Day One in Year One

Finally I am getting to what I came here for; teaching! Today was so much fun and so overwhelming all at the same time, but who says you can’t be overwhelmed with fun? There was so much to take in and think about all at once. Theres the teaching, the students, the different curriculum, and just different ways of doing things. I have only spent one day with my students and I already love them! One of the first students came in today and already knew who I was. Right when he walked through the door he told me, “you need to know about cockle bay? Me.” (pointing to himself) “You need to find the library? Me.” “You need to get anywhere? Me.” He was determined to help me out and be sure I knew where to go!

Students are broken up into reading groups here, much like the ones I have experienced in the US. My year ones (kindergarteners) have specific activities that they can do during this time. They do not rotate through or have a specific time spent on each activity, but move freely throughout except for when they are called over to meet with a teacher. When they meet with a teacher, I saw that it was quite similar to my experiences with it at home. I was able to sit in on a few groups, then take one individual child to work with on my own, and one group after that.

We also did a lesson on NZ coins today. I enjoyed the lesson because I was able to hear about the images on each coin, as well as the significance of those images. The lowest coin is 10¢, the highest is $2.00.

The class:

There are so many English language learners in the school! You can truly see what it means to differentiate when you look at the activities my teacher does in the classroom. Two of the children are ELLs (English language learners), one speaks Chines and the other Afrikaans. I really enjoy seeing the way the teacher engages them in meaningful activities at their level, as other students do different activities.  While the other children write multiple sentences about a story, those children are given the opportunity to paint a picture and dictate a sentence. Another thing I have seen her do is have them make words with play dough.

Things that they do differently:

One difference that I noticed today is that the children eat lunch outside. If it is raining they eat their lunches in the classroom. One of the children asked me where students in America eat their lunches. I love how the children think so openly about differences and do not just assume everything is the same. They know that they do things one way, but other people might do them another.

* C l a r i f i c a t i o n *

I also wanted to clarify. You can, in fact, get coffee here in NZ. I get some in the morning before school, as well as during school at morning tea or lunch. What I was talking about in a previous post is that it seems impossible to get, what I now know is called "filter coffee" out at any coffee shops! I spoke with some Kiwis and they informed me that it is not common to get out at a coffee shop and that you must make it yourself if you want that kind. Thankfully I do get to start my morning out with coffee :) I just can't go get coffee like I sometimes do at home. That is okay though, because everyone is always offering tea and warm drinks everywhere I have been! 

Hokey Pokey

Today:

Today was my first full day in school! It was a teacher only day where the teachers broke up into groups to share their inquiries from the past year. From what I could tell, each teacher formed a question to focus a personal inquiry around (for an example, meaningful use of technology or engaging children who are exceptionally advanced in reading) then kept a record of things they did to pursue that inquiry, as well as evidence from what they did with the children based on their inquiries. 

It was interesting for me to hear what the teachers chose to do an inquiry on, and how that inquiry effected their teaching in the classroom. I have been noticing that, although I am very far away from home in a completely different country, the questions and concerns of teachers are the same. Teachers have the same goals for their students and face the same challenges. In that sense, it was just like being in a school back home. Overall though, people here really do seem to be happier! Maybe it is because New Zealand is too beautiful for anyone to go around acting grumpy.

 This is only a small part of the outdoor area

This is my classroom!

Though another reason that the people seem to be happier here might be because they have one of the most fabulous ice cream flavors here, hokey pokey. I had my first bowl of hokey pokey tonight after a yummy dinner made by my host family. The older of the two girls explained the flavor of ice cream to me. It is vanilla with some little toffee balls in it, and the flavor was invented in New Zealand. For that reason, hokey pokey ice cream is special and must be tried! If you are interested in knowing more about it, you can follow this link --> Hokey Pokey ice cream

Yesterday:

Yesterday was exciting, but for different reasons than day before. My NZ family was gone for the long weekend and they got home yesterday! Even though I only met my host family the day before they left for the long weekend, I still missed them! They have been so wonderful and I couldn't have imagined a better family to be placed with. I feel so comfortable with them and really feel welcome here in their home. I was also happy to get some cuddle time with the girls!

Some pictures of my room :)

When they got home, I met Mark's (the dad in my home stay family) parents. They stayed for dinner and we got Chinese food. His dad was very nice and had a lot of interesting things to say! I had a good time talking with him. 

The Chinese food looked just like any of the Chinese takeout we would get at home, but it all tasted so much better! There were little dumplings that  looked just like crab rangoon, but they were more like a combination of crab rangoon and potstickers or dumplings. The outside was crunchy like crab rangoon, but the inside was the same as a potsticker or dumpling. 

Another NZ term for you to think about:

- Bench

More unrelated but interesting things:

- All of the outlets have switches on them! So just like normal there are two spots to plug things in at each outlet, but then both of those have their own little switch next to it. Since I am not used to that I keep forgetting to turn them off. Even worse though, I have forgotten to turn them on and left my laptop completely dead, thinking it had been charging.

Rangitoto Hike

WOW!

All I can say is, wow!

Mount Wellington pales in comparison to Rangitoto! 

Today Shannon and I went for a hike up Rangitoto. We started off our trip with the 9:00 ferry to the island made from an extinct volcano. It amazes me that a volcano can create land! It all makes sense and there are perfectly good explanations for it, but that does not change the fact that I am amazed by its happening. 

We hiked straight up Rangitoto and didn't feel too tired once we reached the top. It was beautiful along the way. The path was full of different plants, stone steps, and volcanic rocks. On our way down, we mistakenly took a wrong turn which resulted in an even longer, tougher, hike. Somehow we ended up going most of the way down it, then back up and around the the opposite side. We were tired and sore, but it was well worth it because the path we ended up on was even more beautiful than the one we had been on before. It was thinner and more challenging and had an amazing view. The path let out at the beach which had plenty of volcanic rocks to climb across and out into the ocean.

Volcanic rocks are very sharp! I cut my hand one one!

 Inside of a lava cave!

It amazes me how trees can just grow amidst all the rocks! I mean it is literally a deep pile of rocks! 

 These little guys were so interesting and all over!

Just taking a small break! 

For the Moustache Menaces of room 18! I miss you guys! :) 

Shannon and I got burgers at a place in Auckland because we were starving after our long 6 hour hike! I asked for ketchup, knowing the call it "tomato sauce" because it just seems like I would be given the wrong thing. I asked, "could I have some ketchup... or tomato sauce... or whatever you call it?" and the girl gave it to me. I dipped my burger in it and noticed that the flavor is really not the same as ketchup. It truly is more like tomato sauce, mixed with a little "eew" and "gross." The girl could tell that it tasted different to me and asked what we had in ours that made it so much different. My response? High fructose corn syrup! Needless to say, tomato sauce will not be entering my mouth again. 

Interesting but unrelated things:
- There isn't a cutoff date here for year ones (kindergarteners) to start school, children just start going right when they turn 5. That means that even if it's is halfway through the school year or the end of the school year you could end up with a new student. I think that would be challenging, especially with a child's first year of school While all of the other children have the routine down and are used to all the work they do, the newer child will be new to the whole routine. Talk about differentiation! The children in my year one (kindergarten) class were writing full sentences, while the two new children were painting pictures and the teacher was dictating sentences.

- Ordering coffee is frustrating and confusing. At home you can ask for "coffee," "plain coffee," or "black coffee" and they give you what you asked for! Here their response is "what kind?" Even though it didn't work at the first place I went to, I tried explaining myself again this time that I went, because surely they do have coffee here! However, it did not work and I got the same look that I got the first time. She explained that they have something with two shots of espresso and water in the bottom (a long black). I wasn't sure how else to say what I wanted, so of course I ordered what is becoming my NZ usual; a flat white. This time though, I was left feeling confused and a little embarrassed. It is such a strange feeling to not have the ability to express what you want. It sure gives some perspective on what it is like for people from other countries coming into the US to transition into another culture. Regardless of the language you speak, there are differences in cultures that can sometimes make communicating thoughts, wants, or in this case needs (because I can't survive without loads and loads of coffee!), challenging or even frustrating! 

Kia Ora!

Mount Wellington

This morning I packed up my bag with a snack, water, a jacket, my NZ phone in case of emergency, Leaping Lindsey (my rubber band girl), and of course my camera, then set off for an adventure all by myself! I was a little worried about catching the bus and getting to Mount Wellington and back, but I mostly felt confident about finding my way. The bus driver was so nice and helpful. From my experience so far, the people in NZ seem to be a lot happier and nicer than in the US. I told the driver where I was planning to go, and he let me know when to get off. We also talked the whole 30 minute drive there about what I was going to do and where I was from. Mount Wellington was only a short walk from the bus stop, then a long tamp (the NZ way to say hike) up to the top! 

It was absolutely beautiful! You could see so far from the top! I could see the Sky Tower in Auckland and Rangitoto Island, which is another extinct volcano that I will be visiting tomorrow with my friend Shannon. There were volcanic rocks deep down in the center and the dirt was a deep reddish brown. There was a family at the top that brought pieces of cardboard to sit on and slide down. It looked like a lot of fun! They didn't go too far, but they were having a blast!

Any way you looked, you could see ocean! 

I believe that is Mount Rangitoto Island

That's Auckland in the background. The tall skinny tower is the Sky Tower. You can get coffee up there, and I heard you can even bungee jump off of it! 

It's hard to really see the size of this, but if you look at the tiny specks that are people up to the top left, it gives you a little perspective. 

Selfie? Why not! 

Leaping Lindsey tramped to the top with me!

And she took a break with me to eat a snack at the top.

I found these houses and apartments really interesting. They are all so similar and perfectly lined up. 

Volcanic rock!

It was very difficult for me to choose pictures today because I took so many and love them all! 

 

This is my NZ home :)

I'm going on another adventure tomorrow and then probably nothing big again until next weekend because I will start teaching this week on Wednesday!