justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

Observations by a Substitute Teacher III

As a substitute teacher, I was scheduled for duty in a French immersion school and a Mandarin immersion classroom, and I don’t speak either of those two languages.

In the French immersion school, I found myself working with a lively group of kindergarteners. I’d been assured that it wasn’t necessary to speak French to be their substitute, but when I arrived, I found that the lesson plan was in French! Fortunately, the students were all bi-lingual, and it was a great experience having my students become partners in their daily learning process.

I’ve always believed that learning is enhanced significantly when the learner becomes the “teacher”. My belief was reinforced on that day when students translated the directions for their learning activities. The day ended with a review of what was learned, guided by my student “teachers.” I was pleasantly surprised that the majority of my French speaking students praised the accomplishments of their classmates.

In the 2^nd grade Mandarin immersion classroom, the lesson plan was in English, but it proved challenging to lead learning activities that included translating phrases into Mandarin. Thankfully, the six- and seven-year old students demonstrated patience as they attempted to “teach” me the correct pronunciation of the phrases in their lesson.  

A very special part of that substitute assignment was when my second graders paired up with reading “buddies” to read books in Mandarin to kindergarten students. The one 2^nd grade student who was quite hyper and who seemed to follow his own direction turned out to be the best reader and coach in the kindergarten class. He demonstrated patience, allowing the kindergartener time to use the correct pronunciation. The eye contact he made throughout the reading session added extra value.  

Upon returning to our 2^nd grade class, I complimented him on his quality instruction. His classmates cheered as he received praise and not the focus on discipline he was used to. The recognition lifted the spirit of the whole class. A definite “win-win”!

Once again, the language appreciated by students of all ages everywhere was proven to be recognition and praise, which have been called “the breakfast of champions.”