First lessons at school

     

                           Teachers will soon welcome excited 7 year olds to their first day at 

                            school in September. It is both a difficult task for teachers and for the

                            youngsters. Getting to know their students quickly will be handy.  

                         `  Helping students to instantly feel more at ease and comforable 

                            with the class room environment and with their peers will be the first

                            task for the teacher. It is not uncommon for teachers to struggle 

                            with putting names to faces, in the early weeks.Icebreakers set 

                             the tone for learning names and for leading group activity.

                             Who are your students?    

                            You ideally want to know not only the names, their age, their 

                            background and sometimes their nationality. Students in turn 

                            want to get comfortable with their seating arrangements,sitting 

                            next to who they think are their friends.From their first lesson,

                            you as their teacher, want to  ideally make it known who is in

                            charge of the class by laying down rules and routines. 

                            You are not there as entertainment,but at the same time you are 

                             approachable when needed. You as teacher,understand that 

                            students have set activities, time frames, ideas and spatial

                            boundaries, besides discipline.

                             

                            How do you set discipline?

                            Of course, first impressions count, but as the teacher,you 

                            exercise control by being not afraid of maintaining eye contact 

                            with each and all your students.This is to engage with your 

                             students, but not to intimidate them. At the same time you are

                             able to let students know what their expectations are, but 

                             always keeping the bar, as high as possible,but simultaneously

                              practical.                                                       

                                           

                             What are icebreakers?

                             Icebreakers are generally fun activities to help students get to

                             know one another and for the teacher to come to know all in class.

                             Most instructors use them often to help acquaint students with 

                              course activity, content and expectation and/or warm up. 

                              Playing a game with their classmates, getting to know you, 

                              prompts why they are in class,taking the lesson, sharing 

                              something meaningful related to the class. Examples

                              of some icebreakers are creative drawing, descriptions,

                               elating expereiences, all help to create a relaxed environment

                               where studemts share ideas and participate more fully in the class.

                               Some other techniques teachers use 

                              Teachers use a variety of skills, some are as follows:

                               1. Establish leadership  

                               2. Grade your language

                               3. Do not overexplain

                               4.  Keep a track of time 

                               5.  Use body language, whole boby gestures

                               6.  Provide practice skills

                               7.  End Class sessions gracefully

                               8. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

                               Our lives are full of new events, experiences. The first day at 

                              school for a child is a completely new experience, open 

                              perhaps, to include a new opportunity.It could well be the 

                              first time a child steps out from the safety of home and is 

                               emorable with expectation of both excitement and fun 

                              as well as scary. 

                              The role of the teacher in this experience is all the more 

                               difficult but important.

                                Victor Cherubim

A Women's Football Feast

 England’s Women team, nicknamed “the Lionesses” beat Germany 2-1 in a European UEFA Final 2022 at Wembley Stadium this evening (31 July 2022). It sent the record crowd of over 87,000 fans into a frenzy, with 10 minutes of extra time remaining. Viewers at home glued to their TV screens, were in shock amazement. 

There is always something magical when England meets Germany at football in Wembley. It was a long wait for the first major trophy for either men or women, since England’s World Cup win against Germany on 30 July 1966, but today’s game was electric. 

It has also been an iconic image in Women’s sport also for more than two decades, since 1999 Women’s World Cup tournament. USA Women won it then and did change the face of soccer, as it is known in America, forever. While today is the landmark moment in England and will never be forgotten.                                         

Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal and turned it into a hilarious moment as she whipped her football shirt off her body, showing it and swinging it widely above her head in a frenzy, in similar fashion to what USA’s Brandi Chastain did back in 1999 to secure USA’s World Cup win. 

Most England’s fans go crazy when they start chanting the melody: “Sweet Caroline”. We know that they in the “jaws of victory”. When they did this evening, as relayed on our TV screens, it was indeed a proud moment for them, particularly for all the fathers, husbands, the menfolk. When Prince William and Duchess of Cornwall’s young daughter, Princess Charlotte, had earlier sent her good wishes to the “Lionesses Team”, we had second guessed, something was in the offing, perhaps, an anticipated result for England? We had Sri Lanka weather at Wembley, with bright sunshine; it added to the overspill of joy.

                                            

As I write this piece, the England squad of young women are still on the pitch, enjoying their well-earned victory, with their winners’ gold medals swinging around their necks,looking tired, but enjoying themselves, without knowing how to share this moment of unprecedented history and thrill. 

The crowd of spectators, will of course carry home, and cherish memories long, long afterwards, expecting an open top bus parade and acclamation of the winning team, along the city’s thoroughfare. 

As per tradition, within minutes after the victory, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, has sent her warmest congratulation, “that their success goes far beyond the present”. 

For those not only in UK but also abroad, it is an amazing moment for the women’s game and for women’s sport.

The win against eight (8) times Women’s Football winners, Germany, will ride in their memory, for the continued perseverance, determination and self-belief of the “English Lionesses,” who had brought home the trophy at home territory. 

The Future is Women! The Future is Women's Football!

Victor Cherubim