1.  Handed in my last assignment for the semester ( Read more... )

I think that one of my problem students has a crush on a girl in his group.  He keeps on bugging her and trying to get her attention.  He began today's lesson pestering her to play a piece for him and saying how awesome it was.  As soon as she stopped paying attention to him, he got sulky and ran out of the classroom.  He came back a couple of ( Read more... )

I noticed a couple of students not practicing today and asked them what they were doing. Ben didn't seem to hear me as he was busy staring at the keyboard, but Hingatu looked concerned and informed me that "Ben's been thinking again". He nudged Ben, who looked up at me and asked in a scared voice "if everyone in the world turned on their ( Read more... )

 I have another new student who started today.  Her name is Pin and she's another one from the Intensive English Centre.  I haven't quite figured out how good her English is, but I think that she must be similar to Plaw (who started last term) since they're in the same class.  She seems to understand instructions, but she's extremely shy.  She acts ( Read more... )

 I got the final versions of this term's timetables today, and I'm a bit annoyed at what they've done with my Friday school.  They gave the other teacher 50 minutes more than me.  I understand that he's been teaching with the company for longer, but most of students who quite this term were HIS students, not mine.  They've taken half a dozen of my ( Read more... )

With the change of timetable that happens at the beginning of term, I ended up with more continuing students than the other teacher at my Friday school, Mark. We had to change a couple of groups so that a few of my students ended up with him. Last week, one of them cried and another one's parent requested that she return to my group. This week, ( Read more... )

Had my first day back at Mirrabooka Primary today after the school holidays.  I'm so pleased with all of my students there - they actually practiced over the holidays!  I have many other students at other schools who rarely practice even during the school term even though they have keyboards/pianos at home.  Out of twelve students at Mirrabooka, ( Read more... )

Zach is doing much better.  He doesn't seem to be in pain anymore, the swelling has almost completely gone down and he can open his eye nearly all the way.  He's also stopped hiding under my bed, so he must be feeling better.  He hates getting the goo put in his eye.  Every time I do it he wriggles and tries to get away for a minute and then goes ( Read more... )

Maybe having suffered many panic attacks over the years could turn out to have been a good thing. I had a student come into his lesson today and start tearing up straight away. When I asked him what was the matter, he started hyperventilating and couldn't get any words out. I talked him through a breathing exercise which helped him to calm down ( Read more... )

My second biggest problem student's mum cancelled her lessons effective immediately because she needs to focus on her class work. Evidently she's a problem in general, not just for me. :)

My biggest problem student had a complete reversal of attitude and behaviour yesterday. I have a quick quiz/activity at the end of each lesson which the kids ( Read more... )