Chalkfinger?

Is there something, a disease, an affliction or some sort of syndrome, called chalkfinger?

You might have heard about James Bond’s Goldfinger or even Cornelia Fünke’s Dustfinger. But this “condition” is not fiction.

It starts with black pants with white chalk hands all over it and soon after you’ll experience the dreaded chalk film that deftly covers all your possessions. This is how I came to the realisation that chalkfinger might be a global pedagogic pandemic.

Since starting school again a few days ago (after the three-week Fifa-induced holiday), I have noticed a sharp pain in the middlefinger of my right hand. I considered lack of use and even stiffness caused by the cold winter air. But surely then I would have felt this before?

I therefore wondered if I am not maybe affected by chalkfinger, caused by hour-upon-hour of writing on the blackboard. Maybe I have discovered a new condition only ever found in very special people – teachers…

In any case…

It feels good to be back.

Phew!

Time sure flies, but whether I'd say it was fun is a different matter completely.

Teaching doesn't give you that feeling of instant gratification, I think. You have to wait for it. To wait and see how your methods and approaches mature and manifests itself.

Certainly I am no expert. Gosh, not even close, but I have my own little theories and plans of action. At university one had a lot of time to reflect on the various teaching approaches and views - and I formed my own ideas.

In my class I am a big believer in boosting a child's confidence.
Small things, like a pat on the shoulder or running your hand over their head, ruffling their hair - just to let them know that you care.

I sometimes wonder if I made the right choice. The constant yelling...
"Sit down!"
"Stop fidgeting!"
"NO..............YES...............NOOOOOOOOOO!"
It all gets a bit much.

But then there are those little moments when you can't help but smile.
Smile at the 12-year-old boy who is absolutely terrified of a piece of wet paper (strange!) and when a learner accidentally calls you "mommy".
Those are the moments that melt the bits of accumulating ice from around your teacher's heart.

Well, that is what I think at least....

Starting out...

Should the walls be white, green or blue?
How should the desks be arranged?
How should the learners be placed? Alphabetically?

So many questions that have no clear, definite answers. These, like most questions regarding teaching, are debatable and unanswerable.

I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. I took the plunge into the deep menacing depths that is teaching.
I chose to dive feet-first.
The safer route.
"Take one day at a time" they all said to me.

It has been three weeks already and I am not sure where the time went.

In this blog I will try to share ideas, posting ideas that succeeded and plans that, well, didn't. Ideas on fostering reading amongst teenage learners and ideas of promoting a cooperative classroom environment especially in a diverse classroom.

I hope all goes well.
Well enough.
Enough.