Students, Teachers & Gingerbread Men, Oh My!

           This week has been amazing. Tiring, but amazing. I have learned a lot with just observing. And that is what the first week of student teaching should be: observing. I think this is especially important when the first week of student teaching coincides with the children’s first week of school. I don’t know the routines the teacher wants to set in place. This way I learn the routines along with the children. It was nice to have those few days at the school before the children started, but it only prepared us up to a point. Once they came in that Tuesday morning there was no slowing down!

The first week was filled with a lot of exciting “special” events and activities. We had the All School Assembly in the big Gym – we have three, no maybe four gyms? My favorite activity was on Thursday when the gingerbread man stole our cookies for snack. He had us looking in the Head of School’s office, Elementary Principal’s office, the library, and the nurses’ office before we finally caught him in our own room AND about to eat the cookies. Now we keep a very watchful eye on him in his place on the cupboard! Another awesome event occurred on Friday with the grand opening of the new Elementary Library. It is absolutely beautiful. And all those fun books! I wanted to just sit down and start reading. And if I was enchanted the children were even more so.

I am already falling in love with the class. It is small, with only 12 students (it is usually higher), but that means more attention for each child, right? That is certainly a plus. They seem to be doing really well for only four days of school! They have taught me so much already.  Some are seemingly quiet, but when you talk to them will tell you the most fantabulous stories!!! I especially enjoy watching them look at books and observe what they pick up on in a book. But I would have to say my favorite moment was when a student sang me his favorite song. In mandarin! (I am by the way, really wanting to learn mandarin now!)

I love my cooperating teacher. She just knows what to do and when she reads to them they are all quite engaged. She is quiet but in control.  This is especially great for me to see as I am not and cannot be a very loud teacher myself.  It is also really interesting to see how a team of Kindergarten teachers works together. I know it is not realistic in terms of teaching in the states, but it is great in terms of having four people of whom I can ask questions! 

Outside of school we, Ellen, Justin, Heidi and I, celebrated Heidi’s birthday. At a Mexican restaurant. Go figure! (It was a lot of fun though. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI!) That was Wednesday and then on Friday we went to a gathering at the Head of School’s house. We are still working on our mingling skills, but by the end we were having a hard time getting away! We really do try to make it to most social events here as we are still getting to know everyone and it is always great to get out! For example, Saturday Ellen, Heidi and I were invited to go to the fabric market. It is multiple levels high, with endless stalls. You can get anything from the traditional Chinese dress, to tuxes, to scarves, to jeans, to sheets! Basically anything you can make out of cloth. And it is personally made and tailored to you. Then in the evening we went to Grace Extended for church. That was an experience. As a side-note we are really not sure where to go for church. Lutheran churches are not allowed. General protestant ones are. That is why we are pretty much trying all the different churches in the area we hear of.

Today was pretty quiet in the morning. Mid afternoon we went to the underground market again with one of the middle school teachers. She showed us where she gets her pearls. (Good tip – go with someone who has been there before!) And then we went to the general market and did some of our first bargaining. We are pretty good! I think… I mean, you just have to stand your ground and leave if they don’t come down in price. Being good at facial expressions helps too I believe. It feels like a game.  I think I could come to like it!

But anyway. Tomorrow starts the second week of school. I hope and pray I am ready for it! I ask that you not only keep myself, Heidi, Ellen and Justin in your prayers, but also our students and our teachers. What Concordia has and does here is incredible, and I what I have seen and learned about it so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Except it’s too hot here right now for icebergs! ;) More on icebergs later!

Blessings to all of you starting your first week of school/student teaching! May the peace of Christ our risen Savior be with you all!

-Elizabeth