Management Students’ Behavior

I would like to share my reflection after my first internship in SPHI Lippo Village. Hopefully can be a blessing.... here we go..

I never thought being in SPH as a teacher for two weeks. This is my first practicum; observed without teaching. I am so blessed to see the students and all the people there. I feel like home as I came to this school. It give me a bunch of spirit and joyful to live my first practicum. I am so thankful to Lord because I have learned so many things from my first practicum in SPH, especially in management students’ behavior.

The first day I came, Monday, 16 September 2013, I started observing the whole class activity. I saw the students enjoy the class discussion. As teacher explained the materials in front of the class, the students keep quiet with their eyes on teacher. The students regularly raised their hands before speaking in order to ask for some questions or gave opinions. They were active and gave a good respond when teacher try to give a thinking questions. I can see many raising hands and sometimes they try to take the teacher’s attention by waving their hands and then teacher will call their names. Actually, this is rare for me because even when I was a student I was not as active as them. And when I saw this condition, I am so shame but also enchanted the way they try to involve in class discussion.

On their wall, I see there is an agreement of their class. There is also a paper of their signatures that means they have been agree with that agreement. That agreement helps so much because I can see how the students’ behavior in class activity was neat. I learn that in making agreement, the students need to be involved so they can commit to do it as well.

As the usual children, I observed that the students sometimes do misbehavior. For instance, on Monday afternoon, 16 September 2013, in UOI class, when teacher explained the material, there were two students did some mistakes. One of them did not focus with the teacher’s explanation. He sometimes looked under his table and did not pay attention. The other one was seating lazily. Teacher saw this situation then asked each of them. He said, “Why do you do that?” He always asks the reason why they do that. Then, the students will think and give their reasons. Teacher responds it by giving them understanding through comparing himself with the students, if he seated lazily when he taught them, it is not okay. He reminded again about their agreement, which is to give their best. He also said his expectation to the students to join by being active. I see the student respond it well and try to join the class by giving their arguments. I am so interesting the way teacher rebuked the students when they do wrong. He did not punish them but more than this by giving them understanding. It made the students thinking and reflected what they do. It helps the students to realize their own mistake. Not only that, teacher also told his expectation. It is so helpful for students to know what they really need to do.

There are two other situations that make me surprised. The first one is in the classroom. It was on Tuesday, 17 September, next to the time up, there was a student, class leader, rising up from his chair and took homework books from its place and wants to give it back to the students. In that situation, the teacher still explained in front of the class. Then teacher stopped his talking and said to that boy, “Actually, you did great, but I was still talking here. It was not a right time. A great job will be greater if you do in the right time.” Then the class leader understood it well and then took the homework books back. After the bell rang, he rise up again and gave the homework books to his friends.

The other situation when the students went to swimming pool. That week is their swimming week so they went to swimming pool every day. It was on Friday, 20 September 2013, the last day on that week they went to swimming pool. They were asked to walk fast to the swimming pool. However, there were some students that walked slowly. So, there were some students have been on the swimming pool and the other students still on that way. In the middle of that way, suddenly the teacher stopped them. He asked them to make into line and be silent. I cannot suppose what he wants to say, but I really rebuked when I see that teacher try to explain to the student to use their time so well. He asked, “How many steps you need to take to get the swimming pool? You have wasted your time. You should change your uniform in to swimsuit now, but you were still here when you’re friends have been over there. Now, I want you to walk fast and change into swimsuit fast and try to use your time wisely.” I never suppose teacher will give an understanding on that way. I am so surprised but I learn that when you know your students do wrong, reminded them as soon as it is possible so they can realize whether it is good or not.

In 6B classroom, there were two bookshelves those full of various books. Teacher always encouraged the students to read the books. On Thursday, 19 September 2013, it was a test situation. Teacher gave about 50’ minutes to finish the test. He said that if the students had finished the test they can put it on their table and take a book from the shelves without disturb other friend. Nevertheless, there were some students did not take any books to read even though they have finished the test first. Teacher checked as well who did not read the book. After he knew it, he said that reading a book it is so important. When you have time, just reading. He really gave an understanding to the students.

On the second week, it is the time for me to learn from my second mentor. As I asked for her schedule I saw there was a mentoring time. I just wonder what it is. When I have discussed with her, I learn so many things from this program. So, teacher made a close conversation with the student and talked about their family, relationship with their friends and others. I can see how the teacher respects the whole life of the students. It helps them knowing the reason why the students act like this. It is important so much for me. As the image of God, the students have some parts of their live that cannot be rejected because it influences one another. As teacher knows about whole their life, she also knows how to manage the student’s behavior.

I am so amazed knowing the way teacher shaped the students life through the rules, discipline and the procedure. When students do wrong, the teacher said it immediately and personally by called their names. He took a little time to make sure that the students realize about their mistakes. The way teacher rebuke them was so amazing. He did not punish or even label them. He did not tell them about their mistake explicitly. Nevertheless, teacher made the students think about what they have done. Teacher gives an understanding and then he also said his expectation from the students. The expectation here is not about the will from teacher himself, but it is a result about their agreement. So, the teacher just like reminds them again about their agreement. For example, the students did not join the class discussion. Teacher sometimes said that, “I want you to join the class discussion by giving your argument, or just listening well.” It is the part of their agreement. So, I can see here the teacher try to live in their agreement.

I have one strong statement, “to teach the students not only to fulfill their knowledge, but also to build their characters and their thinking to use time wisely.” Sometimes, teacher forgot about characters from their students and focus on fulfill their knowledge. Even, teacher forgot build the soul to think what they do and why they do that. Character means they know what the right thing to do because they realize why they do that. I just reflect on what I was in elementary school. Even though I got the rank, but it is about the knowledge that taught to me, not also my self-thinking. I also learn that I have no courage to speak up, but only in writing test. So, I am so interesting with these condition when teachers ask the students to join the class discussion, respects whole their life. I also love about using time wisely. As I see the students there, I just want to cry, because I remember again and I feel like do nothing when I was in elementary, I just like wasting my time. This is really rebuking me.

As I learn from both of my mentor, they really have passion in teaching and transform the students’ life. I really want to be a transformation teacher then. I believe that character was a great aspect in human and it starts from our behavior, the way we think and the way we do. I am curious to know what the other aspect that teacher has to consider beside the time and knowing why they do to build a strong character.

In Genesis 1:26, God clearly said that we are image of God. So, it is a privilege for teacher to help the students realize that they are image of God through knowing why they do anything and give it back to the glorious of God. It is a responsible too for teacher to see the students as the whole of they are. God also said that everything has its time (Ecclesiastes 3:1). So this mindset has to plant since in childhood. When it is time to study, just do study. When it is time to worship God, do it totally. Use the time wisely, because it will not back or we do not know when God wants us back to Him.

From this practicum I learn so many things especially about the management students’ behavior. I was rebuked about allocating my time. As I see, the students that still in 6 grades can decide the best activity for themselves, like reading in spare time. However, it does not matter about the age to learn from. I am so blessed I can see the living model how to use the time, from both of my mentor and the students too. I just keep trying to discipline myself. I allocate my time wisely, even only five minutes. I would like to change my perspective about what can I do in my five minutes. Maybe reading, writing, taking rest or anything can be useful. I also try to ask myself, why I do that, it is proper or not. What I can do to understand my student’s behavior is maybe giving my time to have small talked even close conversation, so I can understand how to communicate with them well and understand why they become like that.

Now, I am in third semester as Teachers College students. I have still many times to learn from my lecturer, friends or the experience I have in my first internship. I want to prepare myself as well before I become a teacher and have my own class. I want to start from using my time wisely, because it is really difficult for me and I have to fight from now. I try to make an agenda and list in detail the activities I will do. Beside it, I will try to make a good decision in priority and also ask as and always to myself why I do that so I will not lose the essence. I also struggle about my nature that like judge anyone, but I pray that I can be free from this kind of bad nature. I try to think positively until I get the real and whole situation. It is really important, because I want to teach what I am living in. That is integrity. Hopefully, as I teach I say that, “follow me as I follow Jesus.”