RCOE International Student Teaching Spring 08

Today is the second to last day at school for us in Guadalajara. My teacher had arranged for me to spend some time visiting other classrooms in the school this week so I could receive an ever greater understanding of the school. Today I visited a Pre-Kinder and Kindergarten combination class for awhile. It was so incredibly different from a Kindergarten classroom in the States.

Here at ASFG, they use an Italian theory in their early-childhood program that is completely focused on exploratory learning. It was so interesting to see children in their center time this morning. They are actually quite calm and quiet and performed different tasks with such patience. It was very different from most things I am used to seeing.

I was talking with the teacher, Miss Stephanie, and she was telling me how she sends home a "Daily Journal" via email to her parents. It is some digital photographs of what the children did that day with some comments and short sentences telling parents what happened at school that day. She also poses all of the really thought-provoking questions to the parents and uses this journal as a means of keeping them updated and involved on what is going on in the classroom. She keeps a hard copy in her room and I read some of the entries. I love this idea! I would love to incorporate this into my own classroom in some way because I thought it was a great way to have parents really know about what is going on at school. It can also be used as a means of accountability because she has one for each day of the school year thus far.

Another thing I have noticed in my time here is how much the students are so much more free. They have more freedom than any elementary classroom I have ever seen at home. They do not typically walk in lines anywhere--to recess, the cafeteria, etc. However, they all always end up exactly where they are supposed to be (generally speaking) at the right time. Perhaps in the States, we should give our children more freedom within the school. On the other hand, ASFG doesn't have traditional hallways as classrooms open to the outside. This configuration lends itself to giving students more freedom, I think.

Now that we have started to pack things up and are beginning to wrap up our time here in Mexico, I realize how little I have thought about things from home since I have been here. The other day one of the teachers (who is from the US) mentioned something to me about the election, and it occurred to me that I could not even have a conversation about it because I have not heard about it in such a long time. I am anxious to get home because it is important to be able to answer those questions and have intelligent, thoughtful opinions.

I got back to my classroom after my kinder observation only to be "kicked out" because my students were working on a secret project for tomorrow, my last day. I am really going to miss this class because of how much they have taught me about patience and tolerance and understanding. They are so affectionate and I will miss their sweet smiles and hugs every day!