Leadership

Started the lesson by getting them to create their own survey of the class. They could choose the topic ie favourite car, colour, cartoon etc., and then they went around the class and tallied all the opinions. It was fascinating watching them. They seemed determined not to miss anyone in the class. They then had to transform this data into a table and a graph using Excel.
Each student produced their own type of graph and had different colours and styles. I will collect each graph as an example to show them what I expect them to be able to do in the future. I will also compare this with their hand - made graphs.

After the IT lesson, we continued decorating the home room. They are finally starting to see some results in the process. The boys have got some great pictures and drawings of cars and motorcycles - some done by the students themselves. The girls are working slowly at producing a stage-like display of pictures of the students in the class. The other group of girls are producing a display of optical illusions.

I have begun to see the leaders emerge from the groups:
SA. - seems to have this aura around him that students of the opposite sex cannot resist. Just loves flirting with them. The guys always look to S. for comment and to say something smart. Bit of an enigma though. Will try to get out of work as much as possible and will push me as possible. Must try to tap into his interests and strengths. A potential House Captain in 5 years time though.
SH. - another enigma. Has so much drive and is so active but sometimes leads people down the inappropriate pathway. Again, a future leader, no doubt, but must see the importance of direction in leadership.
JA. - interesting, independent, dignified student. Intelligent but not necessarily in the academic sense. J. is quite clear what J. does and does not want to do. Has a wicked sense of humour.
CA. - very capable academically. Has a touch of cheekiness that needs to be watched. At this stage, knows when to draw the line. Highly capable in english and maths.
JO. - quiet but very capable and thoughtful. Already involved in many things outside of school.
The group is justing starting to understand that they need to work together to get what they want. They often ask when they can move to sit where they want. I got sick of this so I said that the next person to ask me will mean that they will stay where they are until the end of the term. Haven't heard a word since.

Already I am feeling much better being at school. I never really had a problem motivating myself to go but it rarely anything to do with the students. I find myself enjoying their company and listening to all the little things that come up in their conversations. I am beginning to see the importance of what I am doing but am acutely aware that I need to set some long term goals for each part of the syllabus and build toward them.