LAVONNIE
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
LAVONNIE
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
I think I choose to teach in the wrong part of the world! After my first week of being in German schools, I've noticed the similarities and difference of the German education system compared to the NYS education system. The main difference is the amount of access that students have to the outside world during the school day. For example, students are allocated a 15 minutes break between every two periods, you would never see this in New York. These frequent 15 minutes breaks allow students to debrief and recharge throughout the day, so they can focus in the classroom. In addition, students are also given about 5 minutes to drink water and enjoy a snack. Along with the 15-minute breaks, in each classroom, there are about six huge windows which bring in fresh air and sunshine into the classroom. Also, the classrooms look comfortable like a place where pupils enjoy learning.
The school environment is more relaxed and the responsibility of learning it not only on the teacher but on the student as well. I say this because two times a week students are given independent periods were they complete work they've been working on or alternate work assigned by the teacher. I observed one of these periods, and after directions were given students did their work. During this independent time, students were allowed to converse with one another and walk around, and still doing all of this the entire classroom was doing the work they needed too. This opened my eyes in the sense that if students are held responsible for their work more often and babied less when its time to complete work independently they can without a problem. They have the freedom to make their own right decisions, which I believe is a trait that lacks in New York classrooms. Furthermore, a huge difference I've observed is that students only write in cursive [or script]. When I was younger cursive used to be taught, and if you went to a Catholic school you were required to write cursive. However, I rarely if not at all see cursive being taught in our schools in NY, and I think it puts our students at a disadvantage. Being able to write is an overlooked skill that students and adults need to have and we need to add it into our curriculum. Previously I mentioned how the school environment was relaxed that also goes for the dress of code for teachers as well. One teacher at the school explained the lack of uniform or strict stems from history when the Nazi party was in control. In order to keep the dictator feel out of schools students and teachers are allowed to dress how they want to. For example, teachers can wear shorts, a tank top, and flip flops; a shirt, a skirt, and sandals; or dresses and sandals. As for NY, teachers are required to wear a long skirt or dress, closed toes shoes or heels, and a nice blouse or shirt. Brace yourself for what I am about to type next... teachers only have to be in school for the lessons they teach! As a full-time teacher [at the school I am at] you only have to teach 28 lessons a week, and you can break it up however you want. Giving teachers the freedom to teach and not be in the school building all day can be the difference between teachers leaving and staying in the profession. I've observed German school and I clearly see the differences and I look forward to using the things I like from German schools to implement in my classroom this fall.
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For everybody who doesn't know what a foodie is, it is a person who loves food [me]! Between me and you, I was tired of eating sausages, so you can only imagine how happy I was when we went to France for the weekend! I want to begin by saying the air is Strasbourg smelled like a fresh bakery mixed with love and a hint of good vibes. Every corner we walked on it was either delicious flambés, ice cream, pizza or alluring scenery; it was travel girl heaven. My first night I enjoyed a three-course meal, fancy right!? As a starter, I had a French onion soup [my first time trying this]. Then, for the main course, I had a beautifully cooked duck leg, that feel right off the bone, with some roasted potatoes. Last but not least, I had an apple and peach cobbler with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream, it was so delectable.
On the second day, I tried the famous Flambées. A flambées is like a very thin flatbread with cream cheese, onions, and ham. Of course, you can get other kinds of flambées but that were the traditional one of Strasbourg, and I fell in love. I don't usually like onions but like I said: "When in France do things you don't like!" France was wonderful, I wished we would have had more time there. Mark my words I'll be back but for now Au revoir! We’ve been in Berlin for 4 days now, but this one has been the most “emotional” day I’ve had thus far. Today, we visited the concentration camp where Jewish people, war criminals and people from all over European countries were imprisoned, starved, worked and eventually killed. The reason why I put emotional in quotations marks above was that I was not sad nor angry, but my mind was blown. Like slavery or the Native American genocide, the Holocaust is briefly taught in school curriculums. They did Holocaust survivors and victims justice by putting together such a detailed and in-depth experience for visitors. There are over 30 different exhibits that include real artifacts and propaganda, cinemas, documents, recordings, and interactive components.
As I walked around, I could not imagine what it was like when everything was still standing. There was one exhibit where Holocaust survivors who came to the concentration camp as teenager spoke about their experience, and that was hard to watch because they ranged from the age of 14-17. 14-17 years old that have been separated from their families and are being starved and forced to obey with hopes that somebody will come to save them before they are burned alive. There was another account where a food worker explained how he delivered the food and essentially he was responsible for the poor conditions they ate in. He witnessed the inhumane portions they were fed and how they ate like they did not eat for days. After hearing the audio, I then noticed you did not have to actually be killing people to be apart of the holocaust it was the guard, the concentration camp doctors, and the neighbors that turned the other cheek. What stuck with me the most was how guards would make prisoners test out their combat boots, disregarding the size of the impacts, they were forced to march on a strip 40 km longs that had many surfaces [so they can be good for war]. Then, I saw the infirmary where life ended for many Jewish people and European people affected during the NAZI regime, and WOW! I was so shocked I don't know what I was expecting but that was not it. There were different kinds of the infirmary, some bigger than others, and as I walked around inside the presence was so strong I couldn't believe it. We were granted 3 hours to view the concentration camp and still, that wasn’t enough time, so that should tell you something. I’ll include pictures and videos taken while at the camp. Days leading up to my departure to Germany and I do not know how to feel. One, because of student teaching I was not really able to attend class, and I fear that I will be the outsider. I am also worried if I will experience racism and how I will handle that situation if it occurred. I’m nervous about not being able to properly communicate when I get to Germany because I do not know the language. I’m thinking about what I want to take away from this trip personally and professionally. I don’t have many concerns and because I went to Zambia I kind of know what to expect.
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AuthorHello Folks! My name is Lavonnie and I am currently a senior studying Childhood Education and Mathematics. Last summer I went to study abroad in Zambia, and this summer you be able to follow my journey in Germany. When I travel I love trying native dishes, going sightseeing immersing myself in the culture, and most importantly, teaching abroad. One of the goals for my blog this IPDS trip is to make it more animated, so I hope you enjoy as I blog my Germany experience. Archives
August 2019
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