Primary Teachers are truly the most special people on the planet. I’m not just saying that because my mum was one. However, she is an example that proves my point. I have a varied experience with primary teachers including having many friends in the profession, but now I have a new appreciation through my work with Sportspro.
Not many, if any, schools are able to have specialist PE teachers, and with all the talk of an obesity epidemic Principals are keen to have some sort of sports program but unfortunately lack the human resources, i.e. their teachers aren’t sporting oriented. I won’t hold that against them because they call organisations like Sportspro to run their sports program.
Initially I thought it would be an interesting change from teaching secondary students, less attitude. The biggest culture shock came on my first day, I asked the teacher in charge if someone could put the basketball hoops up and I was expecting her to grab the General Assistant or give me the key to the shed and point me in the right direction. Instead she opened the window and asked two Year 6 kids to do it and they willingly obliged, it was regarded as a reward for being good students. You would never see that where I was last year, too much attitude.
So enough of the background info and blatant plug, now for my point. If I had their workload I would literally go crazy. They have to deal with many things for which I just have little patience. I’m talking tantrums, crying for no reason, dobbing for trivial reasons, and the biggest one, not knowing which is their writing hand. It’s a good thing their teacher is around so they can deal with all that. It took me all term to bring my vocabulary down to their level. In the end I took the most basic coaching rule of keeping it in three’s, three main points for each skill and emphasising those.
Looking inside one of the Kindergarten rooms you can see the effort these teachers go to. The walls are adorned with words, numbers and pictures on different shapes of cardboard. There are posters of value and labels on desks so each student knows where to sit. A lot of teachers cover all of the books of their students. All this on top of teaching them all day, you can tell that the work doesn’t stop at 3pm. I wouldn’t like to imagine how long they spend in their own time. Although I have a fair idea.
I’ve been impressed with the schools I have been to since the start of the year, Beecroft PS and Turramurra PS. They have made me think about where I’d like to live when I grow up and have a family of my own.
Not many, if any, schools are able to have specialist PE teachers, and with all the talk of an obesity epidemic Principals are keen to have some sort of sports program but unfortunately lack the human resources, i.e. their teachers aren’t sporting oriented. I won’t hold that against them because they call organisations like Sportspro to run their sports program.
Initially I thought it would be an interesting change from teaching secondary students, less attitude. The biggest culture shock came on my first day, I asked the teacher in charge if someone could put the basketball hoops up and I was expecting her to grab the General Assistant or give me the key to the shed and point me in the right direction. Instead she opened the window and asked two Year 6 kids to do it and they willingly obliged, it was regarded as a reward for being good students. You would never see that where I was last year, too much attitude.
So enough of the background info and blatant plug, now for my point. If I had their workload I would literally go crazy. They have to deal with many things for which I just have little patience. I’m talking tantrums, crying for no reason, dobbing for trivial reasons, and the biggest one, not knowing which is their writing hand. It’s a good thing their teacher is around so they can deal with all that. It took me all term to bring my vocabulary down to their level. In the end I took the most basic coaching rule of keeping it in three’s, three main points for each skill and emphasising those.
Looking inside one of the Kindergarten rooms you can see the effort these teachers go to. The walls are adorned with words, numbers and pictures on different shapes of cardboard. There are posters of value and labels on desks so each student knows where to sit. A lot of teachers cover all of the books of their students. All this on top of teaching them all day, you can tell that the work doesn’t stop at 3pm. I wouldn’t like to imagine how long they spend in their own time. Although I have a fair idea.
I’ve been impressed with the schools I have been to since the start of the year, Beecroft PS and Turramurra PS. They have made me think about where I’d like to live when I grow up and have a family of my own.
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4 comments:
You mean you wouldn't prefer to live in vaucluse on a teacher's salary? I have great memories from primary school, those teachers definitely deserve more recognition - particularly now when they are almost the only parental influence some kids have...
Nah, meaning I know some schools that I wouldn't mind sending my kids. Mind you alot can change before any child of mine is of school age.
Its interesting that i come across this because i am about to go into teach a year 4 class for the next three weeks... Well see how keen they are after ive finished with them. After having all this theory though one thing i ask you to consider do all the artworks look the same...
Add to my list of schools Baulkham Hills North PS and Nicholson St PS (at Balmain). Year 3's are usually so competitive, but at these schools they put that aside are quite enjoyable to teach
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