The Meaning of Lost

Getting off the cab one morning, I was waiting at the garage of my student's house when I heard a familiar voice.  "Kat, please take care of your teacher and listen to him," her dad said.

Kat's dad was ill at that time, having been to the hospital for an operation and then recuperating at home.  That morning, they were to go to the hospital leaving me and Kat's brother in their house.

That same day, I received a phone call saying that her dad passed away in the hospital.  I came from the market that time but I cannot help but to cry.  I was astounded, for her dad was just 40 years old.

Last Thursday, something was disturbing me.  I wasn't sure about the news so I sent my student's mum a message.  Yes, there was indeed bad news and that her husband passed away.  I cried since I have known the family for their generosity and faith in me. They even planned to see me for lunch that day, to keep them updated of my teaching and personal life.  And for four years, I would see the dad coming in to school with a smile.  He was 44. 

Both men died due to heart failure and the saddest thing is the families they left behind. Both families have young children, as I am a preschool educator, you could imagine what their ages were and are. 

I am being selfish, for some of my posts were about death and dying, not of other people but of mine.  That even to this day, I am just willing to surrender in due time.  When some lives were taken abruptly, here I am thinking of taking mine.  Forgive me, it is a recurring thought, a sign of weakness and surrender but a very bad thought.

I will pray for the families of my two students while I will also promise not to be selfish and hateful of uneventful things. Life goes on for those who stayed.  Four happy thoughts for everyday: the students that I teach, the remaining family members I have, the people that I love and, the one who loves me most.

Sand and Stones

Part and parcel of my classroom set-up is a sand table where various activities take place. This time, the table was filled with sand and stones. And as i watch the children engage themselves with these two materials, I am amazed at how they describe the properties of the sand and the stones and on how they manipulate the materials in many varied ways. 

As I always capture the moment, there are so many things I observe when I work with the children around the sand table.  Aside from patience, which is a dying virtue, each child speaks about the significance of their one stone to another via a pattern of colours, of sizes, and of weight.  

The overall aesthetic speaks about the collaborative effort of all the children to contribute in their own little way, a structure as fascinating that of a spiraling stones in varied patterns. 

When the children are proficient in the use of the smaller pebbles to balance one on top of a bigger piece, a sense of accomplishment shows on their faces.

However, it takes one child in my class, a girl with special needs, who made me cry.  She is having difficulty balancing her last piece on top when all of a sudden, she picks some sand, spread them on the stone before placing that one last piece of pebble on top.  It is success!

On this day, I learn that life is not that difficult to face because there is always going to be a solution for a problem.  We need to find that answer whether by doing it on our own or by watching other people do it. Then, we say to ourselves that when there is a will, things are possible. 

To End the Year with Gratitude

me!

It's the end of summer school and since it is going to be another milestone in my teaching profession, a coming celebration of my beginnings, I gathered the last comments I got from parents before the school ended.  They are reminders of how I should face the new year of my teaching life.

Thank you for the wonderful comments:


I can't say enough about how much we, Carl, Nok, Emily and Nara appreciate your kind support to Nara.  We will be your biggest fan always! Branden family

Thank you so much for your love and care to Chris.  You know how much I appreciate every thing you did.  With love always. Lertsmitivanta family

Thank you so much for a wonderful year together.  We really appreciated it. Phisuthikul family

Thank you so much for a wonderful time!  You're an amazing teacher! Jayden is very happy to go to school everyday because of you.  I wish he had more time with you, very nice group of staff, kids and environment. Jiramanakorn family

We love you Teacher Jonathan! You have been so amazing and instrumental in Anna's growth and learning. Boudreaux family

Thank you for the love and helping Branden grow into a loving and wonderful environment.  He has enjoyed everyday at school.  We saw the joy in learning in him and the fun of learning.  Wish you all the best in life and keep up the great job. Williamson family

Thank you! Hong family

Thank you for all the love and learning you have given these kids.  We will miss you so much! Wishing you all the best for the future! Trahan family

Your presence in our daughter's lives has influenced them and us for the better.  There is no way we can thank you enough.  We look forward to remaining friends. Udagawa family

Best wishes. Pubudumuni family

Thank you for a wonderful year.  Thanks for being a good teacher. Andersen family


I started teaching on July 13 many years ago, so today is a grand celebration of my past and my present while I look forward to what the next year will bring.

Getting to Know You 11

11th of a series, enjoy!

Genius talking.

Me: What's the long form of TV?
Students: Television!
Student 1: What's the long form of No?
Me: What?
Student 1: November full moon shine, Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong!

credits: www.seaboardbungalow.com

Me eavesdropping.
Girl Student: Will you marry me?
Boy Student: Yes, I will.
Girl Student: I decorated a chair and he told me it is beautiful. You know, we can marry and kiss each other. I will have a ring and you have one.
(Ahh, time is very different now!)

credits: www.confettidaydreams.com

One student behaving badly.
Student : If you are a bad person, you will be kicked out of your home and you get to live outside.  You'll be homeless!

credits: www.freeimages.com

One student leaving the country.
Me: Are you going to miss your friend?
Student: No, we can always FaceTime each other.

credits: www.getappsonpc.com

Working it out between two people.
Student: When two people cannot marry each other, they can be BFF.

credits: www.theodysseyonline.com

They know me well. 
While reading a sad book about death, I was about to cry when all of a sudden a girl child started saying to her friends.
Student: He is going to cry, he is going to cry...

credits: www.bustle.com

Who ordered pizza?
Me: Could you please help me fold a paper boat.
Assistant:  Sorry, but I am not good in oregano. 
Me: Hah?!?

credits: en.wikipedia.org

 Have a wonderful day everyone!

My Kind of Work

And what do the children learn in school?  Plenty and all of their learning comes from them.  I am a mere facilitator of learning.  I am there to guide, not direct. I am a mere observer of the children's growth.  A witness, I may say, with patience and a kind heart. 

And after one school year, hundreds of hours, numerous headaches and stresses, an overnight in school, and one sleepless night, the end product of a one year long process of learning and experiences. It was a journey worth traversing. 

Our Teacher

I was given a book by the parents of my students where numerous photographs were included.  It was published professionally and I was so appreciative of the effort and craftmanship that I needed to make a blog post about it.  Let me share the contents, the voice of the children, in their eyes of what I am. 

I love Teacher Jonathan! Bin

I love my school and I love Mr. Jonathan because he teaches me and all the other kids. Nara

I love the school because I get to do everything that I want to discover and art because I get to paint.  I love Mr. Jonathan because he always help me. Chris

School is fun because after lunch and snack we get to play outside. Teacher Jonathan is funny because he makes jokes, like one time he took Proud's lunch bag and knocked on it and asked if it is Olivia's house. Kaia

I love school because we play inside and we eat toast.  I love Teacher Jonathan because he hugs me. Grace

My favourite thing about school is making messages.  I love Teacher Jonathan because he gives good hugs and he makes great art! Anna

My favourite thing about school is to play with things in the sand.  I like Mr. Jonathan because he is silly, nice and he teaches me. Olivia

My favourite thing about school is drawing pictures, playing on the harp, seeing Olivia and swinging.  Mr. Jonathan is the teacher I love the most.  He is so funny.  He helps me draw a butterfly and reads us stories. Proud

I like school because Mr. Jonathan likes me very much.  I like school because of play time and hide and seek.  The school looks like a house. Bashitha

I like the computer most at ELC.  My favourite thing from Teacher Jonathan is the name card that he made for me on 20th of April. David

My favourite thing at school is playing on the computer with a headphone.  I love sitting with Mr. Jonathan for lunch! Jayden

My favourite thing about school is Mr. Jonathan's books that he brings to school.  I like my friends and play time.  I like Mr. Jonathan's glasses.  He is very nice and very funny. Branden

I love all of you children and wishing you all the best. Jonathan

you're weird. i like it.

It was the end of the school year and as usual, I was the most tired person in school and I wanted to think that I was. Staying late till one in the morning to finish a presentation for the very next day, it was something I will not do again in the future.  I was exhausted. Though the presentation went well, I was a walking zombie at noon. 

Anyway, the usual end of the year has its ups and downs.  The children leaving for another school, or going back home to their own countries is a common sight as well as teachers and colleagues leaving.  One of my colleagues gave me a card that says, you're weird. i like it. 

Dear Jonathan,

You're just the right kind of weird, mister!  I will miss your quirky and     

  sometimes irreverent sense of humour, and watching you shower the children with your affection and care - even the most challenging ones!

I have enjoyed collaborating with you this yer, in particular, and celebrating the children's learning journey with you.  Being in your classroom very nearly twice a week has made me miss having my own far less.  In your classroom, I have truly felt like a part of a community- one that you have nurtured with your beautiful spirit and kind heart.

I don't say things that I don't mean, so whatever you need next year, you just let me know! I'll always be your colleague and friend...project related, school related or life related... and don't forget you'll always have a place to stay in England!

I will keep on teaching as I get to meet superb people in their field.  I will miss two special people (Mia and Julie) in school this August.  They will both be in England, meeting their partners and living-in together for good.  I wish them all the best. 

Art Auction 2016 Part Two

The titles for each art piece are given by my students in class.  When there are two or three interesting names, we vote for which is the best that describes a certain piece. 

Bidding started at 300 baht for the smaller pieces and 500 baht for the bigger ones. This year, we raised around 3000 USD to support cleft palate operation for young children. 

Leafy Red ( Acrylic on Canvas and Paper)

The Secret Garden (Acrylic on Canvas)

Seed Tree Black (Mixed Media)

Seed Tree White (Mixed Media)

Rain ( Food Colours / Acrylic on Canvas)

Tree Families (Acrylic/ Charcoal on Canvas)

A Play of Colours (Acrylic on Canvas)

Leafy Green (Mixed Media)

The bids were not as grand as previous years and I was a bit disappointed as some of the pieces only got a bid of 30 USD.  Each year is different but this year was not as giving as before.  Anyway, better than nothing. We can still send four children for their operation. 

Art Auction 2016 Part One

Always been, will be, a part of every school year.  An art auction to benefit once again, children with cleft palate.  The proceeds will go to Operation Smile and the children in my class will share their artworks done throughout the year. 

Mice Friends (Food Colours on Plastic)

A Garden Full Of Flowers (Pastel on Felt)

Pretty, Pretty Sunshine (Mixed Media)

A Walk in the Garden (Acrylic n Canvas with Natural Materials)

Our theme this year is Dialogues with Trees so the artworks are mostly inspired by the garden and our environment. 

Waterloo

I received some heartwarming messages from five individuals I didn't expect to send me messages. One is a high school buddy whom I got to know only during my mum's wake. Another is a former colleague of mine in school whom I don't see often.  Next is a high school classmate living in Canada whom I considered as my best friend but we parted ways.  The fourth is a mum of a former student who is based in Australia.  The last being a co-teacher of mine during my first six years working as a preschool teacher in Manila.  These five are most unlikely to send me a private message but they did.

I wasn't expecting anything when I posted my 'ongoing battle'.  Ongoing as I had this dilemma in class since December.  As much as I try to help or support, the problem though solved on a daily basis, changes everyday.  There would always be a new behaviour for a corrected one the day before.  It is a constant struggle not for just one child, but for the entire class as well.  Hopefully, things will get better. 

Thank you for the hugs and short messages from friends around - Denmark, Norway, USA, Poland, Philippines, Thailand, England, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Italy and Belgium.  Your love and words of encouragement are helping me in my battle.

Getting to Know You 10

These conversations were between me and my students aged four and five except for the last one who is only three years of age. This is the tenth of a series. 


Teaching the children how to hold the dragon up for the dragon dance. 

Me:  You need to put your hands up because you will need to put something on your head. 
Student: I know, a brain! 
Me: I said, on, not in.
Student: Then it's hair!
Me: No!

depositphotos.com

Asking the children the illustrations they made.

Me: How come the sun have eyes and a mouth but the clouds do not?
Student: The clouds are blind.
Me: How did they become blind?
Student: God gave them pencils and they poked each other's eyes.

pinterest.com

Seeing two girls clasping their hands in prayer.

Me: What are you doing girls?
Girls: We are praying.
Me: What are you praying for?
Girls: The tree is dying, we are praying for it to be healthy again.

freecoloringpages.co.uk

Asking a child to sit down while working.

Me: Please sit down.  You do not look like you are working.
Student: Do I look like I am taking a bath?
Me (thinking): "Sarcasm at its finest!"

vecto.rs

Drawing pictures of animals.

Me: Could you please tell me something about your picture?
Student: I am drawing a bull. 
Me: Oh, that's a male cow. Do you know what we call a female cow? 
Student: Yes, a cowgirl. 

mycutegraphics.com

Asking a child the whereabouts of someone.

Me: Was Uncle in your house before you came here?
Student: No, she is in Auntie's house.
Me: How did you know?
Student: I saw it, I am not blind! 

123rf.com

Making funny faces to de-stress in class.

Student: Oh my God, that's disgusting! 

Asking individual students to read with me.

Me: B, it's time for reading.
Student: (whistling loudly)
Me: Could you please stop whistling.
Student: chu-chee-beep-bop. (started beat boxing)
Me: Save me Lord!

cadeh.com

Playing with Playmobile figures.

Me:  So what do we play today?
Student: We can put this person inside the cup and cover him up.
Me: Why are you doing that?
Student:  I am going to cremate him.
Me: Wow! ( as the boy is only 3 years old)