Small Classroom, Big Dreams

I teach English in my house, which was converted into a small classroom located in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The classroom is simple. I started off with six small kids' tables; children were sitting on rugs. Now we have four ceiling fans, tables, and chairs with a total of 50 students, as I teach 8 different sessions with 4 different levels of teaching.

Many people think a good classroom needs modern equipment. Of course, those things help, but what my students need most is encouragement, love, and belief. Many of them dream of becoming teachers, doctors, or guides, and some want to study abroad for further education, which their families cannot afford to send them to.

As a non-native English teacher, I am learning too. I learn how to explain simple words and motivate them to try putting their new English vocabulary into sentences. Some students come from families that do not value education because of financial struggle. Those students need encouragement the most to keep in class, and I learn that progress is slow but real. Our classroom may be small, but the dreams inside it are big.

This is why I continue teaching.

Making Our own DIY Art and craft Supplies

In our classroom, creativity is an important part of student development. Art activities help students express themselves, build imagination, and develop fine motor skills. However, art materials can sometimes be expensive for schools with limited budgets. To address this challenge, we recently started a simple and creative solution: Make our own DIY art paint. Like many schools, we want to provide students with rich learning experiences while managing our operational costs carefully. Instead of always purchasing materials, we explored ways to create art supplies using recycled materials and simple household ingredients. DIY art supplies are not only more affordable, but they also give students the opportunity to learn through the process of creating the materials themselves. Homemade art materials can cost only a small fraction of commercial products while still providing excellent creative opportunities for the students. Making our own art supplies became a learning activity in ...

The challenge of teaching alone in a small classroom with mix ages

Teaching is often described as a calling. But when you're the only adult in a small classroom filled with both young and older kids, it feels more like juggling on a tightrope. The mix of ages, needs, and energy levels creates a unique challenge that requires patience, creativity, and resilience. I understand that young children may still be learning how to read, write, and sit still. Also the little ones often burst with restless energy, while big kids may crave independence. Managing both without losing focus is a constant dance. In a small classroom, noise travels fast, distractions multiply, and it's harder to create a quiet zone for the bigger ones to work. One thing I do when teaching in such a challenging class is to use a clear schedule and teaching method. When the big children do their work, I send them upstairs to the reading room and start working with the younger ones one by one but still check on the big kids to make sure they stay on track. Sometimes I ask big ki...

Grace English Cambodia

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