A Review of the Week

I honestly cannot believe that after tomorrow I only have 2 weeks left at Presentation Primary. I am in disbelief, but I am sure the sadness will kick in soon. My students know that my time is running out, so I am starting to collect handmade Christmas cards and other little things they are making me. One of the ones that I received today said I was the best teacher and she said that she wished that I didn't have to go. I was so touched to hear that from one of my students. I am glad that they also enjoyed the time I have spent teaching them.

This week, I started off with a rather hectic day. On Monday morning, I was headed into a classroom to teach a maths class, and I was summoned to the principal's office. I instantly wracked my brain trying to figure out what on earth that I could have done wrong. I came up with nothing. When I arrived at the office, the principal actually asked me to substitute teach for the day. About 5 or 6 of the school's teachers were sick and she wanted me to take over a 4th class. This is a class that I had never stepped into before. When I got there, I found out that I only knew one of the students. The other students knew that I was the American student teacher so they were excited. They also had seen some of the drawings and things that I did so they instantly asked if we could do art.

I could find no lesson plans or anything on the desk for me to follow. A student told me that they usually start with maths. I somehow weaseled the protocal out of the girls although they were reluctant to tell me that they begin each day with a quiz. We worked on the maths (fractions - ack!) and the girls were very good. After break, they normally have Irish and English. As I cannot teach Irish (for obvious reasons), I decided that we could do an art lesson. We no sooner had started it and passed out the materials, when a man showed up that I had never seen before and said it was time for a football (soccer) training. The girls didn't want to go as they had just started the project and apparently they thought they had been done with football.

After football we did English. They have so many books and workbooks for each subject in Ireland, it is difficult to keep track of everything you do. There is a stories book, a spelling book, a grammer book, a sounds book and a book about words just for English. We managed to get a good amount done before lunch. The afternoon consisted of them going to Ballyloughran for swimming that day, so I got to go on a little field trip, which was nice. Monday was definately a different experience that my normal days here.

The rest of the week has gone as usual. I have been busy in the evenings making signs, posters and other things for the teachers. I am glad that I can help out, however, I think I am going to have to buy new Sharpies when I get back!

My lessons have all been going very well. The students are very receptive and eager. The teachers really love my ideas which is good feedback. I had a little extra time with one of my junior infants classes this week, so I taught them a song (Down By the Bay) one day. None of them had heard it and they all wanted to sing it over and over so I decided to teach it to a few other classes too. The girls are now asking to sing all the time. In one of the classes, I have to wear a microphone because a child is nearly deaf, so that is a bit scary. Talking into the microphone is weird anyways as I realize how annoying my voice is, but then to sing! I should think that Shauna would be lucky not to be able to hear me!

Well, this post has gotten a bit long. I am going to head off to finalize plans for London tomorrow! Thanks for reading. See all you Americans in 18 days!