This was my view upon waking up. Alas it lasted for only 15 minutes before the clouds rolled in.
Students seem to have similar concerns around the world. The opening activity for the senior students today was to list out ways they would like to see their school change (see below). I don't think it would be much different in Maine. The principal, Mr. Lauenstein, emphasized how important and valuable the ability to be critical is. It is a gift he said, and with that gift also comes the responsibility to be self-aware and find ways to contribute to change positively.
I am observing across elementary classrooms for the next few days in order to learn how curriculum, teaching practices and student engagement looks across classrooms. There is one class per grade (class size varies from 14 to 22), except for Kindergarten which has 35 students and four teachers. Each classroom has a lead teacher and one or two paraprofessional teachers. On Friday I will then meet with teachers to discuss my observations and decide next steps.
Students write down ways they would like to see their school improve.
Kindergarteners at morning meeting.
First graders working on word work and sentences.
A first grader copies vocabulary words in his notebook. Good penmanship is valued
Popcorn words for first graders.
Comprehension check cues in third grade classroom.
Second graders work on spelling.
Love seeing the pics of the students in their uniforms and the work they are doing in class! It looks like your own children are settling in. Tell Ethan hello from us! :)
ReplyDeleteCurious if you have a cook, or if you are responsible for cooking your own meals? Do the students have lunch at school, or bring lunch from home?
There is lunch served at school each day, with a varied menu of Indian cuisine. Yesterday we had spicey pasta, "french fries" with fried strips of bitter gourd (I really like these), rice and a yellow lentil dal and a cuke and carrot salad. Lunch comes as VEG or NON-VEG, so on the NON-VEG side of the dining hall there are the same options with chicken (usually). There are two tea breaks a day as well. One at 10:30 and one at 3pm. School starts at 9am and ends at 4pm. We luckily have a cook or "house helper" at home, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with all these ingredients!
ReplyDeleteOur friends in Cape Elizabeth want to know why there is a 'shoe rack' job for the kids?
ReplyDeleteGood question! Student and teachers take their shoes off before entering classrooms and the library. It is a funny thing to get used to but very comfy to be learning without shoes on! I will try to take some more pictures of the shoe racks and outside of the classrooms and post them.
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