Moulding Young minds (besides your own)

24/10/2005

I'd just volunteered to teach 10-11 year olds at my kids' Sunday Dhamma class... well, I sorta "volunteered" earlier n my good friends, KV & wife 'reaffirmed' my intentions to the organizing committee.

I've been having sleepless night twondering how and what to teach these young 'sponges' whilst I'm still learning how to teach n guide my own twosome. Off the top of my head, I had this 'inspiration' of recapping what the other teacher had taught the previous week n getting the kids to act out the lesson. Of course, I realise that this would only be fun for a very short while.

I also had this 'inspiration' of teaching the kids meditation, particularly Metta or Loving Kindness meditation with a sprinkling of Mindfulness of breathing (Anapannasati) meditation to calm them down. If only I know Tai-chi, I could get them to burn off their excess energy doing tai-chi before settling down for the lessons.

On the other hand, I could just ask them questions to stir up their little young minds and encourage independant thought rather than the state-sanctioned rote-learning, listen-n-follow-to-the-teacher-only-type education they're getting from everyday school.

I wonder if I'll have the parents and other teachers up in arms 3 months into next year when they realized that their 'obedient' and 'orderly' kids had suddenly begun to show signs of independant thought after being in my care.

12/09/2006

Well, I had my first "crisis" last Sunday. One of my students' younger sister was teased by the brother's classmates and she retaliated. When I tried to separate them, she started to panic and ended up wailing n crying. Big brother was no help as he tried to shy away from her. Had to 'enlist' help from the school's principal before he 'took' back his responsibility as big brother.

Wonder if she'll ask her parents to drop her off at her 'tai kor's' class next. Guess I'll just have to wait n see.