“Miss Stang, can we have some craic?”

In case you were wondering, I do actually go to school and do some teaching around here too. This is my second week of teaching lessons at school and let me just say, it is definitely different than my previous placement.

For starters, prior to teaching in Northern Ireland I never had a student come up to me and ask if we were going to have craic while I was teaching. My immediate response would have been something along the lines of…”uhm, excuse me?” However my response to this ever so innocent question was more similar to “as long as you listen and follow directions.” For those of you thinking what I think you’re thinking, no, I did not tell a student I was going to give them craic. I just told them that as long as they behaved that we were going to have fun. That’s right, in Irish lingo craic = fun.

So hopefully the 30 students in my P5 (3^rd grade) classroom are having some craic while I’m teaching. The curriculum is noticeably different and not being in the classroom five days a week has proven to be a challenge. However, I’ve managed to teach a few lessons about time, life cycles, and even worked with some reading groups. I’m trying to make the lessons as interactive as possible and use the limited resources I have wisely. It has been challenging to gauge the ability level of students but I adapt as I go and we make the best of every lesson! And the assessments are proving they are learning something, so we’re going to chalk it up to a success.

Other noticeable differences:

• All students wear a uniform.
• Christmas is not only celebrated at school, but pure mayhem ensues. It’s only November 11^th and the hype has already started. I have already purchased a lovely Christmas jumper (sweater) for the occasion.
• Even though it is a public school the students have Religion class, pray, and sing hymns in school.
• General education teachers teach ALL subjects. Dundonald Primary is exceptionally lucky to have a music specialist, but my mentor teacher teaches both PE and art.
• Instead of the curriculum being broken down by grade level, it is broken down into Key Stages, which are comprised of 3 or 4 grade levels. This makes it incredibly hard to know where the students left off and where to start teaching.
• Lesson plan expectations are different and are much more time consuming.
• I have to teach the 24 hour clock…uhm what?!? Add 12…I think?!?
• But most importantly, Fun Fridays still are taking on a whole new meaning. During my eight days in the classroom I have seen Aladdin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, James and the Giant Peach, The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Lion and the Mouse.

Thankfully we still seem to have plenty of time to explore Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. We visited the Giants Causeway this past weekend and are headed to Dublin this coming weekend. This blogging is harder than I thought…especially with schoolwork for Drake, lesson planning, homework for Stranmillis, and trying to have some craic. 🙂  But stay tuned for blogs on both weekend adventures!

Cheers,
Mary

Working hard or hardly working?

First Day of School

Did you know that even if you’re from America you don’t know what’s common in America? I was told, well more like adamantly informed by an eight year old, that green garden snakes are everywhere in the U.S. and you see one on every corner. When I pleasantly responded that I try to avoid the slimy creatures at all costs and don’t frequently find myself running into them as I gallivant through fields Harry was not impressed. And I mean desk flipping not impressed.

Although this visual might be slightly extreme, he definitely shoved his desk and scoffed at me. I don’t know how I could be so stupid. But just like at home, eight year olds are all knowing.

Other than this slightly aggressive start to my day, the first day of school was fairly painless. I will be spending the next nine weeks at Dundonald Primary School. This primary school is located about ten miles east of Stranmillis University College, my home for my time abroad and the teaching school of Queen’s University. Dundonald has about 750 pupils and four sections of 30 students in almost all grade levels. I will be spending my time in a P5 classroom, the equivalent of third grade.

After my first day, I now have a brand new definition for “Fun Fridays.” Apart from taking their weekly tests in the morning, there was very little actual instruction that I observed. The morning started with an assembly and was immediately followed by P.E. (taught by none other than the classroom teacher – guess I better brush up on my P.E., art, and music abilities). I also continued to live up to my stupid American status when numerous kids asked me for help tying their uniform ties after P.E. and I was worthless to them (thanks for nothing dad).

They ended up being able to fend for themselves and got their ties on, just in time for break time. Yes, you read that correctly. Break time, as in a break from playing. At this point in the day the classroom assistant was responsible for the kids while the teachers all made their way downstairs to the staff room equal to the size of my entire apartment. Here teachers are able to have their tea/coffee and scones in peace and quiet while kicking back on the numerous couches that have foot rests and all. Coming from my placement where I didn’t even get to eat lunch in the staff room, I’m looking at you America to implement this new found peace and quiet. We eventually made our way back up to the classroom and actually did a few academics before lunchtime and recess out in the spitting rain that I’m quickly become accustomed to.

I assumed being my naïve self that the real learning was going to take place after lunch, right? Wrong. Friday afternoons are known as golden time in my classroom. This essentially means game time. Students had the choice between Legos, drawing, board games, dominos, or football cards. For not one, but two hours. On the plus side I got some drawings given to me to make my prison cell of a room a little more visually stimulating.

I’m slightly anxious to see what a non-Friday looks like in the school because my mentor teacher does seem to know what he’s doing. There’s classroom management plans in place, learning targets on the board, and lots of references for students around the room. So I think there is actual learning that takes place or at least there’s going to be once I’m in charge. But until then, I plan to avoid having any more desks thrown my direction, become slightly less of a stupid American, and hopefully in the mean time explore a little more of Belfast.

Cheers,

Mary