4/21-24/13

Hey all,

I know its been a few days since I last posted but I wanted to check in with all of you and share a bit about the last few days. Though the adventures have been kept down to ones involving work and not as much play, it may not be as interesting a read to you as say my weekend trips, but it has all been a great experience for me.

Anyways, as far as Sunday went I spent the day at a Starbucks, really similar to the ones back home. I spent the day working on my first ever scheme of work plan (its basically a unit plan here). The day involved caffeine and a lot of research before I developed a plan that I am very proud of! It leaves me feeling more sure of myself than I was when I first arrived.

I was literally at the coffee shop from 11 am until around 7 pm. It was a fun, but I realize that it was fun in a way not everyone will understand. I mean how is doing homework fun? That's basically what it was... Anyways, I ended up having fun because it involved realizing that I am actually capable of doing what I want to do... Teach, that is. As I left that coffee shop I left feeling proud, you know the type of proud you only feel when a tough job is finished and finished well.

Well Monday came, and I spent the day in a bit of a healthy scramble. Firstly, my cooperating teacher was sick (which it seems to be pretty common right now as the weather is warm one moment and cold the next many people are catching spring colds). Well that taught me the nice lesson that they do not have substitutes here. Instead teachers who are on free periods cover the class.

The school day here starts with registration (which I have mentioned before as being a role call and homeroom setting). Since my cooperating teacher was out, and basically everyone else has a registration class, I was able to fill in! They are a fun bunch of kids (I know them because they are in my Geography class I teach) and so I got to do the very teacher thing of taking attendance!

After registration on Mondays every class stays in their registration classes for a personal/homeroom like time. Here they can ask questions and talk about problems. Well, again, I was asked to cover it! It turned into a full adventure as it was the day they were meant to start designing their yearbook pages. So I got to teach my students about brainstorming and the fun it can be. They were all so excited, and it just catches!

After I finished with that class, I got to see them again after I had a short break off. They were with me in the library for a Geography project. The teacher who I was working with in Geography was also gone (he had a swimming Gala to lead), so I ended up watching over his class. Being called Miss Nordby, just leaves me grinning now!!

I finished up the day teaching my year 8 history class, who were loud and chaotic! It felt just like home!! I'm really beginning to find a place here as I let go of home a bit and embrace the now. The kids are wonderful!!

Tuesday was busy! Not in the same way as Monday was, but the way my schedule is I'm left busier on Tuesday Thursdays. In my opinion my lessons went very well. The one I was most proud of was the start of my Native American unit! The kids were great and excited! I couldn't believe how enthusiastic they were! It was once again one of those very proud moments.  I taught a few other classes, but in the end it was that Native American unit that left me happy.

I ended my day at the starbucks (I really need a frequent flyer card lol). I spent the time looking at jobs online and working on my lessons for Wednesday. The night was pretty calm and simple and I went to bed with a new form of peace.

Lastly, today, which isn't fully over. I have a few minutes left in the school day, but I get free internet access when I'm here so I'm updating now while I still have the energy. Once again I know it's not interesting to all, but I had another successful day teaching. I fall more in love with this experience each day. I taught my first official geography lesson and it went very well, my year 10 class is so full of energy and questions!

I plan on spending another evening at the coffee shop working, and planning a bit more of my future. I hope you all know that I am becoming a bit happier each day. Though I miss you all so much, I am thankful for my time here. I am thankful for all the things I get to learn, and experience. I just wanted you all to know that I am glad I chose to come, and more importantly, I'm glad I stuck it out through the rough patches. You learn so much when you branch out!

Speaking of learning, the word of the day is Kaffee, you guessed it that's coffee. Then there is milch, which is milk and lastly Zucker (I think) for sugar. So now I can older a coffee with milk and sugar if I want! Well good bye all for now... And I promise to try better about posting for you all. Oh and an update on the twizzler front, none have yet to be found and no replacement yet. Though Germany is the birth place of gummy bears (which sadly I actually don't like). So long for now!