In T-Minus Three...Two...One!

Fifteen days….GULP!!! 

In the past week or so, I have found myself doing something very strange on a daily basis here in Spain; using countdowns. 15 days left in Spain. 2 weekends left in our apartment. 5 days until our holiday vacation to Morocco. 4 more lessons to teach my D1 students that I went to London with. 2 weeks to finish my Impact Project. And a shout-out to Julz, only 6 jars of Nutella left at Spain’s price. The lists go on and on, and the days continue to fly off the calendar.

I have begun this practice as well during my time in Spain, at the request of one of my cooperating teachers. “It’s kind of fun for the students,” he said. It’s nice to know what’s coming up and what they have to look forward to. On his own website, my cooperating  teacher has countdowns extending for as few days as the next weekend, to as many days as a year in advance for his students’ IB graduation exams. The impact of these countdowns however has been very unique, and unexpected, on me.

Out of the seven of us here representing Gustavus, three of us are 9^th Semester Seniors. When we put our feet back down on American soil, we will be more or less done with our college education, and it will be time to be adults…whatever that means to each of us. I like to think that it isn’t a sudden experience and that we are well-prepared, but we truly won’t know until it becomes a reality. On top of finishing school work, applying for teaching licenses, finding a place to live, and deciding whether or not more school is in store for us in the near future, we have to make some crucial decisions about our lives for the foreseeable future. My ability to handle this pressure ebbs and flows with each passing day (and a tick off of my countdown).

Usually, for those of you who know me the best, this is a typical occasion for me. I thrive off of my stress levels, am very “Type A”, and am always thinking about the next thing that needs to be accomplished. I love countdowns because when they hit zero, it means I have accomplished something significant. But being here in this place has encouraged me to begin thinking a little differently about life. As a result, I am starting to really appreciate the small things while here in Spain, and am starting to look past the daily grind to which we subject ourselves. I’m starting to truly notice the view we have off our balcony, the food at the school, the hour-long conversations I have with my other cooperating teacher on a daily basis, the value of public transportation, and the mile-long walks with which I get to start and end my days.

\I figured my fellow student-teachers would have to agree as well, so I interviewed my roomies.

Julia: I think I appreciate not having to tip at restaurants…or perhaps the fact that toilets have two buttons (one for #1 and well, you get the picture!), all in an attempt to save some water.

Sara: “Definitely the sound of the waves outside of our window…at all hours of the day.”

Drew: I love being able to go running on the beach barefooted – next to the Mediterranean no less – whenever I want to.”

Christopher Columbus' Tomb in the Cathedral

This past weekend, we had an incredible time in Sevilla, perhaps the most gorgeous city in all of Spain based on my limited experience. What I found most meaningful for me however, was not the ability to see Christopher Columbus’ tomb, climb to the top of the cathedral tower, or see the second oldest bullfighting ring in the country. Instead, it was the time the seven of us spent having conversations, meeting new people, and enjoying the time we had in a new place. I spent two hours each day just talking to random travelers in our hostel, hearing about their adventures and thinking about how much I would love to do that one day. For example, I met Jessica, who hailed from Vancouver, Canada and had just decided one day that 6 months in Europe would be interesting. So she picked up her bags, and simply caught the next flight to Amsterdam with an “I’ll figure it out” mentality.

It is stories like this that have opened my eyes to a whole new realm of possibilities for when my next countdown terminates. Could I teach abroad? Could I handle a backpacking trip through Europe? Could I set aside my plans of settling down close to home and try something just because? While I don’t have those answers yet, Spain has taught me to be more open-minded and to think about the possibilities within the improbabilities.

So while all of us miss home and look at the countdown as a chance to see family, witness snow, and endure sub-zero temperatures again, we are still trying to soak up everything we can experience in our limited time left here in Spain. While seeing Christmas decorations in London last week definitely made me homesick, I am looking at this whole countdown thing in a whole new way.

Thanks for reading!

Chris Stewart

Changing our lives, one jar at a time.

If you’ve been reading our blog religiously (or at least semi-religiously) you’ve encountered blog posts about Spanish culture, the IBO (International Baccalaureate), and British accents.  These topics relating directly to our school and intercultural experience are great…but I’d like to side-track a bit and discuss something that has been on my mind since the moment I stepped foot into the kitchen of our apartment four weeks ago.  This thing, which will be unveiled in a moment, has had a profound effect on the seven of us over the last 30 days in Spain.  In fact, if you aren’t in the mindset for a deep, highly intellectual piece of writing, I suggest you either a) postpone reading this, or b) quickly grab a cup of coffee and hustle back in front of your computer screen, because today…(long pause) I’ve decided to write about (even longer pause…and drum roll)…Nutella.

Drew is caught brown-handed.

Nutella?  Did you just say NUTELLA?  As in the luscious, creamy, chocolate-hazelnut spread originally developed in Northwest Italy during World War II (Ferrero, 2010)?

Yes.  As a matter of fact, I did.  Nutella has found a special place in our hearts, stomachs, and kitchen cupboards.  As a matter of fact, if I were to walk into our kitchen right now—keep in mind there are four of us in this apartment—I would find seven jars of Nutella, Sharpie-tattooed with the names Julz, C.A.S., Sara, and Drew, patiently waiting to be enjoyed. 

Would you like some bread to go with that Nutella?

 The unique ritual of spreading Nutella on its substrate can best be described by Brittani Matzke, when she recalled:  “The amount of Nutella on my butter cracker is typically double the mass of the actual cracker.  Also, when I’m spreading it, I always make sure to leave plenty on the knife so I can lick it off.”  Upon hearing this, my respect and understanding for Brittani as a friend and person nearly doubled, as I too leave extra “licking Nutella” on my butter knife. 

While the Nutella corporation suggests serving their product on a whole-wheat bread or cracker, many trials and kitchen experiments have lead me to conclude that Nutella can be enjoyed on just about anything in the fruit, grain, or dairy families.  I have yet to experiment with the meat and vegetable groups, but part of me hypothesizes that it wouldn’t be that bad… Amazingly, Nutella can also be enjoyed on inorganic materials.  Sometimes when I need a quick fix, or for dessert after a nice Nutella-on-toast meal, I bypass the need for any medium and enjoy my Nutella directly from a stainless steel spoon.  Ah, simple pleasures.      

Are you NUTS?  Nutella vs Peanut Butter:  The Great Debate

 One recent morning, Sara and I were debating the nutritional value of Nutella as compared to peanut butter.  They are surprisingly quite similar.  Your average serving of peanut butter has triple the amount of protein per serving (7g vs. 2 g) and six times less sugar (3g vs. 17g), but it also packs on 30 more Calories and has a slightly higher fat content.  As far as we’re concerned, it’s a toss-up.   

Hazelnut vs. Peanut:  its going down (the esophagus) tonight. 

When making such drastic life decisions such as the choice between P.B. and Nutella, the holistic health approach is certainly one to consider:  what is best for the body may not always be what is best for the soul.  After many trials of carefully documented enjoyment, we have concluded that the psychological and emotional benefits of consuming Nutella over peanut butter far outweigh Nutella’s nutritional Achilles Heel.    

Economics and consumer psychology also play a role in this decision to purchase enormous amounts of this edible magic.  In the mind of a poor student teacher, the price tag presented in Euros is a much more alluring 2.60, and causes far less guilt related side-effects that result from paying $4.25 for the same jar back in the States. Finally, I would like to note that peanut butter is far less common in Spain, and is typically higher in cost than Nutella—at least, that is the case from our Supermercado experiences thus far.  This PB vs. N debate will continue upon our return home.  Until then, Nutella has the winning case.   

What would you do for a Klondike Ba…I mean, Nutella Jar. 

Several of the Gusties were asked, “To what lengths would you go for a jar of Nutella?”  Here are their responses:

Drew:  "I would swim across the Mediterranian Sea from West to East, with a school of sharks as my travel companions."  (After doing some research, we learned this swim would be approximately 2400 miles...no information was found about suppressing a shark's appetite for that long). 

Julia:  “For one jar of Nutella?  I would shave off my left eyebrow.  I might consider having that eyebrow permanently removed via electrolysis for a lifetime supply (if the opportunity were presented to me).”

Chris:  "I would walk across the city of Estepona barefoot...without dodging the numerous piles of dog doo-doo which tend to appear frequently on the sidewalks." 

Yep, 1.6667 jars per person at any given time.

In conclusion...

My last comment about Nutella:  Had it last night.  Had it for breakfast this morning.  I made room for it after a large Thanksgiving meal… and I’m probably going to have some when I get home today after school.  Without Nutella, this trip to Spain just wouldn't be the same...

As always, thanks for reading!  I hope you have been inspired to splurge on a jar for yourself.   

Julz

Lists

I’ve found that teachers, by and large, are list-makers.  I wouldn’t consider myself to be an extremist on the list-maker scale, but some days I do feel like my desk is covered in lists of various kinds.  Some of my lists include:

1)      Emails to send

2)      Items to buy at the store

3)      Papers to copy

4)      Children to collect homework from

5)      Books to read

6)      Ideas for lessons

7)      People to call

8)      Concepts to teach

9)      Goals

10)  Things to Google

Most of these lists are relatively insignificant, but I never seem to go a day without making at least one or two.  Last week, however, I did manage to create a few lists worth sharing.

List #1: Why SIS students are so motivated

1)      The curriculum is full of engaging topics where the students are personally invested.

2)      The students are given the expectation to be independent, which builds confidence and competence.

3)      There are high expectations for the standard of work.  Those who produce excellent work are put on display and those who don’t are required to do it again. Low effort is simply not accepted.

4)      The students work hard and produce products to be proud of.  Both give them the feeling of success, which they strive to feel again.

List #2: My goals for the rest of student teaching

1)      Challenge the class—always keep them growing.

2)      Model how I want them to act.  Teach with integrity and expect the same of my students.

3)      Don’t worry so much about petty misbehaviors; instead, focus on moral and character development.

4)      Enjoy myself!

The other couple lists I made are a product of my travel bug:

List #3: Places I still want to go while in Spain

1)      Sevilla

2)      Madrid

3)      Morocco

4)      The Picasso museum in Malaga

5)      La Cañada (again!)

6)      Jazz Pub in Estepona

7)      Breakfast in the port

8)      Walk along the beach (many more times)

List #4: Places I never want to go again. *Disclaimer: many inside jokes to follow.

1)      Casares (“It’s only about a 20 minute walk!”)

2)      Algeciras by bus

3)      Carrefore (an overrated Spanish Wal-Mart all the way across town)

4)      ANY part of a street that isn’t painted with white stripes

Notice, list #4 is half as long as list #3. This can be attributed to the fantastic trip I’m having!

Until next time, happy list-making!

Brittani

"If you can hear my voice, put your hands on top of your head"

Give me five, if you can hear my voice clap once, counting backwards from five to one, using chimes, all teachers have a little pocket full of attention getters and classroom management strategies.  But what happens when your strategies don’t really work?  You know that your students know exactly what they should be doing, but they are just testing you because you have stepped in under someone else’s rules and expectations.  How do you get them to give you the same respect they give their normal teacher?

Establishing a teacher presence is something we all have had to deal with as we have been taking over teaching more classes.  It is difficult for students to have a change in their routine, and to add to that, we are young and enthusiastic upcoming teachers.  They know they can test our limits.  After I had stopped a lesson one day because my students were being too chatty and unfocused, I asked them why they acted like that around me and not around my cooperating teacher.  One of my students responded, “Because you are fun”.  That’s great; I would like to continue to be fun, because I know that students are most engaged in learning when they are having fun, but how can I establish a classroom that is “fun”, but also under control?  Our challenge as we begin to full time teach soon is to establish clear expectations and to not be afraid to stop the lesson if it is not going the way we want it to go, as far as student’s behavior.  Hopefully we can all establish our teacher presence soon.

      --Sara Schroeder

I Spy...

I spy with my little eye a red phone booth, fish n’chips, and pounds. Where in the world could I be?

Only an hour drive away from our lovely Estepona apartment, we entered a world a part from Spain. Gibraltar is a unique place defined by the massive limestone rock that juts out of the Mediterranean sea and can be seen from our apartment windows. We had to show our passports before entering into this British territory and then we were instantly re-immersed in a familiar language.

We were all curious about this strange place found inside Spain, especially after talking with some of the teachers that we work with at SIS. A couple of the descriptions we heard about Gibraltar were, “It’s a 1970’s version of London” and some of the teachers from England go there to find, “The comforts of home and flavors of home.”

It was a perfect day to explore Gibraltar, the sun was out and we could see the coast of North Africa. We rode in a cable car to the top of the rock and had an amazing view of the city below. The monkeys of Gibraltar roamed around freely, looking at us curiously and were tempted to peak into our bags. We explored St. Michael’s cave and got an inside look at the rock of Gibraltar. After walking down the rock, we made our way to the nearest fish n’ chips restaurant and ended our day with a British meal.

Although spending a fun day in pseudo London, we were happy to return to our Spanish casa and to appreciate the view from our windows.

Hasta Luego!
-Katie

What Are Your Treasures?

My Year 2 classroom is full of bubbly 6 and 7 year olds eager to learn.  Everyday they enter the classroom with loads of energy and curiosity.  Not only are these children learning their letters and numbers but they are also learning how to become proper and productive citizens of the world.  In a PYP2 classroom, students follow 6 Golden Rules.  Our Golden Rules are: we are gentle, we are kind and helpful, we listen, we are honest, we learn, and we look after property.  In my classroom we reward the children with a treasure when we catch them following these Golden Rules.  These treasures are anything from plastic frogs, bracelets, glass stars, to seashells.  My students see these treasures as if they were gold. When they hear their name being called, hear recognition for their hard work, and see the special treasure placed into the jar, their face lights up.  This form of positive reinforcement encourages them to continue using their Golden Rules while others  students follow suit.  It is amazing how something so simple can mean so much to the students.  I see them actively practicing their Golden Rules during the day and striving to do the best they can do. If the treasure jar is full on Friday afternoon students are rewarded for their good behavior with Golden Time. During Golden Time students are able to play games and create artwork because of their hard work during the week.  Students work all week long to receive this special time and their excitement shows when their last treasure is placed in the jar.

            As teacher I receive positive reinforcement and treasures all day long. The treasures I put into my jar are not plastic frogs and seashells but rather the interactions and experiences I share with my students during the day.  My special treasures include seeing students smile, hearing their laugher, and witnessing them enjoy the learning process. I love observing students’ faces light up when they are proud of the work they accomplished.  Nothing compares to witnessing a student finally understand a concept and seeing students’ creativity and imagination come through their work. Treasures are everywhere you turn when you are a teacher. My jar of treasures overflow everyday and when I reflect about each treasure I receive I am reminded of why I want to be a teacher; to make a difference in a student’s life and pass on a love for learning.

After reflecting upon the treasures I receive as a teacher I started to think about the treasures I have put in my jar while living in Spain.  I have realized the joy of a laid-back life style and having the ability to soak in the culture and views that surround me.  The mistakes we have made while using public transportation and the lessons we have learned while traveling are some of my most memorable treasures. I have found enjoyment in being able to run along the beach with the sand between my toes.  Café con leche and Nutella are my best tasting treasures.  But the majority of my treasures come from the places I have seen and the people I have met. The amount of treasures I will receive here in Spain as a teacher and traveler will be endless and the memories I form will never be forgotten. 

Objective for today’s lesson: don’t forget to look at the treasures you put into your jar everyday!

Love from, Mary Ellen Korby

Why Travel?

            If I sit back and think about it, this trip to Spain has been bizarre.  I picked up my life and left it on hold, traveled to an entirely new place that I had to get accustomed to, just to leave again and awkwardly re-enter the life I left behind.  Now don’t get me wrong, I was incredibly excited to take on this new life adventure, but pondering the scenario from how an outsider may see it leaves me puzzled.  Why travel?

            This question has been on my mind for these first couple weeks of the trip thanks to my students.  It all started in an introductory get-to-know-you lesson for my Primary 6 students. I had pulled up a Google map of Minnesota on the SMARTboard and showed my students where I was from. They proceeded to drill me with a series of questions ranging from what Minnesota winters are like, to if I liked American TV, to who I voted for in the last US presidential election.  I answered most questions without much trouble, but one in particular caught me off guard.  A boy in the front raised his hand patiently with a quizzical look on his face.  When I called on him, I could hear the bewilderment in his voice as he asked, “Why would you come to Spain to teach?” as if it were an odd thing to do.  Hesitantly, I replied something like “because I wanted to experience a different culture and gain experience in a different type of school” and moved on with the questioning quickly, avoiding further discussion on the topic.

            Now, upon further reflection, I still feel unsatisfied with my answer.  I had been caught off guard by the question and responded with a vague and meaningless answer.  It seemed odd to me that the 11-year old wasn’t keen on the idea of traveling and wasn’t familiar with the benefits associated with the different cultural experiences. But of course he didn’t know that!  It seems obvious, when living with six other Gustavus travelers and surrounded by teachers from all over the world, that traveling is a way to cultivate personal growth. But it turns out, not everyone sees it that way.  Realizing this, I would like to take another stab at his question using some insight I’ve gained from those around me…

I’ll start off with my fellow student teachers’ responses to “Why come to Spain to teach?”

I knew it would be so drastically different than what I was used to.  I wanted a challenge.  Also, it gives me the opportunity to learn more about the American school system by seeing something that it wasn’t.

I believe people learn the most when they are put into uncomfortable situations and have to think outside the box.  When you put yourself into a new culture, you have to think of things in a new way.  Coming to Spain allows me to grow as a teacher and a person.  You aren’t stuck on a one-way street of doing things like you’ve always experienced them; you have more experience to pull from, making you a better teacher.

To experience a new culture and see how things are different from what I’m used to in the United States. To see how education here is different, essentially.

Spain lets me experience a different culture in a very real way. We’re immersed in the culture here, and a new culture offers a very different type of school.  It teaches me a lot about thinking about teaching in a new way.  As teachers we need to continue learning about teaching so we don’t get complacent.

It’s something I wanted to do because it combined two of my loves: traveling and teaching.

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Aren’t my cohorts all so wise?!

Well, here’s what I have come up with.  I’m not sure my students would want my lengthy answer, but at least I can be satisfied with my answer now!

            “I would come to Spain to teach because of what it teaches me.  The new culture is a challenge to my way of thinking about the world, which affects how I interact with it.  Teaching in another culture allows me to see how educational systems are run elsewhere so that I may draw from this school, as well as be better able to understand American schools.  I can better understand theirs as well as my own, and be able to take the best of both for my own future classroom.

            I wanted to challenge myself and Spain is a challenge to me because I have to learn how to do so many new things everyday, helping me to be a more independent person and develop as an individual.  Teaching in Spain, like so many experiences, helps me to learn more about who I am as an individual and pushes me to grow daily.
            Additionally, coming to Spain to teach is a fun way to travel.  I get to experience this beautiful and unique country alongside a group of passionate and interesting peers.  What else could I possibly ask for?”

-Brittani Matzke

The little extra in EXTRAcurriculars at Sotogrande International School

            Something that I always used to enjoy about a typical high school day was the very end of it, sports time. In high school I played football, basketball, track, and baseball. Needless to say, sports ran my life from 3-7 on most weekdays. A typical high school athlete spends somewhere around 15 to 30 hours a week either playing or practicing their craft. For me, this was a wonderful experience that taught me about responsibility, teamwork, and time management. I feel like this is a typical experience of several students back home in the states, but teachers and students at SIS find this absolutely crazy.

            The first few weeks here at SIS I have been talking with students and teachers about my school background. Surprisingly, sports came up in most of the conversations. When I told them how much time I spent on sports they all gave me an astounding look of astonishment. One student even asked me if I was considering going professional back in the states when I told him how much time track took up in the spring. Teachers also commented on how often they have heard about Americans’ strong enthusiasm for sports when I talked about my experience with sports in high school.

            It seems to me that students at Sotogrande International School put a lot more time and effort into activities outside of sports. While I have been at SIS I have participated in an after school basketball program and played ultimate Frisbee at break. The basketball program is once a week for about one hour. It has consisted of mostly scrimmaging with no drills or practice elements. While students do not put a lot of emphasis on sports, it is still has a strong influence at the school. Students often challenge young teachers to matches of basketball, soccer, and Frisbee during lunch. I have already competed with students at ultimate Frisbee and have an approaching challenge in basketball this Monday. We are currently 1-0, so I hope everyone back home is wishing us luck so we can keep our undefeated record! 

            While this school does not put as much stress on sports, they definitely put a lot of effort into other areas. One area that SIS definitely excels at is music. They recently put on a concert for parents, teachers, students, and community members at their school. Students that preformed ranged from 10-18 and I was amazed at all the talent that this school had. It was like a mini American Idol or even a shot from the T.V. sensation GLEE! Students preformed solo, duets, quartets, and there were also bands. They played music from artists that are fairly current including: Lady Gaga, Vampires Weekend, Coldplay, and Gym Class Heroes. I was definitely blow away by the talent and presentation level of these students. It was truly a sight to see… and not to mention hear!

            When it comes to opportunities, SIS does not stop at the musical arts. Students can also be in plays or have their art shown throughout the hallways. Students are currently preparing to perform this Thursday in a show called “The Laramie Project.” This is about the homosexual boy that was murdered in Wyoming. This is a very provocative choice for a show that should be very entertaining. In addition, it is not uncommon for hallways to be littered with fantastic works of art at SIS. I often find myself running into students and staff as I walk through the school because I am caught staring at the walls as I move through the school!

            Overall, I would say Sotogrande International School does a superb job of making sure all opportunities are open to students. Students know that they can play a guitar, make amazing works of art, perform in a play, or even play a little basketball on the side. There is no avenue that is closed to these students and time will tell if I saw some future rock stars that night at SIS.

Until Next Time… ROCK ON!
Drew Ingvalson

American Schools Need a Siesta

PYP students enjoying their morning break

 What do you love to do?  Go fishing?  Play a sport?  Run a business?  Be a soccer mom…or dad?  Bake cookies?  Build Adirondack chairs from scrap wood and metal? Choose one, and think about it for a moment.

Here’s one of mine:  I love to teach.  I love the feeling that follows an engaging, well-planned lesson.  I love the look on a students’ face when, after struggling and struggling and struggling, they finally get it.  I love the freedom I have to run my own classroom—to make a lesson as dull or exciting as I please, to decorate, to establish rules…it’s great…but I couldn’t do it joyfully, hour upon hour, without taking a few moments to myself.    

This is something we American’s tend to struggle with—breaks.  Is it me, or has this term “break” become somewhat of a taboo in our country?  The word relax is code for laziness.  Rest?  A.k.a. Wasting valuable work time.   “I’m going to use the rest room.”  Hmm…we’ll let it slide this time, but make it quick. 

I remember when I was young—like 7 or 8 years old—and I used to spend hours with my sister jumping on my parents’ bed.  After each jumping session, I used to lie down and stare at their collection of books on the large shelf next to their bed.  One book always caught my attention; it was titled When I Relax, I feel Guilty.  I used to sit there, contemplating how much I enjoyed my Nickelodeon watching, bike riding, and bed jumping time, and wonder how on Earth someone could feel guilty about taking time to do things they enjoy.  Stressing out over a break?  Quite the oxymoronic situation if you’d ask the second-grade me.  Then I grew up.  Then I went to college…

Now I’m on the path to become a teacher and have a moderate case of self-diagnosed workaholism.  The symptoms:  averaging five hours of sleep a night, not having time to go for a run, and irritability with anything or anyone distracting me from getting a job done.  I have a feeling my first student teaching placement may have triggered some of these behaviors.  I loved my first placement—I learned a TON, worked with an amazing teacher, and had a lot of fun while doing so.  Looking back though, my average day didn’t allow for time to simply chill out.  Yes—I’m to blame, but the school’s schedule did not help the situation.  Classes started at 7:55.  The day kicked off with back to back 90 minute classes followed by 90 minutes of study hall duty, a quick 30 to scarf down lunch, then race back up to the room for 90 more minutes of class.  Where does a cup of coffee or nice chat with a colleague (let alone a bathroom break) fit into that?  It really doesn’t (minus lunch).  Now let’s look at the schedule of a typical SIS day (see right column).  

A Typical Day at a typical Minnesota School	A Typical Day at Sotogrande International School
7:55-9:30   Block 1 9:35-11:10  Block 2 11:15-12:50  Study Hall Duty 12:50-1:20  Lunch 1:25-3:00  Block 3	9:00-9:50  Period 1 9:55-10:40 Period 2 10:40-11:00 School-wide COFFEE BREAK 11:00-11:50  PREP 11:55-12:45  Period 4 12:50-1:40 PREP 1:40-2:40 LUNCH 2:40-4:00 Period 6

There are many differences to be debated in this side-by-side comparison (block schedule vs. 7-period day, school start times, etc.) but for now, let’s focus on the integrated breaks of the right column, and the lack thereof in the left. 

Coffee time!  SIS teachers enjoy a break between classes

Having experienced both schedules, I can say that having these breaks and preps scattered through a seven-hour school day makes teaching so much more enjoyable—even the most tedious day of planning and teaching becomes bearable.  Each day at 10:40, teachers flock from every direction, coffee mug in hand, headed eagerly towards the break room for some pastries, café con leche, and conversation while the students enjoy a similar snack time.  Lunch is relaxed; teachers enjoy the company of one another, as do students.  The SIS schedule is void of any long, dreaded stretches of class time.  Teachers and students can enjoy each lesson a little more because they know a break is coming soon; there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

This post is getting a bit long, so I’ll save the conversation about American vs. Spanish culture and siestas, for later.  I’ll end with this:  In my opinion, schools without integrated breaks are sending their staff on a trip down the fast lane towards teacher burnout.  The American schools I’ve experienced are hyper goal driven—so focused on the final destination, whether that be high test scores, covering a vast content, or simply getting through the next day’s lesson—they forget to enjoy the ride.  The challenge I have for myself and you is to step back, slow down, and enjoy each day for what it is.  Spain has taught me how to do that, and for that I am forever grateful.    

Take it easy.

Julz     

On the side:  I wrote this after a lovely day in Gibraltar—what a strange place.  Also, Michele arrived here Wednesday, and will be with us for a week to observe and “do the Spain thing” with us.  We are very excited to have Michele here!

Stress Free is the Way to Be

If I may speak for the whole group, I think we are all feeling a little less stressed here than we were in our first placement.  This is because we are living the laid back Spanish lifestyle, of course!  One thing that is very different here is the amount of time the teachers spend in school.  A few of us decided we wanted to get to school earlier in the mornings so we could have time to plan and such before the students got there.  Turns out, if you got to school before 8:20 (school starts at 9:00), you probably wouldn’t see very many teachers at all.  Same goes for staying late.  Most of us leave at 5:30 everyday (school gets out at 4:00), and we are usually the only ones left.  Teachers have time during the day to plan due to other things the students participate in during the school day, and most of the same year group teachers plan together.  Everything is so casual that there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure as we are used to.  The curriculum is so open and you do not have to teach from a textbook.  You plan your lessons based on the objectives and what you want the students to get out of it.  There is no such thing as planning out more than a week in advance because everything is spring boarded off of the students’ understanding.  Our teachers are not feeling stressed so we are not feeling stressed!  It’s amazing!

Until next time,

Sara Schroeder

Weekend #2: Granada

Another full weekend for the Spain Seven!

On Saturday after our first week of school, there was no rest for the weary. We awoke at the crack of dawn (4:30ish), and prepared ourselves for our enjoyable weekend in Granada, Spain. Getting there took a little bit of last-minute planning, but we all made it safely and tried our best to navigate around the city to see a few of the sights the city had to offer.

Before I tell about our exploits however, the history teacher in me would be disappointed if I didn’t give at least a little bit of background information on Granada. First of all, it is one of the larger metropolitan area in Andalusian province in Spain, with a population of just over 230,000 people located about 200 kilometers (130 miles) up the coast and inland from Estepona (our home). The layout of the city is beautiful; situated adjacent to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you can see the highest peak in continental Spain, Mulhacén, from most places in the city. 

The history of Granada itself is also quite interesting. Occupied in the 8th century by the Islamic Moors from North Africa, the city is composed of a mixture of both Spanish and Middle-Eastern influences in its architecture. During the Spanish re-conquest of the mainland, Granada was re-taken by the Spanish monarchy under Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, the same year that Columbus set sail for the West Indies. 

Granada is one of the largest tourist sites in all of Spain, mainly because of its primary attractions. The most popular of these is most certainly the Alhambra, a Moorish palace built in the Middle Ages that served over time as a military fort, home of royalty, and a vacation place with both Spanish and Moorish touches in the architecture. This place was forever immortalized by American author, Washington Irving, who stayed at the Alhambra for about a year in 1829. Other attractions in Granada include a massive Catholic cathedral, a number of monuments, and some great local shopping!

            Over our weekend in this beautiful city, we learned a series of important lessons. First of all, we will never again forget the paramount importance of planning extensively and studying city maps when traveling to another city again. We booked inexpensive hotel rooms which were excellent, but soon found out they weren’t very close to the center of the city or the bus station. As a result, we had to take a series of taxis over the weekend, which wasn’t easy on our wallets. We also didn’t look into Alhambra tickets early enough, and ended up having to wait in line early on Sunday to buy tickets that they were required to hold over for day-of purchases. We also had a hard time getting bus tickets on the way home and had to split up briefly (it all worked out in the end).

In general, we also learned that as a group we are able to work together without causing any serious disagreements, and we definitely grew even closer as a surrogate family as a result  =)  Other fun lessons we learned included never accepting an herb from a woman walking down the street, because she will ALWAYS expect money in return, don't believe taxi drivers who pretend to be lost in their home city, and watch out for Spanish ice cream, because it is deadly addictive! Finally, and perhaps most importantly, always stay in the "Flying V", Mighty Ducks style...

While this all might have seemed a little hectic, we all had a GREAT time and felt pretty good about our progress from arriving as American tourists and transforming into (temporary) Spanish residents. We also are slowing becoming more comfortable using public transportation and making plans that seem initially far-fetched, a reality. But most importantly, we are starting to realize that if we just take a step back from a problem and refrain from panicking, the solution we need is often right there in front of us. Although it has only been two weeks since we arrived, we are starting to have to remind ourselves each morning that we are more than 4,500 miles from home! I hope all is well back in the States, and we look forward to reading your comments!

Thanks for reading,

Christopher Stewart

School Days

    It is hard for me to believe that I have already been in Spain for a week! It has been such a rush learning how to navigate my new city, trying out my Spanish, and learning how the Sotogrande International School (SIS) works. This school is inquiry based and I am quickly learning how differently they teach here. I am working in a wonderful PYP2 class which is equivalent to a first grade class in the U.S. My students are currently working on a 6 week long unit of inquiry based around celebrations. They have three central questions which guides all of their learning and subjects are easily integrated. It has been challenging for me to learn how to teach in this new style, but after a week of observing, assisting and jumping in to teaching I feel like I am finally starting to understand the school philosophy! The end of my first week ended by staying after school on Friday to participate in the school’s fireworks celebration. I was blown away by the concert that was put on by the students and staff. Students of all ages performed songs that they choose or that they wrote. It was such an incredible time to get to know some of the teachers and students better. I feel like I am quickly becoming a part of the school community thanks to the welcoming staff and students.

-Katie Kaderlik

A display in my classroom of student work from their previous unit of inquiry.

A culture within a culture

All ready for school on the first day!

            It has only been four days since we got to Spain and only just begun to dip our toes into the Spanish culture. Today was our first day at SIS, a school founded by British educators, and instead of adjusting to the new language, food, and customs of Spain, I felt like I was thrown into a whole new place with an entirely different culture. There is a load of new phrases and routines that I’m unfamiliar with, but as with any new place, I’m sure I’ll pick it up quickly. 

            I’m optimistic about this teaching placement and am excited to try out teaching here.  My teacher, Lisa, is really impressive; she is incredibly intelligent and I know I’m going to learn a lot from her.  The students have also really impressed me with their polite manners and deep analysis and reflection.

            One thing I noticed right away was how firm the teachers are with their students.  The whole school culture is pretty laid back but the students are held to high standards.  They tell the students exactly what they are doing wrong and give praises for work well done.  I like this approach because the expectations are clear and the children are held to the standard, resulting in high achievement.  I think this combo of firm discipline and a laid back school atmosphere works really well together.  The day is enjoyable yet efficient and productive in terms of learning.

            Although I was still very tired today, the day went fast and pleasant. Because their lessons are so integrated, they are engaging and relatable.  I was pleasantly surprised by the rigor of work they have the students doing.  The teachers ask challenging questions (something I love to do) and teach them to be independent—both academically and socially.  “Sensible” is a word commonly used to describe the type of behavior and decisions the children should be making, and I love how much the school challenges the students to act according to this word.

            On a lighter note, the day was also very enjoyable because I got to listen to British accents all day long.  The staff and students are all very well-spoken and extremely polite.  Their vocabularies are impressively extensive and they speak with confidence and clarity.  Again, the high standards for the children produce impressive results, and I hope to learn a bit from this also on how to be more articulate and communicate as effectively as I’ve seen them do.  Maybe I’ll even pick up an accent while I’m at it!

Miss Mary Ellen and Miss Katie gettin' their teacher faces on.

Brittani Matzke