Well, it’s that time of the year where I’m contacting secondary schools here in Melbourne about our Top Tens (Year 10) and VCE Success and Resilience workshops.
It’s high energy stuff mixed in with Tai Chi meditation so it certainly makes me work. I sometimes feel like a duck paddling across a lake. On the surface everything looks calm but below the surface the duck is furiously paddling its little feet along to propel itself forward.
I’m sure most teachers can relate to the ‘duck’ analogy.
I’ve run these workshops since 2003 and have found that teaching students traditional Tai Chi can be too slow and boring so what I do is make them fun and teach selected skills they can use in a practical way. I take in my props to reinforce key themes, use fun exercises and make the sessions interactive so they don’t go brain dead listening to a ‘lecture’ on wellbeing.
Usually in third term VCE students are under considerably pressure for their upcoming final exams so they really need practical skills to energise themselves before, during and after study periods. And they need skills they can use in the exam room to reduce their stress and maintain their focus. And of course, I’m biased, I believe that the skills I teach can help students in these situations.
Year Tens also need their energy levels balanced as next year they enter the VCE stage which is much more demanding.
I really enjoy working with students at either primary or secondary level. It’s hard work but satisfying to be able to share my Tai Chi knowledge and skills with the next generation.
Maybe the other reason why I enjoy working with students is that I’m just a big kid myself.
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