What’s the Same and What’s Different
It’s only been two weeks of international teaching and I have already come to some great realizations and new learnings. First no matter where children are in the world, starting the school year with community building and procedures is key. Second, all students (on all continents) need and benefit from growth mindset instruction, and finally not all schools are built equally and equitably when it comes to access to supplies and resources.
Allow me to break each of these down…
Community Building and Procedures
As an educator who spent 11 out 12 years teaching in the United States, I know one of the most successful ways to lay the foundation for a great school year is to begin with community building and procedures.
Community building is the key to creating trust between teacher and students, and students with their peers. My motto is always trust before standards. Studies show that students who trust their teachers learn more effectively from them. Consequently, this is what makes community building a vital part of back to school preparations for classrooms all over the world.
Additionally, modeling and teaching procedures is a staple both in the U.S and in South America. Students need to be taught how to get the teacher’s attention, how to turn in assignments, how to line up, etc. The procedures allow for daily functions to flow with ease.
Overall, I have realized that the components of the first two weeks of school are essentially the same and equally important in both the United States and in Colombia.
Growth Mindset Instruction
Growth mindset is the belief that people can develop their abilities through perseverance and hard work. Students are taught to embrace challenges, learn from their mistakes, and to preserve even when they feel like giving up. This mindset is the opposite of a fixed mindset which is the belief that a person’s talents and abilities are fixed-and therefore cannot be developed or improved.
Through positive affirmations and mindset shifts students learn that just as they learned to walk, talk, tie their shoes, and sing the ABC’s through practice; they will also be able to use the skill of practice and hard work toward learning long division, riding a bike, writing an essay, doing a skateboard trick, and taking the SAT.
I taught my students the same Growth Mindset Affirmation for the past 8 years. First thing in the morning students stand and read it loud and proud, with belief in their heart and mind.
This affirmation carries my students throughout the day and many often refer back to it when they feel challenged or when they overcame an obstacle. My students in Cartagena love our class affirmation just as much if not more than my students in California.
Also, I read a Growth Mindset Book each day and followed it with an activity. Below are a few of the books we read:
- Think, Think, Think by Pamela Nettleton
- Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
- My Fantastic Elastic Brain By Joan Deak
- Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
- The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi
Supplies and Resources
For the entirety of my career I have taught at title 1 public schools-where most families are lower-middle class yet they are always willing and eager to provide classroom support and supplies. Knowing that parents have a lot to juggle already, I never liked asking them for supplies so I spent the first few years teaching, going into debt to buy my students supplies and resources.
Then I learned about Donorschoose, where friends, family, and public corporations can help fund special requested classroom supplies. Once I learned about DonorsChoose I made sure my classroom was well stocked with folders, pencils, notebooks, erasers, crayons, even backpacks-you name it. I had it.
Now that I am at a private international school I was only provided one pencil, one glue stick, and one eraser per student. The thought of 1 pencil per student was enough to make me pull my hair out already. But that wasn’t the half of it, locating construction paper and art supplies was even more difficult.
I quickly began to miss my old classroom full of supplies and resources. I missed access to DonorsChoose (which is only available for U.S teachers). I even missed my Amazon Wish List which isn’t allowed at my current school either. However, we are allowed to request specific items 15 days in advance from the school supply office. (Some items in small quantities are available immediately).
This new reality will be very different from what I’m used to. A school year without pencils, erasers, sharpeners, art supplies, or even scissors on hand makes me anxious. So, now I am back to years 1-3 needing to spend my own money on my class although I make 12x less than what I made in the states.
All of this to say- schools are not made equally when it comes to supplies and resources. Although my school is a private school it has significantly less resources than any public school I have ever taught at.
Overall, similarities and differences aside, my first two weeks of international teaching have been full of fun, laughter, and new learning. Stay tuned for more updates as the year progresses.
