Skip to main content

I'm BAAA-AAACK!


#abetterversionofme2018
Not only am I back in HCMC, not only am I back to work, but I am also back in the classroom this academic year! 
Woop! Woop! 

I truly enjoyed my position as Elementary Lead Teacher throughout the last school year - I learned so so much, but, truth be told, I really really missed working with students on a day-to-day basis. 

This year, I get to experience the best of both worlds; I am continuing my position as Elementary Lead Teacher (0.5), but I am also back in the classroom teaching Grade 4 English (0.5). 

School began just over a week ago and though I am still getting familiar with my schedule and my students, I'm already loving everything (ok, well almost everything) about being back in the classroom.

Here are just a few of the things that I've implemented so far in an effort to make my class a more enjoyable place to learn...

-Decorating the classroom - Coming into this school year, I chose to keep things very simple; I wanted to decorate the classroom with the students' pictures and work so that they develop a sense of belonging.
The classroom on the first day of school
Students' pictures and work are slowly being added all around the room

-Morning and afternoon centers - I've chosen to start every day with 20 minutes of center time so that students begin their time in my class happy and engaged; "secretly" I also get them developing their social skills and work habits.
As soon as they enter the room, students are playing games like -
 HeadzUp, Jenga, Uno, Connect 4, Scrabble, Dominos, Chess...
-Mindfulness - we haven't done much of it yet, but I'm hoping to integrate more mindful practice as the year goes on.
First attempt at Mindfulness - we got lots of work to do!
-In-class house challenges - they may not have turned out exactly as expected so far, but in an effort to push the idea of teamwork, I'm setting up weekly house challenges every Friday afternoon.
First we did house cheers, then quilt-style banners
-Teaching vocabulary - I've been taking the time to teach new vocabulary words using a variety of strategies, such as translations, definitions, examples, pictures, songs, games and actions and I've already been super impressed with the results.
Can you guess the word he's acting out?
-Class Dojo - I've chosen to use ClassDojo to positively motivate the students to do well in class; I give away team house points as well as individual points every day which lead up to naming a Learner of the week as well as a House Team winner.
First Learner of the Week award for the 2018-2019 school year
holding a certificate and a JUMBO trophy
One last thing that I'm trying to do this year is to take the time to eat lunch with my students a few times a week. I'm hoping to build stronger relationships with the kids and to get to know them in another context outside of the classroom. 
So far, I've been LOVING it - and the kids have too!

There are no doubt some highs and some lows when it comes to teaching, but I'm doing everything I can this year to emphasize the good times and enjoy those special moments with the kids.

Stay tuned for future updates on what's happening in class 4.1!!! 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more