Mrs. Nne's class was one no student dares to miss. The anticipation for her arrival usually fills the room with joy. My friend Ansa and I love her sense of humor, but sometimes we take her for granted, joking around during her lessons.
One day, as Mrs. Nne entered the class, we burst into laughter. She looked at Ansa, who was giggling mischievously.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Nothing, madam," Ansa replied, trying to contain his laughter. Refusing to confess she was laughing at her sense of dressing.
It seems like Mrs. Nne associates everything with "write at large," even when it's not relevant, making us doubt if she understands its meaning coupled with her ‘I don't care sense of dressing.’
On the other hand, Mrs. Chuks, opposite Mrs. Nne, is a strict and no-nonsense teacher. Her presence instills fear, and no one dares to disturb her class. History, taught by Mrs. Chuks, is boring not because of the subject but because of her stern demeanor and cane.
We, the SS3 students, have many grievances against Mrs. Chuks, but the school management has never taken any action, which discourages us from pursuing it further.
One day, during Mrs. Chuck's class on the “First Coup in Nigeria,” the atmosphere was tense. Sensing our disinterest, she surprised us by incorporating humor into her lesson. With each story, she added a little joke, making the topic engaging. Ansa, true to form, contributed his wit, and soon the classroom echoed with laughter.
Despite her humor, Mrs. Chuks maintained control over the class, ensuring we remained focused on the lesson. At the end of the class, we expressed our excitement, and Mrs. Chuks promised to continue teaching in that manner.
"This is where we will wrap up for today. Did you all enjoy today's class?" she asked.
"Yes, teacher!!!" We all responded loudly.
"You took us to the military era. Although the story was a massacre, it never felt like one," Juliet responded excitedly.
"I'm glad you all enjoyed the class. Since you love the new me, we will be learning every day like this. But the moment you want to abuse my sense of humor, I will return to my old ways."
"Thanks, Mrs. Chuks," we all exclaimed as she waved us goodbye and departed.
As we continued to enjoy Mrs. Chuks's classes, we discovered the reason behind her strictness. She confessed that she adopted a serious demeanor because our class often took Mrs Nne for granted.
Reflecting on her words, we realized our behavior influenced her teaching style. She encouraged us to take lessons seriously, and stop taking Mrs. Nne's classes were a joke because she lacked strictness.
With her new teaching style, Mrs. Chuks transformed our classroom into a place of learning and humor, teaching us valuable lessons beyond the curriculum. Her sense of humor back then is the same example I employ as a teacher currently.
It's been helpful, trying to blend my lesson with some humour to keep my pupils engaged and eager to learn even while the atmosphere is engaging there is still high level of concentration.