Saturday, August 23, 2008

School...

School has been in session for two weeks at Rosslyn. We're in the thick of it, and I've got the runny nose and head cold to prove it. My annual fall sick days are here, but they came a little earlier than they usual do in the states. I've got the weekend to recover, so no need to make that substitute teacher folder yet.

Fifth grade!... The year started a little strange for me: winter weather instead of fall heat, an empty classroom instead of bulletin boards and books, new curriculum, parents, and kids to figure out. Despite the changes from my comfortable five year tenure at Veritas School in Oregon, it is going very well. I'm getting to know my kids and their quirks. The parents are similar to those at Veritas - involved and caring. My classroom now looks like a classroom. It feels good to be here. I admit that there have been times I missed my old school, the kids and families, the routines and procedures, and the comfort of knowing how things work. I keep reminding myself that this will become comfortable too. Give it a few months.

The kids here are amazing! To give you an idea of the diversity, let me tell you about Grace. On the first day of school I asked the kids to put a pin on the map in the country they come from. Grace, a blond haired freckled American girl, came to me saying she didn't know where to put her pin. She was born in Japan and had lived there the last ten years, but her parents were from America, and now she lives in Kenya. I asked her where she felt like she was from. She decided to put her pin on Japan. So the blond American girl is from Japan. Grace is one of many students at my school who are sort of displaced like that. I'm excited to be a part of their lives, and it's confirmed again to me that this is exactly where I should be.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Kim! It is so much fun to read about all your goings-on. You continally amaze me. What lucky students to have such a great teacher. Love ya!

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  2. Third culture kids, right, that's what they're called? You will be soooo good for them!!!!

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  3. I am so excited for you! It's great to hear that the job has started:) I am slowly but surely moving into my dorm room at Asbury. It's really hot here but only as humid as Oregon is for now. I take Amalija to the airport tomorrow evening and then I'm really on my own. The people here are great so far. My roommate is already here. She's from Thailand and she's such fun. Orientation is next week and school starts for me on the 2nd. I'm excited! When things calm down a bit, I'll write a blog posting.

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  4. Hi Kim, we have never met -- I live in Canada, and am looking into applying to teach at Rosslyn Academy. Is it as good as it looks? I've taught in Asia and in the Middle East, and now that my daughters are going into grades 3 & 6, my husband and I are itching to travel with them. He wants to work on his MBA while I want to teach. He'd be the stay at home dad/studious student, and perhaps sub, or coach here and there. I just love reading all your comments and seeing your pics. Had to contact you, and let you know I'm peeking into your life.

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  5. Anonymous, Rosslyn is a great place to be. It has been such an easy transition for me. The people are amazing - both expat and Kenyan. I have only been here for six weeks, but it feels like I have known everyone for years. I definitely recommend looking into teaching here. I love it!

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  6. So good to hear you are still positive. Usually you know within the first week what kind of year it will be in a new place. (One place we lived, we knew within the first hour. We worked hard to stay positive, but that year made us stronger people! Did you bring a lot of teachery supplies with you? Seasonal units? Your favourite novel studies, math programs for kids who may need them? What did you find in your shelves when you first arrived? What would you suggest bringing in the teacher-prep area (I'm currently cleaning out my old files, and deciding if I should throw them out, or not.) You are very fortunate to be teaching overseas in this era -- when my husband and I lived and taught overseas, internet was just being introduced, and for us who lived in the boonies in Japan, we were thrilled just to have a phone. By the time we were in the Middle East, we emailed everyday, but the web was only really a baby compared to all the resources teachers can access anywhere in the world now!

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  7. Anonymous, I only brought supplies I KNEW I would use. Luggage space is limited, so I have a pile of "maybe" stuff in the States that I will go through this summer and bring back only what I'll use. There was curriculum and books available here. I wish I had more classroom novels for my shelves, but that will accumulate. I suggest talking to people who are teaching where you're at. That's what I did and all their advice was invaluable.

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