Today was a pretty nerve-wracking day because we were working with other grades. Everyone was concerned because we had already made connections with the grade that they taught. As for me, I was appointed to the 6 graders who were older than my former grade. My first impression was that the day was going to be tough due to the fact that they are much older than the 3rd graders I was formerly teaching. Also because they were older, I thought they were going to act out more and might be expecting more.
That morning they were hoping to have Jessica as their teacher, but as soon as I walked in the class room with my partner Ms. Nolan, their faces said it all; they were pretty disappointed. Later we introduced ourselves and then told them to introduce themselves by telling us what their name was and what they like to do after school. We told them to also “pop call on” anyone in the room to do their introduction. By doing that, they got pretty comfortable with me and my partner and then we were able to get our work done.
After leaving the school we went to a Jewish synagogue that is the last remaining synagogue in Jamaica. I would never have imagined that Jews once lived in Jamaica in large numbers in the 1600s, but now there are approximately three hundred Jews left in Jamaica. We also learned about the different rabbis who were the synagogue’s leader over the years and also how their religious practices are different from other Jews around the world. For example, they put white sand on the synagogue floor in Jamaica and also they raise up their Torah at the beginning of their service here, but others do so at the end of their service.
When we left the synagogue after learning new things about the Jewish religion, we went to KFC, Burger King and Subway where we bought some Jamaican versions of American food. It was a good experience because we were getting some of the food we are so familiar with in the United States, but having it in a foreign country. Also we went there to see the difference in flavor of the food compared to the traditional ones we eat all the time back in the United States which was different as we expected, but it tasted good.
What I learned about myself today from teaching the students is that I adapt to any situation that might occur and I deal with it well; planning is all you can do to prepare. Also what I gained from this is that patience is the number one thing. With patience you can deal with things properly and in the right way. I also learned to appreciate everything I’ve got because it is a privilege to have good education and other things I take for granted because some people don’t have it, but they are still smiling and enjoying life.
Lekan Ojo