Today was the first day that I spent in the primary classroom teaching. I was excited to use the nomenclature cards that we made for the children. I was very interested to see how the children would react to their use in the classroom. The first child that I used the cards with responded extremely well. She repeated all of the fruits in English and was able to match the cards mostly on her own. It felt great to see the materials that we made being used to help enhance and enrich the children's educational experience at 3 Mariposas Montessori. I also had a chance to use the spindle box with one of the children.
Being in the classroom in a foreign classroom and working with children is an experience that should be had by anyone who is planning on being a teacher. It's hard to explain, but I feel like I am developing a different outlook on how I approach and teach children. Seeing how happy these children are despite the limited opportunities and resources they have available to them is very inspiring. I am learning that education can be created in so many different environments, not just a traditional classroom with desks and a white board. The children here are learning so much, just by interacting with their outdoor environment. When I get home, I plan on incorporating as much of an outdoor environment as I possibly can. I now see how beneficial it is for children's social and physical development as well as their connection to nature to learn from an outdoor environment.
Professor Cummings commented on one of my posts asking what connections I see between Bennett Park Montessori and 3 Mariposas Montessori. The environments are very similar in terms of furniture. All the materials in both classrooms were made from natural nature based materials. The themes common between both environments were peace and respect. My room at Bennett Park had a very well developed language section and 3 Mariposas in still developing one, but is on the track to developing one very similar one to Bennett Parks. Two languages being spoken in the classroom is beyond a valuable skill that these children are being given. The opportunities that will be available to these children for knowing both Spanish and English will allow them to be successful later in life because it will open more doors and a wider range of job options.
The United States needs to put a greater emphasis on teaching children a foreign language when they are in early elementary grades. Martha G. Abbott, Director of Education for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language explained that, "it is critical that foreign language instruction be available to all students throughout their PK-12 academic experience. Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st Century skill set for American students as they prepare to live and work in a global society. No matter what career students enter, they will be interacting with others around the world on a routine basis and doing business locally with those whose native language is not English.
Going to our families house for lunch has become a routine that is beginning to feel natural. Even though we have only been there a few times, I am starting to feel a bond begin to form between Kaycie, myself and the girls in our family. We took a walk with Jenny and Nicole around their neighborhood and even with the language barrier we had an amazing time. The girls had smiles on their faces the entire time and were locked arm and arm with Kaycie and I as we walked down the street. During the walk, I learned the alphabet in Spanish and new vocabulary words like, trees, street and cars. The girls wanted to know when we would be back and wanted to make sure that we would contact them and send them pictures from back home. I truly am going to be sad leaving these girls. I've never felt like more of more like an influential role model in my life. We asked the girls what they wanted to be when they grew up and they told us that they wanted to be an actress and an airplane pilot. It was so amazing to hear that these girls had dreams and goals. They believe that anything is possible and that's so refreshing. I will truly miss them when we leave and hope that they become everything they want to be.
Being in the classroom in a foreign classroom and working with children is an experience that should be had by anyone who is planning on being a teacher. It's hard to explain, but I feel like I am developing a different outlook on how I approach and teach children. Seeing how happy these children are despite the limited opportunities and resources they have available to them is very inspiring. I am learning that education can be created in so many different environments, not just a traditional classroom with desks and a white board. The children here are learning so much, just by interacting with their outdoor environment. When I get home, I plan on incorporating as much of an outdoor environment as I possibly can. I now see how beneficial it is for children's social and physical development as well as their connection to nature to learn from an outdoor environment.
Professor Cummings commented on one of my posts asking what connections I see between Bennett Park Montessori and 3 Mariposas Montessori. The environments are very similar in terms of furniture. All the materials in both classrooms were made from natural nature based materials. The themes common between both environments were peace and respect. My room at Bennett Park had a very well developed language section and 3 Mariposas in still developing one, but is on the track to developing one very similar one to Bennett Parks. Two languages being spoken in the classroom is beyond a valuable skill that these children are being given. The opportunities that will be available to these children for knowing both Spanish and English will allow them to be successful later in life because it will open more doors and a wider range of job options.
The United States needs to put a greater emphasis on teaching children a foreign language when they are in early elementary grades. Martha G. Abbott, Director of Education for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language explained that, "it is critical that foreign language instruction be available to all students throughout their PK-12 academic experience. Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st Century skill set for American students as they prepare to live and work in a global society. No matter what career students enter, they will be interacting with others around the world on a routine basis and doing business locally with those whose native language is not English.
Going to our families house for lunch has become a routine that is beginning to feel natural. Even though we have only been there a few times, I am starting to feel a bond begin to form between Kaycie, myself and the girls in our family. We took a walk with Jenny and Nicole around their neighborhood and even with the language barrier we had an amazing time. The girls had smiles on their faces the entire time and were locked arm and arm with Kaycie and I as we walked down the street. During the walk, I learned the alphabet in Spanish and new vocabulary words like, trees, street and cars. The girls wanted to know when we would be back and wanted to make sure that we would contact them and send them pictures from back home. I truly am going to be sad leaving these girls. I've never felt like more of more like an influential role model in my life. We asked the girls what they wanted to be when they grew up and they told us that they wanted to be an actress and an airplane pilot. It was so amazing to hear that these girls had dreams and goals. They believe that anything is possible and that's so refreshing. I will truly miss them when we leave and hope that they become everything they want to be.