Reflections on a September Teaching Moment

Teenagers can be challenging to teach. But I prefer to remember those precious moments when a teenager surprises and delights. My Year 11 battlers are a motley crew of students, waiting out time to leave school in a flurry of dust. I have created an English course that is not weighted with novels and plays, but reaches out to these students with "relevant studies". Each student has been given an individual course of study, based on needs and goals. We practise filling out forms, writing business letters and continully update resumes. Research involves finding courses for each student, appropriate to the work they would like to pursue. They compare courses and costs. This is meaningful study for these students. In short, the preparation is heavy, but all very worthwhile.

Last week, we were sharing pre-holiday lessons. I gave them homework for the holidays to the tune of "moans and groans". I was trying to record on my laptop what I had negotiated with each student. My computer decided to rebel. Instead of the "delighted silence" of "maybe we don't get the homework now", one student came over to me and said "Let me help you Miss!"

I melted! Such moments are priceless!