Week Five: Professional

As the rest of my year start their six week block of placement, I start my 30hours observation.  This may seem minor in comparison to the workload I’m used to, however after only six hours in an American Kindergarten I already find myself learning so much.

For my observation I attend a school called “Willy Price”, every Tuesday and Thursday from 8-11.  I am in the "Bear" classroom, which consists of 18 three to four year olds.  Both myself and Sarah are observing in the same classroom, which was one of the first major differences between here and home.  It’s really strange having Sarah with me, and I think it’ll be even stranger when I have to teach the children.  However I also believe that this will be very beneficial for the both of us, as we will get the opportunity to learn from each other, and observe each others teaching skills.

Another main difference is how relaxed the schools over here are.  The children call myself and Sarah, Miss Kelly and Miss Sarah, and the general teacher is also addressed the same.  I believe this is a good idea as the teachers don’t seem so scary to the children as they would do if they called them by their surnames.  The children still have respect for us, however they are more friendly and open with us.  It is also really relaxing in the sense that the children are always coming up to us and hugging us and sitting on our laps.  Initially I found this so strange, because at home you have to be so careful about touching children, or you could end up with a law suit on your hands, yet over here the children get carried about and I would find two or three children trying to sit on my lap at the same time, and nothing is said about it.  It’s completely normal.

On my first day of class, (Tuesday 14th February) the children had a valentines day party.  In America Valentine’s day is so over commercialised, and it’s a holiday for everyone, not just couples.  The children had a party in class, and all their parents came in with food, and drinks and craft activities.  Also each child brought in a “happy” or valentines day gift for each child in the class, so every child was leaving with 18 gifts.  I found it lovely that the parents are so involved over here.  They are always coming in and out of school to help out, and bringing in stuff for the children to eat or play with.

Overall I have noticed so many differences between school at home and school in America, and hopefully as I spend more time at Willy Price, I will learn a lot more.  The children are absolutely adorable, and despite the different accents, they understand us better than some adults do.  They are incredibly confident and outgoing and even though most of them can’t read or write yet they can already speak spanish.  I really think I am going to thoroughly enjoy my time here and experience so many different skills and techniques which I can then bring back home to my own teaching.