PUES that said, I love my job. Period. I was a little worried from the start that I would step into my first classroom (which is ironically held outside - P.E.) and panic after realizing that I had no interest in or calling to be working with children...but it's been entirely the opposite. I've never felt more needed. I've spent almost six years working toward a career that I've always tried to aim in a direction that would bring me closer to fulfillment - only to gain little to no ground.
This is different, maybe because I've approached it with the opposite attitude? Regardless, I can't even explain how great it feels to be directly involved in (I hate to say it as it's a cliche and everything, but..) molding the minds of tomorrow. In Spain. This job is perfect for me - I tend to get extremely restless if I settle into any sort of repetitious form - whether it be work-related or relationships - but the best thing about my work is there is something new every day.
Wednesday, when my week "officially starts" at C.E.I.P. Astigi, is my "little" day. I start off in P.E. for two periods with both first-grade classes and then head to music class with 2B. Normally I would have a break between 12-12:30 pm while the kids attend "recreo" but I skip that to work with Marta, one of the English teachers, with 4B for a half hour. After that, we run around to our three last English classes: 3A, 4A and 3B in a time span of 45 minutes. It sounds like a lot, but working with 3- and 4-year olds doesn't require a lot of time since they're about to drop from nap deprivation so it goes quickly but efficiently.
Thursdays are a little more diverse. I start in my 3A English class - Sara is 25-years old and from nearby Cordoba. This is her first year teaching at Astigi, and I have to say that she's an incredible teacher. Her strategy in class is professional, yet relatable to the kids. Plus it doesn't hurt that she and I have similar likes and dislikes, so we gel well in and out of the classroom. After that I cross the hall to the 3B class for music class with Tere (who is also the vice principal). She's a veteran teacher and absolutely incredible at her job. I work with her in private lessons on Friday afternoons to improve her English, and I've gotten to know her pretty well - she's an extremely talented musician and singer who is married with two children (both who I have at Astigi); it's impressive to work with her and see how she's streamlined her love for music into teaching to correlate to her family life. I'm inspired by her.. PUES, after music I run down to be with my 1B class for English.
Aside: I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but I have to say that both of my first-grade classes are my favorite to teach. I could be having the most shit-morning ever and they could - and do - bring me out of it every time. There is something so beautiful about their raw vulnerability and innocent curiosity toward life. They haven't yet been corrupted by war or politics, crushed by love, or just plain disappointed by life. The cloud always has a silver lining for them - and their enthusiasm is infectious. They're a little slow on the uptake at times when it comes to retaining English, but their genuine intrigue and approach to having me in the classroom is what makes me feel like I'm in the right place finally at the right time in my life. I can see them growing into their own personalities every day; this has to be one of my favorite aspects of teaching, hoping that I somehow can aid or play a part in this even in the smallest iota. 30+ plus kids who were strangers to me two months ago I would now do anything for!
After English class, we have the half-hour break in the teacher's lounge where I can suck down a cafe con leche (on Fridays it's usually an espresso, lol) and make photocopies for class or private lessons. Then I meet up with Sara again for our final classes of the day, 4A and 5B English. These are trickier classes for me because many of the kids are at that awkward, self-conscious stage in their development where they feel the need to be snide with teachers and downright cruel to each other. A lot of this can be attributed to hyperactivity - learning disabilities like ADD/ADHD tend to go undiagnosed here in Spain - and I'm hoping that as time passes and the kids become more accustomed to Sara and I, they'll settle into a more comfortable routine with us.
Friday is my "old" day with a brief hiatus, or breath of fresh air, with 2A. First I begin with 6A and 6B back-to-back with the director of the school, Santiago. These are definitely two of my favorite classes to teach because these are the oldest students, so they kind of have their heads on straight. Classes are structured tightly by Santiago, but are also fun and engaging. After that I have 2A English with Sara, the "recreo" break, and 1A English with Lola. Again, with the first graders, it's such a fun class..my final class is 5A with Raul, a younger teacher from Cordoba. His English is really good, so it makes it easier for me to work off of him in class. His kids are much more well-behaved than Sara's (probably because they've had him for an extra year), so it's an engaging class to work with - and it's always nice when we can goof around. I especially had a fun Halloween with them because Raul was out of town so I was basically left in charge of the kids - dressed head-to-toe in a witch costume (who takes a witch seriously?) We had a blast making Halloween masks. I brought in my carved pumpkin and blasted "Thriller" ..about 1,000 times on repeat..and afterward when the bell rang and everyone had stampeded out the door, one of the girls caught me before I left and told me how much she appreciated the class. That in itself was worth walking through town with witch hat-hair and sore feet from scaling the stairs all day in my black boots.
So overall, this has begun as an amazing experience. I'm obviously learning the small-town politics that plague every school, but I am learning to adapt to the school system here and above all things, love my job. Period. I will leave you with some Halloween pictures of my students:
Aside: I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but I have to say that both of my first-grade classes are my favorite to teach. I could be having the most shit-morning ever and they could - and do - bring me out of it every time. There is something so beautiful about their raw vulnerability and innocent curiosity toward life. They haven't yet been corrupted by war or politics, crushed by love, or just plain disappointed by life. The cloud always has a silver lining for them - and their enthusiasm is infectious. They're a little slow on the uptake at times when it comes to retaining English, but their genuine intrigue and approach to having me in the classroom is what makes me feel like I'm in the right place finally at the right time in my life. I can see them growing into their own personalities every day; this has to be one of my favorite aspects of teaching, hoping that I somehow can aid or play a part in this even in the smallest iota. 30+ plus kids who were strangers to me two months ago I would now do anything for!
After English class, we have the half-hour break in the teacher's lounge where I can suck down a cafe con leche (on Fridays it's usually an espresso, lol) and make photocopies for class or private lessons. Then I meet up with Sara again for our final classes of the day, 4A and 5B English. These are trickier classes for me because many of the kids are at that awkward, self-conscious stage in their development where they feel the need to be snide with teachers and downright cruel to each other. A lot of this can be attributed to hyperactivity - learning disabilities like ADD/ADHD tend to go undiagnosed here in Spain - and I'm hoping that as time passes and the kids become more accustomed to Sara and I, they'll settle into a more comfortable routine with us.
Friday is my "old" day with a brief hiatus, or breath of fresh air, with 2A. First I begin with 6A and 6B back-to-back with the director of the school, Santiago. These are definitely two of my favorite classes to teach because these are the oldest students, so they kind of have their heads on straight. Classes are structured tightly by Santiago, but are also fun and engaging. After that I have 2A English with Sara, the "recreo" break, and 1A English with Lola. Again, with the first graders, it's such a fun class..my final class is 5A with Raul, a younger teacher from Cordoba. His English is really good, so it makes it easier for me to work off of him in class. His kids are much more well-behaved than Sara's (probably because they've had him for an extra year), so it's an engaging class to work with - and it's always nice when we can goof around. I especially had a fun Halloween with them because Raul was out of town so I was basically left in charge of the kids - dressed head-to-toe in a witch costume (who takes a witch seriously?) We had a blast making Halloween masks. I brought in my carved pumpkin and blasted "Thriller" ..about 1,000 times on repeat..and afterward when the bell rang and everyone had stampeded out the door, one of the girls caught me before I left and told me how much she appreciated the class. That in itself was worth walking through town with witch hat-hair and sore feet from scaling the stairs all day in my black boots.
So overall, this has begun as an amazing experience. I'm obviously learning the small-town politics that plague every school, but I am learning to adapt to the school system here and above all things, love my job. Period. I will leave you with some Halloween pictures of my students:
Jules and I carving our pumpkins for "school"/our own personal nostalgic needs.
Sara came over to help/witness our pagan traditions.
My finished pumpkin, Jack!
Sara and I with our 3B class on Halloween.
1B class
1A, face paint included.
4A with their masks!
6A on the Friday before Halloween!
5A
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