Hello Everyone!
Here I am enjoying a lovely cup of tea, trying to come up with the best way to describe all of the amazing things I have experienced on my journey thus far. It's really quite difficult.
They say a picture says a thousand words, but even if I show you a hundred photos from my trip, only I will truly be able to remember all of the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions that have surrounded me while in New Zealand. For now, however, I will try my best.
This past weekend was absolutely wonderful! On Friday night, Jan had a work party to attend so she dropped off Laura and I downtown Auckland to explore the city for a few hours. We meandered along the harbor and wharf (for those of you who don't know this fun fact...Auckland is called the "City of Sails" - and for good reason!) and got some dinner and drinks. Auckland City is unique for a few reasons. Even though it is New Zealand's largest city, it's whole area still contains only one million people so there is a very safe, homey vibe to it. It is not overwhelmingly large either, most everything is within close walking distance. The icon of the city is definitely the Skytower, which they illuminate at night with fancy colors. The current shade of choice appears to be a pinkish purple.
Here I am enjoying a lovely cup of tea, trying to come up with the best way to describe all of the amazing things I have experienced on my journey thus far. It's really quite difficult.
They say a picture says a thousand words, but even if I show you a hundred photos from my trip, only I will truly be able to remember all of the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions that have surrounded me while in New Zealand. For now, however, I will try my best.
This past weekend was absolutely wonderful! On Friday night, Jan had a work party to attend so she dropped off Laura and I downtown Auckland to explore the city for a few hours. We meandered along the harbor and wharf (for those of you who don't know this fun fact...Auckland is called the "City of Sails" - and for good reason!) and got some dinner and drinks. Auckland City is unique for a few reasons. Even though it is New Zealand's largest city, it's whole area still contains only one million people so there is a very safe, homey vibe to it. It is not overwhelmingly large either, most everything is within close walking distance. The icon of the city is definitely the Skytower, which they illuminate at night with fancy colors. The current shade of choice appears to be a pinkish purple.
After perusing for awhile, we met back up with Jan and Rob and took a drive along the waterfront, stopping for a few scenic nightime views of the city and at a small Belgian pub to hang out. On Saturday, Laura and I took the train into Auckland city to wander around for the day. We visited Victoria Park Market, the Skytower Observatory, Victoria Street for some shopping, and also took a ferry boat ride over to Devonport to walk around some shops.
We may have to go back sometime though because many things were already closing up around 7pm. We still had a great time just walking around though. On Sunday, Rachel and Ken took us on a wild rainforest tramping excursion! It was near Bethel's Beach at the Makutu Reserve. We went on a 3-hour long hike around in the mountains up and down some rough and rugged terrain. When I say wild, I mean wild! Clearly the safety regulations here are not the same as in the U.S.! Haha. For example - we found ourselves walking along a narrow cliff hanging on tightly to a cable with only our hands so we would not fall down into a ravine! We trekked down bare traces of steps in the mountains made from rocks pushed into the ground and over a few streams (one of which I slipped into and soaked my entire boot! - classy!). Over the course of our hike, Rachel and Ken taught us "heaps" of things about the plants, animals, birds and trees found in the forest. We had a picnic near a lovely waterfall and then continued onward. I am still so sore from all the crazy climbing up and down, but it was an absolutely awesome time! We plan to do similar excursions in the future so maybe I will be a pro when I return! haha we'll see about that :) 
At school this week, I am nearly to full control. I wrote out detailed plans for myself and my cooperating teacher but am finding that no matter what, the plans are more like guidelines than actual rules ;)
One thing that is absolutely mandatory about the teaching field is that you must be flexible. This has certainly been true throughout my time at Swanson School. The learning environment here extends so far out of the classroom (which is awesome!!), that the kids are always going to enriching activities that involve fitness, music, art, teambuilding, community, and even dance! It is so wonderful that kids get such a well rounded education here. However, that also means that several times a week, things need to be changed around to accomodate such activities. It has been best to just go with the flow. There is no point in forcing a schedule that clearly isn't going to happen the way you want it to. In fact, several times a day, I find myself adjusting individual lessons to better suit the vibe I am getting from the class, or to accomodate for more or less time that other lessons had taken. I have completely thrown out some lessons, and have also made up new ones on the spot. Mrs. Logan keeps her schedule and mind very fluid. She has found much higher success by creating plans with the intention that changes can and will happen. I have found this to be very true as well. In making my plans for a week, I understand that they are not fully finished and set in stone. Every night I look them over and decide what needs changing for the days ahead based on what was accomplished for the day.
I have also begun to feel much more confident and relaxed in front of my class. Teaching has become a natural part of who I am and I absolutely love that feeling. With the support and resources of great teachers around me and by taking a lot of initiative on my own, I am learning so much and having a lot of fun!
This week our class is beginning to come up with articles for our class newspaper project. They will be investigating, interviewing, documenting, and and writing. We are also focusing on geometry, sound, and current events. Twice this week we have an hour reserved for Nikau Athletics where the kids will be learning a variet of Track and Field activities from all the Nikau teachers. I started today by assisting in High Jump and catching kids who lauched themselves too far over the mat - it was quite humorous! The whole school will also be attending a dance show in the main hall tomorrow as well - very exciting!
On a different note, one of the teachers recently asked me what I have noticed as differences between students in America and students in New Zealand. I realized it was a very difficult question fo rme to answer. To be quite honest, I don't think there are any. I think that kids are kids no matter where you go in the world. It is simply how they are raised, managed, and taught that is different. Kids here in New Zealand have a slightly different set of expectations from the adults in their lives and they have grown up with those expectations and ways of doing things. At heart though, they have many (not all, but many) of the same needs, thoughts, hopes, desires, fears, curiosities, and dreams that kids in America and all over the world do. It is this realization that has made my time here so valuable already. I can teach anywhere, I just have to have an open mind.
At school this week, I am nearly to full control. I wrote out detailed plans for myself and my cooperating teacher but am finding that no matter what, the plans are more like guidelines than actual rules ;)
One thing that is absolutely mandatory about the teaching field is that you must be flexible. This has certainly been true throughout my time at Swanson School. The learning environment here extends so far out of the classroom (which is awesome!!), that the kids are always going to enriching activities that involve fitness, music, art, teambuilding, community, and even dance! It is so wonderful that kids get such a well rounded education here. However, that also means that several times a week, things need to be changed around to accomodate such activities. It has been best to just go with the flow. There is no point in forcing a schedule that clearly isn't going to happen the way you want it to. In fact, several times a day, I find myself adjusting individual lessons to better suit the vibe I am getting from the class, or to accomodate for more or less time that other lessons had taken. I have completely thrown out some lessons, and have also made up new ones on the spot. Mrs. Logan keeps her schedule and mind very fluid. She has found much higher success by creating plans with the intention that changes can and will happen. I have found this to be very true as well. In making my plans for a week, I understand that they are not fully finished and set in stone. Every night I look them over and decide what needs changing for the days ahead based on what was accomplished for the day.
I have also begun to feel much more confident and relaxed in front of my class. Teaching has become a natural part of who I am and I absolutely love that feeling. With the support and resources of great teachers around me and by taking a lot of initiative on my own, I am learning so much and having a lot of fun!
This week our class is beginning to come up with articles for our class newspaper project. They will be investigating, interviewing, documenting, and and writing. We are also focusing on geometry, sound, and current events. Twice this week we have an hour reserved for Nikau Athletics where the kids will be learning a variet of Track and Field activities from all the Nikau teachers. I started today by assisting in High Jump and catching kids who lauched themselves too far over the mat - it was quite humorous! The whole school will also be attending a dance show in the main hall tomorrow as well - very exciting!
On a different note, one of the teachers recently asked me what I have noticed as differences between students in America and students in New Zealand. I realized it was a very difficult question fo rme to answer. To be quite honest, I don't think there are any. I think that kids are kids no matter where you go in the world. It is simply how they are raised, managed, and taught that is different. Kids here in New Zealand have a slightly different set of expectations from the adults in their lives and they have grown up with those expectations and ways of doing things. At heart though, they have many (not all, but many) of the same needs, thoughts, hopes, desires, fears, curiosities, and dreams that kids in America and all over the world do. It is this realization that has made my time here so valuable already. I can teach anywhere, I just have to have an open mind.
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