Even though most of these kids are super polite, we still need to have some management
tricks up our sleeve. The question is, what kind of management techniques? Some
strategies we used in the states seems to be ineffective here in Spain while others have
still been useful. For the youngins, Christa and Libby have been using some singing
management to gain the students' attention. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, we were talking now we're done!" and "tootsie roll tootsie roll lolly pop, we were talking now we stop" have worked in their classrooms. Alyssa, on the other hand, tried turning the lights off to
get the students to be quiet, and (when she finally found the light switch) nothing really happened. Some of us have also tried to do clapping patterns for students to repeat. Sometimes the students will repeat the pattern and sometimes they will just
start clapping loudly while still talking or moving around. It has been interesting to see what does and does not work for management techniques over here!
There are also different techniques that the teachers here use that we've never seen/heard before. We are all familiar with the "clean up song" in America. Over here in kindergarten it's not the "clean up song", it's the "tidy up song." And thanks to Christa and Libby's beautiful singing back at the apartment, we are lucky enough to have this song ingrained in our brains as well!
The language and accent differences have also been a factor in our teaching. We don't throw things in the garbage, we throw things in the bin. We don't erase our mistakes, we rub them out. We're starting to get used to saying these phrases instead of saying
"garbage" and "erase," yet the accent differences have been a bit of a problem when it comes to phonics and spelling tests. As Ashley was giving her class a spelling test, she would say the word and the students would reply, "What?!" Then when Ashley said the word in a sentence..."Ohhh you mean _________!" Phonics is also tough! It is hard enough knowing what each letter or blend sounds like, but when you throw in all of the accents it's just a mess!
While these issues can sometimes be hard to overcome, many of them are also humorous. The most important part is that we get through the day accomplishing our goals. Then we can go home and give each other advice, or chuckle at all of our frustrating/funny stories. :)
tricks up our sleeve. The question is, what kind of management techniques? Some
strategies we used in the states seems to be ineffective here in Spain while others have
still been useful. For the youngins, Christa and Libby have been using some singing
management to gain the students' attention. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, we were talking now we're done!" and "tootsie roll tootsie roll lolly pop, we were talking now we stop" have worked in their classrooms. Alyssa, on the other hand, tried turning the lights off to
get the students to be quiet, and (when she finally found the light switch) nothing really happened. Some of us have also tried to do clapping patterns for students to repeat. Sometimes the students will repeat the pattern and sometimes they will just
start clapping loudly while still talking or moving around. It has been interesting to see what does and does not work for management techniques over here!
There are also different techniques that the teachers here use that we've never seen/heard before. We are all familiar with the "clean up song" in America. Over here in kindergarten it's not the "clean up song", it's the "tidy up song." And thanks to Christa and Libby's beautiful singing back at the apartment, we are lucky enough to have this song ingrained in our brains as well!
The language and accent differences have also been a factor in our teaching. We don't throw things in the garbage, we throw things in the bin. We don't erase our mistakes, we rub them out. We're starting to get used to saying these phrases instead of saying
"garbage" and "erase," yet the accent differences have been a bit of a problem when it comes to phonics and spelling tests. As Ashley was giving her class a spelling test, she would say the word and the students would reply, "What?!" Then when Ashley said the word in a sentence..."Ohhh you mean _________!" Phonics is also tough! It is hard enough knowing what each letter or blend sounds like, but when you throw in all of the accents it's just a mess!
While these issues can sometimes be hard to overcome, many of them are also humorous. The most important part is that we get through the day accomplishing our goals. Then we can go home and give each other advice, or chuckle at all of our frustrating/funny stories. :)
-Chelsea
No comments:
Post a Comment