I Made It Through Week One

Week one is done and I’m still standing!  Of course we had half days, so that helped a bit.   Here are the highlights of week 1:

Day 1 – today I only had my class.  I had no schedule, but I had a ton of stuff planned.  Who knew it would be all in vain!  8:15 we had assembly and I picked up “my” students.  I spent 1 hour trying to pass out names in English.  Reem cried all day – ALL day!  Shamma is so cute and Alreem spoke a little English.  Mouza has Cerebral Palsy but her nanny will stay all day with her.  The nanny is Ethiopian and knows very little English, but she was very helpful.  I think she will be a great asset in my room.  At 9:15, when I think every child had their name card my Arabic counterpart, Miss Sheikha told me to take the kids to the theater.  We had a big Welcome to 1^st Grade party with balloons, treat bags,  a custodian dressed as Barney and Arabic music.  That went all the way to lunch – 10:45 – 11:15.  Then I took my kids back to the room and we practiced writing names.  At noon a bell rang and all the kids got up to leave.  I was never told it was a half day, but they knew!  I found I have a closet in my classroom but it is locked.  The cleaners are trying to find the key.

Day 2 – today the girls were a little more relaxed and I had to use my “teacher” voice.  Apparently it was Noura’s turn to cry all day, but Reem was happy as a clam.  I had my kids in the room and the music teacher came in an it was time for music.  I still have no schedule and they look at me like I’m stupid.  So, 45 minutes to kick back and reflect on my day.  I feel the kids are understanding a little already.  The “routine” as it is in the classroom is flowing, but there are things that need fixing.  They won’t stay in their seats and they all come up and tug at me and say “Miss, miss”.  They call me Miss Mary.  After music we worked again on our names, and the ABC’s.  They know them in order, but not out of order.  Then we did calendar time and worked on numbers.  10:45 – lunch again.  When we came back to the room we sang “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”  and they LOVED that!  We read The Teddy Bear and learned on and off.  Time to go home! 

After the kids left we had a faculty meeting and it was all in Arabic.  I got a feeling for what my kids feel each day in my room.  It was especially hard when we voted for something – I think we voted to have faculty meetings on Wednesday. . . not sure!  The teacher who speaks English told us we must sign up to teach an in-service and that we can learn a lot from our Arabic teachers.  After the meeting my closet was open.  Inside I found a wealth of materials – math manipulative, resource guides, posters, and an easel.  There was an old computer in there as well.  I spent 3 hours going through the stuff and cleaning. 

Kids I KNOW – Noura, Shouq, Shamma, Alreem, Reem, Mouza, Mouza, Meera, and Fatima.  9 down and  15 to go – only 24 have shown up.

Day 3 – I had my class for one period and we started reading Teddy Bear.  Alreem could point to the words!  She figured out what each word was and could follow along.  Nobody cried except Mouza (the girl with CP) and that was only in the morning when her mother slapped her.  My kids had PE and then I had Miss Sheikha’s class and all hell broke loose.  They ran out of the room and would not follow directions.  They could (would) not tell me their names.  We really need some name tags!  One girl, Meera, is deaf, and she screams and whines and seems generally confused.  She did not appear to know the few signs I knew.  After lunch I got my class back.  My kids received 8 textbooks today – not one of them was math or science or English.

Day 4 – today was uneventful but long.  I have learned many names.  I will say that my control is NOT good and I may need to go back to the drawing board on staying in their seats, lining up, etc. 

Day 5 – even though we’ve had ½ days I’m so very tired!  I’ve learned many of the names, but not as many as I’d like.  I should know MY whole class by now, but the names are different to me.  I can tell who is going to need the most help and who needs discipline.  Today they dismissed kids right after lunch and we worked on next week’s lessons until 1:30.  Next week we will cover M and S and the numbers 3-7 for counting and formation.  I have to remind myself that in 1^st grade coloring is not a waste of time – it develops fine motor skills!

While I would LOVE to post pictures of my kids it is forbidden to do so and I must follow the rules where this is concerned!