Week Thirteen: Professional

After the Easter weekend I realised I only had a month left in Oxford and a lot of work and tests to complete before I left. The next few weeks are going to be the busiest yet, with finals, essays, and unit plans.


As I arrived back in Oxford on Monday night, extremely tired after the madness of easter, and with a lot of unpacking and washing to do, I had to start straight into revision for an online test on assessment.  Although an online test may seem easier, they are actually quite difficult, as the questions are often worded in a confusing way, so that sometimes it seems like there is more than one answer.  However I have become accustomed to them over my weeks at Ole Miss, and the more you do the better results you tend to get.


This week I have also had to start working on my Notebook for my Introduction to Special Needs class.  I am lucky to have had some experience already in this field which makes the work for the class easier.  However for this class we are required to put together a notebook of the 13 categories of special needs recognised by IDEA, 2004, an American law passed to protect the rights and needs of many individuals with special needs.  These include: Autism, Deaf- Blind, Developmentally delayed, Emotional disability, hearing impairment, language or speech impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopaedic impairment, other health impairment (including ADHD), specific learning disability, traumatic brain injury and visually impaired.


For this Notebook we had to put together class notes on each of the areas and come up with two additional strategies for each area.  We then had to organise it so that it is the correct order and place it in a binder.  The idea is that we will always have this folder with us.  As we get older and gain more experience with children with different needs, we will have strategies and knowledge of how to deal with them, and we will be able to add to the folder as we gain experience.


This notebook has been incredibly time consuming yet worthwhile as we will always have it to refer to whenever we need to.  This class had been extremely educational and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  Although I had a basic knowledge of children with SEN, I now feel that I know a lot more about how to teach and provide for these children.

Week Twelve: Cultural

As the Easter weekend approached, I spent my days studying for tests, and trying to get as much work as possible done so that I could go away for the weekend with Ava and Sarah.  Thankfully all this work provided as a necessary distraction at this difficult time.

I was really excited when the end of class on thursday arrived, as this meant we would leave for Ava's beach house in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where I would spend my first ever american easter.  We arrived late that night and went straight to bed.  On Good Friday we walked around some of the tourist areas of Gulf Shores, including a few souvenir shops, and the famous Lambert's Cafe, where the waiters throw hot bread roles at you while you are eating, and play practical jokes on you to keep you entertained!  In the end we where given that many rolls, and other free side dishes, that we took away about 5 to-go boxes!

The majority of the weekend was spent relaxing by the beach which was something we all needed, after a busy few weeks.  However on Sunday morning we caught the ferry from Gulf Shore across the bay to the city of Mobile where Ava is from.  We then made our way to her Aunt Michelle's house for our first traditional American Easter.

I was extremely excited about spending Easter Sunday with Ava's family, as Americans make a far bigger deal out of Easter than we do.  At home I'll get given a few easter eggs from close family, however here the children believe in the Easter Bunny the way they believe in Santa Claus, which I personally believe is a lovely idea.  The children wake up on Easter Sunday to find an Easter basket that has been left by the Bunny, and lots of little eggs hidden in their gardens for them to find as well!  I loved the idea of being a child for a day and participating in these wonderful traditional events, and was extremely grateful for the opportunity to do so.

When we arrived in Mobile, Ava's Mum had made baskets for me and Sarah as well as her own three children, which contained an teddy rabbit, flip-flops, jewellery, and lots of chocolate! We then had a beautiful easter lunch of honey roasted ham, homemade bread rolls, potato salad, green bean casserole, cupcakes and Key-Lime Pie (a typical dessert for this part of the country).  After we had eaten as much as we possibly could, we where allowed out into the garden, where the adults had hidden over 150 eggs for us to find!  It was definitely one of the most exciting afternoons as we all raced around like children, trying to find as many eggs as possible, and if we where lucky we might even find the golden egg!

This weekend I was truly spoilt by Ava's family, and it has made me really appreciate the wonderful friends I have made and how well I am looked after.  It was also a wonderful cultural experience to celebrate easter with an american family.  However unfortunately Good Friday is the only holiday the Americans get at easter, so it was back to Oxford for class on Monday.

Week Eleven: Personal

Everyday this week has been about 30 degrees, meaning that almost everyone brought their assignments and revision to the swimming pool to complete, yet with the heat it was hard to concentrate on much.  The days are slowly getting longer and considerably hotter, and there is much more to do around Oxford, including lovely walks during the warm evenings through the forest and trails that surround where we live.  The semester seems to be flying by before I'm even aware of it, and days are being spent trying to both study and fit in as much other things as we possibly can, as we have all just realised how little time we have left!


On Friday one of my close American friends Ava hosted a dinner party, where she prepared a number of Southern dishes, my favourite being her own recipe for buffalo chicken mac and cheese!  The food out here is something that I absolutely adore, so I was delighted at the opportunity to experience some home cooking from a native southerner.  This was also a brilliant opportunity to spend time with numerous international students and American students, who we have become friends with over the past few months.


Being away from home for such a long time was never going to be easy, yet the idea of leaving our new home and returning to the UK is equally frightening.  Personally I have hardly been homesick at all, with too many new experiences to preoccupy myself with, however when I woke on Sunday morning I got the news that my granny had passed away.  This was probably one of the most difficult things I have had to hear, made worse by the fact that I am miles away from home.  I have no doubt that the next few days are going to be extremely difficult, yet at a time like this I am comforted by the amazing friends I have made while I have been studying here.  With the absence of my real family, my new friends are truly like my family over here, and they are doing their best to look after me during this difficult time.


The week ahead brings yet another 3 tests, and much more work to be doing, which hopefully will be a welcome distraction during this time.  There is no doubt that being away from home was always going to be hard at times, and I'm sure all students studying abroad will agree with me that there are parts of home we miss, yet with only a few weeks left, we truly have to continue to make the most of our time here.

Week Ten: Cultural

After a week spent on the beach, it took a few days to get back into life at Ole Miss and especially to get back into the extreme onset of work which seems to be increasing by the day.  With the beautiful weather it's hard to concentrate on the amount of work we have to do, but needless to say I managed to get it completed anyway.


This week saw my last two days at Willie Price.  As I said goodbye on Thursday I realised that it was a lot more anticlimactic than the end of teaching practice at home is. This week as my peer's at Stranmillis finish their teaching practice they will be showered with cards, and small gifts and kind words, as the teacher and children have come to know and respect them over the past few weeks.  However here at Willie Price my role in their classroom was so small, that a simply goodbye is all that is said as myself and Sarah leave Willie Price for the last time.  It does make me slightly sad to think I'll never get to see the children again, although hopefully if I have spare time I will be able to go back before I leave.


This Saturday was probably my favourite day since I arrived in Oxford.  It was a beautiful day with the sun shining high in the sky and a slight breeze as we made the hour and a half journey to West Point, Mississippi, to visit the infamous Waverly Plantation.


The Plantation was built in 1852 by Colonel George Hampton Young and his wife Lucy, and was home to there family until 1913, when there last surviving son passed away.  The house was then left alone for 50 years to endure the harsh weather conditions, and the vandals, until in 1962 it was bought by Mr and Mrs Robert Snow, who restored it to its original beauty.

Today the Plantation stands on 50 acres of land, much less than the initial 5000, and has been almost perfectly restored, with the exception of the pool and bathing houses.  When we arrived I was stunned by the size and beauty of the house and its gardens.  We were warmly greeted by the Daughter of Mrs Snow, who now lives and looks after the house.  She gave us a wonderful and very informative tour of the house, describing the life, and parties of the Young family, and the people who have since came to visit the house.


We then had the opportunity to walk around the grounds by ourselves, and see where the old ice house was, and view an old Magnolia tree which is said to be over 200 years old, making it the oldest and biggest in the state.

I have always had a passion for history, so the opportunity to visit this wonderful plantation, and learn all about the history and culture of these people was unbelievable. 

Week Nine: Personal

Entering Panama

On Saturday 10th march I set off with some of my new friends for my first ever spring break experience!  As we loaded the Jeep on a beautiful spring morning my excitement increased at the thought of a week on a beach in Florida.  However I had the 8 hour drive to conquer first!  I have never been a good traveller, and realistically there is no where at home that I ever go that is more than a 2 hour drive, so the idea of 8 hours stuck in a car was not at all appealing.  Thankfully the car journey flew by with various food stops, and at 7 that night we drove into Panama City, where we would spend our spring break.


Our hotel was right on the beach, with a beautiful view of the sea.  Initially on Sunday it was a bit cloudy but warm, however Monday to Friday were warm sunny days, which we spent lazing on the beach and swimming in the sea.  It was so relaxing to be able to spend the days lying in the sun and playing beach volleyball, or swimming in the sea and collecting shells.  It was a perfect way to spend the week after the hectic few weeks which have just passed.  We also ate out at numerous local restaurants, and I experienced various forms of fish which seems to be the local food source in Florida, from crab, catfish to calamari and shrimp.

View from the hotel

One of the highlights of the week was the free concert on the beach by one of my favourite country singers, Luke Bryan.  I have always loved country music since I was a child and in America my love has tripled as country music is everywhere!  On Tuesday I headed down to a restaurant by the beach where I queued along with thousands of other college students to see Luke Bryan.  Finally after about an hour we got out onto the deck where he was playing, and I spent two hours standing in the sun on a beach in Florida listening to one of my favourite singers play.  It probably was one of the best afternoons of the trip and I am definitely going to try and see him again before I leave!

Unfortunately St Patricks day fell on the Saturday we were due to drive home from Florida, so I didn't really get to celebrate it.  However everywhere I looked American's were wearing green T-shirts and hats and making more of a fuss about the holiday than we do at home!  On the way home we stopped at Burger King, where we were given green ketchup and green drinks, I was half expecting my chips to end up being green.


Despite an amazing week away with some amazing people, I found myself slightly homesick for Oxford, and I was extremely glad to finally make it home late Saturday night, despite the large amount of washing, revising and work which lay ahead of me!  Although this does make me wonder how homesick for Oxford I will be when I finally leave, as a week away caused me to miss it!

Week Eight: Cultural

The week before spring break definitely was an incredibly busy one.  With the days getting longer and warmer campus took on a new life with people lazing in the sun, or frantically trying to revise for their mid terms.  It seemed as everyone was truly ready for the week break which begins for me tomorrow.


On Monday I had to give my first American presentation on a Behavioural Theorist, Spencer Kagan.  I was in a group of four and we had to talk about his behavioural strategies for 30mins.  Although I found this initially nerve wreaking, it actually went really well, and I felt that I learned a lot by watching and participating in the presentations.  The rest of the week consisted of more work for classes, and assignments which were due.


Even during my observation this week I noticed a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.  On thursday the children were hyper, running around singing or bursting into tears for no apparent reason.  I am constantly learning every minute I spend with the kids.  Its a great experience getting to work with children so young and from a completely different culture.  As Willie Price is on the University campus the children tend to be from well off family's and I found it quite amusing to hear them talk about flying halfway across the county to their holiday home for the week, or going to stay at their beach house.  For such young children they really are extremely bright!

A Professional photo of Rowan Oak

This week I experienced even more of the wonderful american culture, with a trip to a southern restaurant on the square.  It really is so strange eating so much fried food! The Americans fry literally everything from chicken to pickles and tomatoes!  Also their love of catfish and grits is something I can't quite get used to!  We also visited the house of famous author and nobel prize winner, William Faulkner.  Faulkner grew up in a beautiful southern house in Oxford, which is now open to the general public.  Rowan Oak (Faulkner's house) was built in 1844 and is situated on over 29 acres of land. He is such an influential character within southern literature, and a big claim to fame for such a small town like Oxford.  I have also had a real interest in both history and reading so visiting his house was a lovely experience.


Walking around the square on a sunny March afternoon is a lovely experience, as the grass is getting greener, the leaves and flowers are growing back, and everyone seems happier.  Sometimes I forget that I'm in a different country.  I feel lucky that along with the stress of the last week before spring break, I was still able to experience a lot more of the culture of Oxford and it's local community.

Week Seven: Professional

As part of my observation in Willie Price I have to write a three day lesson plan and teach one lesson.  As myself and Sarah are in the same class we decided to co teach for our one lesson.  This was more convenient because there is only one hour a day where the class teacher actually gets to teach so we had to make full use of this hour.  It also meant we both gained a new experience, and were able to learn from each other.

As we started to learn about lesson planning in one of our classes, it became apparent to us how much we knew about teaching in comparison to third year students at Ole Miss.  Here the student teachers don’t actually go to a school until their third year and they only teach one lesson that year. I found this extremely odd, especially in comparison to home, where we are made to teach for four weeks in first year.  Therefore having to plan and teach one lesson was something myself and sarah actually looked forward too, as we had a lot more experience than the rest of our class.

We decided to teach our lesson this week as the topic for the week was transportation, which was something we both felt we could plan good activities for.  On thursday we taught our lesson on cars, which the children appeared to thoroughly enjoy, and get a lot out of.  The main challenge for myself and Sarah was not actually the co teaching. We managed to structure our lesson very well, with one of us teaching the opening and one the closing.  We then shared the main content and activities.  However our main challenge was in fact planning activities to suit the age group.  The children in our class are all either three or four years old, which made them younger than any children we had previously taught.  The children couldn’t actually read or write, yet they were extremely intelligent.  They knew their alphabet, number, colours etc, so we had to come up with a way for them to learn without actually having to do any formal writing.

We used the idea of centres to help the children learn.  At one centre they practiced their letter C, at one they sorted their toy cars into various categories, at another they made their own car picture out of paint, and at the last centre they made car noises which they had heard in the book we read them.  All four centres worked extremely well, with the children practicing various skills.  Myself and Sarah were extremely pleased with the outcome of the lesson.

Despite the increasing amount of uni work, I am still loving life here in Oxford.  As the weather warms up there is so much more to see and do, with Baseball season starting and spring break just around the corner.  As I sit out in the sun writing this I still find it hard to believe that I’m in Mississippi, and I’m beginning to wonder will it ever sink in!