I have survived my first day as a teacher at Clairvaux MacKillop College. High schools here unlike anything I have ever seen in the States. Every two weeks, the teachers and the students are given a timetable which lays out for them what time they will go to which class for the ten day period. Every two weeks, a new one is given. There is absolutely no rhyme nor reason within each time table or between. The days vary from class to class with no pattern or consistancy. I am going to have extreme difficulties with this one.
The school also has a very different curriculum. Rather than having students take Algebra 1, then Geometry, then... etc., the students take Year 9 math, Year 10 math, ... etc., each being a mixture of the different branches of mathematics and increasing in difficulty with each year. A system I think the US could learn a lot from. I have been given charge of a Year 8 and a Year 12 to run completely alone and as I like. I cannot decide if I am more nervous or excited. It feels so amazing to be doing this. I feel as if I am finally in my element, and I am even more confident now with my career choice.
The students are extremely well behaved. I of course was asked several times where in the States I was from, had students try to copy my accent, and was asked if I owned a gun or if the KKK was still in existence. I really wanted to "give 'em the mickie", as they would say here, but I decided to not tease and just told them the truth. My supervising teacher introduced me as the "Yank" so I had to explain to everyone also that there is a difference! They stereotype just as we do... everyone in America to an Aussie is a Yank, apparently.
So much happened, I could go on for days, but I am worn completely out. Lauretta and Dave dropped George and I off at a mall earlier, and we missed our bus and ended up walking over 3 kM home. Sorry, I don't know the conversion rate and I'm too lazy to look it up right now :).
I miss you all very much, and next time I begin to post I'll make sure I'm not at the line between incoherency!
Oh... toilets do not flush the opposite way here.
hmmm the math program there sounds like the math that I had in my HS... my school called it "integrated Math" 1-3...not very creative naming but it was similar to what you described, each year was a mixture of the different math "branches" building on each other but not studying one specific field each year. Senior year we would choose a specific field such as calulus etc. ps... about 1.5 miles home ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a great time and good luck
WOW! Lauren. How exciting! I will keep up with your blog to see how the adventure is going. Do you think I'm too old to go teach somewhere else in the world for a semester? Next time I get mad at Mike, just watch out!!! :-) andrea
ReplyDeleteHaha go for it!! I'm becoming very torn as to whether I want to come home or not... :) Please tell him hello for me!
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