Jennifer McHayle - Elgin Taylor

With just over a week to go before the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), anxious students and their teachers are busy with their final preparations for the examination. Among this group of teachers is Jennifer McHayle of Eltham Park Primary School in St Catherine.

"At this moment, intensive preparation is being done. We are looking at various topics across the grades from four to six. Expectations are high among most of the students; a few may be a bit down, but we are working on that. In general, they are focused and looking forward to it," she told The Star.

McHayle further stated that the workday is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. She said that she had to spare a thought for the students who would be placed in an ASTEP (Alternative Secondary Transition Education Programme) class come next September. These students will not be sitting the GSAT as they failed on their third attempt to pass the Grade Four Literacy Test. She noted that in the meantime this group is being taught separately, with the emphasis on literacy and numeracy.

motivational level

The senior teacher and grade coordinator also explained that at this time she needed to try and keep the motivational level of the students at a high point. Some of the strategies involved getting them to be self-monitoring by setting up their own timetables, and giving them pep talks and exam tips. During this period, the students are also exposed to mock exams.

She also informed that the hectic preparations did not mean that students were not exposed to relaxation or things of a less onerous nature, as they continued to take part in physical-education classes, inter-house sports and club activities.

hardworking

McHayle had high praises for the half dozen other grade-six teachers. She described them as being very hard-working and pointed to the fact that their efforts have resulted in the students getting two GSAT government scholarships over the years.

The soft-spoken, humane educator believes that she was born to teach. She said that she could not think of another profession outside of teaching. She received an education diploma in 1995 from the College of Agriculture, Science and Education, having earlier started at Shortwood Teachers' College.

It became necessary for her to make this transfer because of the death of her father. In 2007, she obtained a bachelor's degree in general studies, with emphasis on guidance and counselling, from the Jamaica Theological Seminary. She joined the staff at Eltham Park Primary on September 1, 1995.

McHayle believes that a teacher is a special person. This person, she posited should be "dedicated, committed, and a lover of children". They should care for the welfare of the students and realise that the job goes beyond the classroom.

She revealed to The Star that, on occasions at home in the nights, she would fall to her knees and ask the Most High for directions in which to take the students. She admitted that there are disciplinary concerns and shared a novel 'Time Out' technique with The Star.

McHayle stated that recalcitrant students are given a 'Time Out' exercise in which they are placed for a short period in lower grades. She described this intervention method as being "very effective".