Since the magazine's theme is cartoons, I tried teaching the boys about editorial cartoons, to show them that there are other forms a cartoon can take, other than what they usually read or watch on television.
Well, I think I might have made a mistake since they had no idea what the hell I was talking about.
"Okay, who knows what an editorial cartoon is?"
"It's funny?"
"Oh-kay, yes, it can be funny. Any more?"
"It's an editor who draws cartoons"
"Ye-es, any more?"
"Garfield!"
"Let's put it this way. Can you give me an example of something that you watched on the news, or read in the newspaper?"
"A grade five boy died of dengue!"
"Great! That's a good example! If you were to draw an editorial cartoon about that, what would it be?" (At this point, I had already shown them an example of an editorial cartoon)
"A mosquito with a knife in front of a boy"
"Good! What else?"
"A swarm of mosquitoes chasing an eagle" (They are all of them brainwashed by the Ateneo school spirit)
"Great!!"
After oh-so-many-explanations, I finally managed to get them off into groups to work on their own editorial cartoons. Most of them wanted to transfer, and begged me to allow them to but I answered all of them with a resounding no, only because I want them to be able to interact with the other members and not just their friends. Apparently, this was such a wrong move on my part. So much boys sat separate from the group doing nothing until I came over and stared pointedly at them, or asked them why they weren't doing anything. Some just plain pissed me off.
"What are you doing here?"
*shrug*
"Where's your group?"
*shrug*
"Why don't you go and work with them"
*shrug*
"Go over there and work"
*blank stare*
I wanted to tear my hair out!! This other kid all but screamed at me, too.
"Can we transfer"
"No"
"We're not agreeing on anything"
"Well, you better find a way to agree because you're working as a group"
"Why can't you just let us transfer"
"Because I want you to talk to the other Blue Horn members"
"But there's only one guy drawing"
"But if you transfer to another group, then there will only be one guy drawing too"
"I'M TRANSFERRING!! I'M GOING NOW!!!"
Oh my god. He rolled his eyes the whole time he was talking to me and almost threw his pink, sparkly pens at my face. I wanted to scream at him but I couldn't. Finally, because I'm just so mature, I said "Okay whatever."
Sometimes, I wish I could meet these kids everyday so I can get a feel for their personalities. I want to make my voice rise above the din and make them listen to me because they want to, not because I'm yelling or leading them to do so. It can be so frustrating to be effective one week, and to start all over again the next. I'm really enjoying it, though. The magazine looks great and will probably be out next month and I pray to God that the kids will enjoy it. Besides, there are 10 sweet boys to a rude one, so I guess ratio-wise, I'm still pretty lucky.
And I liked being greeted with "OH NO!!! IT'S THAT LOVELY PERSON AGAIN!!!!" even if it was delivered in a scream, to the kid running away from me, his arms flailing.
Uyyy, he thinks I'm lovely.
By the way, it looks like the tables have turned on me. Tomorrow, it will be my turn to do a teaching demo (directed at first graders) on the life cycle of butterflies. God give me strength, composure, and kapal ng mukha.
Well, I think I might have made a mistake since they had no idea what the hell I was talking about.
"Okay, who knows what an editorial cartoon is?"
"It's funny?"
"Oh-kay, yes, it can be funny. Any more?"
"It's an editor who draws cartoons"
"Ye-es, any more?"
"Garfield!"
"Let's put it this way. Can you give me an example of something that you watched on the news, or read in the newspaper?"
"A grade five boy died of dengue!"
"Great! That's a good example! If you were to draw an editorial cartoon about that, what would it be?" (At this point, I had already shown them an example of an editorial cartoon)
"A mosquito with a knife in front of a boy"
"Good! What else?"
"A swarm of mosquitoes chasing an eagle" (They are all of them brainwashed by the Ateneo school spirit)
"Great!!"
After oh-so-many-explanations, I finally managed to get them off into groups to work on their own editorial cartoons. Most of them wanted to transfer, and begged me to allow them to but I answered all of them with a resounding no, only because I want them to be able to interact with the other members and not just their friends. Apparently, this was such a wrong move on my part. So much boys sat separate from the group doing nothing until I came over and stared pointedly at them, or asked them why they weren't doing anything. Some just plain pissed me off.
"What are you doing here?"
*shrug*
"Where's your group?"
*shrug*
"Why don't you go and work with them"
*shrug*
"Go over there and work"
*blank stare*
I wanted to tear my hair out!! This other kid all but screamed at me, too.
"Can we transfer"
"No"
"We're not agreeing on anything"
"Well, you better find a way to agree because you're working as a group"
"Why can't you just let us transfer"
"Because I want you to talk to the other Blue Horn members"
"But there's only one guy drawing"
"But if you transfer to another group, then there will only be one guy drawing too"
"I'M TRANSFERRING!! I'M GOING NOW!!!"
Oh my god. He rolled his eyes the whole time he was talking to me and almost threw his pink, sparkly pens at my face. I wanted to scream at him but I couldn't. Finally, because I'm just so mature, I said "Okay whatever."
Sometimes, I wish I could meet these kids everyday so I can get a feel for their personalities. I want to make my voice rise above the din and make them listen to me because they want to, not because I'm yelling or leading them to do so. It can be so frustrating to be effective one week, and to start all over again the next. I'm really enjoying it, though. The magazine looks great and will probably be out next month and I pray to God that the kids will enjoy it. Besides, there are 10 sweet boys to a rude one, so I guess ratio-wise, I'm still pretty lucky.
And I liked being greeted with "OH NO!!! IT'S THAT LOVELY PERSON AGAIN!!!!" even if it was delivered in a scream, to the kid running away from me, his arms flailing.
Uyyy, he thinks I'm lovely.
By the way, it looks like the tables have turned on me. Tomorrow, it will be my turn to do a teaching demo (directed at first graders) on the life cycle of butterflies. God give me strength, composure, and kapal ng mukha.
Also, it's taking me quite a long time to get through Catch-22. I'm too distracted. But I'm enjoying it so far.
4 comments:
Teaching kids must require a lot of patience!!! But it could be one of the greatest experiences on earth, don't you think so? :) I'd love to be able to teach kids someday too. And good luck with the butterfly life cycle teaching. Maybe you can do it in cartoons too? :D
Hi Mika. May I invite the Blue Horns to a Creativity Camp I'm giving in October? It will be held in Antipolo. The activities vary: arts and crafts, creative writing, music, some theater, storytelling and even streetdancing. It can be a teambuilding of sorts for the Blue Horns. What do you think? :) let me know..
Good luck on the butterflies. Don't let them in on your tummy. teehee :)
tintin
tin! thanks so much for the offer.
Do you think you can give me more information so I can pitch it to the principal?
my email ad is gossamer at gmail.com
Thanks so much :)
yay! i'll email it later :) thanks mika.
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