10 October 2017

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Section A:

This week is a little hard for me because I only went for about forty-five minutes since I decided to switch to Fifth Avenue. While I was there, I didn’t get to really engage with the students— I did not even introduce myself formally. For the first ten to fifteen minutes, all I did was talk with their gym teacher (I assume they had just switched from gym to their English class, but the teacher had not arrived yet), and he kind of introduced us to the class then too. Then for the remaining time, we (Anastasia, Sara, and I) talked with the teacher Elena (the teacher) about whether we were all staying in her class and what we should do. Then, Sara went to find the director, but while she was gone, I decided that I would just go ahead and leave because I had decided by seeing the class that I would rather work with Fifth Avenue instead.

The biggest thing I noticed while I was at the school is that the classroom was not as controlled as it is in the States. Students were flipping their water bottles, yelling, talking, walking in and out of the classroom. It was really strange to see this because I have been in several elementary school classrooms of all grades and ages, and I had never see such unorganized and wild behavior. Their teacher even yelled at them, literally. There was not warning given so it caught me by surprise but it did get them to calm down. I do not know if it was just these students/ class but it was a completely different environment then I have seen.

Section B:

My biggest takeaway from my first visit to a Spanish school is that it will not be like the American classrooms I have been in. I’m sure transitioning is hard for them because the students are seven year-olds but still it was quite shocking. I think it will hard for me to know the boundaries between the students and me, and the teacher and me. I look forward to interacting with a younger group though because it will be completely different for me!

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18 October 2017

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Section A: 

Today was my first day at the preschool, and I LOVED it. I am working with Cristina at Fifth Avenue and she’s great. I have a lot of initiative to begin with, but Cristina helped and encouraged me to interact with the students. She had me reading stories to them, playing games (like Simon Says), and leading songs and dances (like head-shoulders-knees-and-toes or baby shark). It was a lot of fun. 

Aside from what she has me doing, I talked with Diego, the director, a lot. He wanted to make it known that the experience is what I make of it but also they are here to help me in any way possible. It was very welcoming. Also, I had to get a feel for the classroom. So while I was doing a lot in the class, there’s a lot to learn. I need to learn the songs they sing in the morning, the children’s names, and in general, how I interact with the students. 

Section B:

After today, I know I made the correct decision to switch to the preschool. I think I would have done well at the other school but Fifth Avenue was more of what I was expecting. I can already tell that I will gain so much from this internship. It is also nice that I’m getting to work with an age group that it unfamiliar to me. Similarly to the primary school, the teacher-student interactions are very different from the States, not in a bad way though. They almost seem to have a closer relationship which makes me excited for the coming weeks!

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27 October 2017

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Section A:

Today was a really normal day. Cristina had me read a story to the class, play Simon Says, and do head-shoulders-knees-and-toes with the class. It was a lot of fun. It is really exciting that, even though it was only my second week with them, I have learned most of their names too. I feel a part of the class already. Overall, it was a great day.

She continued to make me comfortable in the classroom and a big part of the class. Last week, I had to get a feel for the classroom. I think I’ve picked up on how to interact with the class and what my role is in the classroom. I’m there is an aid primarily, then as an intern, and finally as a role model. I like that Cristina gives me task to do in the class, I don’t think I would enjoy helping as much if she didn’t make me feel like I was needed.

Section B:

I don’t really have anything that inspirational or Becca happened this week. I think it’s important for me to know my place in the classroom and the line that I have with the students. That being said, the line in Spain is much different than what it would be the United States. I also don’t think preschool is that hard to work with.

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8 November 2017

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15 November 2017

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Section A:

The class was a little hectic today. There was a good reason for it though. It was my first day working with the new teacher since the other teacher I worked with got sick and had to be replaced. It created an interesting dynamic in the classroom. While Rocio (the new teacher) was trying to learn their names and build a relationship with the students, I had already done that so it was almost like it was my classroom, which was cool and strange. I did a lot of classroom management while Rocio taught the lesson or prepared the next activity. She was still learning the songs we do in the morning (like the hello song and the weather song) so I was leading the songs instead of following the lead. I’m thankful that Cristina (the old teacher) gave me a lot of freedom and responsibility in the class, otherwise today would have been extreme difficult. 

Other than have a new teacher and being more in charge, it was a normal day. We began the class by singing the hello and weather song. We also did a craft. The craft was revolved around the idea of more and less. The students had to add flower stickers to these paper mittens. I would tell them to put this flower on the mitten with more or less and most of them really understood and did well! After all that, they went to recess and we played.

Section B:

My take away from today was classroom management and leading the class. It was incredible to be the head of the class at times. I also noticed that a teacher’s relationship with their students make all the difference. I’m glad Rocio was there and also thankful I could have this opportunity. However, it did show me that I don’t want to teacher preschool age students.

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22 November 2017

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Section A:

Today, because it was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we prepares a small activity for the students and showed them a video to explain Thanksgiving. We had the Students first paint a piece of paper with the color brown. It was particularly fun because, with our help, they got to mix the brown themselves. It wasn’t thought through that well though because we had all the students doing the same activity at once, and paint messy… So they were covered in brown paint; the tables were covered in brown paint; their clothes were also covered in brown paint; and we even were covered in brown. So while the paper was drying we showed them a video of explaining Thanksgiving and cleaned up the room and students. This may have not been that successful because the level of English in the video was much higher than their general comprehension up. So Danielle and I switched to songs about Thanksgiving, this was better because it kept the kids interested. After the paper a dried and the kids were all cleaned up, we went back to the activity. The kids painted with their fingers little leaves on the papers to show the colors of far this season. He got messy but overall it was a good experience and the kids enjoyed it.

Section B:

Today taught me that you have to, especially younger kids, divide and conquer. We had three adults in the room and we did not organize it well enough to where it went smoothly. It was still a lot of fun and I’m really glad that we decided that out to do an activity that let the students express themselves. To me, that’s one of the most important things I did you can do.

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29 November 2017

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Section A:

This was my last day interning at the preschool, and THEY THREW DANIELLE AND I A SURPRISE PARTY!! It was so much fun but a little awkward because we showed up late by almost an hour. It’s not important to the day itself but Danielle and I were every discouraged because we walked forty minutes in the rain and overpaid for the cab we finally ended up taking. We wanted to just turn around, but thankfully we didn’t. These kids completely lifted our spirits back up. We walked into the class together (our classes were combined) and all the kids were smiling at us and happy to see us. It made everything worth it. We celebrated with donuts and cake. Once everyone was done eating, we moved into the empty classroom and had a dress-up/dance party. There wasn’t much order to the day but we had so much fun! It was a good way to end the semester with them. 

Section B:

As my last journal, I would like to reflect on the 10 weeks with these students and teachers. I have truly learned so much working with 2 year-olds daily. I have worked with all age groups but I think they were simultaneously the easiest and hardest age group. This is because scene though they are so interested in everything (because everything is new to them), it takes a lot of attentiveness to them and many activities to keep them engaged throughout the day. Honestly, these teachers deserve the largest and loudest round of applause. I think they are the most fun and sweetest group. They want lots of hugs, stories read, games played, crafts to do and hands to hold. I definitely glad that I chose to intern at Fifth Avenue. 

Additionally, I learned and will be taking away a lot from the Spanish educational system. I like how much closer the teachers seem to the students. They are treated like family, maybe this isn’t because its Spanish but because they are so young, though I think it is a mix of both. Also, I thought it was cool how relaxed it was. Not necessarily the teachers’ teaching but the attitudes. In the States, I hate how concerned the parents are, compared to that, Spain, I think creates a better learning atmosphere. I believe this is due to the control and power of the teacher versus the power and control of the parents. I will really miss interning with these kids and the Spanish system as a whole.