It's Wednesday. This means I still have three whole days to get through until the weekend. That was my last thought before I go to bed around 12 o’clock. Suddenly I hear the sound of my alarm clock, I groan and try to imagine that it isn't there. As I still have my eyes closed, I feel around the bed for my phone to see my phone-clock. “5:00?” “That can’t be right! It was 12:15 a second ago!” After ten seconds I find the cancel button, the alarm is still ringing in my ears. I hesitate to get up, the blanket draped around me feels perfect, it is so comfortable, I could live here forever, “yeah… I should take a shower now.” Better get a move on if I want to make it on time. I wish it was Saturday, no school! However, I have become more used to this early rise but I don't think it will ever be easy.
To wake myself up, I stumble into the bathroom as if I am drunk to take a shower. As soon as I get into the shower I started to feel awake. After that I put my school uniform on, my baju kurung and I pick up my big black bag which I had packed last night. I walk downstairs, checking Instagram and stuff while waiting for my roommates who are also my school friends to get ready. After all of that, I make sure that I have my pencil box before I leave the house as it is a staple, no pun intended.
I carpool with my friends to school; carpooling provides commuting convenience comparable to driving alone, with less stress and with the added bonus of companionship while commuting. Since, on the way to school we usually have a mini meltdown due to lack of sleep combine with our social skills aren’t really accessible yet in the early morning. So, we would just sing to whatever songs come from the radio to brighten up the mood. Our school is approximately hundred meters from our house which takes twenty-ish minutes. The words “Hurry up!” do not let me rest in peace, considering my classes begin at as early as 08.00 A.M.
It was quite a cold, in the morning though, however by the time we arrive at school it will turn out to be deceptively warm in the sun and we were roasting once we get out from the car. Our school is located at a very peaceful place in Shah Alam. It is a very huge school as the school building has seven staircases at every corner of the school which lead us to every floor and I always take the main staircase. I will go to the second floor to mark my attendance and put my belongings in my locker. I maintain punctuality in attending classes but sometimes if we have time, we head to the cafeteria and eat breakfast. I either get fried fish and plain rice or other times I get a black pepper beef with plain rice, to fuel up my energy for the day because I believe as a Malaysian if I do not eat rice my stomach feels empty. Plus, school cafeteria has the cheapest food and it is a delicious way to start my day.
As I arrived I was greeted with “Banguuuun, A-SALA-MUALAI-KUM CIK-GU’” but rather I would say it is screamed by the students. However, I love greeting the children in the morning, which is my favorite time of day. Within minutes, I’m excited and ready to work. This is the story of Puteri Nur Khalis Khairuddin, a primary school teacher. Shockingly, it doesn't start at 8:00am, nor does it end at 1:00pm.
She had lofty expectations when she began teaching. Thinking most of the time, she will be teaching cute and adorable primary school kids. Your day will fill with lovely stickers, stamps and colored pens. Then, if you prepare what you’re going to teach and make a simple lesson plan, you are good to go, right? Well, that was what she thought but the reality soon came crashing down on her. Actually this is not entirely false, however, the daily life of a teacher isn't always breezy and easy—there's frustration, there's tedium, there's downright panic. With forty screaming students and a mountain of content to cover in only an hour of class time each week. Dealing with unmotivated students, large classes, and heavy workloads. Most significantly, teachers will sometimes have to deal with unruly behavior and violence from students. Just like the fingers of a hand are not of the same size, neither are the students all similar.
Along with being friends with patience, a teacher needs to have a good throat as well. Giving lectures to students the entire day, shouting at the mischievous behavior of the students and then having conversations with fellow teachers and the parents of the students, all demand a marvelous throat. On top of that, there are such a number of papers to be graded and assignments to be prepared that sometimes the teacher is left with no time to breathe. Nevertheless, the great side of it all, after finishing all the work, teachers are allowed to get back to their place of peace in the late afternoon. Regardless, she seems to enjoy each day of her life that selflessly dedicate to knowledge and learning.
Now, come and take a walk through her typical day in the life. The day started as it usually does. Here is what a typical one for her looks like.
7:45 a.m. Prep like a maniac.
Morning is the most chaotic part of the day for a primary school teacher. Unlike someone in a non-person-facing job, a primary school teacher does not have that luxury to start the day for a few moments to ease into their day in the comfort of their own chair and desk while sipping a mug of their caffeinated beverage of choice. It is in these first moments of the day that a teacher must spring into action. She will be at school an hour before the bell rings because there’s a million little things to do before the kids show up: tidy the class, take out books, reply to emails from colleagues and so on, while still adjusting to being awake and out in the world.
8:10 a.m. Here come the kids.
The bell rings and the kids are seated in class. I go to the whiteboard and scribble everything that the kids need to know. It tends to be crowded and noisy even this early. It is a challenge to keep every student engaged all period long. Usually her first class is mixture of sleepyheads and hyper kids. She works hard to figure out ways to appeal to everyone’s learning style, but it is not always easy. Because this is such a long period and because primary students can get restless within two nano seconds. That is why it is crucial to have a lesson plan in order to strategize ways to teach the students effectively within an hour of class. However, time is not only the enemy here, student’s attention plays a bigger role as well in order to deliver the lesson effectively. Therefore, for example, when she thought her students on Merdeka, if she straightforward talks about the history, students might be disinterested. Hence, she begins the class with the national anthem ‘Negaraku’ then she asked the class to guess on the topic that they are going to learn that day. This lesson of hers, works for primary students as it keeps the interaction flow between them, not only it keeps the brain activity going also it keeps them both alive and awake in the morning. She tries to alternate types of activities; some days they will start with drawing, some days with games. An amazing game will always lead to laughter. Helps to transition class between learning times.
10:05 a.m. Recess!
The kids are eagerly waiting to be let out, like a pack of puppies waiting for you to open the door just so they can jump and run around. At this time, she is ravenous as every class feels like an extreme sport, during and at the end of class sweating profusely is undoubtedly. In addition, Every. Single. Day dealing with complaining kids, their fights and cries can be a challenge to maintain calmness and trying not to yell. To be honest, she admits, she isn’t always in a quiet, orderly line while trying manage running and screaming students, also trying to maintain order while keeping students’ dignity intact. Not easy! Regardless, she has compassion for these kids. One time, her standard six student is addicted to sniffing glue but instead of scolding him, she advised him slowly as she knows that he is currently not living with his parents but his grandmother. Perhaps, with love and care would help him change.
It is a mad rush when one period gets over, the other starts and you are ready for the second subject the third and so on. 10 a.m recess is no time for teachers to be eating but it is a spare period time for them to rearrange their class, prep report cards, chat with colleagues and grade a zillion class work. Sometimes she daydreams about smart scanners that can grade student essays with just a flick of the wrist or hiring an assistant just to grade essays or…well, you get the picture. Being a Bahasa Melayu teacher does spend LOTS of time grading essays. Also, she need to squeeze in personal needs as well, like using the bathroom and making phone calls. Fastest 30 minutes ever.
12:00-12:59 p.m. Last class of the day.
Finally, the fourth class is here. At this time, the kids can be tired so it is challenging to keep them upbeat and focused. She said she is lucky to have a really cooperative group at the end of the day. They are nice to each other and helpful to her, thank goodness.
1.15 p.m. The kids are gone! I’m not.
The bell rings to signal the end of the day. Students are running down the hall even though they were told not to, but who would not get excited? Jealous that her day ends at 1:15 right? It doesn’t. The kids are leaving, but it’s not over yet for here. Sometimes she stays after school to help students make up work, get extra help on writing assignments, or just work on problems they are having with the material. It’s not really a formal arrangement, but it seems to work. At this time, she thinks about the rest of her day, dinner, laundry—and when the weekend is finally going to come. And yes, she always thinks about her two-month-long end of the year vacation, too. She knows most people will say it sounds like heaven, but there’s a hefty trade-off but that’s when flights are the most expensive.
3.00 p.m. I’m home.
Right before she leaves, she makes sure the classroom is clean and her desk clear. Even though she is tired, it will be worth it in the morning if the room is clean as she is organized. She turns off the lights and fans in her empty classroom and head home. Finally, after what has been the longest day ever. By now her head feels like the weight of an elephant after being awake for SO long. The thought of being back in bed in 30 minutes is the only solace in life right now. Then she would chill for the evening and about an hour or two before she goes to bed, she would prepare anything for the next day.
Although she is allowed to take a sigh of relief early but the work never gets finished. The concept of “Work from Home” continues to run behind. Teachers have to prepare the subject matter for the next day. After finishing the tasks of today, teachers have to begin with the preparations for tomorrow. And then, after a short sleep, comes the next morning full of similar activities of the previous day. Taking care of kids has become her entire life, 24/7. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. The innocent activities of young children, the small fights that youngsters cry over, the sincerity and honesty in the eyes of the students, all make up for the frustrations and tiredness of the regular days. Her journey in becoming a teacher has been long but rich with growth and self-discovery. She is 27 years old now, a different person to whom she was. She has grown more into, and out of herself.
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