Blogging is BACK!

Hey, all!

 Introduction:

It has been a while since we were all blogging. We have gotten our clinical placements for student teaching, gone into the schools, and hoped to make a difference while there. For me, this has been one of the most positive experiences in a clinical that I have had while at Gardner-Webb. I have been assigned to 4th grade at an absolutely wonderful elementary school. I have experienced a lot in my short time there so far, but all of it has been a learning experience. In my clinical placement, the staff, administrators, and students have all been super welcoming and easy to work with. My CE(clinical educator) has been helpful in every way. On my first day, she helped me to knock out some of my clinical checklist items. For all my future blog posts, I will call my school, The Education Station. It is just a lot easier and less monotonous than saying my clinical placement 30 times :)

Twitter/Classroom 

Twitter has been a source of encouragement for me as I have gone to a new school with a growth mindset. Before I entered The Education Station, I asked myself what I could bring to this school as a new face there. I reflected on my past experiences and thought that I could bring a positive attitude, new ideas, and a love for my new school and most importantly for my kids. What I was not expecting was what The Education Station brought to me. I found this tweet on twitter, and I quoted it. When I had spent some time in my new school, I quickly realized that all four of these 'non-negotiables' as Jeff Hiser quoted were exuberantly shown in this new environment that I found myself in. One example of the welcoming and warm environment is that at a staff meeting I attended, the principal called it a piece of good news she had to share before having my CE introduce me to everyone. Although I was embarrassed, I definitely felt welcomed. Another warm environment moment in the staff meeting was when the principal asked for positive things happening at our school so we could all celebrate together. That was how we ended our staff meeting which was uplifting and encouraging. The teamwork and encouragement that I witnessed at the staff meeting align with standard 4F of the NCTCS: Teachers help students work in teams and develop leadership qualities. During the staff meeting, the teachers were working in teams to talk about what the Education Station has to offer students and families. They also worked together to figure out solutions to problems. This has been exemplified time after time in my CE's classroom.

My CE has welcomed me into her classroom with open arms. I know that it is not easy taking on a student teacher, but she seems to be generally happy about me being there. She most definitely appreciates another set of hands in the room to help out. My students have really been the highlight of my days while being at my new school. They are quick, witty, and just downright lovable (most of the time). The math investigations lessons have been the biggest shock to me in my new classroom. The direct instruction piece of these math lessons is VERY short. The lesson is more like a discussion between the teacher and the students. The students then use what they know about numbers and number sense to answer the problems and work them out with a partner or a group. This was a big change for me because most of the math instructions I have seen have been direct instruction led. I look forward to seeing what I can learn from her and the students as we all "investigate" the math together. 

Outside Learning and Research: 

One day at the Education Station, we had a new student to come to the fourth grade. He only spoke Arabic. No teacher on the hall was able to communicate with him. About this time, I had a discussion with my CE about how to help students in this situation. She gave me a few ideas, but I wanted to know more. I focused my outside research on how to help students whose primary language is not English. This desire to help was even more focused whenever I found out that having a student who does not speak English happens often at the Education Station. 

This resource gives strategies of how to help students who do not speak English. It also gives an overview of backgrounds and cultures that you could possibly encounter. The website offers this information about the Arabic community concerning education and work ethic: 

"Grades are important to both parents and students. Elementary schools in the Middle East are composed of grades Kindergarten through seventh. Many schools provide bilingual programs in Arabic and either English or French. At the end of the seventh year, a national examination is given to all students to determine if they will enter junior high school or go to a vocational program. Work Ethic. The parents may have either one of two focuses regarding the work ethic. One is they want a good education that will lead their children into a professional career. They urge high aspirations and tell their children that if they succeed in school they will have a good job in the future. The second focus some parents have is to train the children to run a business. At an early age, children are encouraged to participate in the family-owned business in order to learn the value of work and receive the necessary training to carry on with the family business"

This is only a tiny portion of the information that is offered on the site. I encourage you to click the link above to learn more information.

I also knew that this student must feel pretty alone, so I thought I could try and learn some SIMPLE but welcoming phrases in Arabic so I could speak to him. This video helped me a lot! 

In the future, I will continue to research how to help students who do not speak English as their primary language. I will try to learn about a new culture every week.  Learning about new cultures every week is preparing me to fulfill Standard 2B of the NCTCS: Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and in the world. I know that the Education Station's population is quite diverse, so hopefully, this personal goal will benefit more than just one student. 

My Future Classroom: 

My time at the Education Station has already helped me learn so much, and I continue to look forward to going every week to see what new things I can learn. I know that I have been most impacted by the positive culture that is presented at this school and the diversity within it. In my future classroom, I will hold "Morning Meetings" which allow students to share out about their lives and encourages students to really get to know one another beyond just the surface level. Another challenge that I will take with me into my future classroom is one that crosses borders, literally. I will be working personally and professionally to learn more about cultures and languages so that I can effectively teach and love my students through the lens of their culture. 

Words of Encouragement: 

I typically end all blogs with a positive quote of some sort, and here is one for this month. Often we grow weary as the days seem long, but in due season we will reap a good harvest if we do not give up. Be that child's champion. Believe in them. Love them. The ones who need love the most often show it in the most unloving of ways. Keep on doing good, teacher. You will see the results. Maybe not today, next week, or next month, but keep the faith.