RCOE International Student Teaching Spring 08

As of now, Mexico has provided me with not only an opportunity to broaden my teaching perspective, but also to confuse me! I never thought, in all of my years, that I would be placed in the situation to be teaching second grade. I have always thought of myself as someone who deals better with adults and teenagers than with small children. I still stick to my guns on the fact that I am not made to be a full out elementary teacher, although after having the students by myself completely (my cooperating teacher flew home to Canada for the week) I know that I am capable.

The part about Mexico that has confused me most is whether or not I should be teaching Spanish, or just working with Hispanic students. I have pondered working with English as a Second Language through this experience because I enjoy seeing students work through problems with a language other than their own--which also falls into the category of Spanish education! I know that with the lack of ESL teachers available I could end up in this sort of role.

This experience has definitley shown me that I am capable of so much more than I thought possible. Often at the end of the day, especially since having the students by myself, I shock Elyse with the stories I tell her about how I have interacted with them. My friends do not know me as a person who works with small children, let alone one who gets up in front of the class to have a little dance workout to get them pumped and awake for math (this happened, believe it or not).

Through everything that I have experienced here in the classroom and outside of the classroom, the one thing that has completely been instilled in me is my love for the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture. I absolutely love being immersed in it and having an opportunity to teach outside my spectrum has been an even greater experience. I look forward to the last few days that I have to work with my students and to see what other things I will pick up and bring home to my future classroom.