Peek At My Day - Teaching Abroad in KG1

The school year is beginning to wind down although we are not out until July but the kiddos are finishing in June.  Those lucky ducks!  I follow several Facebook groups for teachers who are coming abroad to teach in the UAE and who are already here in the trenches.  A common trend I've seen this last week is that everyone wants to know what a typical classroom day looks like.  Well, no day is typical and EVERY day is completely different and full of surprises.  But I'll do my best to give you a snapshot.

Kindergarten is made of two grade levels - KG1 and KG2.  I consider KG1 to be the equivalent of preschool back home and KG2 would be like regular kindergarten.  Only in KG do EMTs (what I'm called - an English Medium Teacher) co-teach in the same room with an AMT (Arabic Medium Teacher).

Here's my daily schedule:

Morning Assembly (Tabore)

Teachers arrive at 7:30 am and the students arrive around then and begin gathering in the gym.  The whole school meets and goes over announcements, sings the national anthem, and rotates through each class (two a day) for a short performance.

Arrival

Students arrive in the classroom and perform the usual duties...putting backpacks in the cabinet, jackets in the basket (in cooler weather), turn their attendance card to show they are here, and put snack money in the pocket chart.

Free Choice Centers

Students are given time to just play and practice the previous day's skills.  They are allowed to choose any activity throughout the classroom.

Islamic

Islam is a big part of the culture here and is the main religion practiced in the country.  Time is given every day in the public schools to study the religion.  During this time (since I do not speak Arabic or read the Quran) is to monitor student behaviors and assist my co-teacher as needed.

Snack

Students either bring a small snack/lunch (looks more like lunch to me) or can buy a small sandwich, cucumber or banana, and a drink (juice, liquid yogurt called laban, milk, or water).  Choices vary and some items are not always available.  Snack time is shared between myself and my co-teacher.  I might do one day and she does the next.  This allows one of us to have almost 20 minutes of prep time which usually goes towards setting up the centers for after snack.

Literacy Direct Instruction

This is our circle time. We have a 10 minute lesson based on the school-wide theme (a theme can last for several weeks), followed by a brain break, then 10 more minutes of instruction (preferably shared writing).  Some days I lead the instruction and my Arabic co-teacher translates and adds more information.  Other times, my Arabic co-teacher begins and I do my best to translate into English the gist of the lesson.

Literacy Centers

Each week we try to have at least five literacy centers. These usually include an art center (drawing and labeling a picture using vocabulary cards), play dough, construction (theme related), writing, and reading. Some students also work on computers during this time.  Either my co-teacher or myself will hold a small guided reading group during centers. The teacher not holding the group is responsible for managing the students at centers and taking anecdotal notes and/or assessment.

Numeracy Direct Instruction

This is our second circle time.  It is formatted very similar to the literacy direct instruction.  We try to follow the gradual release model for instruction (I do, we do, you do).  Just like during literacy time my co-teacher and I will alternate instruction so it is delivered in Arabic and English.  I try to always plan a hands-on activity for the students based on the concept we are learning before releasing them to centers. Since they are ELL kiddos I feel this is very important to understanding their learning.  You can read all about an example numeracy/math lesson in my blog post here.

Numeracy Centers

Our numeracy centers are usually the same center names as our literacy centers but with different activities.  We change our center activities weekly but usually have art center, writing, play dough, construction, computers, and numeracy.  Art center might be to create a picture of the week's math concept like draw a heavy and a light object.  We will also encourage students to use the vocabulary cards to label their pictures.  The writing center might be set up to write their numerals and draw objects to match.  Construction they could be making numbers, making long and short lines with the blocks, experimenting to create a balance for weighing items.  Play dough usually stays the same and will be making their numbers using play dough mats with ten frames which can be found here.  The numeracy center is really just a designated table which we will put a variety of activities to work on number sense. Students will often choose a tub to take to another location or work at the table.

Again, during center time one teacher will hold small groups while the other rotates among the centers collecting assessment data and informational notes.

Specials

At our school we have P.E. (usually called sport or riada), music, and library.  For music and P.E. we have a true prep period and can use the time for the usual teacher things:  checking email, entering grades, preparing the next lessons.  During library one of us must stay with the class the entire time. There is a librarian who will provide lessons to fulfill her own outcomes but once the lesson is finished, the teacher is responsible for keeping the students engaged and on-task.

Daily Reflection Time

I love this time of day!  Every day at the end of the day we try to have students reflect on what they have learned.  I truly believe this is an integral part of their learning and is so beneficial to these students to practice and speak in English.  I have witnessed some amazing growth from this reflection time.  A more detailed blog post about daily reflection time is in the works - just in time for you to see about incorporating it into your day next year.

Dismissal

Most students ride the bus home as you can see by our chart above.  Only one student is picked up from school each day.  All teachers are required to be on bus duty and escort their assigned bus kiddos onto the bus each day.  Once the students leave, most teachers use this time to finally eat something. Twice a week we have one hour of professional development/meetings.  On a non-meeting day (provided lesson plans for the following week are finished) I can go home at 1 pm.  On meeting days, we leave school at 2:30 pm.  Definitely a nice change from back home!  However, all schools tend to be a little different. While what you've read above is typical for my day it may not be typical for another teacher at a different KG school.  

If you have any questions or I forgot to cover something, please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Currently May

It's a new month which must mean it's time for another Currently linky party with Farley over there at Oh, Boy Fourth Grade.

Listening

Right now I'm working on the computer (of course!) and half watching Breaking Bad on Netflix.  I can't decide if I like it but I can't seem to stop watching episode after episode.  I'm up to Season 3 now.

Loving

I am getting some products finished and posted on TpT and instead of spending a ton at the sale this week I found some great freebies a few days ago.

Thinking

It's after midnight and its been a looooong week so I should be sleeping.

Wanting

I would love more time with my family.  Fun time.  Free time.  Time not taken over by entering grades, writing lesson plans, working on school things.  But aside from that I would love more time to see Mr. Doodlette.  Poor guy works really long hours and we get to see each other less than 3 hours a day. When we're lucky.  Makes me super sad just thinking about it. 

Needing

A relaxing vacation on the beach.  My sister in-laws are in the Maldives right now and the pictures! I really wish I was there with a big old daiquiri in my hand and a great book on the kindle.

Summer, Yes, Hope, Dream

This summer I'm going back to America for my annual visit.  I skipped last year though because I was pregnant.  I always fly into Vegas and I'm pretty bummed I'm coming the day after the big hoopa with all the teachers.  I got to go the year before last and it was an amazing trip.  I'm still hoping I can swing getting out of school a day or two early but I think that's just a dream.

What's your Currently?  Come and join up at Farley's.

A Little Arabic Lesson

Let me start with a disclaimer.  I do not speak fluent Arabic. Nor can I understand conversations but I have picked up some handy-dandy words after living here for two+ years that I thought I would share with you.  From time to time you might encounter these words in my blog because when I use them I feel really cool and smart.  And now you can too!  (Well, unless my pronunciations aren't accurate, then you'll just sound like an idiot).

Marhaba (mar-huh-buh)

Loosely translated it means welcome (this is how I use it) or hi. 

Salam (suh-lom)

Shortened version of the typical greeting. Means hi.

Hammam (huh-mom)

First time I head this in my classroom I thought the student was wanting their mom (first day of school and all that). Unfortunately no one gave me a heads up that it means bathroom.  Jeesh. Good thing I learned it quickly after the first day (the hand gestures and pointing really helped clue me in).

Shanta (shawn-tuh)

I use this in the classroom to mean backpack. But really it just means a bag like you get your groceries or medication in after a hard day at work. But I swear I said it a million times in the classroom to my firsties and they understood what I meant.

La (la)

As in the Christmas carol but in Arabic it means no. Bet you didn't know that all these years you were singing la la la you were really saying no, no, no.  To be used sparingly in the classroom, these kids hate being told no and don't hear it very often.

Aiwa (eye-wuh)

Yes. If you want to say this like a native speaker give a short pause between syllables and on the second your voice should go up a little. And draw the first syllable out longer. There, like that!

Banat (buh-not)

This means a group of girls. Not the "Girl, you lyin" sort of girl but the "I am a girl" version.  I taught a class full of girls (no boys) so I used this word a lot. A. Lot.

Bent (bent)

This is for one girl.

Waled (wahl-ed)

This means boy. Not to be used as "oh, boy" or it could be taken as insult. Boys are king here.

Khalem (cah-lum)

I used this for pencil but it means any type of writing utensil so you could also use it for pen.

Sayaara (see air uh)

Use this at the end of teaching to figure out whose parents are picking them up. It translates to car. So I would make my two lines (no walkers here in the hot, hot desert) and say bus, sayaara to line them up.

Taboor (tuh-bore)

Which brings me to...line. As in line up.  Stand in line. Walk in line. Draw a line. See that line? Make your line the same.

Same Same

Not really Arabic but I thought I would throw it in here.  For some reason most people living here (apart from other Westerners with a good grasp of the English language) don't understand the word same.  But when you say same-same. Click! They understand perfectly. But you have to say it when pointing widly. For instance at the store trying to get internet connected.  Point to the teacher beside you in line who managed to breakthrough the communication barrier and are on their way to scheduling service. Good. Now point to yourself and say same-same.  You will feel like an idiot but when it works you will find yourself saying it constantly.  Especially after class mini lessons.

Inshallah, in'shallah, insha'allah (in-shawl-uh)

You will hear this often. Oh so often.  To the point where you want to take off your shoe and smack someone with it if they say it.  Please restrain yourself. Especially here as there are hefty penalties for things like that such as deportation.  The meaning of inshallah is God willing, or if the God wills it. How it's actually used is more like this:

Me: (on phone third time with apartment maintenance about the AC). So you will come today?

Maintenance man: Inshallah

Me: you said that yesterday but never came to fix it.

Maintenance man: (in a quieter voice) inshallah, inshallah, inshallah

 (what I'm hearing and interpreting). I am very lazy so if I feel like it I will come. But you will probably have to call me at least two more times and threaten to call the complex owner before I get off my butt and fix it.

Me: okay, hopefully I will see you today

In my opinion it is used completely inaccurately. I mean sure, God willing I will have a great teaching year. But He needs my help some days.  I can't just say if God wills it and then make no effort but expect results. Like weight loss...

Okay, off the rant.  Continuing on with your lesson.

Hon (hone)

It means "here." As in get your buns over here. Or put your shanta here.

Ijlus (idge-less)

This means sit. Very helpful in a classroom. Although I've found if I don't say it exactly right (and this goes with names too) I am ignored.

Kabeer (kuh-bear)

Use this for big. You are in big trouble mister. To which the kids giggle and proceed to continue running around the classroom and climbing on the counters.

Mushkila (moosh-kee-lah)

Use it after kuhbear, it means problem. So kabeer mushcullah is big problem. Or you can use it alone. But often you will hear it paired with mafi ( mafi mushculah) no problem.

I hope you found a few new words to add to your tool belt.

April Currently

It's a new month so it must be time for the linky party with Farley from Oh Boy It's Fourth Grade.

Listening

The past few days I have been watching episode after episode of Dexter.  Apparently there are 7 seasons for me to catch up on.  Yikes.  So I have a little addiction and as soon as I wake up I need to click on the Roku and start watching.  Somebody stage an intervention!

Loving

That it is finally my time for Spring Break.  Oh, couch and TV how I've missed lazy days together! The sleeping in thing hasn't been happening (small baby in the house) but at least there are sometimes naps and all day pajamas.

Thinking

I had a list.  I should be productive accomplishing things I have been waiting weeks to get caught up on.  Before I know it my break will be over.

Wanting

I really wish my family and I could take a little vacation.  Unfortunately, Mr. Doodlette does not get any time off from work to join me on my break.  Hopefully this summer we can have a vacation together. Fingers crossed!

Needing

A haircut and new glasses.  I just find it so hard to put aside some time for me to get these things done. I'm about to take the scissors in my own hands...

Eggs-plain Your Name

I thought the name sounded cute, it reminded me of pieces of teaching moments which is what I want this blog to be.  Bits and pieces about my teaching life - little teaching doodles.

March Currently

Once again I am linking up with Oh Boy Fourth Grade for another edition of Currently.

Listening
While hubby is out on a dinner run (no cooking for me today!) the house is quiet and the TV is off. Which gives me the perfect opportunity to listen to my little girl napping...and snoring since she has the never ending upper respiratory infection.  I'm also listening to some hallway noise of our neighbors.  Everything is tile here and echoes. A lot. So I hear all when someone is walking or hanging out (as my lovely neighbors tend to do) in the hallway.

Loving
I am loving my drive today.  I'll be perfectly honest with you - I'm pretty darn lazy since the baby was born (7 months ago).  Okay, okay.  I said I'd be honest.  I was lazy during the pregnancy too but at least then I could say I was growing a human being.  It was a legitimate excuse. Anyway, today I actually had a bit of motivation and cooked up some baby food (plum and apple), baked some brownies, washed all the dishes and even did some work on the computer.  And of course I fed and played with the baby PLUS had a lovely little nap.  Usually it's just the nap and watching TV then eating and going to bed.  So I feel pretty productive for a school day.

Thinking
There is always, always too much to do.  When you don't have any drive like I have been lately, it seems like I never get caught up.  I'm feeling pretty burnt out lately.  This second term is the longest and has no breaks!

Wanting
I just transferred to this kindergarten school this year but I already find myself wanting a change to another school for next year.  I don't really want to go into details but certain things in the school have contributed a large part of me not wanting to do anything.  It's getting depressing driving into work everyday knowing what waits me when I get there.  Unfortunately, the transfer process isn't the easiest in the world.  First my principal must approve my transfer paperwork and then it's voted on by a committee...I'm not really sure my paperwork will be signed.  I need a good reason for wanting to leave other than "you suck the life out of this profession."  Ideas?

Needing
I am really needing some serious motivation.  See above for reasons.

Spring Break Plans
My plans are to relax and enjoy the time with my family.  At the moment I hope to finish up some projects on the computer, sleep in late (baby allowing), and enjoying American shows through Hulu. Maybe even a movie or two on Netflix.

That's my Currently.  What are you up to?