Ms Adelene – Principal’s Award for Teachers 2024 nominee
As a teacher, I seek to create a learning environment that transcends the mundane routines of traditional classrooms. I aspire to foster inspiration, curiosity, and lifelong love for learning in my students
I understand that I have to fulfil the prescribed SOWs for my lessons. Thus, the inherent inclination is to adhere to a traditional “teacher-centric” instructional approach. Nonetheless, I do recognize such pedagogical method lacks the motivational aspect required for an inspiring learning experience. Honestly speaking, I do find the repetitiveness of teachers going in and out of the classroom for the whole year monotonous. What more the students? This is the reason I cultivate a practice of concluding lessons ahead of schedule as much as possible to introduce spontaneous elements into my teaching sessions.
Recalling a specific instance on a Wednesday, my body and brain were extremely drained. I still had to conduct remedial class. Observing the lack of energy of the students, I decided to give them a surprise. I relocated our remedial class in the library. This session did not involve a structured lesson. I picked up a big book and started reading it aloud to the students. The ensuing scene was a gratifying one, as the students exhibited genuine engagement and enthusiasm. They were actively participating in predicting the next events within the narrative. This kind of element of surprise is in fact what I am looking forward to do in my lessons, and I am sure, the students too. What is Ms Adelene going to do next?
