Here's a little story about myself and my growth as a teacher.
When I was in my first year at the Teacher Training College, my Didactics 1 teacher gave me a lesson I would never forget. She took us to the Lab to watch a video. She didn't explain what it was about, and she didn't allow us to listen to it at first. We had to watch the pictures and predict what the song might be about. Here's the link to the video:
So many colours in the rainbow...
We were quite struck by the pictures, I can assure you. We were all very certain about the story's plot: clearly, it was about different styles of teachers, and one was everything we didn't want to become, and the other one, everything we aimed at. However, as soon as we watched the video again, this time with the sound on, the power of it arose suddenly: we could, and actually -most probably- would act like both teachers in different situations in our every-day contexts... And the key questions were: how can I strike a balance between bonding, caring, loving, having fun, and establishing boundaries, setting limits, incorporating order and habits? How can I do all of this without hurting my students' inner self? How can I make a difference?
Let me tell you that these questions are still there... I can't give a full answer to any of them, and I don't think that's the point, in any case. I think the thrill, the CHALLENGE (with capital letters) that I face every day, is precisely to try a new way, a new technique, a new approach, to address these questions in my classroom. And specifically, in my first form classroom, with this specific group, with their unique charateristics.
Even though I understand the chief importance of setting limits (and trust me, when I do, they understand exactly what I mean, and the reasons why I'm acting the way I do!), there must still be a way of allowing art, music, playing in the wholesome meaning of the word, and enjoying learning into the classroom... Here I am, trying to find my way.
"There are so many colours in the rainbow,
so many colours in the morning sun,
so many colours in a flower,
and I see every one"
