Wish in 'Happy Class'

Hearing those whispers, Ms. Pham Ngoc Tran, a teacher in the "happy class", felt her nose sting.

The class hopes to help children have more "smile vitamins", so that they are happier and more optimistic.

Since early January 2024, two special classes called "happy classes" have been opened in the departments of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases - Neurology of Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, to help primary school-age children review knowledge, have more joy, and forget the pain of long-term treatment.

HOLDING A PEN WHILE HAVING AN IV NEEDLE

One day in the "happy class", the image that moved us all was the students with IV tubes in their hands, their faces pale but still eagerly waiting for the teacher. The students tried their best to complete any homework the teacher gave them, some even asked the teacher to give them more homework to continue when they returned to the hospital room.

Children attentively study in the "fun class"

The girl named Minh Thu is about 10 years old, very bright, constantly volunteering to answer questions. After studying in the "happy class" for a week, Minh Thu has gotten used to it and even explains the lesson to help her friends who do not understand. Recently, she was discharged from the hospital to return to her hometown. Before leaving the class, Minh Thu personally made greeting cards with wishes to send to her teachers and friends. "Minh Thu may have to come back for a check-up in two weeks. I will continue to go to class. Honestly, the teachers and doctors here only hope that the sick children will soon recover completely, so that they can return home, go to school, and play in the playground like other children of the same age", confided Ms. Pham Ngoc Tran, an employee of the Social Work Department of Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, a teacher of the "happy class".

Sitting and watching his child listen to the teacher, Mr. Toan (39 years old, a parent in Ho Chi Minh City) said that his child is being monitored and treated at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neurology because his child's legs suddenly start to jerk, each jerk lasting about 10 seconds, making him prone to falling. He has to take medicine regularly, and he doesn't know when he will be discharged from the hospital. Mr. Toan said that luckily there is a class, so his child can sit and study with his friends and teachers to ease his longing for school and friends and to lessen his fear of having to be treated for a long time in the hospital.

A child confided in me, "Right now at school, my friends are taking their semester exams. I'm still in the hospital, so I can't take the exam with them. I'll try to study well, and when I go back to school, I won't have to worry about not understanding the lessons, okay?" Or another child said, "I want to go home, I miss my grandparents, my home, and my friends." It sounds so pitiful... I just hope they get well soon, so we can see each other again, but not in the hospital.

Ms. Pham Ngoc Tran, staff of Social Work Department, Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City

" VITAMIN SMILE"

Both 24 years old, graduated from the Social Work major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and working at the Social Work Department at Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Pham Ngoc Tran and Ms. Nguyen Hoang Chi Tram were assigned to be teachers of the "happy class". Assigned the task of supporting children in reviewing knowledge of math, Vietnamese, and English from grades 1 to 5, Ms. Tran, Ms. Tram and their colleagues at the Social Work Department prepared carefully.

In addition to making a list of classes and checking what level the students are studying, the members also support each other in learning the curriculum of the subjects according to the current textbooks to prepare lesson plans for each day. At the same time, to ensure the teaching of knowledge, Ms. Tran and Ms. Tram also consulted with lecturers and students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.

"Previously, when I was a student of Social Work, I also participated in many volunteer activities, teaching children in difficult circumstances in some localities. Therefore, accompanying sick children in the "happy class" was not too surprising," said Ms. Tran.

The "Happy Class" meets in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Some days the class has 6 students, but some days it has 10 or 12 students, depending on the health of the sick children. The class starts at 9am, but from 8am, Ms. Tran, Ms. Tram and their colleagues have prepared the classroom and divided up to go to each patient's room to lead the children to class because not all parents know about this class.

The children are provided with textbooks, notebooks, workbooks, and learning tools. Not only do they review and supplement their knowledge of cultural subjects, the teachers also give them lively lessons on life skills, teach them dancing, singing, let them draw, play games, etc. True to its name, the class first of all hopes to help the children have more "smile vitamins", so that they are happy and optimistic, thereby recovering faster.

The illness will pass, the children will be able to go to school again, with their friends for a long, long time - just like the dreams they are hoping for...

SPRING WISH

Ms. Ngoc Tran said that the process of accompanying the sick children has given her many memorable memories. "A child confided to me, "At school now, my friends are taking their semester exams. I'm still in the hospital, I can't take the exam with my friends. I'll try to review my lessons well, and when I go back to school, I won't have to worry about not understanding the lessons, right?" Or another child said, "I want to go home, I miss my grandparents, my home, my friends." It was so heartbreaking. We prepared candy to give to them, and encouraged them when they finished their homework or studied well. We just hope that they will recover soon, so that we can see each other again, but not in the hospital."

Ms. Chi Tram said that to ensure effective teaching and playing with the sick children, she and her colleagues have to read a lot of documents, not only to gain knowledge but also to understand children's psychology, to make it easier to talk, play and encourage the children.

In the days leading up to Tet, the atmosphere at Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, is more bustling. Flower paths and "check-in" locations are decorated on the "spring flower road" in the hospital. The faces of the sick children and their parents are also relaxed, less worried. Tet is coming, the children hope to return home to celebrate a warm Tet with their families and relatives. The illness will pass, the children will be able to go to school again, for a long, long time with their friends - just like the dreams they are hoping for...

There will be more volunteers tutoring children right at their hospital beds.

Mr. Chu Van Thanh, Deputy Head of Social Work Department, Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, said that "fun class" is one of the activities to help make the time in hospital for sick children more comfortable. Children learn while playing, play while learning, review knowledge while having fun, being optimistic, increasing the effectiveness of treatment. In the near future, Mr. Thanh said that there will be more volunteers who are students from pedagogical colleges, and can expand the "fun class" in some departments, or for sick children who cannot move to class, they will be tutored right in their hospital beds.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/dieu-uoc-o-lop-hoc-vui-ve-185240204182153467.htm