When asked who her teacher is, my daughter, Amber, would immediately reply, ” Titsa Mami…!” Yup… I get to be the teacher of my daughter in her first ever school experience.
Since we are just starting our Early Years Program in NIS, Amber does not have any other choice but me for her teacher. We have only one class open for her age this summer (It’s still summer in NIS… the SY officially starts in September) and the teacher in that class is none other than me…
Well… having her in my class has its ups and downs. As regards to the downside, She is still relatively young, and thus, capable of throwing one hell of a tantrum… She is overly possessive and highly territorial- often wrestling her way into my arms every time one of her classmates embrace me. Overall, she honestly makes me feel like a novice teacher, given my surprising lapses in classroom management…
On the other hand, her 2 month-school experience has been rewarding in many respects. I have seen her happiness as she sings and dances with her classmates… I have witnessed the gradual unfolding of her speaking and vocabulary skills… I have observed that no matter how she fights incessantly with other children over toys and puzzles, she is slowly becoming socially mature as she now shares her food during snacktime…In fact, regardless of how hard headed and hot tempered she is at times, she is well-loved and adored by many.
I myself cannot exactly deny that she lifts my spirits up every time she steps inside the classroom. I miss her when she cannot make it to school (mostly because she wants to sleep more or because she is sick)… I enjoy our ride back home during lunch hours… I like the challenge of teaching her numbers, colors, and shapes… I marvel and celebrate with her in her daily achievements… Thus, over and above all, I would still opt to have her in school and provide her with as many learning experiences as possible…
Yes… I am willing to endure her whining and complaining… I am ready to tolerate her tendency to initiate chaos in class… I am taking on the challenge of giving all my students equal treatment, attention, affection, love, and patience (being my daughter, I seem to be less patient with her…)
Because… beyond the many day-to-day challenges that she brings in the classroom, I have realized that her presence means more to me…. I would not throw away the opportunity of spending 2 out of my 8 working hours to be with her…and of course, I would not disregard the fact that she is undoubtedly improving and learning a lot! Given all of these wonderful advantages, who am I to still complain? Thus, I decide to share these glorious moments with her… to embrace this rare opportunity to bond and be together…
(However, given an option, a different teacher for her would of course be more preferable…:-) )
anyway,...