Different than I Thought

I had my first VIPS assignment today, and it was great. Walking through the halls with my folder, shirt and tie, I really felt like the kids were looking at me like a teacher of some kind. It felt good.

It was good to hear the kids ask when I would be back, and I was amazed with how much little stuff they picked up on. When talking to folks my age, small talk is kind of just used to fill empty space and is quickly forgotten. These little students picked up tiny details that I didn't even remember saying. Really cool.

One thing I think I would have trouble with is enforcing punishment and discipline. I know from the training manuals this is not my place, so I wouldn't (nor would I have needed to) but at the end of the day a child had to sit out of a group activity for being bad. Being a big softy it would have been tough for me to see him sitting there with his head down on the desk while everyone else is having fun.

Overall though I liked it alot and can't want to go back. It was really satisfying to see them change over so quickly from a mousy little kid, to someone who seems to be enjoying the excercises they are working on. I worked with two students at a time, and it was almost like balancing a see-saw. If you didn't pay equal attention one would start to drift, so it was a fun challenge to keep them both involved and excited.