Put me in, coach!

I feel like the conversation began during my first interview with ASB . . . and now, almost three years later, it has come to fruition. Beginning next year, I will be the half-time K-5 Instructional Coach at ASB! I can´t even express how excited I am to be back in this type of role. Working with students and teachers in all grade levels, planning and facilitating professional development, and helping in the implementation of new language arts standards, curriculum, and resources - it´s kind of a dream job for me!

With it being a brand new position, I know there will be lots of challenges and stress that come with it. However, it´s a challenge I feel ready for. Working as a half-time tech integrator this year has given me a lot of insight into ASB that has definitely prepared me for next year. And although it´s super-nerdy to say, I just can't wait to dig into literacy instruction and coaching techniques again. :)

I´m not sure what I'll be teaching during the other half of my time, but there are a number of possibilities. (Without a doubt, I'm nowhere near ready to be out of the classroom.) There´s still a lot left to be decided. One thing I know for sure is that I will be in Barcelona for at least the next two years because this position required signing a two-year contract. I had no plans on leaving, but it's actually really nice to be able to know for certain where I'll be for the next few years. (Tessa has also decided to stay, so we've just started the search for a new apartment - yea!)

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited to see what the next few years hold for me in Barcelona!

THE Topic of Conversation

Although I´ve quickly learned that there are many differences between international teaching and teaching in the states, the biggest difference I´ve noticed these days is a very specific topic of conversation -- So, what are you doing next year?

In the states, because (in my opinion) stability is highly valued - owning a home, a consistent job, having a family - people don´t tend to move around too often, unless they have to. So, conversations about changing jobs, especially in teaching, didn´t seem to occur all that often, unless it was for a change in position.

The world of international teaching is completely different! At this time of year, the conversation consistently centers around plans for next year (and it´s only November!). People are constantly asking if you´re staying or going, where you might go, when you´ll decide, etc. It´s crazy! Many people clearly know if they want to stay or if they want to go due to needing a change, more money, or just not enjoying where they are. But many people are in limbo, too.

This topic of conversation has again reminded me of my love/hate relationship with change. I love new experiences and the changes they can bring and I think change is essential and positive most of the time. But I also hate having to think about it! It gives me such an unsettled feeling.

I know I´m staying in Barcelona - at this point in time, I still love the city and have no desire to be anywhere else. (Of course it would be nicer to make a bit more money, live in a country with a strong economy, and feel like I´m living more in Spain than Catalunya, but . . . for the time being, all of that is not enough reason to move - yet. :) As I listen to others discuss what to do, I feel like maybe there´s some change I need to make that I´m not aware of! I start to feel unsettled and unsure - even though I AM really sure about my choice.

As I realized a few weeks ago, I think I need to make some changes so that I can personally feel more settled. Hopefully it´s as simple as finding a new apartment that´s a better fit and buying some things that make me feel more at home. It´s silly, but I think my own set of dishes, a new coffee pot, and the "wall of pictures" I´ve been envisioning might be all it takes to give me that feeling!

I know these conversations will continue to occur - it seems this is just the way things are in the international world of teaching. And sometimes, it makes me miss the stability of "home." Hopefully everyone will start to find their answers soon - for their sake and mine :)

ASB Website

ASB recently updated their website for the 50th anniversary of the school and it looks SO much better! Many of my students and I happen to be in photographs that were published on the site. Check it out!

http://www.a-s-b.com/

Not a 5th grade teacher for much longer . . .

I have to share some exciting news! It was just confirmed this week that I will not be teaching 5th grade next year. I LOVE 5th graders, but after six years with this grade level, I knew a change would be good for me professionally. I had expected to move down to primary grades, but instead I will actually be moving up to 6th grade!

Because we currently have three sections of 5th grade, they needed to create a third section in 6th for next year. In addition, ASB is moving forward (slowly, but surely!) with technology integration, readers/writers workshop and eventually instructional coaching. My director knows my background in literacy coaching and I approached him early on this year about really wanting to get back into this - my passion definitely lies in working with both kids and teachers.

So . . . next year I will be teaching "humanities," which is a combination of literacy and social studies, for half the day. I'm SO excited to teach social studies again - it's been years! (And I'm pretty happy to not be teaching math and science. :) The other half of my day will be spent working as a "technology integrator" in grades 4-7, helping teachers integrate technology projects into their lessons.

Although I think I know quite a bit about how to use technology as a demonstration tool (i.e. interactive whiteboards), I have a lot to learn about technology-based programs and software! For the past three years, I have been craving professional development - I miss the learning I was able to do at Crawford so much! I have a feeling that the next six months/year are going to be FULL of learning opportunities for me, which makes me so excited! Between possible technology training, writer's workshop training at ASB in June, and possibly attending the reader's workshop training in NYC this summer, I will certainly be learning a lot.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about this opportunity! Getting to work with teachers and students in a new way, moving back into more of a coaching role, teaching two-three subjects instead of four, and getting to spend another year with many of my fantastic kiddos - how lucky am I?!

The First Week of School

I'm happy to report that I survived the first week of school! It was questionable at times - having not had a full first week of school in years, having a group with 4 more kids than last year, and realizing that this class is like day and night from last year's! However, they were amazing yesterday, a feat for a Friday, and I feel confident that they are going to be a great challenge, a ton of fun, and a group I will never forget!

The biggest differences from last year's class to this group is that they talk even more (not unusual for a group with a lot of Spaniards!), they are academically lower and have a wider range of abilities, and that there are quite a few boys who can't be seated within 10 feet of each other without a conversation, play-fighting, or anything else happening! Luckily, once the behavior log was put in place, as well as consequences (thanks, Mary Robison!), kids started responding. Again, it's such a great reminder of the importance of high expectations and consistent follow-through.

My class is bigger due to having 12 new students in 5th grade this year! Most of these students are international, so it's helping to balance out the languages. At this point, I have students whose native languages are: English, Spanish, Catalan, Hungarian, Swedish, Korean, Greek, Afrikaans, Dutch, and Portuguese - it's pretty amazing!

I stayed at school pretty late all of last week and feel kind of nerdy for it! However, there is just always so much to do at the beginning of the year that you can use throughout, and to be completely honest, I love it! It's great to feel re-energized about teaching and believe that I can really help these kids to improve. Again, I'm missing the intensity and level of conversation from Crawford, but feel more prepared to bring pieces of it to ASB, poco a poco. (I am also feeling very grateful for all of the amazing flipcharts we made, too -- my room is looking SO much better already! :)

And so, the first week is over. A much-needed night in and 9 hours of sleep did wonders! I'm now off to do a bit more preparing. Below are some photos of my classroom - a year later, a horseshoe table, and some rearranging have it much improved!

We're ready to write!

classroom library and writing supplies

cabinets full of supplies for all sorts of things

and prepared for student work

student seats, homework, daily schedule

my teaching area

Newbies!

This summer I've been the coordinator for new teachers at ASB. When Mark asked if I would be interested, I jumped at the chance for a number of reasons. I SO appreciated Katharine, who had been the coordinator when I started. I also loved all of the work I did with new teachers in APS. But I think the main reason I was interested is because I love Spain SO much and I always want other people to love it as much as I do. I know this won't always be the case, but I figure whatever I can do to help that happen, whether it include creating a tour itinerary for friends and family or showing new teachers around town, it's well worth it!

Because we have so many new teachers this year, it's proved to be quite a job! Nothing too difficult, but lots of planning, organizing, emailing, and trying to keep information straight. I was definitely feeling a bit of stress from it, but now that almost everyone has arrived I feel so much better. It's fun to see and talk to everyone and remember what it was like when I first arrived in Spain two years ago. This group seems to have an amazing range of experiences and stories - international teaching is fascinating! They are so energetic, social, and fun. It makes me excited to think that some of these new people will likely become good friends this year as well.

And, as the responsibilities of this job wind down, I'm getting more and more excited to begin my second year at ASB and no longer be one of the new kids on the block . . .

Year One of International Teaching - Complete!

Wow - I can hardly believe that my first year teaching at ASB is over! My kids and I were reminiscing about our year together, all of us shocked that it could already be finished. I was happy to see that it doesn't matter where you are or what group of kids you are working with, the end of the year is always crazy! I was consistently asked if we could have a party every day for the last week and saw many shocked faces when I told the kids they would actually have to do a little bit of work.

However, our last day was full of movie-watching, sharing letters with one another, yearbook-signing, and lots of junk food - it was perfect! Some students gave me gifts which were just incredible. It's clear how well they know me - I got multiple pairs of sparkly earrings, a beautiful summer scarf, a beach bag, and more. However, my favorite gift was definitely the power point describing why I was the "BTE" (Best Teacher Ever). I teared up as a few students read the sweetest letters to their friends and when one of my most favorite students waited until he was the last one left, hugged me, and told me how much he would miss me over the summer. Luckily, I know I will see all but one of these students again in September - it's amazing how much easier that makes the end of the year!

A few friends and I have talked before about how one of the best and worst things about teaching is the fact that you have such a concrete end and beginning every year. There's something refreshing and motivating about getting to start over each year, yet it can also be quite emotional to say goodbye to kids and teachers each summer. (I think the emotions that go with this are quite dependent on the group of kids you have!)

After spending the past week at the AERO conference in Washington, DC, I'm already feeling excited to start a new year! I think one of the best things I could have done professionally was to be a "new teacher" again. It's amazing how easy it is to get used to philosophies, systems, resources, and kids when you stay in one place for a long time. I feel like so much of this past year was about me finding my way, learning how to incorporate what I believe in and know to be good instruction into new systems and structures. Now that I know how ASB "works," I think next year will be even more productive for both me and my kids.

Although I'm excited to begin a new year, I'm even more excited for a vacation! No more teacher talk - look for posts about summer adventures coming soon!

Delta del Ebro or Cal-Wood?

I recently returned from ASB’s annual 5th grade trip to the Delta del Ebro. Having been the coordinator for Crawford’s annual trip to Cal-Wood for three years, I was so excited to go! I was very curious to see what would be the same and what might be different. It was definitely an experience!

One of the main differences between this trip and the ones I was used to is that this trip was a full week. It was an amazing time, but 5 days and 4 nights is a long time! However, we did get paid 300 euros for chaperoning, which is quite a nice addition that didn’t exist in APS!

At the Delta, we were able to take advantage of our location near the water – we went to the beach, kayaking on the Ebro River, and biking near the sea. It was beautiful! However, we had to take a bus everywhere we went, which was a big change for me. At Cal-Wood, once you were there, you were there. Everything you did was in walking distance, which sometimes could be up to nine miles round trip. In addition, everything we did was in the mountains. Completely different scenery, but equally beautiful.

We spent a fantastic day biking along the Ebro River!

I have to say, nothing at Cal-Wood compared to the

rice planting/mud fight at the Delta!

Another difference was the food. At Cal-Wood, the food was amazing! We had a healthy lunch of sandwiches, hummus and vegetables, and fresh-baked cookies for dessert. Breakfast and dinner were always delicious and balanced. The food at the Delta left a bit to be desired. Although the café con leches were perfect and we could have wine and beer with every meal (a nice perk of life in Spain!), the food was awful. We only had fresh fruit and vegetables twice and the fact we had French fries with every meal became a running joke. For our vegetarians, one meal consisted of white rice, potato chips, and ice cream. Not exactly the best when doing active things all day.

Finally, the accommodations were quite different as well. At Cal-Wood, the kids slept in actual log cabins. This meant that ideally an adult would need to be in each one to prevent any trouble, but they were lovely. At the Delta, we were basically in a dorm. The teachers had their own room, but the walls were paper thin and at times we didn’t even have enough water to shower.

At Cal-Wood, our guides were trained in outdoor education – the kids (and me!) learned SO much while there about history, nature, and survival. Although our guides were great at the Delta, it wasn’t the same.

Clearly, these trips were very different. Each had their positives and their negatives. However, I have to say going to the Delta definitely put Cal-Wood in a new perspective for me. I appreciate the quality and level of teaching even more than I did before. Is it possible that ASB’s 5^th grade trip could move to a new destination? Well, that would mean breaking with 20+ years of tradition . . . an ASB battle I’m not prepared to fight quite yet.

Digital Book Trailers

Our super-amazing librarian, Courtney, showed me something new she learned at a recent conference - digital book trailers! It's the exact same concept as a movie trailer - short and sweet, created to grab the attention of your audience and make them want more.

As my class finished their Newbery Award-Winning book study, this seemed to be the perfect final project. And, as usual, these kids could hardly contain their excitement! In hopes of being better able to help them create their own, I made one as well. It's for our most recent read aloud book - The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg. I have to say, it's REALLY hard to choose only a sentence or two to sum up your book, as well as find images that really depict the bigger meaning of the text. Here's my first attempt . . . I hope it makes you want to read more! (Thanks for the idea, Courtney! :)

The View from Saturday on PhotoPeach

Meet the Artist

As the school year is starting to wind down (3 weeks and counting!), 5th graders are finishing up lots of projects. One project we just celebrated was "Meet the Artist." This is an interdisciplinary project that happens annually.

Each student is assigned an artist by our art teacher. They then research their artist, write a biography about them and compile a list of their favorite paintings during their literacy time with me. In their art class, they choose a painting that inspires them, then create an original piece in the style of their artist (pointillism, impressionism, etc.) At the end, they create an oral presentation to tell about the life of their artist, their painting style, and their personal piece of art.

Although I would like to shorten the amount of time spent on the project, I have to say that the final results of it were amazing! To see kids so fascinated by art, be able to speak so fluently about their own artist, and see their paintings that show they understand an art style was just fantastic. In addition, I learned so much about art and famous artists as well. (I discovered that Barcelona's Joan Miro is one of my favorites!)

Meet some of the artists from 5C!

A 5C Birthday Surprise

5C

Wow - I've enjoyed my class since the beginning of this year, but my heart is filling up with more and more love for them by the day! Without a doubt, they are one of the most thoughtful and kindest group of kids I have ever worked with.

My birthday is next week and ever since my class realized that we would be on spring break when it happened, they've been in the midst of planning a surprise for me. For the past month or so, there has been a particular group of girls taking pictures of kids and teachers, hiding things from me when I walk by, and giving me that "What? I'm not doing anything suspicious" look constantly. They have made up elaborate stories to cover up their plans - it's been so cute to watch!

Well, yesterday the birthday surprise was revealed! They planned a party for me and proceeded to go all out. Decorations, a birthday song and dance, a power point presentation, a poster, food, and a beautiful cake complete with a "31" candle. It was amazing!

However, the best part was their gifts. I got a fabulous scarf that is exactly my style and a beautiful journal. Inside, each student made a page with their picture and wrote a birthday message to me. It's so thoughtful! I've included some of my favorite pages below. :)

Needless to say, this has already been one of my most memorable birthdays . . . and it hasn't even happened yet!

Such a beautiful journal!

pages by two of my kiddos

"Ms. Jenny"

I have to share a poem that two girls in my class wrote on "Poem in our Pockets" day. It cracks me up! :)

Ms. Jenny

by Sofia and Maxime

I have a teacher who's called Ms. Jenny,

she's as valuable as a golden penny.

Her eyes are blue and green,

and if you concentrate,

they look like little beans.

Her smile looks like the golden sun,

she is loved by everyone.

She is covered with little freckles,

and when we're funny she fills up with chuckles.

She orders us the best books,

and we can count on her for her looks.

Jejeje! I'm not completely sure how to interpret all of these lines, but I kind of love them!

Poems in our Pockets

At ASB this week, elementary students are preparing for St. Jordi - a Catalan holiday celebrated on April 23rd. Although I don´t know all the details of this day yet, but dragons, roses, books, and a knight are involved in the legend.

Our students are celebrating with a HUGE focus on literacy this week, which I love! Everyday, students do something a little different. Today, students have to carry a "poem in their pocket" and be prepared to read it for anyone who asks. We had a lot of fun choosing poems yesterday. As usual, Shel Silverstein was the favorite of many kids.

As students were choosing poems, I decided to do the same. Although there are so many poems that I love, the first one I thought of is this one below. It´s a classic that seems to be very fitting at this moment in my life . . .

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.