Mis dias en la escuela

Una buena semana!!

This is my fourth week of teaching! It’s been awesome to see how my students are responding to my daily teaching. In fact some of my kinder garden students have been bringing me flowers from their recess almost every day.  Although, these little ones are the ones that usually gives me most stress and work ;)

One of the most difficult times I found during these 4 weeks is about teaching on Wednesday because during Weds we get students not by their levels, but by their homeroom classes. It is complicated to understand and follow such schedule, there are always deadlines and things I needed to learn in order to teach on those days.  I just feel that it is way too much for a new brand teacher who is trying to remember 120 names from the other regular teaching days, to be learning another 120 names for Weds.  Personally, I don’t like to call on students and not to know their names. I found sometimes myself asking for every single student’s names when I call them for something. I just don’t like that because I think it is very impersonal not to know your students’ names.  In addition to not knowing my most of my Wed students, On Weds I have to use L1 most of the time (90%) due to the school’s perspective that in order to teach Spanish culture, the Spanish team must use the L1, which with all the respect, I believe it’s a waste of time and effort not only for us but also for the students as well. I work really hard during the other days to use and keep the L2 to be the mainly language during my classroom time to just forget it about it in one day…. I don’t think so, but I COMPLETELY understand that it’s not my business to judge or say what I think about it. I know this is the time for me to learn and get the best out it; still this is just my opinion about the L1 and L2 in classroomJ

Overall, I strongly believe that my school has one the best Spanish program I have ever seen in the Triangle area. Most of the students I have are in advanced Spanish level classes, and you will be amazed to hear and see them interact in the L2, that is why I believe that there is no need to use the L1 on Wed, but like I said, I respect that perspective and decision. Also, their writing skills are really good for their age!! I’m very impressed by what I have seen so far.

I feel I am very lucky to be in Joyner School. I love to see the passions that some of the Spanish teachers have for their job and it is reflected on the students’ skills and development.

Aprendiendo a conecer....

Hola!

I’ve been thinking about of what to write for this week’s blog, and the true is that almost all my ideas had blown out of my mind. Although I can tell it’s has been a long week and for some reason, I feel very tired.

Planning the entire lesson plans, plus trying to get the picture for Wednesday thing, it burns me out. ;) I guess this is the stage where everybody gets the sense of what teaching really means. Still, I love my profession and I love being around the little ones. So far, my classes are going well. My students are good enough that they really let me finish my plans, well except for one or two that keep playing and interrupting my class.

Last Thursdays, I decided to separated these two little ones, but It did not work quite well because they still kept doing things that were off subject. So, I gave 2 warms to one of them and then I sat him down aside because I really did not know what else to do. I don’t want to get in trouble too soon with this boy, but I had to do something so I can finish my PACE lesson!! Yeah the one that requires not only a lot of planning, but also it requires a lot of attention from my class.

So, when my CT entered the room, obviously she saw this boy seating there alone doing nothing but staring at the class while I was just trying to finish my lesson. I got the feeling that my CT did not like that but I had no choice than pulling this kid aside. However, after couples of minutes I asked him if he thinks he is ready to get back to his group to do the work. He said: “yes” and I think he really meant it because then he worked with his group just fine. I was glad to see that.

One of my challenges and goals for this week is to get to know this boy a little better. I know that he is not a bad boy, but I think he just have some issues with attention. What I am going to try to do this week is to talk to him right before class start and ask him how we both can work together to make this a better way to work in class. I am going to tell him that I know he is a really good boy and that I don’t like calling on him all the time. Also, I am going to ask him what he thinks might help him to keep focus in the class. I hope this really work for both of us. Even I might ask him if he wants to be my personal helper for the class.

Will see, my expectation are good right now. I’m starting form cero with that boy and I hope we both come up with a good deal.

It will continue…J