More from Houston
So, I didn't do very well with the daily entries, so here's an update. It's official: I have now been teaching a week. I share a class with four others, and we all teach two hours a day (the first hour together, and then after that we each have one). We have 14 amazing 4th graders who I already love. They're all in an ESL class, and 12 of them speak Spanish. The other two are not Spanish speakers, which surprised me. One girl is from Cambodia, and a little boy is from Egypt, but he's originally Indian. They're all amazing.
It's so difficult, though. Things that I found so easy are real challenges for them, and it's a challenge for me to help them understand it. I taught writing this week, and I'll teach reading next week. Then the third day, we each get to teach a full day. The last week I'll teach science.
I got 5 1/2 hours of sleep one night this week, and that was the most, so I'm probably running on caffeine. I'm definitely looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow.
As difficult as this has been, it's so amazing. I don't think about anything else when I'm in front of the class. I want to learn everything I can about these kids and from these kids. I actually think that the most difficult part is that I feel like I'm doing them a disservice; I'm not a talented enough teacher yet to really be able to help them.
Well, I'll complain a little bit now :) It's rained every day we've been here, so that's making me crazy. There are cockroaches all around the outside of the building...although actually that one just makes me happy they're not in the building. The food is rather unhealthy, very few fruits and vegetables as options.
On the whole, though, I'm having a great experience. Although a little more sleep would be nice...
It's so difficult, though. Things that I found so easy are real challenges for them, and it's a challenge for me to help them understand it. I taught writing this week, and I'll teach reading next week. Then the third day, we each get to teach a full day. The last week I'll teach science.
I got 5 1/2 hours of sleep one night this week, and that was the most, so I'm probably running on caffeine. I'm definitely looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow.
As difficult as this has been, it's so amazing. I don't think about anything else when I'm in front of the class. I want to learn everything I can about these kids and from these kids. I actually think that the most difficult part is that I feel like I'm doing them a disservice; I'm not a talented enough teacher yet to really be able to help them.
Well, I'll complain a little bit now :) It's rained every day we've been here, so that's making me crazy. There are cockroaches all around the outside of the building...although actually that one just makes me happy they're not in the building. The food is rather unhealthy, very few fruits and vegetables as options.
On the whole, though, I'm having a great experience. Although a little more sleep would be nice...