Not sure why school hasn’t really surfaced yet in my blog, but I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I was busy venting about marching and unwashed dishes. Compalin Complain. I just wrote complain wrong and it came out comPalin. I think I’m going to keep it like that. I enjoy the fact that you can turn around a word that has a negative connotation and make a word with another negative connotation. Bada bing bada ZING!
Teaching is, in a word: Hard. In two words: Highs and Lows. I have always had respect for teachers and I think it is one of the hardest jobs out there. In the past four weeks my respect has grown tenfold. Some of my classes are great, some are extremely difficult. Not to mention the fact that I am teaching nine different classes and 5 different grades. Goodness, if I were teaching in the states, and got to teach the same class for 5 periods a day, I would be baller yo. But, I’m in Honduras where I not only teach a different subject and class each period but there is also no previous curriculm, no worksheets or handouts, no fun decorations or visual stimulation, no roll down maps, no overhead projector, and ha! as if I needed to say it, no powerpoint. Another hard thing is not having my own classroom, or at least not being able to be in the classroom before the students. The five minutes I take to write something on the board are the easiest five minutes for the kids to get riled up.
Today I will discuss my youngest pupils, because if I talked about all of them, this post would be way too long. But first, here’s the rundown:
10th grade: Great, Really like them, very personable, and REALLY SMART
9th grade: Mas o Menos, depends on the day
6th grade: All different levels of English, not personable, and boys that are too cool for school
5th grade: LOVE OF MY LIFE.
4th grade: Bane of my existence.
Every morning I go from 4th grade English to 10th grade English and oh my dear lord is it a relief to come to the 10th graders. The 4th graders have been unfortunate the past couple years as they have had hardly any teachers who spoke to them in English, ergo, they don’t know English. This is so great to hear for an English teacher who doesn’t know Spanish, i.e. me.
Last week was bad. I yelled at them hard core and was the most frustrated I have been in a very long time…with anything or anyone…including Joey...or college boys. Right when I yelled, I knew I shouldn’t have, but there was no way to even begin to get their attention. I tried to play a game with them where they had to find their partners based on a sentence I gave them. Well, heaven forbid they be put with the wrong person. OH THE HORROR! Can you imagine having to work with A BOY!!!! OR A GIRL?!!?!? Seriously, all hell broke lose.
After that day, I threw out the idea of ever playing a game with them…at least for a while. I have almost mastered them being quiet in their seats and doing work. After the yelling day, I received a very needed and extremely helpful email from my Aunt Mary about the trials and tribulations of teaching. She gave me some great advice. Thanks Aunt Mary!!!! The next morning I went into the class with a prepared speech…in Spanish. We’re not supposed to speak in Spanish to the kids, but I’m a rebel, as you all know. I told them that I understood that learning and speaking in English is uncomfortable and not easy. I have to do the same thing every day, but for us to learn anything, we are going to have to work together. Speaking Spanish to them…not very well…really put me on their level and I think they appreciated that. Immediately after, they got to work and were pretty quiet.
I then announced that I would be giving stars to anyone who was doing their work and x’s to people who were talking. OH MY GOD. The class was SILENT. It was absolutely incredible. Who knew stars and x’s could do so much! In the eyes of a fourth grader it is the difference between life and death. I was walking around definitely laughing to myself and almost out loud. This was the same class that had been giving me such trouble? What I couldn’t believe more than anything was that these kids were actually capable of being quiet. Who knew it could happen! It’s definitely not perfect, and it is certainly going to be my biggest challenge, but I think they are getting the idea that I am not going to take any crap.
One of the hardest parts, and I imagine this is true for all teachers no matter the grade, no matter the subject, is the different levels of students. Some kids, totally get it. Completely, 100% and you know they want to answer every question and are just trying not to be bored because they got it the first three times you went over it. And then there are those who are on the complete opposite end, who don’t get it and can’t answer the question to save their life. Thankfully, most of the 4th graders are somewhere in the middle. Every time Brayan or Diana raises their hands I love them for knowing the answer. But, at the same time I can’t just call on them every time. Such is life as a teacher I suppose.
The other thing about the 4th graders is their obsession with their notebooks, stickers, pens, markers, pencil cases, backpacks, pencil sharpeners, water bottles, and any other school supply related item. More than likely it was the excitement of having these new notebooks in their life that caused them to be so distracted. I am hoping the novelty will wear off soon. There are two girls in front who take THE LONGEST time to start their work because they have so many decisions to make. Which notebook will I use? What color pen? Glitter or regular? Or maybe I will circle the answer in one color and write the question in another! Should I include a sticky note on the page? I think I need to start over and make my letters more bubbly and with heart shapes dotting the i’s. Now what sticker to put on my paper. Oh Maria Fernanda do you want a sticker? Yes Kathia I would love one! Oh let’s keep talking about stickers and Hannah Montana and not do our work! Okay!
Speaking of Hannah Montana, the other day I was teaching the 4th graders about common and proper nouns. We were naming people proper nouns and at first they were just throwing out random names. Then one person said "Joe." and so it started...
"Joe JONAAAASSS!!!" "NIICK JONNAASSS!!!" "THE OTHER JONAASSS!" and then they started saying Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa, and then, my favorite moment and I totally thought of my crazy la casa mates in A2. A really sweet boy in the back had his hand raised and I called on him and he shouted, "ZZAAAHHCK EEFFRON." But in an adorable accent and I about died. If it helps them learn proper nouns, I'm happy. I mean, I'm happy regardless if Zac Efron is in the mix.
Wildcats YEAH!
So, maybe “bane of my existence” was a bit much. If they like High School Musical, I guess they can’t be that bad.
You are the music in me,
Sarita
P.S. Where? In the sink.
1 comment:
I'm pretty sure you put the picture of Zac Efron just for me, so thank you. LOVE that High School Musical transcends language. And pretty sure if I was a 4th grade girl, I would be distracted by my Zac Efron notebook and Hannah Montana pencils...oh wait...that's law school...
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