Back to School
I appreciate stillness, but I long for movement. After over a month and a half since the last semester ended, my school resumed classes at the beginning of June, and I could not be happier. I am finally doing what I came here to do again: teaching.
We were strictly online for the first two weeks. Online learning is a challenge for everyone, but it is especially difficult for the little ones. I am teaching kindergarten again this semester, and at this level, we only teach online for twenty minutes at a time. Though we did a lot of dancing and singing, it is hard to keep their attention for any longer than that. Regularly, students slept or cried through lessons. It was not an ideal format for learning, but we showed up and did our best.
We made the most of the circumstances during online classes, but I was relieved to welcome students back to school this week. In-person learning allows for a range of activities that are just not feasible in an online format. We can do crafts, group work, games. Rather that watching me wave flashcards at them through a screen, students can run to the corner of the room where I have taped the flaschards as I call out vocab words. Our lessons are more interactive, and students are more engaged.
These kids bring me an incredible amount of joy. I missed all the waves in the hallways, the sound of little feet dancing above our office. The children bring life to a school that has been empty for too long.
While it is enriching to have classrooms full of students again, there is an underlying sense of anxiety in all of us as we accept the potential consequences of such crowds during the pandemic. I spent several class periods teaching proper handwashing and COVID precautions. It pains my heart to refuse high fives from students who I know don't understand the rejection as one of safety. Still, I douse my hands in sanitizer every time I pass a dispenser. I trust that the schools made the best decision available to them. We are still careful to protect ourselves and our students.
As I begin what will likely be my last semester of teaching here, I commit to beginning everyday with gratitude for this opportunity and for every moment that I get to spend trying to make a difference.
Related Posts
Meet the Author: How Travel Became the Most Honest Education of My Life
The hardest part is starting. I get it. Here’s how I turned my fear into my greatest teacher — and why your journey starts with just one step. From UCLA to 30+ countries by 24. I left home searching for more than a career — I was chasing lessons the classroom couldn’t teach. This is the story of how travel became the most honest education of my life.
Not getting Hired After College? Heres Why I Left the U.S. to Teach Abroad
I thought a degree from a top university would be my golden ticket, until no one wanted to hire me. After graduating from UCLA and applying to over 100 jobs with no success, I realized the U.S. job market wasn’t built for recent college grads like me. That’s when I decided to take a leap and teach abroad with CIEE’s Teach in Thailand program. From rejection emails to global educator in a Thai classroom, I found purpose, fulfillment, and adventure in a place I never expected. In this blog post, I share why teaching abroad changed my life, how much it cost, and how you can do it too.
Teaching English Abroad: Thailand vs. Hungary Comparison
Meet Sarah- a CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL Alum! 😊 Hi, I’m Sarah! I’m originally from New Jersey, but for the last 4 years I have been traveling all over... keep reading