Well, I had a good weekend.....it was spent sleeping and planning for this week. It was nice to just take things easy. Today was actually a good day!! In the morning I taught K1/K2 and Prep International classes....they went very well! I actually didn't want to pull my hair out. I also taught Y7 and that went really well! I used my sneak peek of "Quaver's Marvelous World of Music" to teach Y7 about form....they LOVED it. After lunch I met with the K-Y3 Head of Studies and talked about resources I would like to purchase for the music program. I told her about Quaver's DVD series and she was entirely supportive of it! I put together a proposal email, sent it to her, she sent it to the principal......and he APPROVED IT!!! He's purchasing the series (which also includes countless resources online) this week! I'm SOOO excited!! I'm also waiting to hear back from the company about a K-5 music curriculum. They are debating between GamePlan (from the US) and another similar curriculum from Australia. It will be used in all of the KinderWorld schools. So hopefully in the next few months I will have one of those curriculums, Quaver's Marvelous World of Music, AND a few other resources that the principal approved today. I am SO lucky to have such a supportive administration! Now, I don't really have any instruments to work with so that's a bummer but with these resources I can at least develop a useful, effective, and valuable program here. I feel my anxiety melting away. I will have much more restful nights ahead (yay!)
I was rather unpleasantly surprised this afternoon, though. While teaching the Prep Integrated class (one that makes me want to jump out my classroom window from the 3rd floor) the deputy principal chose this time to come in my class unannounced and observe me....EEEK!! I was not happy about it! I taught 4 other successful classes today and she chose to come into the ONE difficult class I had all day. She didn't stay after to talk to me about it but she sent me an email mentioning how I have my hands full with that class haha. I think she understands the difficulties with that class and I know that I did the best I could. I have been observed teaching enough that the fact she was in the room didn't make me nervous at all. It was the fact that I just feel like I have no control over that one class.
Well, it's already 11pm (how does the night go by so fast?) and I need to get some sleep. Oh, I got a manicure tonight.....AMAZING! They did an entire arm massage and everything! It took nearly 2 hours! I got some hearts on my thumbs in honor of V-day tomorrow and they gave me a discount.....it cost me the equivalent of $5. This place is also right next to my building so I will be going there fairly frequently. I am going to get spoiled here!
Happy Valentine's Day, people (even though I despise the holiday) and most importantly HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!! I love you so much and wish I could be there to celebrate this big one with you! I can't wait to see you here in Vietnam in a few months! <3<3<3
-Erica
Glad things are looking up. Sounds like she already knew that class was a challenge. That is why she showed up. She wanted to see how you were handling yourself. And if she had seen a problem I think she would have addressed it right away. With her acknowledging to you that she knew you had your hands full with that class I think she was telling you you did good! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks! That makes me feel better.....lol
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