Travel Blog
final reflections + saying goodbye – 3.3.18
This has been one of the most amazing months of my life for so many reasons. I have been able to see the world, grow as a teacher, and understand the importance of keeping an open mind. I remember walking into school the first day anxious and excited all at the same time. Who would my cooperating teacher be? Would my students like me? Tons of questions raced in my mind, but I was graciously welcomed and accepted in my class instantly. Saying goodbye to my students and teacher this week has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.
Throughout this month, I have learned a lot about myself, and who I want to be not only as a teacher, but as a human being as well. First, I learned how to fail. Learning to fail and using it as a means of growth is much more easier said than done. It is not easy to spend a lot of time and energy planning a lesson, preparing the materials, and executing it for it all not to go accordingly (Welcome to teaching though!). However, having one of my lessons go as poorly as it did only motivated me more to think deeply about my lessons and how I teach them. My cooperating teacher pushed me to be better and to do better, and I am extremely grateful for her ability to keep me on my toes and to always reflect on my skills.
Another important lesson I gained from this experience is that traveling is good for the soul. I have always had a thirst for adventure and a desire to see the immense and beautiful world our God has created for us. Traveling to different countries helped me see how small I am, and how much more I have to learn. It made me appreciate our past, and help me see where we need to go. It made me understand that I am just one person, but that one person can still make a huge difference in history. I will forever cherish that week traveling and seeing places that took my breath away.
Teaching is an extremely difficult and often underrated task. It requires planning, thinking on your feet, and careful consideration of each student. Having the opportunity to teach in this international school has been beneficial to me in so many ways. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, research and plan more carefully and authentically, and see that differences can actually make you stronger as a class. I am walking away from this experience a more confident and capable teacher, and I will miss the staff, my teacher, and of course my 25 students who helped me believe in myself, and showed me that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. On my last day of school, my class sat in a circle and went around saying how they will remember me. I was touched by all their sweet words, and one of my students even said he would always associate me with Math now, which I think is so special since it was something I was so hesitant t teach in the beginning. My class and cooperating teacher also gifted me with a book entitled “Lotta’s Bike” written by the most famous Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippy Longstocking). I will miss this class and my teacher so deeply. Each and every one of them has taught me something new and changed my heart in ways I didn’t think was possible.
Sweden, thank you for the best month of my life. I hope to see you again someday!
Throughout this month, I have learned a lot about myself, and who I want to be not only as a teacher, but as a human being as well. First, I learned how to fail. Learning to fail and using it as a means of growth is much more easier said than done. It is not easy to spend a lot of time and energy planning a lesson, preparing the materials, and executing it for it all not to go accordingly (Welcome to teaching though!). However, having one of my lessons go as poorly as it did only motivated me more to think deeply about my lessons and how I teach them. My cooperating teacher pushed me to be better and to do better, and I am extremely grateful for her ability to keep me on my toes and to always reflect on my skills.
Another important lesson I gained from this experience is that traveling is good for the soul. I have always had a thirst for adventure and a desire to see the immense and beautiful world our God has created for us. Traveling to different countries helped me see how small I am, and how much more I have to learn. It made me appreciate our past, and help me see where we need to go. It made me understand that I am just one person, but that one person can still make a huge difference in history. I will forever cherish that week traveling and seeing places that took my breath away.
Teaching is an extremely difficult and often underrated task. It requires planning, thinking on your feet, and careful consideration of each student. Having the opportunity to teach in this international school has been beneficial to me in so many ways. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, research and plan more carefully and authentically, and see that differences can actually make you stronger as a class. I am walking away from this experience a more confident and capable teacher, and I will miss the staff, my teacher, and of course my 25 students who helped me believe in myself, and showed me that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. On my last day of school, my class sat in a circle and went around saying how they will remember me. I was touched by all their sweet words, and one of my students even said he would always associate me with Math now, which I think is so special since it was something I was so hesitant t teach in the beginning. My class and cooperating teacher also gifted me with a book entitled “Lotta’s Bike” written by the most famous Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippy Longstocking). I will miss this class and my teacher so deeply. Each and every one of them has taught me something new and changed my heart in ways I didn’t think was possible.
Sweden, thank you for the best month of my life. I hope to see you again someday!
summative task celebrations -3.1.18
In an IB school, an inquiry-based curriculum is followed. Every 6 weeks, a new point of inquiry (POI) is introduced, and it is to be developed in all disciplines. The 4th grade POI this last 6 weeks was “The human body is a complex and versatile system.” My class learned about all the different body systems and how they are connected. In addition, the POI is utilized in every subject, which I think is instrumental in learning. For example, even though we were learning about measurement in Math, my teacher allowed for the POI to be incorporated by having the students measure their own bodies. It is really neat to see how well the transdisciplinary approach works out.
At the end of a POI, a summative task is assigned to students to showcase their learning. It is an extremely vague assignment and allows for a great deal of choice for the students. The only requirements is the presentation must have a visual and oral aspect. I have had the privilege to observe the students develop and complete their summative tasks this past week and was utterly blown away by their creativity and ability to follow through with a clear plan. Below are some photos of some of my students’ exhibitions: (I may be bias but I think they’re pretty incredible…and adorable!)
At the end of a POI, a summative task is assigned to students to showcase their learning. It is an extremely vague assignment and allows for a great deal of choice for the students. The only requirements is the presentation must have a visual and oral aspect. I have had the privilege to observe the students develop and complete their summative tasks this past week and was utterly blown away by their creativity and ability to follow through with a clear plan. Below are some photos of some of my students’ exhibitions: (I may be bias but I think they’re pretty incredible…and adorable!)
quick trip to copenhagen - 2.25.18
When planning our travel week trips, a good family friend of mine highly recommended Copenhagen to me, and said it was one of the coolest cities in the world. To be honest, I hadn’t ever thought about visiting Copenhagen before, but after spending the weekend there, I now understand the validity of that statement. Copenhagen seriously is one of THE coolest cities I have ever seen.
Jessica and I took an early train from Gothenburg to Copenhagen, and immediately went to the famous Nyhavn harbor area with all the colorful restaurants, shops, and boats. I have realized after these past couple weeks that living by some sort of body of water is a necessity for me at this point. There is something so special and calming about the canals and sound of the waves. After enjoying brunch on the harbor, we ventured to the Church of our Savior, which according to the locals has the best view of the city. After 400 steps and a practical obstacle course getting to the top, I can confirm this to be true. The view was breathtaking. Next, we headed to the somewhat controversial and extremely unique freetown called “Christiana.” I won’t go into a ton of detail, but if you look this place up, you’ll know why. On the way back to our hostel, we stopped and had a waffle and ice cream on the pier and it was SO DELICIOUS. I remember sitting in the sun next to Jessica practically inhaling this dessert, and thinking this is a moment I want to remember. It was a perfect day.
On Sunday morning, we woke up and had breakfast and headed to Christianborg Palace. I am still in awe by how beautiful this palace is. Every single room was so incredibly unique, and I felt like I was living in a real life fairy tale. My favorite part of the palace was by far the libraries. I am a total nerd when it comes to libraries and old books so I think I would have loved this regardless, but the white, blue, and gold colors with the sun shining in left me speechless. It reminded me of the Beauty and Beast library, and I honestly could’ve stayed there all day. We toured the reception rooms, palace kitchen, the ruins underneath that are unbelievably old, the stables, and went to the top of the tower. Who knew history could actually be so much fun? We also made a stop at the Hans Christian Anderson museum and relived our childhoods by listening to some of the most famous fairy tale stories of all time (including one of my absolute favorite, The Little Mermaid!!)
To end our day, we took a canal tour of the city and were able to see the famous opera house along with the little mermaid statue. This weekend was one of my absolute favorites, and Copenhagen will forever have a special place in my heart. Hans Christian Anderson said it best, ““To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”
Jessica and I took an early train from Gothenburg to Copenhagen, and immediately went to the famous Nyhavn harbor area with all the colorful restaurants, shops, and boats. I have realized after these past couple weeks that living by some sort of body of water is a necessity for me at this point. There is something so special and calming about the canals and sound of the waves. After enjoying brunch on the harbor, we ventured to the Church of our Savior, which according to the locals has the best view of the city. After 400 steps and a practical obstacle course getting to the top, I can confirm this to be true. The view was breathtaking. Next, we headed to the somewhat controversial and extremely unique freetown called “Christiana.” I won’t go into a ton of detail, but if you look this place up, you’ll know why. On the way back to our hostel, we stopped and had a waffle and ice cream on the pier and it was SO DELICIOUS. I remember sitting in the sun next to Jessica practically inhaling this dessert, and thinking this is a moment I want to remember. It was a perfect day.
On Sunday morning, we woke up and had breakfast and headed to Christianborg Palace. I am still in awe by how beautiful this palace is. Every single room was so incredibly unique, and I felt like I was living in a real life fairy tale. My favorite part of the palace was by far the libraries. I am a total nerd when it comes to libraries and old books so I think I would have loved this regardless, but the white, blue, and gold colors with the sun shining in left me speechless. It reminded me of the Beauty and Beast library, and I honestly could’ve stayed there all day. We toured the reception rooms, palace kitchen, the ruins underneath that are unbelievably old, the stables, and went to the top of the tower. Who knew history could actually be so much fun? We also made a stop at the Hans Christian Anderson museum and relived our childhoods by listening to some of the most famous fairy tale stories of all time (including one of my absolute favorite, The Little Mermaid!!)
To end our day, we took a canal tour of the city and were able to see the famous opera house along with the little mermaid statue. This weekend was one of my absolute favorites, and Copenhagen will forever have a special place in my heart. Hans Christian Anderson said it best, ““To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”
in the moment teaching decisions - 2.20.18
Today, I planned and fully taught my 4th grade class. Teaching in an IB school is a bit different than what I am used to, but I was excited to try some of the instructional practices used. On the first day of school, my teacher asked me which subjects I felt the most comfortable with. Of course, I went on and on about English and Reading because those are my absolute favorite subjects, and something I feel very confident teaching. When I showed up to school Monday after our week long trip, my teacher asked me to plan lessons for Math and the Point of Inquiry (POI), which is basically science AND to be ready to teach the next day. As you can imagine, I was a little nervous and I did not have much to go off of. The school doesn’t have a ton of resources so as soon as I got home from school, I spent the night researching and planning. The focus in Math was on perimeter, which was not too difficult to plan and I found a good song to share with the class as well. The POI for this 6 weeks is all about the human body. My cooperating teacher told me to do something on the nervous system. Because I am no real expert on the nervous system, I was in a sort of panic trying to decide what exactly I would teach and how I would teach it. I spent all night reading about the different systems and ending up with a really cool lesson. But, as most teachers know, you can plan as much as you want and things will rarely go as planned.
Overall, the math lesson went super well. The class seemed to really grasp the concept, and participated in my example problems. I divided them into 3 groups, and went around helping as needed, especially some of the kiddos who needed extra assistance. I felt super confident in my ability to teach despite only actually having been in this class for one real week.
After lunch, it was time for the POI lesson, and I was super excited. I was proud of the lesson I had developed and all the hard work I had put into it. However, last minute before I began my lesson, my teacher asked to include one other thing, which altered some of my timing. Therefore, I ended up having to make A LOT of “in the moment teaching decisions.” We talk about these all the time in class, but I don’t think I truly understood or appreciated just how hard teaching can be until that moment. My original plan for the lesson was to start with a warm up and review the autonomic, sensory, and motor systems that are apart of our entire nervous system. I gave examples of each and asked the class to identify which system was being used. I then showed a School House Rock video, pointing how the telegram is symbolic of all the messages our brain sends to various aspects of our body. So far, so good! Everything was going to plan, and we were having a lot of fun. But then, I looked at the clock and realized I didn’t have enough time to complete both activities I had planned. I planned to divide the class in half and the first activity was to create a Frayer Model of the Nervous System in small groups while the other half would be with me creating a life size body model of the nervous system and discussing the intricacies of it. When I realized I wouldn’t have time to do both, I decided to still split the class in half, but instead have them simultaneously do the life size models. With 24 students in the class, and one of me, it became pretty chaotic. My cooperating teacher refrained from stepping in, as she wanted me to make decisions and figure out how to handle everything on my own. It was a little overwhelming and after much reflection, there is obviously a ton I would change, but all in all, the groups created really cool models of the nervous system and have a deeper understanding of the human body as a whole.
I am feeling more and more challenged by this school and my teacher, and I am honestly very grateful for that. Despite feeling like a complete failure during part of the day, I know that all of these experiences will only help me in the end, and make me a better, more capable and confident teacher.
Overall, the math lesson went super well. The class seemed to really grasp the concept, and participated in my example problems. I divided them into 3 groups, and went around helping as needed, especially some of the kiddos who needed extra assistance. I felt super confident in my ability to teach despite only actually having been in this class for one real week.
After lunch, it was time for the POI lesson, and I was super excited. I was proud of the lesson I had developed and all the hard work I had put into it. However, last minute before I began my lesson, my teacher asked to include one other thing, which altered some of my timing. Therefore, I ended up having to make A LOT of “in the moment teaching decisions.” We talk about these all the time in class, but I don’t think I truly understood or appreciated just how hard teaching can be until that moment. My original plan for the lesson was to start with a warm up and review the autonomic, sensory, and motor systems that are apart of our entire nervous system. I gave examples of each and asked the class to identify which system was being used. I then showed a School House Rock video, pointing how the telegram is symbolic of all the messages our brain sends to various aspects of our body. So far, so good! Everything was going to plan, and we were having a lot of fun. But then, I looked at the clock and realized I didn’t have enough time to complete both activities I had planned. I planned to divide the class in half and the first activity was to create a Frayer Model of the Nervous System in small groups while the other half would be with me creating a life size body model of the nervous system and discussing the intricacies of it. When I realized I wouldn’t have time to do both, I decided to still split the class in half, but instead have them simultaneously do the life size models. With 24 students in the class, and one of me, it became pretty chaotic. My cooperating teacher refrained from stepping in, as she wanted me to make decisions and figure out how to handle everything on my own. It was a little overwhelming and after much reflection, there is obviously a ton I would change, but all in all, the groups created really cool models of the nervous system and have a deeper understanding of the human body as a whole.
I am feeling more and more challenged by this school and my teacher, and I am honestly very grateful for that. Despite feeling like a complete failure during part of the day, I know that all of these experiences will only help me in the end, and make me a better, more capable and confident teacher.
around the world in eight days - 2.19.18
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This past week has been the absolute best week of my life. In just 8 days, I visited 4 different countries, and was able to cross off some the top things on my bucket list. We began our week in Amsterdam, a city so alive and unique that it is truly unforgettable. I was in awe by the beauty of the canals and the distinct history of the city. We spent about 2 days in each city so we jammed a lot in a short amount of time, but I was amazed how much we were able to do and see. Visiting the Anne Frank House was a definite highlight of our stay in Amsterdam and certainly eye opening. Amsterdam also has cheese shops (and a cheese museum!) on nearly every street corner. I cannot say for certain exactly how much cheese I consumed in 2 days, but it was A LOT. We also enjoyed a relaxing canal tour as well as wandering various markets and other main city sites.
Next, we headed to Munich. We woke up early the first morning and took a train out to Dachau. I am finding it to difficult to express just how impactful this visit was. It was an eerie and heartbreaking experience to visit the memorial, but something I feel very grateful that I did because I walked away feeling changed and deeply moved even though I felt sick to my stomach majority of the time I was there, and at one point broke down into tears because it all became too real. After leaving Dachau, we took our train directly to Marienplatz, which is the main square in Munich. We had no idea that a giant festival would be going on and it was magical walking up from the train and seeing confetti, live music, people in costumes, and tons and tons of bratwursts. The festival was their version of Mardi Gras, and definitely made for an incredible first impression of the city. After enjoying some time at the festival, we visited Hofbrauhaus and walked around the rest of the city. Since the next morning was Ash Wednesday, Jessica and I got up super early and I went to the 7am mass at this beautiful church. It was definitely a mass I’ll never forget! |
Our next city we visited was Paris, and it was everything I ever imagined it would be! In just one day, we saw the Louvre and toured the entire museum. We saw so many famous pieces of art and other artifacts that left me speechless. Visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral was my favorite part of the day, and I was stunned at the architecture and pure beauty of the church. Of course, we saw the famous Eiffel Tower and that was also one of the best parts of our time in Paris. Seeing it up close in real life was something I never thought I would do, and it did not disappoint! We last minute decided to take the train out to Versailles the next day and toured all the gardens, but unfortunately could not go in because the line was too long and we were afraid we would not make it back in time. However, this meant we had time to see the Arc de Triomphe quickly before we headed to the airport. Since we had purchased the Paris Museum Pass the day before to get us into all the different museums, it also allowed us to go to the top of the Arc, and it was breathtaking beyond belief. It was an amazing way to end our time in Paris.
Last but certainly not least, we flew to Dublin, which was the number one city I have ever wanted to visit. You can imagine my excitement when we landed in this city that instantly became my favorite place in the world. We took an all day bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher, and I cannot even express how amazing this experience was. First of all, I was so taken aback by the beauty of Ireland in general, but arriving at the Cliffs was a moment I will never forget. It made me appreciate creation, and how small I am in this world. We also stopped in Doolin and Galway, two quaint and beautiful little towns in Ireland. That was truly the best day of my life. The next day, we ate a full Irish breakfast, and also visited Dublin Castle, the famous Temple Bar area, as well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I was extremely sad to leave Dublin, but I know I will be back.
All in all, the last eight days of my life have been so fulfilling and adventurous beyond belief. I am so thankful for all the memories I have made, and the growth that I have experienced during this trip.
Last but certainly not least, we flew to Dublin, which was the number one city I have ever wanted to visit. You can imagine my excitement when we landed in this city that instantly became my favorite place in the world. We took an all day bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher, and I cannot even express how amazing this experience was. First of all, I was so taken aback by the beauty of Ireland in general, but arriving at the Cliffs was a moment I will never forget. It made me appreciate creation, and how small I am in this world. We also stopped in Doolin and Galway, two quaint and beautiful little towns in Ireland. That was truly the best day of my life. The next day, we ate a full Irish breakfast, and also visited Dublin Castle, the famous Temple Bar area, as well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I was extremely sad to leave Dublin, but I know I will be back.
All in all, the last eight days of my life have been so fulfilling and adventurous beyond belief. I am so thankful for all the memories I have made, and the growth that I have experienced during this trip.
"embrace diversity. explore the world" - 2.8.18
"Embrace diversity. Explore the world." This is the motto by which ISGR stands for, and something I have taken to heart. I love this school. In fact, I think I could write about it all day long. From the teachers to the curriculum, this school has given me a breath of fresh air that was much needed. My teacher is brilliant. She has a way about her that makes the students, and myself, feel at ease and confident. I am blown away by her ability to excite the students, and maintain such a high level of respect while also treating the students at her level. The students all refer to the teachers by their first name, a practice I have seen done in the U.S. as well. Catherine, or Cath, as most call my teacher, informed me that this one of her favorite things about this school. I personally love this practice, and believe it helps equal the playing field and merge the gap between teacher and student that can often exist. ISGR has a “Constructivist” approach to learning. They use the inquiry method to help students build, or construct, their own knowledge. It is amazing to watch in practice, and it creates a classroom dynamic that is full of wonderings, research, and pure fun. The more I learn from this IB school, the more I have realized this is something I would like to be apart of again in the future.
The thing I love most about this school, however, are the humans that fill up the empty seats each day. The students in my class, though all from different countries and backgrounds, fit together like a perfect puzzle. Each one of them is uniquely different, but yet we all share such similar interests and goals. I find myself laughing constantly with these students, and learning more and more about them every day is what I look forward to most.
I want to be a teacher like Cath, a teacher who goes above and beyond what is expected of her, and a teacher who believes every child is capable of success. Cath has no limits to what she and her students can achieve, and this is exhilarating to watch. I can’t even believe how fast this first week has gone or how much knowledge I have already gained. Next week, the school is off for “Sports Break.” Basically, students get the week off for the final week of skiing or other travel plans. Jessica, Cayia, and I will be taking advantage of this time and will be visiting Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, and Dublin!
The thing I love most about this school, however, are the humans that fill up the empty seats each day. The students in my class, though all from different countries and backgrounds, fit together like a perfect puzzle. Each one of them is uniquely different, but yet we all share such similar interests and goals. I find myself laughing constantly with these students, and learning more and more about them every day is what I look forward to most.
I want to be a teacher like Cath, a teacher who goes above and beyond what is expected of her, and a teacher who believes every child is capable of success. Cath has no limits to what she and her students can achieve, and this is exhilarating to watch. I can’t even believe how fast this first week has gone or how much knowledge I have already gained. Next week, the school is off for “Sports Break.” Basically, students get the week off for the final week of skiing or other travel plans. Jessica, Cayia, and I will be taking advantage of this time and will be visiting Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, and Dublin!
välkommen till sverige // welcome to sweden – 2.5.18
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Sweden is a magical country. It is full of rich history, delcious pastries, and so much more that I get to explore every day! Upon arriving in Gothenburg, I felt like I had just landed in a fairy tale city with green forests and white snow. Jessica, Cayia, and I had pizza the first night (a place I am sure we will return to), and got some much needed rest after a long day of traveling. The next day we spent exploring the city on our own. We stopped and had some breakfast and coffee, and tried to get a feel for our way around. Cecilia, the wonderful woman who helped coordinate this trip, took us to the top of Gothenburg, which was so beautiful. She also inducted us into the Swedish meatball club. They were so delicious and the mashed potatoes that came with it were just as heavenly. Needless to say, I think I am fitting in just fine.
Our first day of school began with a field trip ice skating!! It was SO cool and such a fun way to start this whole learning expeirence. The school is even more amazing than I imagined. I am placed in a 4th grade class and the kids are awesome. My cooperating teacher is originally from Australia, but has been in Sweden the last three years. The International School of the Gothenburg Region (ISGR) is the name of the primary school we are observing, and it follows an International Baccalaureate based curriculum. They aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world. This school strives to develop internationally minded people, and I am thankful to be able to learn from them all! I still feel like I am dreaming sometimes here, and I love how much I have already learned and will continue to learn while I am here. Time is already flying by, and I want to cherish every moment. Until next time! |
seven days till sweden - 1.26.18
When I was a sophomore in high school, the Geography Fair was a huge deal for my class. If you had told me back then that the random country I was assigned to would end up being the place I spend a month student teaching, I would have laughed in your face. For starters, I had no idea I wanted to become a teacher until college, and I barely knew where Sweden was on the map. But here I am today, nearly 6 years later, ready to board a plane to Gothenburg, Sweden in just seven days.
Although I have known I will be leaving for a month for some time now, it still has not officially “hit me.” And as prepared as I may think I am, I know that I have no idea what is coming my way. To say that I am excited would be a huge understatement. Words truly cannot express how grateful I feel to embark on this journey.
About a month ago, I began my student teaching at Coder Elementary School in Aledo, TX and it has been more than I could have ever imagined. Not only has it been life changing, but also it has been life giving. My cooperating teacher is kind, patient, and the perfect role model of the type of teacher I am aspiring to be. As thrilled as I am to leave for the next month, my heart also aches to leave behind the seventy 3rd graders who have each stolen my heart in very unique ways.
Throughout my month abroad, I will be keeping up with my experiences in this blog and be sharing all that I am learning!
Although I have known I will be leaving for a month for some time now, it still has not officially “hit me.” And as prepared as I may think I am, I know that I have no idea what is coming my way. To say that I am excited would be a huge understatement. Words truly cannot express how grateful I feel to embark on this journey.
About a month ago, I began my student teaching at Coder Elementary School in Aledo, TX and it has been more than I could have ever imagined. Not only has it been life changing, but also it has been life giving. My cooperating teacher is kind, patient, and the perfect role model of the type of teacher I am aspiring to be. As thrilled as I am to leave for the next month, my heart also aches to leave behind the seventy 3rd graders who have each stolen my heart in very unique ways.
Throughout my month abroad, I will be keeping up with my experiences in this blog and be sharing all that I am learning!