I am an educator with over ten years teaching experience ranging from Kindergarten class to primary classes and I am a Certified ESL Tutor.
I am also a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. I am currently working with an international school here in Lagos, Nigeria as a year 4 class teacher.
I am an EdPuzzle Coach, Google Digital Skills Ambassador, Black Girls Tech Summit Ambassador, Empatico Kindness Champion (2019-2020) and an Empatico Ambassador. She is the convener of a weekly online Sunday school class for children ( Jesus' Jewels).
She is also the convener of TopFlighter Digital Citizenship Conference, Teachers' Hangout, Topflighter SEL Classes.
“Research prescribes a specific number of screen hours for different age groups.”
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Lack of evidence had meant that experts have found it hard to recommend a cut-off for children’s screen time.
Parents and teachers should adjust their strategies with the age, interests and needs of their children, remembering that they need support and encouragement across the full age range, from infants to older teenagers.
What you can do?
Move beyond ‘screen-time’ as a basis for guidance and help parents and children recognise the difference between problematic, normal and beneficial use.
One of the common misconceptions about digital citizenship or the right use of technology in this age is that, parents’ and teachers’ digital skills are inconsequential when it comes to managing their children’s media balance.
This statement is not true in the sense that a parent who is digitally- skilled will be confident to be a guide to children on the correct usage of technology, hence, helping them to model the right use. On the flip side, a parent who isn’t skilled will hinder or stop children from being engaged digitally and also learning the right behaviour online.
As educators, we should not be intimidated by technology but embrace it. When we embrace this new normal, it will make our work easier and easy to connect with the learners in our class.
Some of the students in our classrooms have the technical know how of some digital tools which can promote and enhance learning. A teacher who is flexible, teachable and a lifelong learner should be ready to learn from anyone including his or her learners.
Parents’ and teachers’ digital skills are inconsequential when it comes to managing their children’s media balance.
*Digitally -skilled parents are more likely to be confident mediating their children’s internet use, no matter what tactic they adopt.
As teachers, the same rule applies to you too. Do not be intimidated by technology. Build your own digital skills and gain confidence in facilitating your students to become responsible digital citizens. Encourage parents to do the same! *
Enjoy this Article on the Benefits of SEL in the Classroom.
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
We live in a time where the increase in crime rate, depression, suicide and suicidal thoughts, bullying, and theft are common among young people. The advent of technology especially after the new normal (COVID-19) brought an increase in crime rates among young ones based on the fact there is economic change; some of their parents lost their jobs which reduce their standard of living, and the introduction of mobile phones without adequate parental control and the less presence/ supervision of an adult in the community.
Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which young people learn and acquire the skills need to succeed academically and in life. SEL helps young people to recognize their emotions, thoughts and feelings and how it relates to other people and…
Enjoy this Article on the Benefits of SEL in the Classroom.
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
We live in a time where the increase in crime rate, depression, suicide and suicidal thoughts, bullying, and theft are common among young people. The advent of technology especially after the new normal (COVID-19) brought an increase in crime rates among young ones based on the fact there is economic change; some of their parents lost their jobs which reduce their standard of living, and the introduction of mobile phones without adequate parental control and the less presence/ supervision of an adult in the community.
Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which young people learn and acquire the skills need to succeed academically and in life. SEL helps young people to recognize their emotions, thoughts and feelings and how it relates to other people and the community at large.
source: 321insight
SEL “is the process through which children, youth, and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, 2015, para. 1).
Social and emotional skills are critical to being a good student, citizen, and worker. Workforce demands aside, many call for the 21st-century classroom to be student-centred and to support individual learning needs. Moreover, students’ ability to learn well depends not just on instruction, but also on factors such as the school climate, a sense of belonging with peers, positive relationships with educators, and the feedback they receive.
CASEL FIVE (5) SEL COMPETENCIES
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), there are five competencies or skills that a child or students need to master to achieve equity and excellence in life.
SOURCE: CASEL, 2020
FIVE CORE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES
SELF-AWARENESS: This competency involves the recognition and understanding of one’s emotions, thoughts, feelings, goals and values. Self-awareness skills help children to identify their emotions, thoughts and feelings and how they can impact others. It is believed that any individual who doesn’t see the good in himself or herself cannot appreciate the worth of another person. When a child learns to value him or herself and recognizes his or her feelings or emotions, that way the child will be able to relate to the environment. Self-awareness practice involves the identification of one’s emotions, the right way to expose their emotions and the ability to control their body parts relating to how one is feeling.
Self-Awareness is the foundation for the development of more advanced SEL Skills ( Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making) that help children to succeed in school and life.
Teach the different emotions and how to express themselves.
source: 321insight
Model the right attitude to them.
source: eatteachblog.com
‘If we want students to be kind, we need to be kind adults. If we want students to be cooperative, we need to be cooperative adults. If we expect students to be responsible, we need to be responsible adults.
MODEL. MODEL. MODEL.
LISA ROMANO, TEACHER
B. SELF-MANAGEMENT: Self-management is the ability to manage and control’ one’s thoughts, emotions and feelings effectively and in different situations.
Self-Management skill helps students to be conscious of their emotions, how to express them and think before they speak or act.
A child who listens and obeys class rules or thinks about the consequences of an action before acting practices self-management skills.
Self-Management skills help students to stay clear of the consequence of not following rules and directions. It also facilitates good relationships with others. It also builds a child’s self-esteem, and confidence and supports connection with others.
Self-Management also helps students to decipher appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and helps them stay focused on personal goals or class activities.
@teacherfunke
Social-Awareness: Social-Awareness is the ability to recognize and identify other people’s emotions, perspectives, and practice empathy and compassion when relating with them.
Empathy means walking in another person’s shoes. Students and adults need the skills, it’s essential at home, school and at the workplace. Sometimes, as a teacher, all that the students with learning behaviours need is to be shown empathy, kindness and compassion. I practice kindness and empathy in the classroom and I discover that the kids love it and helped to make the classroom environment more conducive because everyone is pursuing the same goal; kindness and empathy. This way, no one wants to bully others to not be caught in the trap of wickedness and meanness, hence, not receiving a prize from me. If every student in a class is kind and compassionate to each other, students with low self-esteem will be helped and motivated to learn and bullies will have a change of attitude and mindset.
@teacherfunke
@teacherfunke
Relationship Skills: Relationship skills are the ability to make and maintain healthy and supportive relationships. Relationship skills help students to make friends and maintain positive relationships, communicate effectively with others, engage in teamwork and collaborative problem-solving, resist negative social pressure, seek and/or offer support when needed, cooperate and play well with others, resolve conflicts or solve problems with others peacefully and effectively.
Tips to Promote Relationship Skills in the Classroom
Encourage sharing and helping others.
Give students a shoutout when you see them doing this
Provide opportunities for students to engage with all classmates:
Suggestion: Have students switch who they are sitting next to
in-class or switch partners for group work to encourage
meeting and connecting with other classmates.
Discuss the importance of being kind to others and “treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Make time for connection
A daily check-in with students
Create a fun weekly class routine that promotes connection and relationship building with students.
Ex: Have Fun Fridays: Play team-building games, and have students give special shoutouts to classmates for the kindness they’ve shown this week.
Links to Helpful Relationship Skills Resources for Teachers:
Relationship Skills Video with Characters (For Students): Relationship Skills With The Character Effect™ Characters
The Social-Emotional Teacher: Relationship Skills in the Classroom
Responsible Decision-Making Skills: Responsible Decision-Making Skills is the knowledge on the ability to gain knowledge, skills and attitudes on how to make constructive decisions and choices. Responsible decision making is a skill that is essential for learners to make the right choices and the ability to think before they speak and to ask the right question when confronted. This skill helps to build 21st Century life skills such as communication skills, collaboration, critical-thinking skills and problem-solving skills.
Research has shown that students who are able to effectively use Decision-Making Skills have better skills have better academic and behavioural outcomes. (Durlak et.al, 2011; Zhang et al., 2016)
Teaching at this age has gone beyond impacting the mind but the heart as well.
Any educator who wishes to leave a long-lasting impression and a positive impact on his or her learners need to learn the skill of teaching from the heart and to the heart.
When we are able to get through the heart of our learners, we have been able to enrich their soul and heart. The Holy Bible says out of the heart comes the issues of life. In that sense, when you get through your learners hearts, you solve some issues which are beyond the surface level and can’t be seen or known by anyone.
I will never forget my Financial Accounting teacher when I was in college. He was one of my most respected teachers, he sees me beyond an ordinary student in his class and encourages me a lot. He doesn’t allow a day to go without telling me about how unique and loved I am. I graduated from college thirteen years ago and his words still longer in my heart.
The learners in our care needs more than academic success to thrive in life. They need social skills and knowledge of how to take charge of their emotions. Teaching the heart is the right model to training the hearts of younger generations.
If we want our learners to be kind, empathetic and compassionate individuals, we must as well exhibit those skills. By doing so, we can easily penetrate to their hearts, their innermost being.
Teaching is an art form the heart and to the heart. Teacher Funke💓💓
This nugget is beyond the literary meaning, teaching now involves the use of drama, music, humour, language etc, it has to be done with the heart.
Bukola is a seasoned lifelong learning teacher with experience in primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.
Presently a consultant to some schools in Lagos, She is passionate about creating global connections between the classroom and the real world.
Her teaching philosophy drives her to adopt strategies that connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.
One of her teaching goals is to nurture global citizens and lifelong learners who will create solutions to global challenges.
Bukola is presently concluding her PhD in educational management and is carrying out research on how educational institutions can co-create an entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports value and job creation.
Adeola Sola ( Sogebra)
Sola Adeola,
MIEE
Common Sense Educator
A certified Teacher with TRCN,
A STEM Robotics Instructor.
Sola is an experienced Head of School with over 12 years of teaching experience.
I am a technology lover and love global collaboration. I picked interest in digital citizenship because it allows Me to help learners become responsible digital citizens. This is my personal passion. Therefore, at any given time, I would like to introduce educating digital citizenship to learners.
DR (H.C) RUPAM MUKHERJEE
Rupam Mukherjee is a global educator and a leaf design artist from India.
A leaf design for Teacher Funke by DR (H.C) Rupam Mukherjee
He has so many awards and recognitions globally among them are First Person to pen the smallest poetry ever in the category of Flora & Fauna, honoured with “INDIAN RECORD” and listed in INDIAN BOOK OF RECORDS.
International Education Symposium and Awards 2020 as “Excellence in Online Teaching Award”. And many more.
Fehintola Emmanuel
Emmanuel Fehintola is an Educator, a Life Purpose Coach and also a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator (M.I.E).
He trains youths and teenagers to discover, develop and fulfill their God given purpose. He has also worked with World’s Largest Lesson and Empatico Fellowship (2019/2020) to foster empathy and kindness in students and empowered them to help accomplish the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG’s).
Funke Akpan is an educator with over ten years teaching experiences ranging from Kindergarten class to Primary classes and a Certified TEFL Tutor. She is also a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator.
She currently works with an international school here in Lagos,Nigeria as a year 4 class teacher. She is an EdPuzzle Coach and an Empatico Kindness Champion (2019-2020). She is the convener of a weekly online Sunday school class for children ( Jesus’ Jewels).
She is also the convener of TopFlighter Digital Literacy Club. She has a great passion to teach kids and loves it when they are happy and always full of joy!
“We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.” Julia Cameron
Highlights: Digital citizenship, music, art, games, skill exhibition and award, SEL and lots more. Theme: Spark and Launch Your Creativity. Date: Friday 13th – Saturday 15th August 2021. Time : 5pm (WAT) daily. A 3-day Virtual Event for Children and Teenagers (Age8-14)
Exhibition: Participants are to submit their creative work(s) in form of images, videos etc to bit.ly/Pandezine2021 Venue: Microsoft Teams
Video games are fun, school should be fun too. Teacher Funke
Using games outside the game industry is called’ GAMIFICATION’.
What is gamification? Gamification is the use of game design elements in non-game contexts. These game design elements are used to improve engagement, motivation, retention of an activity. Gamification has the potential to motivate us complete tasks like school assignments or workplace projects. It can also help us establish learning progression, match students skill level , make students more curious about the topic or immerse them in a lecture.
Examples of game design elements are feedback, badges, rewards and leaderboards.
Examples of Educational Games
Duolingo
Kahoot
Quizziz
WHY GAMIFY?
People currently spend 3 billion hours a week playing video and computer games from an educational context, incorporating game elements into lesson plans to motivate students and make learning enjoyable is hardly new.
Gamification focuses on extracting the underlying principles of games and asking whether their education experience can be re-configured to build on these principles ( strategy, time-management and role playing).
A successful gamification program will yield four freedoms of play:
The freedom to fail: This will make children learn at an early stage learn that failures are part of success and we learn to succeed by failing most times. Hence, the reduction of pain and depression that failures bring to individual’s live. In gamification, mistakes should be allowed with little or no consequence.
2. The freedom to assume different identities: It encourages players to see problems from a different perspective.
3.The freedom to experiment: This allows players to explore and discover new strategies and pieces of information.
4.The freedom of effort: When learners know that their efforts are more important their results, they tend to do more which in returns create a good and outstanding result.
It’s been awhile here. I am very sure you have been wondering where I have been and what I have been up to.
I have been learning, unlearning and relearning.
The year 2020 was indeed a challenging and tough year but at the same time, it was a year that helped me move out of my comfort zone.
The Corona Virus Pandemic Lockdown created an ample time for me to sharpen my skills and re-direct my life goals. I am no longer the person I used to be before the pandemic. I had the privilege to make more money through several private lessons and online classes though it all went back to equipping or sharpening my skills.
During the end of the year, September to be precise, I decided to take a bold step, something I have been longing to do but do not have enough courage to do because of fear of the unknown (working in a new place). I resigned from a place of work I have been working for four years. I was just playing around job vacancies on Facebook though my inner man wants to move forward but I was scared of stepping on toes because the people I was about to leave have been exceptional in their behaviours towards me. I did got a new job but so sudden, I resigned emergently and that made me step on toes. The truth been said, I had to move on.
My last place of work was a training ground, there were so many opportunities available to utilise and increase in capacity. Most of the ideas I brought to the table were acknowledged and utilised. This help me to really grow, I left there a person and the place got better than when I got there. I am super grateful to God and the entire team of Great Omega International Schools.
My new place of work is also a learning ground, I am always to learn wherever I find myself and I am always seeking for any available means to add my little quota to the growth of any person or place I find myself. Within thesre few months I have spent here, my perception to life , people , my tyeaching career and the world at large has really been affected positively. We hold weekly meetings to help us guide us on our work and we bhave been made to understand that the culture of a place is very important. No matter your level of experience, when you get to a new place of work, youn will need to acquaint yourself with their culture and work the culture or else it spits you out sooner than you least expected.
Something fantastic happened in my first four months there as a class teacher. I was recognised and appreciated for a good collaborative teaching with my class partner and for creating colourful slides and engaging online lessons. Super grateful to God , my teacher ( Akpan Emmanuel) and my colleagues for an enabling environment.
Most Collaborative Teacher
Fast forward back to 2020, November to be precise, I was given the privilege to speak at a conference – 21st Century Teachers International Conference. I spread the news about Empatico. Guess what? I finally conquered my fear on ‘public speaking’. I still can’t believe it. Funke stood in front of over one thousand teachers and spoke to them without jittering. It was an awesome and impactful moment.
Talking about Empatico (www.empatico.org), apart from being a video conferencing tool used to connect classrooms from around the globe, it can be used to shape lives. Empatico helped me to touch the soul of my pupils (2019/2020). They are one of the pupils I won’t forget in a lifetime and I trust they won’t. During the holiday, they were still talking about their Empatico Kindness experience and wished it won’t come to an end.
Empatico Pilot Testing
In order for such not to happen, Empatico is working on a new feature which will allow clases to keep connecting remotely via the Empatico platform. I have been graced to be a part of the Empatico Pilot Testing Community, isn’t that great?
Something fantastic happened, like I said, 2020 brought me out of my comfort zone. I ended 2020 as a Vlogger, now I have a YouTube Channel. The first weeks weren’t easy you know but I got backed up by my lovely husband.
I noticed that only the Christian adults were catered for during the online Sunday School Class and been a Sundayb School Teacher in my church (R.CC.G), I needed to solve a problem. So, I started an online Sunday School Class called ‘Jesus Jewels’ Sunday School Class with Teacher Funke’. We met virtually via the ZOOM app every Sunday and the replay could be watched on YouTube. I share gospel stories and songs.
Kindly subscribe to my YouTube Channel if you are yet to do so.
The year 2021 is in motion already with so many opportunities for growth and making impacts. All I want to do in this year 2021 (by God’s grace) is to make IMPACT. I want to impact the world, hence working more on been a PROBLEM SOLVER!
I have come to realise that you can’t IMPACT the world without solving problems. Don’t forget so soon that problems are stepping stones to greater heights. Conquer your FEARS and do all that’s in your power to change the world. Make up your mind to be the change you want to see in the world and leave this world better than you met it. BE A WORLD CHANGER. THE WHOLE WORLD EARNESTLY AWAIT YOUR MANIFESTATION TO SAVE HER. YOU CAN DO IT!!!TEACHER FUNKE
Watch Out for more from Teacher Funke in this new year. GOD is with me, I can do exceedingly great things!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JUST CONCLUDED 3 DAYS VIRTUAL EVENT FROM TOPFLIGHTERS DIGITAL LITERACY CLUB
THEME: SHARING KINDNESS AND EMPATHY IN A PANDEMIC
BRIEF HISTORY
Topflighters Digital Literacy Club was officially launched on Friday 21st November, 2019 at a prestigious school in Lagos, Nigeria. The event was graced with over 100 pupils and students from grade 4-grade12. We had in attendance, two digital citizenship trainers, an I.C.T teacher, myself and other colleagues of mine.
From left to right; Mr Adeniyi Yusuf(ICT Educator), Mr Ogbonnaya Nwani (Principal, Great Omega Int’l Sch.), Akpan Funke (Visioner, Topflighters Digital Literacy Club), Mr Adeleke Femi (Digital Citizens Trainer), Mr Lijoka Emmanuel (Digital Citizens Trainer)Mr Adeleke’s teaching on Digital Cititzenship November 1st, 2019 at Great Omega International Schools
Prior to this time, the convener Akpan Funke introduced her pupils to becoming digital and global citizens. Her class joined the 2019 #digcitsummit. http://bit.ly/Mydigcitstory
They have also had collaborations with learners from different parts of the world via @SkypeintheClassroom and on Empatico Platform where they share classroom ideas, learn new ways to be kind and also how to spark empathy in their world with another classroom in Israel. Her class also worked on the global goals @SDG4- Quality Education.http://bit.ly/AkpanFunkeSDG
Akpan Funke, in her quest to raise global and digital citizens as well as ‘WORLD CHANGE AGENTS’ started the Topflighters Digital Literacy Club.
She believes in the power of technology and its utilisation in the right way and manner to foster life skills in children.
Empathy, she believes is the driving force to become change agents in the world today and it is crucial to understanding how people talk and behave online.
Hence, the theme for August 2020 edition: ‘Sharing Empathy and Kindness in the Pandemic’
Akpan Funke being a Kindness Champion Fellow with Empatico decided to stage this event in collaboration with Empatico and some Empatico Educators. (read more about Empatico herehttps://empatico.org/ )
The event lasted for three days: Monday 10th -Wednesday 12th August, 2020.
Below are the topics discussed during the event as essentials needed to share kindness and empathy in the pandemic:
The Zones of Regulation (best zone for learning) presented by Susan Weitzman-Trifman
Living Your Dreams Despite Barriers presented by Bukola Amao-Taiwo
Media Literacy presented by Lijoka Emmanuel
Digital Law presented by Femi Adeleke
The true meaning of Empathy presented by Akpan Funke
Critical Thinking Skills presented by Ishan Gupta
Telling Your Story as a Change Agent presented by Fehintola Emmanuel
(You will agree with me that knowledge about the above skills are required to share kindness and empathy in a pandemic.)
One of the sections was on telling your story as a change agent, prior to the commencement of the event, participants were asked to express themselves in diverse ways they have been showing kindness and empathy during this COVID-19 pandemic and what kindness and empathy means to them. They were also asked to submit articles, pictures or videos on their creative activities during the pandemic, so that their voices can still be heard despite the global pandemic.
All work was submitted and collated into a “Kindness in a Pandemic Magazine”, titled: PANDEZINE. (Kindly visit https://bit.ly/PandeZineto read more about the publication)
Here is a glimpse from Pandezine.
During the event, we had games, talks, dance, music renditions e.t.c
The kids had fun and were filled with so much joy and happiness were some were prompted to start utilizing their dreams and potentials.
One of our partners gave out certificates to some of the participants who participated in the Critical Thinking Skills Activity. We also issued a Cerificate of Participation to each participants.
The event was indeed an impactful and memorable one!
Feedback from one of the participants.Feedback from one of the participants’ parent and a call to action!
Would you like your kids to be a part of our next edition?
EduPlus 