I'm Gonna Be the Best 2nd Grade Teacher Ever!

In my learning service class yesterday we found out a little bit more about what we would be doing this semester. We spent the morning discussing our own best qualities to get to know each other a little better and to make ourselves and each other aware of what skills we possess to offer. We then got a chance to do a needs assessment of the school by asking the principal questions. This was very informative in learning what his expectations he had for us and what he wanted us to offer that the teachers there couldn’t. The most interesting thing he told us was when we asked what their goals were for what they wanted their learners to leave their school with. He said obviously the education to succeed in high school and college, but also the confidence and tools to make decisions. He explained how the learners grow up in an environment where they don’t get choices and they don’t get answers, but it is important to make them realize they do have choices. He wants them to not only make choices, but to have them be informed in their decision making and take responsibility for the consequences. He also touched upon how he wants to give these children an environment to be children because many of them have to grow up quickly when they arrive home to a household where they are seen as adults and have the responsibilities of adults.

Eventually, we got more about our assignment, which will be working in the classroom with one class the entire semester. I will be working in the 2nd grade with 2 other girls in my class, Vanessa and Malinda. We will be helping with phys ed and life skills in the morning and reading to them and working to build their library in the afternoon. The life skills lessons are already planned out for the whole semester and the 2nd grade teacher gave us the outlines of what we will be doing, such as what makes a good best friend, what are healthy foods, what is and how to prevent tuberculosis, etc. During the reading time we have more freedom to do pretty much anything. The reading does not necessarily need to be out of a book, but can be more of a lesson that we prepare on any subject that we want. This will be cool coming up with lessons on pretty much anything we want to teach them. Malinda, Vanessa, and I need to make up a rough draft of an outline for all the lessons we will be doing for the semester for Friday, which will take a little bit of work. If you guys have anything in mind that you think 2nd graders would enjoy learning about with fun activities feel free to let me know! There isn’t too much pressure because they care about the learning, but that isn’t why they want us there. They really want us there to expose the children to more English and to act as role models for the children of people who are able to succeed and make choices on their own. However, I have a feeling we will end up learning more from them than they will from us. I’m pretty excited for Monday, which will be out first time with our class. I vow to be a better 2nd grade teacher than mine, Mrs. Millar, and a lot less bitchy too!