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week 6 monday Teaching in Korea I love it here in Korea. I love how the students take turns cleaning the school during lunch and that they have a long period to relax. They even play pop music in the entire school during that time. I have 5 different co-teachers, and it really makes a difference. Some tell kids the answers in Korean, as if I can’t tell. I spoke to them about that, and they understood. Planning together for my open class showed me the importance of exchanging ideas. Things that I missed she would catch and vice versa. I love getting all sorts of media into a lesson. For example, for my open class we started with 2 very short videos to capture their attention. Then, we moved on to a power point (I learned how to use prezi! Tell your students about it). I incorporated some games that allowed them to communicate what they had learned. Followed by some worksheets for practice. Just so much! The more time you put into your lesson, the better the outcome! I live by the mountains next to a chicken farm. During my free time I enjoy hiking and going to temples. The temples are gorgeous!!! I can’t wait to do a temple stay during the spring. I also volunteer at an orphanage where I have fallen in love with a 5 month-old-baby! It is so sad/strange that parents give their children up if they divorce. I try to do as much volunteering as possible—something I enjoy doing, but it was difficult to keep up with in college. On weekends I go to a dog shelter to take them out for walks. For the most part I do not miss home too much. If you come here with an open mind, you see the beauty in everything. The moment I got here my attitude changed. I walk outside and smile. I smile for all the new people I have met from Ireland, England, South Africa etc. I smile for waking up to the beautiful view of the mountains. I can list so much. I miss my Mexican food . . . that’s about it. Skype and facebook have helped a lot because I constantly communicate with all my friends and family. I even attended Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a wedding through skype! Stephanie Nuno, 10 from Kaili and Katie (13’s) • our advice for the fourteeners (and fifteeners) – build a relationship with your co-op – see your co-op as a person and not just a teacher – make an effort to create a connection with your co-op. – ask many questions to learn more (take advantage of their experience) Kaili @ St. Matthew Katie @ White Heath wednesday diary of a novice teacher cont. Life at the orphanage is fun, funny, hectic, and certainly always interesting! Natalia (a volunteer from Spain) and I have “class” every afternoon with the girls where we help them with their homework and studying. Two types of students: Some girls just want you to tell them all the answers, and some girls really really want to learn. The latter are just a pleasure to work with and almost make up for the former. Of course, as I am helping one of the 8th grade girls with her homework, I have to reach over and make the 3-year-old spit out the little pieces of dirt or perhaps the bugs she has been picking off the table and putting in her mouth. Sometimes I get frustrated that many students seem to lack any sense of wonder or excitement. But today a bunch of the girls were hoeing, and then one girl said, “Oh look! [pointing at a small bunch of leaves that looked like all the rest of the weeds to me] I think it’s an orange tree. Yes, smell this leaf. It is!” And then she carefully hoed around it and continued on. I was thinking about learning involving excitement. I felt so happy when the girl reacted that way. I just wanted to touch base to see how things were going and give you an update on my first year of teaching. I can't believe it's almost the end of February and I am more than half way done with my first year! It's been an amazing learning experience for me. I am the Special Education kindergarten teacher at Coal City in an inclusive classroom. So there are three adults in the room: me, my co-teacher, and an aide. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but I absolutely love it now. My coteacher and I get a long really well, and it's great to have someone to constantly collaborate with and bounce ideas off of. This year has been pretty stressful, but I am always trying to remind myself of everything you have taught us. I am always finding ways to connect with my students. Those observations you had us do have helped me notice all the little things! I read this article recently and it reminded me of our cohort and how important it is to just be there for your students. The first year is so demanding, and there is a lot of pressure to do well, so it was refreshing to read something that focuses on what teaching is all about. http://pursuitofajoyfullife.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/whatstudents-remember-most-about-teachers/ Mallory, 13 curriculum • more than pieces of information, more than subject matter, more even than the disciplines • the ongoing engagement with the challenge of determining what knowledge and experiences are the most worthwhile curriculum cont. • if you can’t begin to understand the curriculum in – the ece program – 420/421, • you’re not going to be able to understand the curriculum in your placements contemporary curricular realities • no national ministry – FUMs (federally unfunded mandates) – NCLB • “I have never believed that this law is the idealistic, well-intentioned but poorly executed program that many claim it to be. NCLB aims to shrink the public sector, transfer large sums of public money to the private sector, weaken or destroy a Democratic powerbase—the teachers union—and provide vouchers to let students attend private schools at public expense.” (Gerald Bracey, 2006)