Oh The Places You Will Go...: Back to School!

"Back to school, back to school to prove to dad I'm not a fool. Got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight!"

Every year (or semester in college) I think of that song on first day of school, so I thought I'd share it with you! Seems appropriate since my first day of school was last Thursday. It's hard to believe that I am actually an adult now with a big person job! Even though it's been over a year since I have been taking classes, it just seems like I should still be back at Iowa State ready for the first day of classes or getting ready to student teach. Even when I was subbing, I didn't feel like I had a real job, I loved it, but I was never in my own room.

I was so excited to start orientation the first week of August and it was great meeting all the new teachers. I was even more excited for the few days of 'inservice' before our kids came. It was crazy walking into an empty classroom and basically having three days to get ready for students. When I first turned on the lights in my room it looked like this...

Note the lack of books... They came in boxes over the next few days!

To say the least it was a little overwhelming, but I had been warned that in international schools it is normal to be a little behind at the beginning of the year so I manged to stay pretty calm, which to those of you who know me, you should be thoroughly impressed! My main reason for being able to stay so calm is 100% because I have an AMAZING teaching assistant, Ms. Anh. Before I had even met her she had seen my name tags sitting out and had them laminated and ready to go! She then continued to decorate the room beautifully with everything I asked for! In Vietnam construction paper isn't as common as back home, instead they use a foam type material. I love it though, it's really durable and Anh, as well as the other TAs and nannies, can make amazing decorations with it! I am still getting used to having Anh helping me so much. Sometimes it makes me feel lazy when she insists on making copies for me. Today she saw me making copies and said there was no need for me to be walking up and down the stairs, she would do it! I feel like I am going to become lazy and spoiled, but it is great to save a bit of time while I am planning lessons!

Not only do I feel extremely luck because of Anh, but I also have so much planning time it is unheard of! Every week I have 12 planning periods plus an hour and 10 minutes each day for lunch, snack, and recess.... What??!! (I know this will make my teacher friends back home a bit jealous!) It is great having so much time for team planning and team teaching with the other grade two teachers. I am really excited to see their teaching strategies as well as getting to know their kiddos!

Now that you know about all the boring stuff I have to take a while to brag and gush about my kids!! (Yes my kids, not just my students) Today was only the third day of school, but I am already in love with them! I have an adorable class of 12 students, all of whoe are Vietnamese. So far I only have 11 kiddos, but I get one more girl on Wednesday and I am really excited about it. It will be nice having an even number of students and our girl-boy ration will be a little more even now! It is crazy to only have 12 kids, but I absolutely love it!

The biggest difference I have notice between my kids here and the kids I have taught in the States and in New Zealand is how quite my kids are when it comes to class discussions. Usually at home I have almost every kid raising their hand (and usually just blurting out) because they want to talk to badly. Here the kids aren't used to class discussion so they are simply waiting for you to tell them and teach them. I've been starting to get them to open up a little more, but it's been a bit of a challenge. I am definitely improving my questioning skills! (Dr. Olson would be oh so proud, Michelle? Ellen? Liz?) So far all of my kiddos are incredibly bright! They are really hard workers and they love doing worksheets and getting to draw/color! I haven't had too many problems with language barriers, but it is definitely noticeable who has attended AIS as their English is a bit stronger.

I could probably sit here typing all night long about how in love I am with being here and about having my own classroom with such great kids and how the staff at my school is also incredible, BUT I will save you all that time and end it here and let you see for yousrelf how darling my class really is!

Our class! When I got my camera out I suddenly saw 24 peace signs, you can still see a couple :)

Silly picture!

The kids all took first day of school pictures holding the sign, we will also do it on the 100th day. That board will soon have their picture on each lily pad, we are a room of frogs!