Love is...learning together and feeling safe to let your silly side show.
photo 49
Today was my second to last day student teaching with my wonderful 3rd graders. It was almost as if the day was made for just for me and my kiddos. At noon my mentor teacher told me we were going to see the National Geographic Map in the gym. (Top Middle) When we walked in we saw that the map was spanning a huge portion of the gym and it was center on ASIA!!!! I have been preparing my students for my departure since I started there in August. They have been so supportive of my going to China...even when they tell me they wish I didn't have to go. =) The first thing I did was scan the giant map and Guangzhou, the city I will be teaching in, was on it! (Top right pic) The kids were so excited as they pointed out to the other classes and teachers where "Miss Hall is going." They found a poster on the wall that was all about China and quickly grabbed my hand to show me. "Miss Hall, look! Look what we found! It's China!!" I pointed out on the small map where i was going and my heart smiled as one of my more shy students exclaim excitedly to one of his classmates, "this is where Miss Hall is going soon."
Two other classes joined us and we played a very interesting version of Simon Says with geography. "Simon says, 'Chew bamboo in the mountains of China" (Bottom Middle Picture) "Act like a monkey in Africa!" (Bottom left) "Prowl like a tiger in India." (Top Right) They searched in teams all over the map to find places like Japan (Bottom Right). Giggles filled the gym as the did their best to walk like a Sumo, after I had demonstrated my excellent Sumo technique. =)
An hour later my class gathered right on top of China to take a group picture with me sitting on Guangzhou. We talked all day about things I would do and if I would bring things back from China to show them. If I would write them letters and they could write me. If I would be able to call them from China. They are so excited that my mentor and I are going to try use skype to set up a video chat between me and the class while I am there.
Belonging to these beautiful little spirits has been such an amazing experience. I love the big picture of us all sitting on China because when I am over there I will be carrying them and all the things they have taught me in my heart.
I know! Today I read them the poem I wrote about them that I posted a little while ago and I almost started crying during it! I made it into a bookmark with the pencil shaving picture and the poem together and gave it to them as their Valentine's Day cards from me. =)
I just love these photos. They really show the true spirit learning; it should be fun, active, and so carefree! I'd love to play on the map myself. Hmmm....I'm so much like a kid. I just know that you will be an excellent teacher because you have your heart in it. Thanks for sharing.
Sara, the kids probably know you as well as anyone by now. I was thinking of one of your theatre moments you told me about a few years ago. Do the kids know tha you can jump off a high table in heels and hit the ground perfectly? I always had the visual of that one ever since you told me about it.
It sounds like you found the perfect school in which to do your student teaching. Active experiential learning flourishes here. I hope you are permitted this kind of freedom in China. What are your expectations?
ahh fun! i bet they will miss you. i remember my son fell in absolute LOVE with his second grade student teacher. i was really worried about him. he came home and cried and laid around on the couch. he was really heartbroken. they / you get so attached. great photo!
Awww...thanks so much everyone!
Chris, I haven't told them that story, as jumping off things is frowned upon in 3rd grade so I wouldn't want them tryong to pull a "miss Hall" and jump off their desk. lol!
Allison, I wish there was more of this type of learning there. This was a kind of special activity. The only other thing that we have done that I liken to this was an activity that my student teaching partner and I did where we had one of our staff from IUPUI and bring Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches in for the students to learn about and do hands on activities with. That was a huge hit and we kept two as class pets. =) I hope to eventually get into a school that is more project based. I love the school I am at now but I would like to teach somewhere that allows for more curriculum supplementation. The teachers at my school really try to find different ways to help the students learn hands on, like the m & m math, but they really are not supposed to supplement the reading or math curriculum.
As for China....I am the first student going there from my school since we signed an agreement with the university over there so we really don't have any idea of what I can and cannot do. I am hoping that they let me teach the way that I would like to with fun and engaging activities that spark interest and creativity. We will just have to see. I am just going into it with a totally open mind and ready to learn. =)
For those interested in looking into the giant map coming to your school, go to http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/special-events/giant-traveling-maps/ It is $450 to keep it for two weeks. It would be really awesome if you could bring it to your school and build some lessons to go with it to really enrich the experience. We has lots of fun but I am not sure how much they learned playing our simon says game. Still, with all the snow and not outdoor recess for such a long time just having fun and letting them be physical and silly was wonderful!!!! I think the 5th grade requested the map an they did some neat posters where they had researched the different countries so I think they went more in depth than we did. Either way the kids loved it!!
posted February 14th, 2010
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Chris, I haven't told them that story, as jumping off things is frowned upon in 3rd grade so I wouldn't want them tryong to pull a "miss Hall" and jump off their desk. lol!
Allison, I wish there was more of this type of learning there. This was a kind of special activity. The only other thing that we have done that I liken to this was an activity that my student teaching partner and I did where we had one of our staff from IUPUI and bring Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches in for the students to learn about and do hands on activities with. That was a huge hit and we kept two as class pets. =) I hope to eventually get into a school that is more project based. I love the school I am at now but I would like to teach somewhere that allows for more curriculum supplementation. The teachers at my school really try to find different ways to help the students learn hands on, like the m & m math, but they really are not supposed to supplement the reading or math curriculum.
As for China....I am the first student going there from my school since we signed an agreement with the university over there so we really don't have any idea of what I can and cannot do. I am hoping that they let me teach the way that I would like to with fun and engaging activities that spark interest and creativity. We will just have to see. I am just going into it with a totally open mind and ready to learn. =)
For those interested in looking into the giant map coming to your school, go to http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/special-events/giant-traveling-maps/ It is $450 to keep it for two weeks. It would be really awesome if you could bring it to your school and build some lessons to go with it to really enrich the experience. We has lots of fun but I am not sure how much they learned playing our simon says game. Still, with all the snow and not outdoor recess for such a long time just having fun and letting them be physical and silly was wonderful!!!! I think the 5th grade requested the map an they did some neat posters where they had researched the different countries so I think they went more in depth than we did. Either way the kids loved it!!