What I have learned as an Educator

I used the word educator because I am not a teacher. I am just merely someone that works with kids of all ages with different abilities and characteristics, as well as learning needs and styles. I am not going to start off by saying working with kids is like the best job in the word, because in all honesty, it’s really not.

I have good lessons, and then I have bad lessons. The kind of lessons that just gets out of control. Before I know it, I start raising my voice in an attempt to maintain my sanity and control in the classroom. I’ve been stressed out. Oh boy, I’ve been stressed. Sleepless nights doing lesson plans and worksheets have been pretty common. I have spent hours doing a lesson plan only to have it go out the window in the first 10 minutes of the lesson. I have created Maths worksheets according to kid’s abilities; developed English exercises based on their interests, and joined in when they play Pac-Man, Hang Man, or whatever games that tickle their fancy. I have had to lecture them when they forgot to do their work, striking a balance between voicing my disappointment and showing some compassion. Sounds easy, but it’s not.

I have done silly things to embarrass myself in order to get them to do work. I remember telling a group of kids that I will hop on one foot, and rub both my tummy and my head simultaneously, as long as they have their PENS in their HANDS, and their ELBOW on the TABLE, busy writing their story. You know what they did instead? They GIGGLED, and GIGGLED, and GIGGLED. You know what I did? I GIGGLED, and GIGGLED, and GIGGLED with them. “You’re funny!”, they screamed with delight. Long story short, not much work was done during that lesson.

I’ve been strict with them. I have also been harsh. They would hate me, and is not afraid to tell me so. “This is boring”, “I hate this”, or even “I’m not going to listen to you!” I’ve heard it before. I have given them more homework as a form punishment, which backfired on me. I have chatted with them about their lives, and they have even told me all about a movie they recently saw with great detail. I have taught them the dance moves to "All About That Bass", and they have taught me how to play PS3. Most importantly, they have realized that I am human just like the rest of them. I recently helped a student that is studying Social Work at university, with her assignment about One Direction. Luckily for her, I am young enough to know who they are, and we discussed about Harry Styles' relationship with Taylor Swift and their controversy on Twitter. She was shocked and could not fathom how I know more about One Direction than her. "Do I really look that old?" I asked her, in which she replied with a nod, and a cheeky grin.

I’ve been called a Mum, and I’ve also been called a Dad. I am neither, I am not yet a teacher, but I am an educator. I motivate and cultivate a positive learning environment for those I am willing to help. I nurture their passion, and help them overcome their weaknesses. I do it because I love them. I love their eagerness to learn, their ability to make me laugh, and their persistence to try harder to reach their learning goal.