This week has flown by. As you can see I have not posted one thing for the lack of time and energy. It has been an amazing week! I have met incredible people, ate delicious food, and learned so very much. The first day was solely new teachers, about 30 of us. One of the founders of the school came and wanted to get to know us. He explained the start of the school and how it was born from the University he started, now one of the top five in South America. He reminds me a lot of the founder of my previous school, Corvian Community School. He has his PhD in Physics with a passion for education that teaches liberal arts. Carlos oozed enthusiasm along with charisma for a 65-year old man and extremely captivating. He is all about creating a person that has the ability to use creativity and think critically to solve problems rather then creating widgets for people. I love this mentality and could feel the room unite after he spoke to all of us!
My coworkers are mostly from Guayaquil and have pride that can not be denied. They have accepted me as there own and have been super hospitable. Many have offered to take me places: sushi, movie theater, happy hour, and local restaurants that cook the best local cuisine. I am excited to build these friendship through these experiences and know it will be an adventure. I can not wait to go dancing!!! I think I have kept myself pretty reserved for the sake of trying to get to know everyone but quickly see myself peeling these walls down so that they get to know the true me.
We have been doing writing workshops with two ladies from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA. They have given us ideas, tools, strategies, and creative ways to make writing fun. We have gotten webinars on math curriculum called "How Math Works" Singapor and will get introduced to Foss Science Program next week. This is most exciting for me because after a discussion with the director, Elizabeth, she has changed my position. I will no longer be working with 1st grade but rather 3rd, 4th, and 5th specializing in Science. Elizabeth wants to use my degree, Sustainable Development and feels as though the older students would grasp these concepts better. Colegio Menor has placed an emphasis on citizenship and Elizabeth is welcoming any Sustainable development ideas I come up with to make this relationship with our community valuable. I will technically be the assistant for these three grades, as of now they only have one class in each grade. This campus was only open last year from playgroup,pre-K and kindergarten so we are adding five grades this year. All three lead teachers that I will be working with are men so I am super excited to be apart of the "boys club"! The unknown doesn't scare me as much as possibly failing. I know this truly can't happen because Menor philosophy is nothing is ever failure if you can learn something from it. The anxiety is still there and will work through by asking questions and reeling on the team Elizabeth has built. I am so ready for the challenge and had this feeling I would be changed once I got here.
We are headed to the beach tomorrow and super excited to spend the weekend relaxing and still trying to digest the week. I know this has been more of an overview rather than any emotion but wanted to catch you up. Thank you again for all the comments! They mean so so much to read!
My coworkers are mostly from Guayaquil and have pride that can not be denied. They have accepted me as there own and have been super hospitable. Many have offered to take me places: sushi, movie theater, happy hour, and local restaurants that cook the best local cuisine. I am excited to build these friendship through these experiences and know it will be an adventure. I can not wait to go dancing!!! I think I have kept myself pretty reserved for the sake of trying to get to know everyone but quickly see myself peeling these walls down so that they get to know the true me.
We have been doing writing workshops with two ladies from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA. They have given us ideas, tools, strategies, and creative ways to make writing fun. We have gotten webinars on math curriculum called "How Math Works" Singapor and will get introduced to Foss Science Program next week. This is most exciting for me because after a discussion with the director, Elizabeth, she has changed my position. I will no longer be working with 1st grade but rather 3rd, 4th, and 5th specializing in Science. Elizabeth wants to use my degree, Sustainable Development and feels as though the older students would grasp these concepts better. Colegio Menor has placed an emphasis on citizenship and Elizabeth is welcoming any Sustainable development ideas I come up with to make this relationship with our community valuable. I will technically be the assistant for these three grades, as of now they only have one class in each grade. This campus was only open last year from playgroup,pre-K and kindergarten so we are adding five grades this year. All three lead teachers that I will be working with are men so I am super excited to be apart of the "boys club"! The unknown doesn't scare me as much as possibly failing. I know this truly can't happen because Menor philosophy is nothing is ever failure if you can learn something from it. The anxiety is still there and will work through by asking questions and reeling on the team Elizabeth has built. I am so ready for the challenge and had this feeling I would be changed once I got here.
We are headed to the beach tomorrow and super excited to spend the weekend relaxing and still trying to digest the week. I know this has been more of an overview rather than any emotion but wanted to catch you up. Thank you again for all the comments! They mean so so much to read!