I made it to Friday :)

Hey Folks,

So, yes, indeed, I made it to Friday. And as I type this, Boris is walking in and out of my legs, trying to find a comfortable place to lay down at my feet. Silly pug.

I got all the names down by Wednesday, which made teaching a bunch easier. I am also currently reading through "You know the Fair Rule: strategies for making the hard job of discipline and behaviour management in school easier" by Australian author and teacher Bill Rogers. It has been helpful. I think that anyone working with children should do some research on behavior management. Even learning simple things like correcting children in a positive way makes working with kids much more effective.

I am now in charge of the spelling lessons, which happen 4 times a week. The school uses this program called THRASS where the students match each of the 44 phonemes with a word and picture. These words are predetermined and stay constant. So, if a student wanted to spell close they could say "c as in cat, l as in leg, o as in nose, and s as in sun." If they wanted to spell spell "s as in sun, p as in panda, e as in bed, and ll as in bell." See, it gets complicated when there are only 26 letters in the alphabet and 44 sounds or phonemes. I personally think we should do away with the American alphabet and just teach children the international phonetic alphabet where there are 44 symbols for 44 phonemes. I believe spelling would be much easier to teach and learn. But...that's just me.

Next week I am planning on checking out some different classrooms so I have a broader basis for doing a comparative study of education in two different countries/cultures. I will also have the opportunity to take with the special ed teacher. I was talking with Keith, the headmaster, and my home stay dad, today about the fact that I have never been in a classroom with so many students that had disabilities. For example, just in my year 6 class, there is a kid with a severe visual impairment, another with dyslexia and ADHD, another with a learning disability, another with Aspergers or some form of austism, and a few that are really low in their reading and maths. The other year 6 class has a handful of challenging students as well.  I want to learn more how each of these students is provided for and equipped with the essential things to promote their learning. I'll let you know when I find out.

I also am starting to realize that I have a big soft spot for kids with learning disabilities. I was working with a kid who clearly needs more time to do his work than is given. I re-explained what the order of operations meant and went through a couple examples with him. Later in that lesson he came up to me and said that he got the right answer (and was really proud about it), but not in the allotted time (the teacher gives a certain number of seconds per problem). I just am not sure if that's the best approach to teaching kids with learning disabilities. And I'm finding that I really see it as an injustice and want to do something about it. At the same time, though, I feel like there is no way I would make a good special education teacher. There are so many forms of special needs and I know I cannot cater to each kind. But, I'm praying about it and asking the Lord why this is on my heart, you know? He'll let me know when I need to know.

Well, I am enjoying my time with my host family. We had many laughs about a one-man yo-yo show that came to the school this week. Remind me to tell you about it when I see you next.

I'm off to bed, folks. And you're waking up. Have a great day :)

Hump Day

Teaching is a full job. I come home and still have work to do, lessons to plan and papers to grade and books to read about how to become a more effective teacher. It's crazy. Today I will stop doing work at dinner time and not commence again until tomorrow.

Australians have this thing where they don't say "mhmm" in a conversation but rather just "m." It's strange, and I'm not used to communicating like that. I'll demonstrate when I am back home.

I am getting along with the other stage 3 (grades 5 and 6) teachers. That definitely makes the job a lot easier. And I definitely feel like I have a job, not just a study abroad thing. Which is interesting to me. I think it's definitely a full load right now because I have to learn all the names quickly and all the classroom rules and catch up with the curriculum so I can just jump right in. I don't really have the leisure to gradually ease into any of this. I'm hoping that as a regular teacher, after the first month, all this preliminary work is done and you can have less on your plate.

This morning I woke up and definitely could feel it was Wednesday. You know when you just want to hit snooze one more time but if you did then you would have to cut something out of your morning routine? Yeah, I was proud of myself today for fighting that urge and getting in the Word.

Have I mentioned how good the food is here? The Peterson's definitely know how to cook. AND I came home today and my laundry was washed and folded! Imagine that! This is the life-my lunch is handed to me in the morning and I come home to clean clothes. Hmm...I want to be a super mom like that!

Kiwi Fruit and Electric Blankets

Today was my first day with my host family which consists of Keith, Kerrie, Kerrie's mother (she broke her leg) and Rose. Rose is 16 and is just learning to drive...

One thing that I have found fascinating since I have been here is the way they eat kiwi fruit, it is absolutely ingenious! They cut the top off and eat it out with a spoon, much like we would a grape fruit. I have always loved eating kiwis but dreaded the peeling part. Well, now I no longer have to peel away...just cut and scoop!

Also, electric blankets are amazing. They turn them on here around 9. By the time you jump into your bed the blankets are nice and toasty. I cannot tell you how happy my feet were at the experience last night!

I have also learned the definition of a fort night. They use this phrase surprisingly a lot.

At dinner each night wine and dessert are a must. I also make my bed every morning for fear of being the odd one out.

Boris, the pug, does indeed think he is human. He is much like a cat as well. He enjoys being where people are and is content to just sit at the feet. Keith and I went for a walk with Boris today. It is definitely country out here. Horses and dirt roads...the whole 9 yards. Er, should I say about 2 meters? Crap, I mean metres. Yes, that is more like it.

Tomorrow is my first day in my school placement. I hope it all goes well. I will be sure to let you know.
Mum and dad, please note that when I get home I do expect wine and dessert with every meal followed by a ritual turning on of the electric blankets to warm my toes... :)