Great Beginnings on Two Continents
Hello Ladies,
You should be well into a routine at school and I am anxious to have you shall your impressions
Welcome to the Blog!
For the rest of the semester we will check in here weekly. Sometimes I will ask you to respond to a particular topic and sometimes you will just do a short overview of your week with a highlight and a stretch. AND--respond to each others' posts like we are having a conversation.
This week please talk about how the classroom is set up and your impressions of the classroom climate. A short overview of your experience thus far and what you did the past weekend and over Labor Day weekend. That should get us started!
Also open the most recent post from last spring. I asked the three teacher candidates to write about what they wish they had known as they were starting their overseas student teaching. They have shared some good information. You can talk about that too if you would like.
Chris
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posted by Chris @ 8:59 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
For this and all future posts...should we respond in a comment like this? Or is there a link to our own page type of deal?
So far it has been amazing here. I have found that my teacher and I work well together. Shes incredibly organized, i am trying to take notes since I know it is one of my weaknesses. I love my school and how the staff collaborates on everything. I feel very welcome here in Okinawa. For labor day Alaina and I want to Nago to visit the famous aquarium.
Things are settling in and becoming more and more routine everyday, which is fantastic!
As far as the pre-existing classroom climate, unfortunately, it is not something I would personally like to mimic in my future classrooms. The students did not have any kind of introductory activity or icebreaker at the beginning of school, so I don't believe that the camaraderie between peers is as high as it could be. I'm a strong believer in having students feel comfortable around each other so that sharing and volunteering information becomes natural and welcomed.
The existing classroom management style is also a lot...harsher...than I would like to model. I do agree with my mentor teacher in the sense that students should be introduced to the classroom with stricter rules and behaviors at the beginning of the year, and then as that behavior becomes 'normalized' and more expected, the class can loosen up a bit as those norms are established. However, currently I find myself feeling a bit uncomfortable with how the classroom management is presented, and the overall tone of voice when communicating with students. This is definitely one of my biggest challenges; I know that classroom management is one of my biggest problem areas, but straddling a balance between what I think is acceptable and what my mentor teacher expects has been a goal of mine. Obviously, it still is her classroom so I want to support her in her philosophies, but I am still pushing to make sure my style shines through as well--mutual respect between student and teacher :)
The students and staff have been super welcoming and have helped me tremendously! The sense of community that the staff has is awesome and super cool to be a part of. My apartment is a mix of things people graciously lent me, so I really got hooked up! It is nice to have another student teacher living in my same barracks too, so we can decompress together at the end of the day; she's at the elementary school teaching 3rd grade.
I'm quickly learning that military life is a whole new culture that I am adapting too along with the German culture. I've had a lot of experience working with Asian Americans and Hispanic students, but never with German students for ESL, so that is an additional part of the classroom climate I have been adjusting too. It is different but a lot of fun to figure out the best way to help each of the ESL students I work with! They are super sweet and (mossstly) all of them are very hard working and really have that 'hunger' to learn English :)
Hope everyone is doing fabulous!
You respond here so it is a running conversation.
Julie, what is your classroom like? The students? You need to paint a picture of what is happening at Stearley Heights.
Kelsey, I'm sorry your style and that of your mentor are so different. I error more on the mutual respect end and building upon that by the teacher being fair and consistent. Hopefully, as you begin to take on teaching responsibilities, she will allow you to try some of your own style. I understand that she wants to get student behavior under control from the get go--it just can be done in a variety of ways. As a guest, you have much to observe and decide for yourself if it works for you.
Thanks for the posts.
I'm really enjoying my time at Kubasaki High School. I haven't worked with high school students very much except during my advanced practicum where I was able to interact a bit with sophomore students but they were mostly doing independent computer work during my time at Colfax High School. So every day at Kubasaki is a learning experience. My mentor teachers teach solely Honors and AP courses so the students are very well behaved, respectful, and excited to learn.
I am a huge fan of my main mentor teacher's overall classroom set up. He calls himself strict as do some other students but I think the correct word would be consistent. Rules and expectations were established at the beginning of the school year and stay set - there is not much wiggle room for students. On the second A Day of school for example, a student came in late to class and was automatically given a lunch detention. Mr. Coia didn't yell, scream, or throw a fit but simply informed the student of the rule and the consequence - automatic lunch detention. Again, since many of these students are AP and Honors students, they are very well behaved and students have only been "punished" recently for being tardy or for not having their materials in class. Mr. Coia also has a rapport with almost all of his AP Language Arts & Composition (as he had them as Honors Literature 10 students last year) students so most of them were and still are aware of his expectations and classroom rules. I am very jealous of Mr. Coia's relationships with his students and I wish to someday have similar relationships. Mr. Coia and his students are sharing jokes and personal stories on a daily basis - his classroom is even full during our prep and lunch periods because students want to just hang out and talk with him!
The only class that I'm having difficulty observing and participating in is Mrs. Lundberg's Honors ELA 9 class as she is less of a stickler for classroom expectations. The class is usually very loud and she must quiet them with a "SHHH!" I still enjoy being in her class however and am loving being in two completely different classrooms.
The staff is very welcoming and I enjoy working with teachers of the English department. I have to attend weekly department meetings and they have not hesitated to include me in discussions.
I attended the other high school on Okinawa but I immediately realized that the KBHS students were so much different than those I attended school with. The children are very friendly and welcoming - I love it!
I have also decided to help out with the fall play and found out that many of my students were trying out and were later cast! Those students have been much more vocal and welcoming to me in class now! It's very exciting!
So far the kids at Stearly are amazing. they are all indredibly unique and super well behaved. spunky but still oh so sweet. The school is amazing i love how everyone vibes off of each other. It has been great to see how my teacher interacts with the students. I really like the way she handles her classroom and I feel very comfortable being myself there. I've given her many ideas and she's used ALL of them. it feels a little like my own classroom. can't wait to take over. I was walking home after work and three teachers stopped and repeatedly asked me if I wanted a ride. I almost cried because everyone has just been so unbelievably nice to me here. Everyone is kind and appreciative and does everything to help each other out. It is just phenomenal to be around. I feel all warm and fuzzy every where i go. Can't wait for the rest of the semester.
So far my teacher and I have a hard time planning anything because we just get lost in chit chat and laughing so hard my sides hurt.but honestly we really are a great team. I think we are the perfect balance of one another. I know that she is appreciative of my creative side and very encouraging for me to take risks and learn from everything i do. I cant get enough of st was a GREAT first day. the kids are amazing. super well behaved. spunky but still oh so sweet. the school is amazing i love how everyone vibes off of each other. it was great to see how my teacher interacted with the students. i really like the way she handles her classroom and i feel very comfortable being myself there. I've given her many ideas and she's used ALL of them. it feels a little like my own classroom. can't wait to take over. i was walking home after work and three teachers stopped and repeatedly asked me if i wanted a ride. i almost cried because everyone has just been so unbelievably nice to me here. everyone is kind and appreciative and does everything to help each other out. its just phenomenal to be around. i feel all warm and fuzzy every where i go. can't wait for what day two will bring.
Stearly heights. it has to be right up there with Jefferson for amazing teachers.
uuhh this is julie.... not quite sure how to log out as alaina.... same house problems..
Now this is what I mean by giving us snapshots of what is happening in your classrooms. Good stuff!
Alaina and Julie, I'd like you to respond to Kelsey's post. What are some suggetions for her to be successful and satisfied within the setting she is placed.
Now this is what I mean by giving us snapshots of what is happening in your classrooms. Good stuff!
Alaina and Julie, I'd like you to respond to Kelsey's post. What are some suggetions for her to be successful and satisfied within the setting she is placed.
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