A Thread of Compassion |- Creative Nonfiction Prompt #47

I never thought I could transform into a compassionate teacher who cared for her students as if they were her own children. Guiding young minds through the complex realm of knowledge became a passion after I completed my first degree while awaiting my service year. My approach to tackling complex classroom problems has always been, and still is, as precise as threading a needle.

I didn't start as an experienced teacher, but my true passion for teaching changed me into a compassionate and experienced teacher in just a few months. My initial three months in the field of education were filled with challenges akin to a child trying to thread a needle's tiny eye.

My classroom, although not very large or fancy but radiated an atmosphere of learning. Colorful posters were used to design the walls, featuring subjects like art, science, history, and the alphabet. The seats were occupied by curious young faces, eager to learn and inquire. The sunlight filtering through the windows created a beautiful day and an inviting atmosphere. These students regarded me as their all-knowing teacher in this room. I couldn't afford to signal any incompetence; I had to try. My first lesson was lively, and I was excited, making me feel like I was the best teacher ever. Next on the timetable was mathematics.

"Teacher, we have mathematics now," Destiny, the class captain, said.

I couldn't turn them away. "Give me a few minutes to endorse these exercise books, get your mathematics notebooks out," I said.

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We were about to start a new, familiar topic when one of the students caught my attention, stating she didn't understand the last topic. I was shocked when I noticed that half of the class resembled tiny fish in a vast ocean. The look on their faces was a clear indication that they had no idea how to solve Division of Fractions using the five steps. It was my responsibility to teach them, step by step, until they mastered it.

As the pupils sat at their desks with their books closed and pens resting on top, I engaged them in the lesson using metaphors and analogies to simplify the complex math problems. "Imagine this equation as a puzzle," I encouraged, my voice calming. "We will unravel it like threading a needle, one careful stitch at a time. Each step is important."

Kehinde, one of my students, raised her hand, her face showing her confusion. "I'm still not getting it," she said.

I went closer to her desk, meeting her eye to eye. "Kehinde, let's slow down and tackle this together. Picture the problem as a needle waiting to be threaded. We will find the right path, and everything will become as clear as day."

Teaching mathematics as a subject wasn't easy for me, but as the days passed, I patiently led my pupils through the complex world of numbers. What I did with them was break down complex problems into manageable parts, much like threading a needle requires meticulous attention to each stitch.

Gradually, Taiye, the slowest to understand, and her classmates began to understand the trick. Their faces lit up with smiles as they solved problems that once seemed very difficult.

That first experience made me realize the best approach to adopt when teaching mathematics. Seeing them do well in their math scores made me realize that teaching was more than just imparting knowledge but finding a way to make complex ideas understandable. My approach to problem-solving in the classroom guided my pupils and helped them enter the realm of understanding.