Monday, 22 July 2013

Personal Challenge - Conducting Workshops for Primary One students.

I got an email from one of the project coordinators of Moneytree, asking my availability to take up a workshop for a group of students in Primary One. I checked my schedule, yes, I was available for all the sessions.I sent my availability to the coordinator.

A few days later, I was informed that I will be taking the students in the first session. I thought it was kind of exciting. Unfortunately, I was not able to prepare much because there were no information such as profile, special needs or literacy levels. I had to play it by ear and move accordingly. I spoke to my wife, who is a school teacher, and she told to take to my nephew as reference. I do have a nephew who is in primary one but I think different kids come from different upbringing and, like adults, have different strength and weaknesses. I needed that information and decided to drop by the school 3 hours earlier.

I sat at the seating area near the general office, watching, observing the students, trying to lay down a strategy in my training program delivery. I just needed to place myself as 'barney-like' as possible. Well, that's the best reference for a primary one group. With my size, being a barney-figure should not be a problem, I thought.

When we got into the class, we were told that the students will be a mixture of primary 1 and primary 2 - A last minute change of plan! I couldn't help laughing to myself on the eleventh hour change and thinking how fun the session will be. I have a few things that just slipped into my mind and it got me very excited. First thing, I got the students to introduce themselves to their counterparts. The primary 2 students were naturally more 'brotherly and sisterly' and try to coax their younger, more introvert schoolmates into the activities. The students were brilliant, playful and competitive. A few introvert ones take a bit of time  before they get warmed up but I enjoyed every moment of it. I managed to get the students to think of a few innovative ideas and present them. It is nice to take some new groups of learners.

Here are some photos of the workshop..





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