This week's topic is "views on childhood/children in the host nation." This topic comes right after the incident at Sandy Hook school. I think everyone is hugging their children and loved ones a little tighter this weekend. Whether you're in Spain or in the United States, children are loved. As President Obama said, it's like "having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around." That's what makes them so special. Everywhere I go, there is a parent holding their child's hand or pushing their baby in a stroller. I've yet to see a child reluctant to be at their parent's side. It makes me smile that parents are always tending to their children. Almost all of the children get walked to school or get dropped off by their parents and sometimes grandparents, and picked up later at the end of the day. Only a few arrive with just siblings or friends. It's a beautiful thing that family is so cherished here.
Children are adored. There are toy stores everywhere and clothing boutiques specifically for children. The kids are adorably dressed, too. In school, teachers treat students as if they were their own children, hugs and kisses are normal. However, school is for learning. I've heard that trillions of times from many different teachers. The way of teaching is a little "old school," where there is not much play involved. Students are responsible from a young age to copy their homework and important dates in their agendas. Also, at the end of the day, two students from each classroom literally clean up the classroom. Clap erasers, sweep the floors, pick up trash, and empty the trash bin are some of the jobs they do.
With respect to teachers, children call their teachers by their first names. I have been meaning to ask if it's like this at every school in Spain, but I haven't. I definitely think that it's easier to use first names in Spain because everyone has at least two last names here! And this makes me happy because I love how Spaniards say my name...kaaAAAAAate!"
I've been meaning to touch on the norms in school. First of all, I'd like to point out that the students here have many similarities to students at home. They love BeyBlades, Justin Beiber, and Spongebob. They like to talk when the teacher is talking. They raise their hand in the middle of a super important and exciting lesson asking to go to the bathroom or drink water. On the other hand, some things are different. They are allowed to run in the hallways. They don't necessarily have to keep their hands to themselves. They keep their backpacks at their seats. They are left alone in class as teachers change classes. And sometimes teachers arrive late. These were things that surprised me!
One thing that I've noticed and love, is students draw and color a lot. School assignments, note-taking, and even tests require students to take out their crayons (pinturas) and add color to their learning. I love this because not only do I love coloring, but I believe children should definitely be able to express themselves by drawing. For example, one teacher was giving notes to a 5th grade class on genetics. She had them draw Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics. She had a contest for who drew him the best. How fun!
Well, this entry was a little all over the place, but that directly reflects how my mind has been feeling lately. So much to do during my last week here!!!!
Here's what I did last week (Week of December 10 - 15)
1 Infantil: "Merry Christmas" Tree Card
2 Infantil: Farm animals, head shoulders knees and toes; Happy Christmas coloring page
Cono 1: began "My Family" unit on winter and Christmas
Ingles 2: reviewed for exam
Cono 2: celebrations
Ingles 3: reviewed units 1 & 2 by playing the fly swatter game/trashketball. They loved it! We also did The Gingerbread Man reader's theater. They liked the story!
Cono 4: corrected science homework and helped them review for their upcoming exam.
Ingles 5: We wrote letters to students back in Norristown. First I had them read the student's letters and then reply. It was fun! They were really interested. I passed around pictures of my students at home and they were all surprised to find a sink in the classroom! Haha!
Cono 5: played a review game that involved trashketball. I don't think these kids have ever reviewed this way before because they really liked it.
Ingles 6: We talked about basketball and read my dad's wikipedia page in English. Then we had a discussion on how college works in the United States and what other things were different. It was such a pleasure especially because this class is so respectful and sweet. After, they made me a beautiful card.
Ingles 4 ESO: Did a survey like last week, except this time it was about food and eating habits.
Well, that's all for now!
Adios
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