Educating in Ecuador Preparation

  Tuesday 05/23 @1:45 p.m.  For the final bit of my project today I spent some time doing some research on Santa Elena, Ecuador, where I will be travelling this summer with my mom and her colleagues to work in elementary schools. For the bulk of my hours this past Saturday, I completed some orientation training through the organization the service trip is through. Most of the training talked about how to properly prepare for the trip as well as safety and how to be successful in traveling to a foreign country and experiencing a completely different culture. For the preparation aspect of the trip, the training suggested taking some time to research the country, the geography of the town we will be visiting, and some aspects of the culture. Santa Elena is a Spanish-speaking province on the west coast of Ecuador, right on the Pacific Ocean. I do not yet know the exact place we will be staying but after reading and looking at images of the area, it looks beautiful. The beaches are very p

  Monday 05/22 @7:15 p.m.  Raiders on three: one, two, three, Raiders! Today I helped coach a practice for the Lebanon Rec seventh and eighth-grade girls’ lacrosse team. They started with a jogging warm-up lap around the field, followed by some dynamic stretches. We then hopped into shuttles and worked on some basic passing. Afterward, we spent the bulk of practice working on clears from the goalie and getting the ball up the field. Those on attack were working on cutting towards and away from the ball to aid in the transition while those on defense were working on their ride and doubling the ball. I hopped in and helped in this drill and it was actually a lot of fun! The girls have gotten a lot better at making cleaner and smarter passes, thus their transition upfield was a lot better. It was slightly hard to keep them motivated at times, as this drill did require a lot of running, but overall they all try really hard and seem to care a lot about the sport and one another, which is

Coming off week two, with only two days remaining in my senior project, I am both relieved and sad. At no point did my project feel like a chore, but it was certainly exhausting having to interact with kids for five hours every day. I am definitely sad that I will not be able to see my elementary school friends every day and receive the reward of making a difference in their lives. With all of this being said, I wrote last week’s reflection on everything I have learned, and while I learned even more about myself and how to interact with kids this week, I am most surprised about my reaction and overall feelings toward my project. I entered my project with mediocre expectations, not really knowing how the project would play out. I was thinking that I wouldn’t be very helpful to the kids I was working with, nor would I be as impactful as I was in actuality. In regard to my personal feelings about my project, I was very nervous to interact with little kids every day, as I didn’t have a

  Saturday 05/20 @1:00 p.m.  Though the hand-holding, high-fives, and hugs are truly amazing, the most rewarding part of my project has been how well the kids have remembered me. For example, Wednesday of last week I helped out in a kindergarten class for about 45 minutes one morning. They had some free time before their morning meeting so I simply sat on the floor with them and built blocks, played with puzzles, and talked with them. Fast forward a week and two days to yesterday, I stepped into the same kindergarten class to help out with their morning schedule, as their normal teacher was absent. Immediately upon my arrival, the kids began excitedly saying my name, wanting to come over to me. I was astonished the kids remembered me, but I was ecstatic to have been so important and memorable to them. There is nothing that compares to the feeling of being an important part of a kid’s day, or week. I helped one of the kindergarten boys with his spelling and writing, and though he was

  Friday 05/19 @1:30 p.m. I think that kindergarteners are my new best friends. I received about 8 million hugs today, and as my new friends would say, I am all hugged out! I spent the morning helping some kids with their letters and spelling which was really fun but also exhausting. With this being my last day working in one of the schools, the amount of gratitude and appreciation I have for teachers is inexplicable; their patience and dedication are beyond impressive. The little dude I worked with today kept getting frustrated, as he was struggling to write his letters and spell some words. I was doing my best to help him and keep him motivated but it was significantly harder than I would have thought. Thankfully, the class’s spelling and writing block came to a close shortly after. As someone who isn’t the best at comforting little kids, I was glad to move on to something else as I didn’t feel fully equipped to try and help him with his work and keep the kid from getting so upset.

  Thursday 05/18 @7:30 p.m. Holy cow today was exhausting. I volunteered in the middle school for the last time today, which was bittersweet, but mostly sweet. I helped out in some gym classes and math classes as usual and felt extremely relieved when I was able to walk out of the school for the final time. The highlight of my day was helping out with my sister’s lacrosse practice. She plays on the seventh and eighth grade Lebanon Recreational team, so though the girls were not the most skilled, we still had a lot of fun. We focused on the basics; passing in shuttles, cutting towards and away from the ball, and placing shots in the corners of the net. I was able to help play some defense for a small drill and step in to work on clears and the full-field ride, as they were somewhat short on numbers. Again, like working in schools with educators, coaching requires significant patience and understanding. I found it a bit more challenging and frustrating than teaching, as sometimes the g

  Wednesday 05/17 @11:00 p.m.  Hugs, high fives, and holding hands oh my! I was back in elementary school again today, which is a HUGE change from working in middle school. Yet, I think I prefer working with elementary students as opposed to middle schoolers, which is not at all how I expected to feel. I love how the smallest things bring them so much joy. The middle schoolers I have worked with are caught up on their phones, social media, and lots of senseless drama, whereas the younger kids have yet to succumb to the pressure of technology. Their happiness is so pure and I love experiencing their days with them, the happiness it brings me is inexplicable. My day was very short, so I helped out with a gym class, which was slightly brutal solely because it was outside. However, I got to spend time with my kindergarten friends which is always fun and they remembered me from the previous week. I feel this massive sense of accomplishment when they ask to hold my hand or for my help and

  Tuesday 05/16 @1:00 p.m.  I feel as though I’ve spent so much time in middle school that I’m fully becoming a middle schooler… kidding! It’s definitely fun to reminisce on my time here, but it’s also interesting to be back after four years of high school as I have completely changed as a person. Again today, I helped out in gym classes again and aided kids in learning to lift weights safely. I spotted kids and showed them proper technique, which was actually a lot of fun as lifting weights, and overall fitness is something I am extremely passionate about. I then sat in on a math class that I took in sixth grade, with my old teacher Mrs. Hill, whom I absolutely loved. She is an amazing teacher and completely transformed my outlook on math back in middle school. I gained immense confidence with her as my teacher and the three classes I had with her definitely prepared me for high school. I had only planned to observe this class but I ended up helping kids with classwork as they were

  Monday 05/15 @12:45 p.m.  Monday at the middle school was moderately mundane. I continued with the schedule I followed last week, by starting off by observing a science class. The kids in this class are extremely energetic for it being eight in the morning. It is very difficult for the class to stay on task and make it through note-taking, and the teacher of this class often struggles with redirecting and focusing the class. Obviously, I realize the class’s lack of paying attention is not her fault, and I can see the difficulty between being firm and constructive, too passive, or too aggressive in trying to have the class focus. I have gained such an immense appreciation for educators and their patience, yet I have also learned the importance of setting boundaries and expectations, as, without them, nothing is ever completed. Besides the science class, I sat in on an advanced math class where the kids are more independent and mature, which automatically made the class more producti

Week one of my senior project, Educating in Ecuador Preparation, was a challenging yet fun, and exhausting yet exhilarating learning experience. The week had its ups and downs, and there were certainly points where I wanted to sit down and stop. However, the feeling of utter reward after working with kids and being an impactful part of their day, outweighed the difficulties I encountered. The valuable life lessons I have learned from students and educators in a mere week are unmatched.  After observing and helping a handful of teachers in both Hanover Street Elementary School and Lebanon Middle School, I have seen quite a variety of teaching styles. Teachers who offer more constructive feedback and try to push kids towards solutions when they are struggling or there is conflict are more times than not, successful. Gentle criticism, especially with younger elementary school-aged kids, was far more productive than abrasive yelling or critiquing. Little kids respond positively to suggesti

  Saturday 05/13 @11:00 a.m.  Today’s blog will be a brief one! Seeing as the bulk of work for my project is taking place in schools, there was not a lot of work to be done from home. However, some exciting news is that plane tickets for Ecuador have been purchased and the trip is taking shape! I have not really talked about traveling to Ecuador on my blog yet, but essentially, with my mom and a few of her colleagues, we will travel down there to volunteer in elementary schools and help teach children English. Seeing as though I have just completed AP Spanish and AP Literature, this trip will definitely be a great way to see my Spanish-speaking skills in action and a wonderful experience in regards to working with children. If I am being fully honest, I was slightly convinced that I wasn’t the best when it comes to working with kids, but if this week has given me anything, it’s been a boost of confidence that I am capable of collaborating with kids of all ages. I still have so much t

  Friday 05/12 @1:00 p.m. Science classes, gym games, math help oh my! My days at the middle school are crazy busy, to say the least. I started off my morning sitting in on an eighth grade science class again, which has been very interesting from the standpoint of seeing what it would be like to teach rambunctious eighth graders about the subjects I am so passionate about. I have observed two different teachers, both of whom have inclusive and interactive teaching styles, and I have learned that getting younger students excited about biology and physical sciences is definitely challenging. For the next chunk of my day, I helped get students involved in some gym classes. I played four-square volleyball with eighth graders and basketball with some sixth graders. Next week is the start of their fitness testing unit, which I am excited about as I will have the opportunity to help kids learn how to lift weights. I am extremely passionate about fitness in addition to nutrition in regard to

  Thursday 05/11 @1:30 p.m.  After three days at the elementary school, I can confidently say that little kids are A. LOT. OF. WORK. Holy cow, as the kindergarteners would say. Today I started the morning in a first grade classroom and helped the teacher prepare some math work as well as organize some other materials for her. I was then able to sit with the class as they went through their morning meeting routine where they discussed the weather of the day, the number of school days left (only 23 yay!!), and their schedule for the day. A big theme in the first grade classrooms right now is the Phonics Song, as they are focusing on the sounds that different letter pairings make. Teaching kids the rules of the English language is quite challenging and requires significant patience. For the next part of the day, I helped out in a handful of art classes, which were very hands-on and interactive. Again, the virtue of patience is extremely important as trying to get kids to listen to direc

  Wednesday 05/10 @1:25 p.m. Today I worked in the elementary school again and got to work with a lot of younger kids which was slightly challenging at times, but also very fun and rewarding. I started my day by sitting in on an all-school assembly where everyone gathered to celebrate their walk/bike to school day. I then helped out in a kindergarten classroom for a short period of time. They had “discovery time” where they solve puzzles or play with toys so I just got to sit and hang out and chat with them. I then helped out in P.E. classes for the rest of the day. We spent time outside and I was able to help some kids learn how to put on a baseball glove and throw the ball. We played games and it was really great to get everyone involved and see them having a good time. I assisted in physical education classes for kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade students, so I have gotten to work with a broad age range. I have yet to work with fourth graders as they are tes

Tuesday 05/09 @1:15 p.m. To switch things up today I volunteered in Hanover Street School, the elementary school where my two younger siblings attended and where my mom works as the nurse. I started my day helping out in a first grade class where I was able to participate in their morning meeting routine. As a class we then went over the process of writing a personal narrative and then I was able to walk around the room and talk with kids about their ideas to help them start a draft. This group then went to their music class so I went and helped my mentor, Megan Cardillo, teach her art classes. I assisted in third grade, first grade, and kindergarten art classes. I loved interacting with kids of all ages and I really appreciated seeing the diverse teaching styles of the other teachers I worked with in classes. Primarily, I was nervous to work with kids that are so young seeing as though I don’t interact with kids this age very often, but as the day went on I found it easy to talk wit

Monday 05/08 @12:45 p.m. Today I volunteered in Lebanon Middle School, my alma mater where I roamed the halls from fifth grade to eighth grade before coming to Proctor. I began by helping out with an eighth grade science class taught by Mrs. Davis, who was my advisor when I was in middle school. They are currently talking about weather patterns, the different forms of matter, and the changes in kinetic energy. I then went and helped Mr. Binaghi, my old gym teacher, in three classes. I was able to interact with fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders throughout these blocks, as we played four square volleyball. It was fun to help get kids involved in physical activity, especially the few that weren’t very keen on playing. Kids were laughing, getting some exercise, and having fun which was really great to see. Next, I sat in on a history/geography class taught by Mr. Hathorn, my teacher from when I was in seventh and eighth grade. I am not super keen on history but he talked a bit ab