Week 7 - Overall Reflections

Ennis, Ireland 

So it's 7:30 a.m. and my last day as a student teacher! I cannot believe it's all over! It has been quite a journey through this semester, though. Right from the beginning in Pennsylvania, I knew the semester would be challenging, but I had always kept in mind the overall goal or outcome - to learn and grow as a person AND as an educator. And this is definitely what happened.

In the US I felt comfortable and confident right from the start. I had done my pre-student teaching in the same school and knew all of the teachers and a lot of the students. I also had one, fabulous mentor and was able to get immediate feedback. During my student teaching experience in the states I grew as an educator for sure. I was able to work on my classroom management and really developed a respect-filled relationship with each of my students. I feel that my lessons were well-planned and my delivery improved with the progression of the semester.
When I got to Ireland, it was truly when I needed to put all of my knowledge and studies to use. I was NOT comfortable because I was in a completely new environment and did not know a soul in my school. I had to start fresh - much like a "real" first year teacher. I was also placed in multiple classrooms for short blocks of time, so I was not able to develop as firm of a foundation with my students as I would have liked. However, throughout the experience I was able to work on my classroom management skills and disciplinary plan. It's something that I was still a bit shaky on from the beginning, but I received a lot of advice and techniques from my Irish colleagues!
Also, just being able to observe other teachers in a foreign country is helpful. Through these observations I was able to reflect on my own teaching pedagogy and compare and contrast how I would teach/handle the situations that arise in school.

Overall, this short term abroad experience was invaluable and I would definitely recommend it to any student teacher with an open mind and a curiosity of the world outside of the United States.
This experience allowed me to grow as a teacher (as mentioned above) and a person, as well. I have become so much more independent. Traveling around the country every weekend, relying/planning around bus schedules and routes, booking hotels/hostels/B&Bs, and exploring the landscape and talking with the people of Ireland has really made me a more confident and worldly person. I would never trade this experience for anything in the world and I feel so fortunate to have been able to do this!

Ok! Time for my last day! I'll be posting more pictures soon!

Some photos from school. . .

a long long hallway

redoing the library

staircase

teacher's room

teacher's mailbox

part of teacher's room

notices posted here 

view outside the window

a vibrant cloakroom

computer lab

decorated for Christmas

working on the different types of triangles in 4th class maths

Pictures from Connemara

Colorful shops in Clifden

On our way to Cleggan

Riding horses on the beach

A misty day

Barneby loved to eat on the run

Cattle that we rode by in the countryside

Getting back to the stables

My new friend and I  =)

A nice warm fire after our adventure!

Week 6 - Cultural Views on Education

Education in Ireland is viewed as important and necessary. Children are required to stay in school until age sixteen where most go on to secondary school (need to apply to some schools just like we would do in college).
Parental involvement greatly varies. I was able to sit in on an in-service day where the teachers were planning a new behavioral code. One dilemma was that the school needs the support of the parents to follow and carry out the school standards of behavior and discipline. Without this connection it will be hard to create a positive change.
Parents do get involved in the schools, though. In my placement school there are parents that have volunteered to come in and categorize the library and change up the system. Parents also have a room in the school where there are after school programs that the parents and their children can partake in (such as cooking with mom) and is used as a meeting place as well.

I have come to notice that most schools are mostly Catholic schools - though you (obviously) do not have to be Catholic to attend. Just the other day, the school went to the church across the street for mass (celebrating the Immaculate Conception)  - however, those students that do not practice the Roman Catholic/Christian religion can stay in designated classrooms to work on homework or extra classwork.

Government pays the teachers' salaries.
There are no school districts - schools run pretty independently from one another. One school may be closed due to snow or icy conditions, while others will stay open (my school was the one that stayed open of course :)  )

Finally! A playground!

Small school in Cleggan

I'll be home for Christmas. . .

On the streets of Ennis

So my adventure abroad is slowly coming to an end. It is a bittersweet feeling because I will certainly miss my Irish students and fellow colleagues, but I am going to be so SO happy to get home in time for the holidays! It's just like in the television show, 'Cheers',...sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name! 

Anyway, this last week coming up should be interesting enough. I just ordered Bartholomew and the Oobleck for my second class. One of the children said he really wanted to learn some science - so what better lesson than some good 'ol non-Newtonian fluid?! I cannot wait to see their reactions when they pour and handle the substance! And this time I will know to bring extra newspaper and cleaning supplies because it sure does get messy!

Well, it's just after midnight here so I think it's time to go - but not before saying how HAPPY and OVERJOYED I was today to Skype with my students in Pennsylvania!!!!! =) It absolutely made my day / week! I cannot wait to visit in January, which is right around the corner!!

Goodnight everyone!

Week 5 - Children

This blog is meant to look at how childhood is viewed in Ireland.
At least from my observations, it seems as though children are regarded in a similar fashion to the children in America. There are toy stores and sweets that the children want and eat. They watch the same television shows as the children in America (many Spongebob and Hannah Montana fans in my classrooms). Children are also active and really into sports. Following in the footsteps of the adults in Ireland, many children have strong ties to the national rugby team, British football teams, hurling, camogie, and boxing. Many students take lessons for boxing, while others participate in after school teams/leagues.

A main difference that I have seen in regards to childhood and children in Ireland is that there are no real playgrounds at the schools that I have seen. They have a large blacktop, some physical education equipment, and their imagination. There are no slides or swings around town or in the "yard" at school. A lot of the fun that children have is by creating their own good time.

Driving through the more rural parts of Ireland, it is even more questionable as to what children do for fun at a young age. There are no movie theaters, bowling alleys, or playgrounds. I am in a more "urban" area, so there are stores, cinema, and such to entertain children - so I have no grounds to comment on children in less populated places (some villages have a population of 500 or less)

small town of Sneem