27 The Resolve Not to Turn a 'Fun Party' into a 'Painful Party'

Hello. I am a mid-career elementary school teacher.
I am in my late thirties. Among the Anpanman characters, I like 'Okura-chan'.

She is unfailingly kind even to Baikinman. She is soothing. She surely has her own convictions.
But, perhaps it would be exhausting to be around her for too long.

Now, it is the end of the term.
Since this is also the end of the school year, I intend to hold a special fun party.

I am currently a homeroom teacher for middle-grade students.
I personally believe that what a middle-grade homeroom teacher should do is to 'have them take on many challenges' and 'ensure they leave with happy memories of the fun party'.

Bitter memories

It was when I was a homeroom teacher for 6th graders a few years ago.
'It's the end of the term, so shall we have a fun party?'

When I brought this up,the children said

・I don't want a fun party because it leads to arguments.
・I want to watch a movie with everyone.

They expressed opinions like that.

The main reasons were likely that they had bitter memories of fun parties in the past,
and that I, as their teacher, had not been able to change that impression.
Currently, there was anxiety within this class.

These were the main reasons.

Indeed, the 'fun party' had become a 'painful party'.

The resolve not to make it a painful party

Whether the suggestion came from the children or the teacher,
ultimately, it is the teacher who decides to hold the fun party.

If so, you must take on the challenge with the [resolve] to make it a success or a valuable failure.

1. Set aside preparation time and check progress
2. The homeroom teacher should act the fool

Let's value these.

1. Set aside preparation time and check progress

Let's set aside a preparation period before holding the fun party.
One week is ideal.

Any longer than that and things will drag. Also, it's common for the classroom to become a disaster zone with preparation materials.

I work at a small school, so I'm in the best position for that.
↓

Also, let's check the progress.
Leaving them alone for an hour is the height of folly.Like in Attack on Titan, the result will be 'We achieved absolutely no results!' is the outcome.

Is that also an experience? Don't be ridiculous.
An unintended failure is negligence on the part of the management.

'I'll ask you how things are going in 20 minutes, okay?'
Say things like that at the start and move around. During fun party preparation, especially in the early stages, you will be very busy.

Stepping in during the early stages of preparation is an act of kindness because of that.

・Hmm, with that content, it doesn't look like it will fit into the 5 minutes decided in the discussion.
・The preparations for the play's costumes are moving along. But what about the script and practice?
・So, each person throws 10 times. In that case, how many people can go within the time limit? How many balls per person would be just right?
・Content where people die doesn't seem appropriate for a fun party. Let's think about something else together.

You should go for it aggressively.
If you don't pay attention to these things, you will end up showing 'the children being sad' and 'the teacher's quiet defeat'.

It's fine if you step in 10 or 15 minutes after preparation starts.
If this happens right before the actual event, the damage is significant.

Also, stop doing things that are 'only possible in your own class'.
It may be good in the short term, but it is bad in the long term. Let's go with the orthodox approach, the orthodox approach.

2. The homeroom teacher acts like a fool

The effect of the homeroom teacher acting like a fool is huge.

・Like a heckling comedian, keep calling out things like 'That's great!', 'Wow! Amazing!', or 'Hahaha!'. It's like the laughter of a director or the captions you often hear and see on TV.

・Let's join in on the performances too.
I often do the good old 'Gorenjai' routine from 'Gottsu Ee Kanji'. The teacher plays the straight man, and the kids are the Gorenjai.

~

Teacher: 'Listen up. I've always admired the villains in those Ranger shows. Can you let me fulfill my dream? Thanks. Here we go... Hahaha! I will rule the world!'
Child A: 'Wait!'
Teacher: 'W-who's there!? Could it be... the 4-3 Rangers!?'
Child A: 'Red Ranger!' (striking a pose)
Child B: 'Blue Ranger!'
Child C: 'Yellow Ranger!'
Child D: 'Red Ranger!'
Child E: 'Red Ranger! The five of us together are the 4-3 Rangers!!!'
Teacher: 'Wait, wait!! Hey, everyone, gather 'round. ...There are too many Reds! You know, there's only supposed to be one Red in these things! You can't have three Reds! Don't make me say such silly things. Too many Reds! Reduce them. Do it again from the top! ...Hahaha! I will rule the world!'

~

Next, you can do a pattern where there's no Red. Or a pattern with specific colors like ocher, emerald green, or shocking pink. And then, a pattern that isn't even a color.

If you do things like that, depending on the teacher, there's really no way to fail.
One year, there was even a child who cried from laughing.

The teacher acts as the straight man and the facilitator. It won't be a total disaster.

Come to think of it, when I was a child, Mr. Y sang Shizuka Kudo with full effort and choreography, and I laughed until I couldn't breathe.
Click here for more on Mr. Y ↓

Fun parties create leaders

I have rambled on at length.

I believe that 'fun parties create leaders.'If they can see one performance through to the end,
they might be able to become committee leaders in the upper grades.
They might be able to become the center of school events.
They might be able to become leaders in club activities or student councils in junior high school.
They might be able to become excellent organizers in their future workplaces.

It would be wonderful if it could become a place like that while spending a fun time together.

I have a former student who is a popular idol currently active,
and he always used to perform comedy at our fun parties. Now he is shining on TV.

Well,
even now, I am taking on this challenge with the resolve to 'make it a success.'

...Actually, I have to perform a magic trick in a few days that will bring the house down.I have been searching for things like 'how to produce a dove,' 'how to make a person disappear,' and 'how to shoot fire from hands,' but it seems difficult. Haha.

I'm being a fool on a Saturday morning. As a homeroom teacher, I've gone crazy.

At the end of the school year, let's sow seeds for their future.

Thank you for reading.

Do you all like 'fun parties'?
I'm waiting for your likes and comments! They are very encouraging.