It was the style, really, the change in the plan. After we finally decided to go with the idea of guiding them instead of telling them, we had yet another great lesson! I am so happy that we managed such a fruitful lesson, and kudos to Ping Chong for conducting the lesson. I guess this lesson will go a long way in helping us conduct future lessons. I have to apologise here to everyone for not conducting this lesson, though i was scheduled from it. So sorry! ;)I must say that there were some difficulties, which i will not mention here for fear of embarrassing myself.
I guess this goes to show how we should not focus on the content of what we are to teach, but more of what we can do to help the children learn themselves. So that means less meetings and discussion and planning (jk,jk), and more just having fun, being comfortable with the children. I think I must enforce here that we are not teachers, our role and purpose is to teach the children at Little Wings, but teaching them is not the way to go about it. I know this is may sound contradictory, but we must as Ping Chong puts it, "facilitate their learning". As they work, we guide them towards what we want them to learn. Then only will they be more receptive to what we have installed for them.
A major setback in our project was that we overestimated the children's ability. So now, we will have to focus more on the oral aspects, developing what they know instead of teaching them how to spell and write. Yes, people, read and understand the reason behind not teaching them to write.
Firstly, we should leave the teaching to the teachers. We are not trained professionals, so no point trying to teach them phonics or something only to mess it up for their young little brains. Our purpose is to have a 'lesson' that they enjoy, something they look forward to, and not something the children will be and can learn from school or even by themselves. That would really just be the easy way out, cheapening the RESL process for ourselves as well. How much easier would it be for me to just stand up there lesson after lesson slowing writing out the letters of the words only for them to copy and not understand? Moreover, we don't have the benefit of time, which the teachers do and need to for them to reinforce the intricacies of language. Language cannot be learnt in a day (as with the building of Rome, in all its splendor), and we should instead focus on what they know and try to build up on that while letting them enjoy themselves. Therefore, I propose that we do drama, and improvisation, falling under both art and language. Details to be explained on my 50,000 word write-up on my upcoming lessons thesis. More on that later...
To conclude, I feel that we should not work on Public Holidays as we should rest ourselves mentally for next RE for more energized activity, and it is a public holiday for a reason :) (I don't know...like erm...Vesak Day anyone? Any takers? no? - its the coming tuesday btw...ring any bells). And to all those who get to celebrate Vesak Day but resting at home, (which would not include any of you) a very merry Vesak Day to you! Not forgetting Mother's Day which passed recently, all you wonderful moms out there! :):):)haha
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