Fifth Classroom...
Fifth Classroom...
I was in a library at night.
It was just me and thirty-five adults and the occasional handful of kids.
China, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Haiti, and more…
Different cultures, different educational backgrounds, different English language speaking abilities…
These were my students.
I taught them English, having to provide my students with different activities and materials in order to best work with their level of competence.
I taught them American culture not for the sake of seamless integration into America but so they would better understand the strange customs of their new home.
If they failed to secure a babysitter then I assigned a book report.
Advanced students helped lower students read and write a brief summary.
I supplied children with toys, drawing tools, and entertainment while we waited.
I did this for two years before going to grad school for TESOL…
More Posts from Rengerain and Others
Adventures in Spec Ed...
No, they’re my shinies!
Meow, meow nuzzle cat.
Yum tater tots, yum.
Ninth Classroom...
I bounced from school-to-school for a while before landing…
I was placed in a pull-out position where I would work with English Language Learners…
They were new to the country and new to the school…
A lot of the students were true beginners unable to associate phoneme to letter…
It was a lot of work, considering I only see them twice a week for half an hour at most…
Hybrid classes…come to school two days…go virtual three…
Except they don’t show up and do no work…
Fortunately, I’m not a ‘real’ teacher yet…
They only get some additional language support from me…completely homework free.
Of if they needed to talk…I was always willing to listen.
The Pandemic is hard on all of us…
Forget your standards and your deadlines…
Let children be children…
Swearing...
Sub psychotic rage
Blood pouring from sacred place
The pain of betrayal.
Depression Battle...
Depression falling.
After so many weeks of pain…
I feel at peace now.
Ow, my Brain...
Oh no, not another
Praxis test to suffer through
Sorry about this.
Happy Christmas!
It is Christmas time
One day I will be people-less
Cats will be my love…
Talk to Them...
“I hate it here. School is too hard. The playground is different from the one in Pennsylvania. I don’t like Delaware. I don’t like living with my grandpa. I want to live with my mom and dad but they have to fix the house so we can go back. My brother and sister and I moved down here. My baby-baby sister is with mom and dad. I want to go home.”
This ramble is brought to you by a displaced boy in first grade.
Sometimes you just have to listen and not just shove a lesson down their throat.
Not long after this, I sat with him again. We worked on his reading, which is something he hates. He still hated Delaware. He still missed his mom and dad. But he was more willing to participate and work with me. He didn’t act up or whine.
Sometimes a chat can make a world of difference.
Even if the effects only lasts two weeks before he goes back to Pennsylvania…
Looking up...
Breakthrough finally
Happiness can be real now
I have a new job.
Forth Classroom…
I was at a community college, panicking over my BA in English.
So I went for an associate’s in medical secretary.
I helped my friend learn her medical terminology, abbreviations, grammar, and anatomy.
I helped another friend learn about computers as we had to take Windows, Excel, and Access.
All three of us struggled comically over transcription.
The Puerto Rican said that the “Puerto Rican” doctor on the recording didn’t sound right.
The Caucasian said, “Where the heck do you find the ‘send’ key?!”
I felt like the smartest person in the room for the first time in my life.
Depression...
It’s hard to keep your head above the water when you’re drowning in your own tears... Take that, former me who wrote horrible Goth poetry!
