Help Teens Stay on Track
Back then,
I was still a newbie just dipping my toes into the teaching world. I'll never forget this one time when I flipped open the parent-teacher communication book.
I was floored.How could a parent write something like that in the book? There it was, next to a test score of 78 – "This score sucks."
Seeing that comment from the parent left me gobsmacked.
What was I supposed to do?
How could a parent lay into their child like that?
Could the child even handle it?
I froze...
I... I... I was at a loss...
I... I... I... I...
My heart sank like a stone. Would the next moment bring the student pleading, "Can you cut me some slack with easier tests? I'm done with the tough stuff."?
Sigh...
Sigh Sigh...
Sigh Sigh Sigh Sigh...
Should I just ditch grading altogether? But then again, parents insist on those scores.
Talk about a Catch-22.
Or maybe I should try talking it out with the parents first, ya know, ask 'em to cool it with the score? Anyway, lemme just run this by the student first.
"So, how was your day?" I ventured cautiously.
"Ugh, brutal. Nailed a lousy 78 on that last test. Got home, and Mom unloaded on me. Feels like she thinks I’m brain-dead. Why can't I crack 80?"
"Mom's got major anxiety issues. Thinks my future's toast if I flunk a test."
"I'm done with the hard stuff. Can you just stick to assignments and easy quizzes from now on?"
I... I was totally stumped.
Is there even a "right" answer?
Still green around the edges, ain't I?
What's a rookie to do?
How do I respond to the kid?
How do I keep him on the learning track?
How do I even begin to talk to his mom?
A million questions swirled around in my head. Talk about a head-spin!
Sigh!
It hit me then, the importance of keeping emotions in check. Here's hopin' we all get it.
"What's your take on why we do exams?" I drawled out slowly.
"Ain't it just to trip me up?" he grumbled.
"Huh..." His answer left me feeling kinda bummed out, y'know?
"Mebbe exams have another side to 'em?" I felt like I was floating in another dimension, chatting with him.
"Oh, really? Then why bother with 'em at all? Just to sort the winners from the losers, right?" The student's smirk made me squirm a bit.
Maybe it's the vibe around here? Or maybe it's the rat race that's got me feelin' all queasy?
"Let's jot down the pros and cons of exams. Take a beat to mull it over," I suggested, hoping to shift his perspective.
To wrap it up,
Teachers and parents are partners. We're a team.
Let's team up to give teens some peace of mind, a stable vibe, and a solid ground to stand on.
Here's to us all being top-notch allies.
Critique's cool, but let's not unload our anxieties on the kids.
Guide 'em down the self-discipline lane, present the facts, and hash things out, rather than resorting to emotional guilt trips and scolding!
Let's all march forward, arm in arm.
另一個世界
世界設定：在一個名為「晨曦」星球上的晨曦大世界
腳色設定:
學生: 阿和，165公分，短髮。
老師：阿明，170公分，短髮。
正文
在「晨曦」星球的角落，有一個故事發生了
阿明的回憶
彼時，我還是剛入行的小萌新
還記得有一次，我打開聯絡簿
震驚
好震驚好震驚
好震驚好震驚好震驚
好震驚好震驚好震驚好震驚
家長怎麼會這麼寫
這我是要怎麼辦？
看到平常考78分後面，家長寫著兩個字
太爛！
我......
我我......
我我我......
我心裡戈登一聲
該不會，學生下一秒就要跟我說
「老師，你可不可以只出簡單的考卷給我寫？我不想寫難的考卷了」
哀
哀哀哀
哀哀哀哀哀哀
還是我之後都不要寫成績了？
但是家長又要求我要寫成績在上面，真是兩難
還是我先和家長溝通看看，不要這樣寫?
總之，我先來問看看學生本人的意見好了
「同學，你今天過的好嗎？」我試探地說道
「很不好。上次考了78分，回去被我媽罵到臭頭。我媽罵我超級久，覺得我是不是智商欠費，為什麼考不到80分以上？我被罵到有種懷疑，就是倒過來的分數，我87」
(87白痴諧音)
「我媽媽真的超級焦慮，他覺得我考不好，以後人生就完蛋了。」
「老師，我不要再學難的東西了。你以後只給我寫習作和簡單考卷好不好？」
我......
我當下不知道要說什麼，這有
標準答案嗎？
我還是個小萌新啊，是要怎麼辦？
要怎麼回答學生呢？
要怎麼讓他繼續願意學習呢？
要怎麼跟他媽媽溝通呢？
一大堆問題席捲而來，我好困惑啊！
這就是人生難題嗎？
哀！這時候深深感到情緒涵養的重要性
希望大家都有
「同學，你覺得考試的目的是什麼呢？」我用緩慢地聲音問著他
「考試不就是用來為難我的嗎？」同學哀怨地說
「......」聽到他的回答我不知道為什麼有點難過
「或許考試有別的用途？」我覺得我的靈魂好像飄到天空中，在另一個維度和同學交談
「喔！是嗎？那你覺得為什麼要有考試，他不就是用來區別誰是高尚、誰是低劣嗎？」學生嘲諷的表情讓我感到不太舒服
或許我是因為這個大環境而不舒服？還是因為考試升學制度不舒服？
「我們來寫看看，考試的優點和缺點。我們來花一些時間思考這件事情吧」我希望他用其他角度看待這件事情
開放結局
故事是開放結局，就由格友們決定吧！你們自己寫
- 假設你是阿和，你會怎麼應對?
- 假設你是阿明，你接下來會跟阿和以及他的家長說什麼?
- 假設你是阿和家長，你又會怎麼做?
總結
老師和家長是夥伴
希望我們能攜手讓青少年有一個穩定的情緒、穩定的氛圍、穩定的環境
希望大家都是神隊友
不是不能批評，但是不要把自己焦慮的情緒傾瀉給小孩
引導小孩走在自律的道路上，為小孩分析、論證事情，而不是用情緒壓迫、謾罵！
期許大家攜手共進
