After about 6 months of admin duties and zero teaching load, I now enter the teaching force again.  Thanks to a teacher who resigned from her post just a week ago.  Nobody was qualified enough to handle her class. Even my qualifications (which include a 7 year teaching experience) were questioned. Why? simply because this class was no ordinary class- It was a baby’s class.  Yes, I was rigidly trained to be a teacher- like an old teacher’s joke says- oldtime teachers can teach even while sleeping.  However, I knew that regardless of my education, training, seminars, and experience, I am to face another battle in my life- another arena where the participants, the rules, and the goals are different.  And of course, the cautious and paranoid individual in me prompted me to be ready and fully geared for the battle ahead.

Why others doubted my capability as a pre-nursery teacher was understandable.  For one, I was known to be strict and worse, a notorious goal-setter.  I maintained high expectations for my previous students in Kinder. Hence, according to my co-teachers, I may suffer from bouts of frustration.

I believe that they are wrong.  One of the things that a teacher should first do is to know the learners.  Knowing the learners would help you understand their nature.  Understanding their nature would guide you in choosing the appropriate teaching strategies and classroom management styles.

Pre-nursery children in Brightwoods School can be as young as 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 11 months.  The approach should be non-threatening and at the same time, not overly lenient.  Rapport and the building of trust were the firsts on my agenda.  What made the whole thing a bit complicated was the fact that they have had a teacher before.  Somehow, I had to win the kids first before I can really teach them.

In terms of activities, multi-sensorial tasks are preferable.  Kids their age, learn when all senses are engaged in the learning process.  Also, teachers should be entertaining as well, with plenty of gimmicks, voice modulation, and games to pique interest.

So far, I have had one successful day with them.  Tomorrow will be a new adventure, a new experience to learn from.  And as always, I will give it my 100% effort.

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