Monday, July 5, 2010

Method in madness

I had expected the best well known education to be of the best run programme but after 2 lessons, I have come to realise things are never perfect. I sent Barney in to Julia Grabriel thinking they would be cater to every child and provide a sound well thought through lesson, but they start 10 mins late then they take 30 mins to take the attendance. Yes the teachers try to personalise each encounter with each child, helping them take off their shoes and trying to remember their names but another teacher holds the attendance sheet and goes around asking the child's name again then they give out fun passes in the class and try to greet every of the 20 children present. My thinking is there are more efficient ways to taking the attendance and learning names.

Yes they teach the kids to do 2 pieces of art work one in english and one in chinese, but they only have 10 chairs so the other 10 children get to play with the same toys while waiting their turn. The teacher tells me, the kids learn more at play anyway. So i sigh and make the best of the situation and play with Barney while waiting again to do a piece of art.

So what did the lesson accomplish? Was it effective in teaching the child the objective for the day? I would have to say yes. Barney enjoyed the new toys, he could say the "f" sound and "fish" and "Yu".

So i guess i should be more forgiving and understanding, and take with a pinch of salt that there is learning going on even if things don't happen the way i would like it to. There is method in the madness of coping with the noise of 20 kids (2 which are constantly crying)and 20 adults and 4 teachers in an enclosed room.

Would it be better shifting to a smaller class? My preference is yes but i do realise it might lose the dynamic rucus. So i sigh again..maybe i just need to be more patient.

So if i look at it from a social perspective. Barney does learn to be patient to wait his turn, he does learn to share his toys while waiting, he does learn to watch quietly when the teacher teaches, he does learn his manners when choosing water or juice, he does clean up when it is time to clear his toys due to peer pressure and the number of people doing so. So i admit i'm not as patient as i thought i was.

Yes they took a little longer at things but even though we missed out on story time, and the 1pm lunctime was replaced with a snack of 4 biscuits, some sultanas and 2 pieces of honey melon..I guess i will complain at the right time or just hold my peace until another time.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Why do people avoid people?

It's strange, when you do attend a social, some would rather avoid people then feel uncomfortable. I thought when I did attend one where i hadn't met up with people for some time, it would be one of acceptance and catching up; instead the two responses that sounded forthright was "we do work you know." Yes i do understand this but i thought we could share other topics of conversation, like movies,kids, food,ideas, parents etc..and the other was " I don't like the posturing and posing." I don't get it, firstly i wasn't posturing or posing and i'd really just like to know you better, maybe in some way i could be a blessing. Well at least the pizza party was more loving. Maybe i just need to show more love and thoughtfulness. Will pray for more wisdom.