characters in the film. To get them to understand what a character trait is I put up images of different people (fictional characters, world leaders, celebrities and athletes) and asked the students to describe the person's personality. This was my Segway into getting my class to identify character traits for the film characters and to then explain how this trait is shown in the film. This was an interesting exercise in that our perception of others is grounded in what we think, see and know. Usually what we think and see (when it comes to knowing others) can influence what we know or want to know. 

Returning from school holidays and getting back into the swing of things is always a case of finding my feet, getting motivated and inspired again. Today's exercise with my Year 9 students made me think about Term 2 and the characteristic traits that it carried. As I settle into back into school life and plan ahead for Term 3 I am hopeful that this term will be characterized by the following traits (for both myself and my students). 

MOTIVATIONAL: 

Designed to promote the desire or willingness to do or achieve something

When discussing the main character in the film 'The Freedom Writers', my Year 9 students were quick to describe Ms Erin Gruwell as 'motivational'. She is exactly that. She was determined and willing to connect with her students, she wanted her students to feel confident and comfortable with who they are. She saw the potential in them even when they were unable to realize or understand their own potential. 

Much of my time throughout each day is spent trying to 'motivate' students to do something. The message shared throughout Term 2 (during lock down and post lock down) was that 'doing nothing is not an option'. Creating a space where the students feel motivated to work, to learn, to achieve is a goal for me this term. For my senior classes, this term is crucial as it is the only full term left where they have to complete their internal assessments. I know that in order for this to happen - it starts with me and how prepared I am. But even more so how I motivate them (through discussion, meetings etc) is just as if not more imperative. This term is important for all senior students as this is the term where the final push in completing internal assessments is the priority. I hope to motivate and inspire my students to complete their internal assessments well. 

PARTNERSHIP:

An association of two or more people as partners

In the film 'The Freedom Writers' Ms Gruwell understood (very quickly) that she had to know her learners and understand what their needs before she could implement her teaching program. By investing time in getting to know her class, she was able to understand them and get an insight to who they are. This helped her design a teaching program that was custom fit for her students. 

On the first day of Term 3 I spent my first lesson with my Year 9 students reviewing the learning and achievement from Term 2. One student in particular was very vocal and honest about what they did not enjoy about English and I asked him 'why?' He explain that he needed specific things from me as his teacher but was to afraid to ask. This was a sobering moment for me because I knew that I did not support him in English. I asked him what he felt he needed from me as his teacher and he was shocked at first but soon shared what he felt he needed from me. I do not usually spend time in 'partnership' with my junior classes - typically it is a very traditional teacher/student relationship. What I have learnt from this conversation is that 'partnership' is an important piece in our student's learning journey. In order to be a part of the journey, leading from all sides - from the front but especially beside each other - is powerful. Like Ms Gruwell, this conversation is one that I hope to continue to have with my junior class. It has made me rethink what I am doing with them this term. 

I look forward to more learning, creating and sharing this term! 

Week 12 Term 2 - It's done

Finally. 

This term has been unique to say the least. The last day of term is always a blur - as a teacher and I am pretty sure for our students it is the same, but you wait and work for this day and when it finally arrives it can become a mixture of exhaustion, excitement and relief. 

Review

It has been a long term (12 weeks in total) with the first five weeks of term 2 working online with the students. Online learning, online meetings, online hangouts with students - it was 5 weeks of venturing out into the digital world, recreating the face of our online platforms and walking through a different space with the students. As mentioned in my earlier posts, this time working from home and online was great because it allowed me to focus on my subject area. I was able to research different texts to use for my Level 2 students, revamp my Google sites and use my Google calendar properly. The English Department were able to regroup and refocus together - online (ironically). We were able to review what we had done in Term 1 and collectively work together on what we needed to do for Term 2. The beginning of Term 2, although different and challenging was also a refreshing for me. I enjoyed time with my family, working with the English Department and redesigning my online learning. 

The last seven weeks has been interesting. Returning school was not going to be the typical and familiar return as there were obvious restrictions and guidelines that we had to met in response to COVID 19. The return to school was marked by a hygiene routine (hand sanitizer before and after the lesson, surface sanitizer and a seating plan for each class). Students and staff were happy to be back. As the term progressed things seemed to fall back into place and the normal routine of pre-COVID slowly came back into play. 

Work Ethic 

the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward

One of the blessings to come out of this term was regaining my focus with my core job, teaching. My work ethic over the last few years has been largely driven by my pastoral role as Dean. My focus and priority (back then) was trying to meet the demands that came with pastoral care. One of the biggest blessings from Term 2 was having the time to reconnect with my subject area and online learning. My work ethic now is now focused on both my core job as an English teacher and in my pastoral role as Year 11 Dean. I have never really invested equal time and effort in both roles, one has always trumped the other. 

I think overall the principle of hard work and the reward that comes from this has resonated with me. I think for me the reward is that I am managing my time and trying to be smart with it. I am understanding that time is more than precious, it is vital and how you use it is important. 

The break has been a blessing. I have enjoyed the down time and having a break from work. My Aunt has been in hospital since the beginning of the holidays and I have spent most of my break with her and my family. It is times like this that I really do understand and appreciate the importance of family. It does not matter how hard I work or what I achieve professionally, family and the connections that I am blessed with is something that requires the same if not more attention and effort.