Craig and I are doing quite well. Craig has enrolled in intesive German language courses and will be starting on August 31st. He will be attending class in the mornings, Monday through Friday. I have had my New Teacher Orientation and tomorrow I will have the opportunity to meet the rest of the staff. School starts for us on Wednesday, 19th August. I wanted to share with you a bit of what I have learned so far:
-The students have House Shoes. They are not to wear their outside shoes in the school but instead their house shoes. They are not to wear their house shoes out of the school. Got it?
-At this school, they take German classes from Preschool 3 (kindergarten) up to Grade 5 and then they start French in Grade 6. However, the parents from the States are pushing for the school to offer Spanish. All lessons, other than the language lessons, are taught in English. However, majority of the students do not speak English at home.
-I have been told that even though we teach all in English, knowing German is helpful. This is because when students are in their groups or with friends they will more than likely speak in their native tongue. Also, even though we are to teach in English-learning is the goal. Nonetheless, this won't be as big of a problem for me as the teachers of younger grades.
-At the stores sell these huge, colorful cones. I thought they were hats at first. They are decorated with princesses or spiderman and they are in every paper supply store. Turns out these are actually for the smaller children. In Germany they start schooling at Grade 1. So, in Grade 1 they bring these big cones to school a day before the actual school day. Their cones are filled with all of their school supplies. This is a big celebration to get them excited for school.
--Students are not to bring fizzy drinks to school.. which I have learned means soda
-Students do not order their lunch from the school, but instead through an outside catering company. This is done through the school's website.
-If a parent is late to pick up their student from an afterschool activity, they are billed 10 euros each time. After all of the time I spent sitting with cheerleaders last year--I think this is a GRAND idea!
-Grade 4 teachers may be asked to write a "bildungsempfehlungen" (say that 5 times fast!). This is a statement of recommendation for further education, and only for students wishing to leave the international school and go into the German schooling. In Germany, primary school finishes at Grade 4. From there children go to secondary school, but there are different levels. The birght students go to Gymnasium where they study until age 18 and can then head to University. The next level children study until they are 16 and do not receive as high of a diploma. Can you imagine putting that kind of pressure on your fourth grader?
-I am so excited to have a SmartBoard again this year! Woohoo technology. I will post a picture of my classroom soon....
Ok, I think that is all for now. I will post more when I think of it. Also, if you have any questions, send them my way!
:) Amy
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