Last Day Of Teaching For The Academic Year

It has been weird coming back to teach at a school where I taught for 11 years. This year began well, then sank, then rose and sank at the end. In many ways, coming back here has been good. The chances to help and connect with individual students have been rewarding. I have forged bonds with many students in grade 1, and I spend a lot of time helping them. I’ve seen students in my care improve in English. The kids want to hear the stories I read, and I want to see the work they do. There’s excitement from them when I come into the classroom, and I want to help the kids try.

In the most fluent class, I talk, play games and more to build a stronger bond with them. We can talk with ease. We tease, kid and enjoy. It’s been good, and it makes things less lonely, since there are people to talk to. I check in on a few students - those who either struggle or know their family background may not be the best.

I teach the older kids at least once a week. They are busy with exams and assessments to help them get into Secondary School. The teachers are busier and try to help by either getting out of their way or by supporting them however I can. They are also hitting puberty, when boys generally talk more and girls talk less.

The change has been in how the school is organized. The last two schools are large - 5 classes per level - more established. The school calendar and schedules are set in advance and are followed. Here, things move about depending on the week and sometimes the day. I sometimes forget how things change without notice. I can adapt and show up where needed. It creates frustrations which I need to understand. It explains my low periods here - unsure where things are leading to. There is greater isolation and disconnection from other staff due to language barriers. It is normal as a Native English Teacher, but in other schools there was a place for me to go. Here, there is nothing, as I am in the middle of the staff room.

I am happy to come back, despite the challenges. There is more meaning in this small village school. I teach all the kids over the course of a week, forming good bonds. In bigger schools, I never had a chance. There is a sense of purpose, which is the most important thing to me, other than enough to support my lifestyle.