Stay crazy

One day as I entered the class a group of children pounced on me, How would I teach if my class was reviewed by the principal or an inspector ? It seems the previous class was reviewed by the school big-wigs. This got them started.

Children then told me how some teachers react to class inspection. With their mannerisms, language and how they even dress differently. They scold less, become more considerate. Of course this was in strict confidence they told me. Children can easily see through all this. So how would I behave, they were curious to know ?

Usually, I am little on wild side when I teach. This is deliberate. I make a noticeable entry. I clear-off the space for me to roam around in the class, I often sit at the back of the class and play with words as often as I can. There are times, when my class isn't sure if I am serious or not. They have to guess double meanings. All this happens as I teach serious stuff like circuits or joints in our body, and children take down notes. The study goes on in such light banter.

Think of the image we have build of The Teacher - little sense of humour, thick glasses sliding down the nose, scribbling on blackboard with the back to class, indifferent. I deliberately contradict this. I want to show children that its all right to be crazy. Just a little crazy. The schools are becoming too conformist. So much so that you can replace one teacher with another even at a short notice and life goes on as usual.

Their question got me thinking. What should I do if my class was under inspection. Of course I would continue to teach just as I always do, I said. May be I would pretend to be even more batty on that day. This thrilled them.

Let us break some rules - at least those which bring smiles in class.

Wild Bore

My students are quite free with me (a little too free at times, according to me). Many have come and told me that my lectures have got boring - said that on my face. Apparently, even  History or Hindi lesson are looking better than my class. Well, I agree.

In an attempt to try out a set methodology of teaching I have been following a pattern. I  follow a strict flow in my class (see the earlier post). It seems, students have figured it out. There isn't a surprise element in how I will teach a period. This predictability has lead to children getting bored in my class.

This suggest two important points. Firstly, the surprise element is important as it drives intent of students. They need to figure out what comes next - while I have to pretend that I don't know and throw the ball in their court.

The second significant thing is the way one teaches. I think How you teach has a greater impact on students than what you teach. Unless your teaching techniques are interesting, what you teach isn't going to go across.

Yet, large amount of time, efforts and monitoring is focused on content and not on the delivery. Teachers get set in their ways (haven't we all predicted a teacher) as years go by. We need to re-orient teachers into delivering content and developing different styles.

I have no idea, how I am going to handle the class as students return from vacation. Something will work out