I have been told since I started studying education that your first year of teaching will inevitably be your hardest. People have advised me to just be prepared to work long hours, they have informed me that I will have more to do than I could ever possibly get done, and the most popular piece of advice is “just TRY to survive.”
After being thrown into the classroom mid-semester, there were times during the first 7 weeks of teaching that was purely survival. My advisors were right! My classroom management was not what I wanted it to be, some of my lessons stunk, and I had to complete a 2 page report on all of my students that I had only known for a month. It was challenging to say the least, but I survived, and I have lived to tell my story!
However, at the end of the semester when I sat down to reflect, I thought to myself, ‘This isn’t so bad, if this is my hardest year, then I’ve definitely chosen the right profession.’ The reason I think that I have come to this conclusion is because of the school that I work for; it is an enjoyable, encouraging and supportive environment that has allowed me to grow and thrive as an educator.
Bingham Academy’s purpose statement is, “The purpose of Bingham Academy (BA) is to provide high quality, culturally sensitive education, within a Christian environment, which challenges each student to impact the world for God’s glory.” Not only is it the teacher’s job to educate the students on reading, writing, and arithmetic, but we hold the responsibility of being a Christian example, and challenging their faith. My favorite part of teaching at BA is this responsibility. Teachers that teach in public schools still have the opportunity to be a Christian example, but you are limited in your pursuits of teaching about your faith. Having the freedom to openly use Biblical principles in my classroom to discipline and teach is wonderful. The staff starts every morning with a Bible study and prayer time; this time reminds us of our purpose and responsibility to God and our students. The first period of school is reserved for Bible; all students whether they are in kindergarten to seniors in high school start their day with God’s word.
Another one of my favorite aspects of BA is that the school truly is international. The faculty and staff are made up of a combination of Ethiopians, Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, and more. The students are even more diverse. My classroom dynamics are fascinating. I only have 3 students in my class whose native language is English. Most of my students speak another language at home. All of my students hold a passport from a country other than Ethiopia. They have visited places I have only dreamed about going. My English as a Second Language training has truly been beneficial, and my learning of Amharic has given me insight into frustrations my students might be facing.
Along with these aspects of the school, I have freedom in my classroom. I have expectations to follow the Cambridge International Standards and assessment requirements for all students, but I have complete creative control over how I want to teach the content. There are no unrealistic expectations that I have to accomplish. I’m not burdened by the pressures of No Child Left Behind. So in effect I am not overly stressed, and my students experience the benefits of a teacher who enjoys teaching.
Another positive aspect of teaching at Bingham is the schedule. I have a total of 8 one hour planning periods a week. Of course I do have a couple of meetings a week during those planning periods, but that is still a lot more than most schools allow at the elementary level. Along with my 8 hours of planning, the whole school has a Morning Tea/Recess time from 10:20-10:45 (which has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the day). The whole school also has a 45 minute time period for Lunch/Lunch Recess. My first graders have 45 minutes of recess a day, and that makes for a happy Grade 1 teacher! I truly am blessed with my schedule. Because of my extra planning periods I am usually able to leave by 4:30 or 5:00 every day, during my first year of teaching!
If all of this was not enough, I still have the benefit of a supportive administration. During my first 6 weeks of teaching, my principal would come into my classroom every day to observe how things were going. Although it does make my nervous, I appreciate his support. He never comes in with the motive of catching me doing something wrong. He is there to encourage and offer advice; advice that is greatly appreciated. I also have a one-on-one with my principal every week. During this time we talk about struggles I am having, concerns about my students, and ideas for teaching. Along with this, we also have a meeting each Wednesday after school that usually includes a professional development topic. The school also sets aside money every year for teachers to have professional development opportunities. This could include training in another country or working on graduate degrees. The school wants the teachers to leave here being even more prepared and knowledgeable than when they come.
Needless to say, I’ve been blessed in my first teaching position. There are definitely struggles and challenges about teaching overseas, but when you are blessed with the opportunity to teach at a school like Bingham, those struggles are more bearable. My main purpose in writing this entry is to give my readers a picture of what life is like teaching at an international school. But it is also to encourage anyone who is thinking about teaching overseas. You might not have the experience I have, but it will definitely be rewarding!
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