Week of April 3rd-7th
This last week of teaching has been very satisfying. My relationship with many of the students is a lot better than I ever thought they would be when starting out. They enjoy my presence in the classroom and they also seem to be learning fairly well, especially having experienced this quick transition having a stranger take over teaching. I have learned how patient I have come to be through teaching over the last few months. Being in Belize has really given me a lesson in harnessing my confidence and jumping in head first. Not knowing who I would be teaching, what specific content I would be teaching, how many students I would have and what the teacher would expect from me, I truly believe I have done my best. I have a newfound security in my abilities as a teacher. My experience had home was very precise and planned every week, while you never know what you may get in the classroom day to day, for the most part at home it was predictable. Here in San Pedro, my experience has been the complete opposite. I have been challenged with making the most of this trip and taking on as much responsibility as I could was my plan. I feel as though I have been extremely successful.
I took on the task of planning for 10 instructional days and have successfully implemented all but one thus far. I have decided to extend my teaching into this week so that I can finish teaching the lessons that I have planned. The students have some review to do prior to taking exams Tuesday and Wednesday. I also completed the Full Circle project which I had to plan in order to incorporate some sort of collaborative activity for my students in the states and my students here. I taught both classes, at home and in Belize, about the other culture and history with a focus on geography. I then had my students write detailed letters to students here in which they would have to include some personal and educational information. My students here absolutely loved it. They have responded willingly and included some trinkets and artifacts for me to bring home to my students. I have taken some class photos and have so much more knowledge about the culture and history of Belize to share with my Wilmington students upon my return.
I still have so much to learn. I have chosen a career in which there will always be new things to learn, new strategies to use, new people to work with and new situations to present themselves. It takes strength, confidence, courage and faith to teach. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity everyday to work on those qualities within myself while also helping others discover those virtues within themselves. I in no way mean for that to sound self-righteous, I want to make it very clear that I have been humbled by this experience. We take so much for granted in life and we make the choice everyday whether or not we are going to appreciate each breath and see the positive in each circumstance. I have had a lot to work through and overcome in the last few years that have brought me to this exact place at this exact moment. I have grown tremendously in the last 6 months during my teaching internship and this experience in Belize has been a culminating moment in which I can truly apply all that I have learned and make me aware of what I still have to learn.
I am constantly being surprised by people and teaching puts me in contact with some of the most genuine and selfless people I have ever met. My relationships with my teachers and peers have developed fondly over the last few weeks. I did not expect to be as moved and touched by the girls that I have gone on this trip with but they continue to amaze me everyday. The students are who I have admired the most. They have so naturally and genuinely interacted with me. They have probed and prodded about me, my life at home and the other students that I teach. They all want to know my age and if I am married or have a boyfriend. I told them I would tell them on the last day as my gift to them prior to my departure.
The next 17 days will be filled with service work, travelling excursions, and working on my final research projects for graduation. We have so much to look forward to. However I have really been living and learning in the present while being here so I can only hope that I can take that practice home with me. Love and miss you all. Feel free to comment below.
I took on the task of planning for 10 instructional days and have successfully implemented all but one thus far. I have decided to extend my teaching into this week so that I can finish teaching the lessons that I have planned. The students have some review to do prior to taking exams Tuesday and Wednesday. I also completed the Full Circle project which I had to plan in order to incorporate some sort of collaborative activity for my students in the states and my students here. I taught both classes, at home and in Belize, about the other culture and history with a focus on geography. I then had my students write detailed letters to students here in which they would have to include some personal and educational information. My students here absolutely loved it. They have responded willingly and included some trinkets and artifacts for me to bring home to my students. I have taken some class photos and have so much more knowledge about the culture and history of Belize to share with my Wilmington students upon my return.
I still have so much to learn. I have chosen a career in which there will always be new things to learn, new strategies to use, new people to work with and new situations to present themselves. It takes strength, confidence, courage and faith to teach. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity everyday to work on those qualities within myself while also helping others discover those virtues within themselves. I in no way mean for that to sound self-righteous, I want to make it very clear that I have been humbled by this experience. We take so much for granted in life and we make the choice everyday whether or not we are going to appreciate each breath and see the positive in each circumstance. I have had a lot to work through and overcome in the last few years that have brought me to this exact place at this exact moment. I have grown tremendously in the last 6 months during my teaching internship and this experience in Belize has been a culminating moment in which I can truly apply all that I have learned and make me aware of what I still have to learn.
I am constantly being surprised by people and teaching puts me in contact with some of the most genuine and selfless people I have ever met. My relationships with my teachers and peers have developed fondly over the last few weeks. I did not expect to be as moved and touched by the girls that I have gone on this trip with but they continue to amaze me everyday. The students are who I have admired the most. They have so naturally and genuinely interacted with me. They have probed and prodded about me, my life at home and the other students that I teach. They all want to know my age and if I am married or have a boyfriend. I told them I would tell them on the last day as my gift to them prior to my departure.
The next 17 days will be filled with service work, travelling excursions, and working on my final research projects for graduation. We have so much to look forward to. However I have really been living and learning in the present while being here so I can only hope that I can take that practice home with me. Love and miss you all. Feel free to comment below.
You are going to make a wonderful teacher. Parents are going to be so lucky to have their children in your hands. I've never heard a student teacher take her journey to such a level of dedication and growth. I am thankful to know such an amazing person is out there trying to make the next generation one of strong, confident, and creative individuals. You rock!!
ReplyDeleteErin that is so great you have grown in such a short time on this trip. I say it often but i am SO PROUD OF YOU! With your personality and patience, of course the students and teachers are responding positively to you. I am so imppressed with your motivation to go above and beyond for not just the lessons, but implementing your own projects into your plans. Its amazing what you're doing for others as well as self-growth!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the excursions and service work.. that is going to be such a fulfilling experience.