Week Nine

The final week

This week came much quicker than anticipated, it flew past.

This week there was not much teaching for me, I was finishing up and ensuring that I have all I need for my portfolio. This experience was only nine weeks, and looking back the skills learnt are immeasurable.

There were some more classes that needed individuating, using the techniques of clear instructions and identifying individuals helped in this regard. At first I wasn't really able to connect to the learners or just have a chat with them, however that has since changed and I can now have valuable conversations with the learners.

The one grade 10 class that I have had for all of my subjects, are special. Special in many ways, they are one of the smartest, “quickest” classes that I have come across during this time, unfortunately they also easily influence one another and not in a positive manner. There is one teacher who has complete control of them and in whose class they are quite and participate, the rest of their teachers dread them. However, this class also has strong individuals, since the beginning I have had a strong bond with this class. A relational bond mostly, having avoid to teach them, I have heard and shared personal stories with these learners and became acquainted with their circumstances. There was one specific learner who was interested and paid special attention to me. Unfortunately, this specific learner was one of the disrupters in class and smoking at school. About two weeks back he has been changing his behaviour, no longer disruptive in class and told me that this week he stopped smoking at school at least. This learner somehow found his way into my heart, he had his disciplinary hearing on Thursday where his future was to be decided fortunately he only has one-week suspension and I honestly think that he has learnt his lesson and is changing his ways now.

I don’t know if I had a major influence, but I do hope that even if this whole nine weeks end up only having resulted in this one learner changing his ways.