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.
That's cute that they bring you flowers -- a perk of working with young children who generally like school and their teachers :)
ReplyDeleteThe schedule of the culture day can be frustrating, but it sounds like it is something the school or principal has decided on, and sometimes we have to go along with it. In your own classroom, you might be able to make changes if your principal respects you and your reasons for why the L2 is better.
Also know that it is okay to have students make name cards and keep them on their desks (or name tags for their shirts) at the start so you can get to know their names.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the culture days, it sounds like a school-wide decision that was made for some reason that you may not be aware of. It might meet their mission statement, it might meet some 21st Century goals, or other essential standards. Sometimes we have to look at the big picture.
Yes, you are right. I understand that:)
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