What are they doing now?

I've been tutoring students for quite a few years now and I still really enjoy it. Tutoring opportunities simply didn't exist in the Blue Mountains or I would have started my small business decades ago. The city of Sydney has a diverse range of parents, with different motivations for providing their children with additional academic support. Some are seeking a mentor for their child. Others are trying to boost their child's literacy and numeracy levels to improve school engagement. Still others are eager for their child build confidence and experience success at school.

I sometimes wonder what the students I have tutored are doing now. Some of my long-term clients have graduated from high school and are completing tertiary studies. From time to time, I've received lovely words of thanks, and even a bouquet of flowers from one student. After finishing his HSC, he was looking into entering a trade and beginning an apprenticeship. This is an extract from the reference I wrote him:

"[Name] is honest and sincere in his interactions with others. His good humour and easy-going personality supports his capacity to work effectively within a team. He is a mature individual with positive aspirations for his future. In the workplace, he will further develop the skills of self-initiative, problem-solving and resourcefulness. He is supported by a loving family, from whom he has developed a strong work ethic. I recommend [name] as a responsible young man who will pursue his further education and employment with determination.

Whatever my former students are doing now, I certainly hope they are happy and thriving. - Mel

What is happiness?

When we were young, most of us had dreams (most if us still do). I always had simple, fairly realistic dreams. Most of my dreams were based on feeling freedom, happiness and escaping the anguish of my home life. Since many of these dreams were achieved when I left home, I possibly stopped dreaming... it doesn't really take much for me to feel happy. I think too many of us agonise about holding onto this precious life on earth, wanting to experience every kind of perfection that the world has to offer. There is nothing wrong with this but it can be a trap. I think a person's reality is very much defined by what they think about and do on a daily basis. Too many of us are obsessed with a self-pleasing reality. I believe in living in the moment and being conscious of my contribution and interactions. I am not overly into seeking some kind of ultimate goal as I find that small personal challenges just pop up every day. It's not healthy to put all of one's eggs in the same basket - there's just too much that is out of our control in this world. I think that people in Australia sometimes don’t realise just how fortunate their lives already are. The things that they nitpick about beggar belief. Life is too short to bemoan its shortcomings; instead, I view it as an opportunity to constantly grow and evolve. - Mel

A rare leader in education...

 

Every now and again, you meet a truly remarkable educator - someone with passion, wisdom and the skills to inspire. I find that these teachers are becoming increasingly rare, which saddens me. Jenny, your leadership is greatly missed. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words. - Mel

Dear Melanie,

I hope you have a year where you feel challenged and given scope to forge your wonderful talents. The students benefit enormously from you because you know your subject so well and have the depth of intelligence and curiosity that makes students feel confident and trusting of you. I now view so much through the prism of what I'd like for my granddaughter and grandson, and my wish would be for them to have teachers like you. Treasure your career; you are so capable and have so much more to give.

Jenny xx

Photography

Many years ago, I was really into photography and I produced a whole range of photographic cards. It was certainly a different life for a few years. I used a humble digital camera, the quality of which is now outstripped by incredible phone cameras. I sold hundreds of these cards on my market stall to tourists from all over the world. Recently, a digital printing service reminded me that my uploads are still stored on their servers (and that I need to place an order in order to retain them!). I had quite forgotten about this company as I have not ordered any photographic prints for years. It was a walk down memory lane to peruse countless photos that I have on back-up drives, but which are easier to access online if need be. So I placed an order. Perhaps I will make these prints into Christmas cards or similar. - Mel

Practise empathy...

Recently, I revisited the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' so I could assist a Year 9 tutoring student. I had dipped into it to help students at school but I hadn't read it in its entirety since I was 15 years old. The language is so powerful, the lessons shared are indelible. I still believe it is a substantial literary text although some schools are no longer choosing to study it. Atticus Finch's words continue to ring true across all social, economic and historical contexts: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from [their] point of view - until you climb into [their] skin and walk around in it." - Mel

Using AI for writing tasks in the classroom

It's hard to imagine the long-term effects of the use of AI on students' writing development. Many argue that the composition of unique text is no longer a necessary requirement for most people. This is probably true in numerous professions, where communications, emails and other texts aren't highly specific in nature.

But what concerns me most as a teacher is the gradual inability of students to think for themselves. Using AI for text composition has the potential to extinguish novel ideas and discourage personal insights.

The process of writing requires students to synthesise ideas and make new connections. It is through this arduous and challenging process that deep understandings can develop. I like to think of writing as 'the construction of thought'. Concepts will never be fully understood by students who can't authentically work through them and assimilate them with existing knowledge. 

Therefore, in order to teach students the skill of articulating their own thoughts, we need to become more inventive as educators. We need to redesign writing tasks to ensure that students have ample opportunities to consider possibilities without the influence of AI-generated brainstorms. 

I believe students should engage in daily opportunities to record and explain their ideas. I prefer for this to be done collectively, recorded in books or on sheets of paper. This improves student creativity and encourages risk-taking (i.e. no idea is a bad idea - it's all part of the process). Furthermore, a focus on formative assessment of the writing process, which includes outlines and rough drafts, places less focus on the final task in determining grades.

Writing should never be about the regurgitation of other people’s ideas to prove understanding. It's a highly rigorous process that gives students the opportunity to create new ways of thinking and knowing. - Mel