The first steps are the most challenging and then it all falls in place.
As a new A Level School teacher, my journey began like a small rivulet, meandering along until I found the flow.
When I was picking up my first lessons in teaching the complex A Level school curriculum, one aspect stood out quite clearly and simply that ‘inward discovery and unlocking the treasure of potential in each child’ was integral to the success of learning.
A quote from Mary Poppins (1964) taught me one thing quite clearly – and I quote: In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun; you find the fun and snap, the job’s a game! I noted that any form of competition, carefully crafted into the learning plan, would keep students alert, curious, excited and waiting for more!
They were ready for any challenge, any competition, a healthy match for each other; in the bid to outdo one another they worked to outdo themselves.
A healthy competitive spirit brings about three important facets of student learning-1. Gets their attention, 2. Helps the class to bond and, 3. Uses positive peer pressure to help kids conform and react to real world situation.
Well, isn’t that what learning is about?
So what is it that brings in students to A Levels, one of the rather demanding curriculum in the world?
What will hold their attention is your teaching- Adopt teaching models that increase student engagement and opportunities for success. Take the risk, try innovative methods like peer teaching, flipped classroom, Visible thinking routines, problem based learning, use technology, make them partners in the learning process as we believe in ABWA. Help them build relationships, take responsibility of their learning, you are encouraging them to be goal oriented and self-driven.
Help the class to bond. - Use the idea of Niksen “il dolce far niente” the art of doing nothing. “let them be”, provide them with their safe space to whine, laugh, cry, cajole, let them be kids. And yet, get them involved in (Student social responsibilities) where they help themselves and their peers as they learn to give back to the society in small measures Be a witness to the joy of these activities, the seemingly small achievements when they discover the moment, that they do it because they ‘want’ to make a difference, and not because they ‘have’ to make a difference.
Accompany them on their Edu tours, field trips, see the little child in the teen surface and become one as well. The bonding grows stronger with the zip lines; the rock climbs the tent life on their adventure based tours. The learning and bonding continues with short field trips too. an, and execute each event with complete maturity.
They take decisions as event managers, handle events like pros, and firefight when needed be strategists and plan for contingencies. Handle each event. These are the strengths they build in the two years of A Levels, which will be foundation for the many decisions they take in their future life. Feel the sense of pride as visiting schools sing praises for your students and the impeccably managed events, the camaraderie and the teamwork, for you dear teacher, too will have played a small part their learning.
Use positive pressure (in small doses)-. Let them share life experiences, their beliefs and dreams with others. Train them to articulate their thoughts make them use the TedEd platform for this.
Cajole them to be part of the Art auction. When they raise their 1st thousand rupees at the art auctioneers for charity, you my dear teacher have set the ball rolling for a marketing genius in the making.
Let them learn the trials of trainee employees as a student interns for the 3-week summer internship. This helps them value the trials and pressures that parents face every single day at work places.
Encourage them to take up the IPQ (Cambridge International Project Qualification) is a unique opportunity for students to explore an academic area in which they have a personal interest. Your students will learn skills such as research, critical thinking, and self-management, communicated in the form of an academic piece of writing.
Allow them to try and fail at some things, resist the impulse to jump in and provide support. Remind them that life doesn’t pack you in bubble wrap. It is up to them to pick themselves up. And pick up? Oh yes they will! Let there be peer pressure, encourage fair competition, debates, interhouse and interschool events are aplenty at ABWA encourage them to participate
Remind them that while partying, making new friends, joining clubs, and playing sports are amazing opportunities they will have while attending A Levels, there are also major Board exams at the end of each year, huge IPQ projects, and the balancing act of assignments and homework. You will tirelessly need to keep reminding them that.
You, dear teacher will have some amazing days, where you go home and feel that you made a difference and all is right with the world. Just be prepared that some days, you’d like to crawl under a rock instead.
They may not care for your discipline, call your class dumb, or just not be interested in your subject area. They are teenagers and they roll their eyes, but as long as they leave the classroom with subject knowledge, skills and competencies which they will need in their future beyond school and life in general, you dear teacher have done your job well.
Don’t focus too much of the “Curriculum” You have to think of all the students who DO like coming to your class and who ARE involved in the learning. Most importantly, you have an army who will support you all the way. Your section head, the Principal will always guide you, hold your hand until you stand strong as an A Level school teacher.
“By the time it came to the edge of the forest, the stream had grown up, so that it was almost a river and being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved slowly. For it knows now where it was going and it said to itself “There is no hurry. We shall get there someday”
- Benjamin Hoff,”The tao of Pooh”
This has been my journey, from a stream to a river…. So my dear friend, enjoy the journey don’t focus on the finish line … there isn’t any, in teaching A Levels.
Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA) is one of the finest A level schools in Mumbai. For more details, contact here.
Also read, https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/how-is-the-international-school-curriculum-different
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/teaching-methodology-of-ibdp
As a new A Level School teacher, my journey began like a small rivulet, meandering along until I found the flow.
When I was picking up my first lessons in teaching the complex A Level school curriculum, one aspect stood out quite clearly and simply that ‘inward discovery and unlocking the treasure of potential in each child’ was integral to the success of learning.
A quote from Mary Poppins (1964) taught me one thing quite clearly – and I quote: In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun; you find the fun and snap, the job’s a game! I noted that any form of competition, carefully crafted into the learning plan, would keep students alert, curious, excited and waiting for more!
They were ready for any challenge, any competition, a healthy match for each other; in the bid to outdo one another they worked to outdo themselves.
A healthy competitive spirit brings about three important facets of student learning-1. Gets their attention, 2. Helps the class to bond and, 3. Uses positive peer pressure to help kids conform and react to real world situation.
Well, isn’t that what learning is about?
So what is it that brings in students to A Levels, one of the rather demanding curriculum in the world?
What will hold their attention is your teaching- Adopt teaching models that increase student engagement and opportunities for success. Take the risk, try innovative methods like peer teaching, flipped classroom, Visible thinking routines, problem based learning, use technology, make them partners in the learning process as we believe in ABWA. Help them build relationships, take responsibility of their learning, you are encouraging them to be goal oriented and self-driven.
Help the class to bond. - Use the idea of Niksen “il dolce far niente” the art of doing nothing. “let them be”, provide them with their safe space to whine, laugh, cry, cajole, let them be kids. And yet, get them involved in (Student social responsibilities) where they help themselves and their peers as they learn to give back to the society in small measures Be a witness to the joy of these activities, the seemingly small achievements when they discover the moment, that they do it because they ‘want’ to make a difference, and not because they ‘have’ to make a difference.
Accompany them on their Edu tours, field trips, see the little child in the teen surface and become one as well. The bonding grows stronger with the zip lines; the rock climbs the tent life on their adventure based tours. The learning and bonding continues with short field trips too. an, and execute each event with complete maturity.
They take decisions as event managers, handle events like pros, and firefight when needed be strategists and plan for contingencies. Handle each event. These are the strengths they build in the two years of A Levels, which will be foundation for the many decisions they take in their future life. Feel the sense of pride as visiting schools sing praises for your students and the impeccably managed events, the camaraderie and the teamwork, for you dear teacher, too will have played a small part their learning.
Use positive pressure (in small doses)-. Let them share life experiences, their beliefs and dreams with others. Train them to articulate their thoughts make them use the TedEd platform for this.
Cajole them to be part of the Art auction. When they raise their 1st thousand rupees at the art auctioneers for charity, you my dear teacher have set the ball rolling for a marketing genius in the making.
Let them learn the trials of trainee employees as a student interns for the 3-week summer internship. This helps them value the trials and pressures that parents face every single day at work places.
Encourage them to take up the IPQ (Cambridge International Project Qualification) is a unique opportunity for students to explore an academic area in which they have a personal interest. Your students will learn skills such as research, critical thinking, and self-management, communicated in the form of an academic piece of writing.
Allow them to try and fail at some things, resist the impulse to jump in and provide support. Remind them that life doesn’t pack you in bubble wrap. It is up to them to pick themselves up. And pick up? Oh yes they will! Let there be peer pressure, encourage fair competition, debates, interhouse and interschool events are aplenty at ABWA encourage them to participate
Remind them that while partying, making new friends, joining clubs, and playing sports are amazing opportunities they will have while attending A Levels, there are also major Board exams at the end of each year, huge IPQ projects, and the balancing act of assignments and homework. You will tirelessly need to keep reminding them that.
You, dear teacher will have some amazing days, where you go home and feel that you made a difference and all is right with the world. Just be prepared that some days, you’d like to crawl under a rock instead.
They may not care for your discipline, call your class dumb, or just not be interested in your subject area. They are teenagers and they roll their eyes, but as long as they leave the classroom with subject knowledge, skills and competencies which they will need in their future beyond school and life in general, you dear teacher have done your job well.
Don’t focus too much of the “Curriculum” You have to think of all the students who DO like coming to your class and who ARE involved in the learning. Most importantly, you have an army who will support you all the way. Your section head, the Principal will always guide you, hold your hand until you stand strong as an A Level school teacher.
“By the time it came to the edge of the forest, the stream had grown up, so that it was almost a river and being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved slowly. For it knows now where it was going and it said to itself “There is no hurry. We shall get there someday”
- Benjamin Hoff,”The tao of Pooh”
This has been my journey, from a stream to a river…. So my dear friend, enjoy the journey don’t focus on the finish line … there isn’t any, in teaching A Levels.
Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA) is one of the finest A level schools in Mumbai. For more details, contact here.
Also read, https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/how-is-the-international-school-curriculum-different
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/teaching-methodology-of-ibdp
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