Week in Review 2/15-2/19
Hello Ladies,
Chris is in Atlanta, and I'm in Pullman enjoying the glorious spring like weather!
We would just like a quick week in review post again this week. Also, we have shared the link to our blog with future student teachers who are considering going overseas - so if you can think of anything words of advice you'd like to share with them, feel free to post!
We'll have a more formal prompt for you next week.
Until then, have a great weekend!
Heidi
posted by Heidi @ 3:08 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
This week was the most exciting thus far. I taught half of the classes. I think it is going well. It is nice to get feed back from my mentor. She helps me think of different ways to solve problems that I would have never thought of before. The most challenging part of this week has been teaching lessons that are not my own. I am not much of a lecturer, but that was the focus of one of the lessons. I definitely understand why we did the lesson that way, because it is content that involves learning the math rules before you can do much else with it. It is also good for me to get practice in all sorts of teaching styles, and it allows me to identify the methods that I prefer and do the best in.
My advice for future student teachers is to really deeply think about what you are signing up for. You are moving to a brand new country, where you don't speak the language, you don't know anyone, you have to live in a small apartment with strangers who may have different habits than you do, you are some what isolated on base (we live in the middle of farm land), and you are doing your student teaching in the mean time. I know this all sounds negative, but before I left I never considered these aspects, I only thought about the romantisized picture of living in Europe. I am very happy I came, and I am loving it. I really am thankful that I have this opportunity. However, it was a big adjustment coming over here. I had a hard time the first few weeks, because I pictured visiting Germany, not living here, and those are two very different things. I feel like I have grown a lot, and learned a lot about myself from being here, but a lot of that is due to the fact that it is not easy to live in a foreign country where you don't know anyone. If your motivation for doing your student teaching is just to travel, I would recommend just buying a plane ticket and back packing for the summer instead. If your motivation is to live in another country, I would also rethink that because you live and work on post with americans everyday. If you want to work in schools with excellent technology, great diversity, and amazing support then this is perfect. Just keep in mind that you will be living, mostly the same as you do back home, just without the luxuries of people you know, a car, or your own space to live in.
I know that sounded very negative, but it is important to think about what you can really handle, and what you really want to do. Most of things surprised me when I came. It was very challenging at first, but now I'm loving it. In fact, I am planning to apply for a job with the DOD when this is all done.
This past week has been really good. We had the hundreds day celebration on Friday, which was a lot of fun. It has been really great to see all the fun things teachers integrate into their classroom. The only other day worth mentioning was on Wednesday when my teacher was sick and a substitute had to come in. At first the students were great, but as soon as I started working with groups of students, things started to get challenging. One student, who has the most challenging behavior, began to through a fit and refused to listen to the substitute. I had him change his color, but it didn’t change anything. The substitute went and got the principal. This escalated the situation and the student began to kick and scream. Later that same day, a new student had said ‘oh shit’ in class and numerous other students heard her. When I told her that we don’t talk like that in school and that she was going to have to write a letter home, she began to cry and say she was sorry. All of the students were watching to see what I would do, but I stayed strong and made her finish the letter. This day was a great learning experience because it allowed me to feel like this class was my own class and I taught the entire day. It was also a great learning experience to see how the class dynamic changes when there is a substitute.
When it comes to advice for future teachers, the main thing I would tell them is that this experience, even though a great one, it is not what would be expected. Living on base really isolates you from the German culture. I think that was the biggest shock for me. Another thing is the living environment is very different. Coming here, I had not shared a bedroom since freshman year, and I had never shared two bathrooms between 7 girls. With so many people coming from diverse places, things can get complicated. I have found though, that most things that I forgotten at home, I can either buy on base, or a fellow teach at school can provide it. That is one great thing about being on base, is the community.
Hi Beth and Julie,
I have gotten a little behind reading your posted responses so have just finished reading weeks 2-8-12 and 2-15-19.I will combine my remarks.
Beth, I know how frustrating it can be to have half the class not do homework on any given night. Since you can't take the time to spend two days on lessons, what is the policy? Do students receive zeros? How does this affect their grades and their performace on tests? I'm happy to hear that your cooperating teacher is giving you feedback and sharing teaching strategies. It makes my day when I read "this has been my most exciting week thus far". It sounds like the classes are becoming yours which is exactly what is supposed to happen! I loved that one of your students gave you a Valentine from Spanish class. Secondary teachers often don't get those kinds of rewards so congratulations.
Julie, it sounds like the last two weeks have been full of activity. Holidays have a way of disrupting the routines and to have Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school all in one week and I forgot President's day...wow! What have you learned about observing these special days and still trying to keep some order making progress with what has to be taught in the curriculum? What have you learned about integrating these events in your planning? Tell me a little about the 100th day celebration and what teachers do with this event.
The challenge you experienced last week while Carlen was out is a great learning experience. I think that both you and Beth can discuss challenges that result when the cooperating teacher is absent. You mentioned that things were going pretty well until you started working with groups. Did you feel like the children were pushing you or the sub? You both will begin to feel the pressures of authority, followig through and being consistent. You already had some of that with a audience when you had the student writing home for using inappropriate language. This teaching business...it's not easy!
I want to thank you both for your honest remarks about what goes into overseas teaching. You both have had major adjustments and I applaude your maturity and dealing with the challenges. I will share your comments because I think it gives your peers valuable insight before the commit. I am relieved that both of you still think it was the right decision. Thanks for sharing.
Two weeks from today I will be there which is hard to believe. I will send an email this week to make sure plans for my visit are coming together. I'm looking forward to spending some time together and getting to see you in action!
Chris
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