Teaching Is Therapeutic

 My main reason why I asked for a full pack teaching load is income.

Onset, I only computed for my available time. I teach right after my day job in one university, and on Saturdays, I teach in another nearby college. I have not anticipated that certain changes will take place in my career which are luckily positive, but somehow make my body ache because of overwork. So on weekends, my body never fails to communicate to my brain that it wants to just doze off.  

Lately, after getting to know my students better, their natural humor unstoppably emanates during discussions. While at times they tend to be unruly, they’re also easy to silence whenever I start tapping the board or the table to call attention. I guess the funny bone in me is the culprit why I cannot be as strict as I wanted myself to portray. Whenever my students start to crack jokes, I tend to get carried away.

Last night, in my technical writing class for accounting majors, the assigned group reporter conducted a game which they called “Pass the Message with a Twist.” Its difference to the traditional game was that, the players are supposed to eat a candy while relaying the message to the next player.

Team A was consisted of six tall girls while Team B was consisted of six short gals. One of the boys at the back yelled, “Maám, Team B needs three more because they couldn’t be counted as one, they could only be counted as point five (.5).” Then he noticed one of his chubby classmates in front so he continued, “But if you will add <insert name> in the group, they would be complete because her size will compensate for them all.” A roar of laughter followed.

The game facilitator then told the girls to line up so that they could proceed with the game. While Team B was forming the line, the same guy sang at the back, “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho…” in the tune of the Walt Disney’s animated film – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My goodness, the kids were very silly!

Good thing, the petite girls were not affected at all by the joke although of course, I was a little wary also.

I hear some teachers say that their profession keeps them young. And last night, I felt what they meant. Laughter healed my tired body.

The photo below is a picture of my literature class last semester. Their attention phase was also a mind game called “4 Pics 1 Word.”

 

Discussion Attention Phase: 4 Pics 1 Word

Apart from classroom humor, when students prepare well for their classes, teachers are also pleased.