Welcome back! In the new year, I will try to be more diligent about writing my blog entries.
I'm a third of the way through my first year of teaching full-time and so far every day has been so much fun with the children. The school has also been very supportive and takes the time to teach me the different practices that happen in the English educational system. I can already see how the seminars and mentors are changing my teaching practice for the better and having a great effect on the children's learning. A huge difference from how I was trained is that each child's individual progress is tracked from the age of four until they leave school and their progression lies completely in the teacher's hands. There are many more ways in which the English system has created paperwork for and scrutiny on the teacher's performance, and I don't see that ever lessening since it's heightened even since I started. With all of those behind-the-scenes added pressures, I just try to ignore them because I love teaching so much and I truly have the best class I could ever imagine. The children are all respectful and they try their best every day.
In October, Lee and I started the search for our first home. Since England's government started a new 5% deposit scheme that will last for a few years, we thought we would take advantage of it because it would take us another year to save up the 10% that is usually required. After viewing about 15 houses, we finally found the one that we wanted to put an offer on and thankfully, the vendor accepted our offer! Then came the fun part of the bank granting us a mortgage, finding a solicitor, and getting home insurance quotations. Fortunately, all of these steps came very easily for us so we should be moving-in in about six more weeks.I'm a third of the way through my first year of teaching full-time and so far every day has been so much fun with the children. The school has also been very supportive and takes the time to teach me the different practices that happen in the English educational system. I can already see how the seminars and mentors are changing my teaching practice for the better and having a great effect on the children's learning. A huge difference from how I was trained is that each child's individual progress is tracked from the age of four until they leave school and their progression lies completely in the teacher's hands. There are many more ways in which the English system has created paperwork for and scrutiny on the teacher's performance, and I don't see that ever lessening since it's heightened even since I started. With all of those behind-the-scenes added pressures, I just try to ignore them because I love teaching so much and I truly have the best class I could ever imagine. The children are all respectful and they try their best every day.
When we move-in, then photos will be posted. I can tell you for now at least that the house has an open floorplan which is rare to find in older houses in England and there are three bedrooms upstairs. The village is called Ainsdale and it's in Southport, just about one and a half miles from where we live now. Our house is about a mile away from the beach and we have lots of nice restaurants, a few little shops and a really big park with a tennis court nearby.
Here are some pictures of my classroom and of the house. I'll post more stories and adventures in February so stay tuned!
If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.
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