After getting settled into Werne, I now must get used to the very different schedule change. Schools in the US have the same schedule every day, which makes it very easy to get used to a new routine. Schools in Germany do not. Here is one of my class schedules:
As you can see, each day is different. In America, some may call this a modified block, but they have no word for it here. Each period is 45 minutes, and I must add that the long breaks are nice. Teachers do not have planning periods, but instead they must act as substitutes during their free periods since the schools do not employ outside subs. Oh, and teachers do not have their own classrooms. Everybody rotates throughout the building each day. And if the students have lockers, I haven't found them yet.
Lunch (there is only one for all 750 students) isn't until 1:15, so between 2nd and 3rd is when most teachers and students eat a sandwich and have an orange drink that I can only compare to Capri Sun, but they are served at room temperature instead of being cold - that has taken some getting used to.
Another stark difference is technology in the classrooms. In this school, there are only 2-3 rooms with active boards or projectors - the vast majority have only a folding chalkboard on the wall that one can move up and down. The school does have wifi and one computer lab. Of course, there are no iPads or Chromebooks that classrooms can use unless the students bring their own, which none seem to do. There is a group of 6th graders who have their own iPads from the school, but that seems to be it.
The students laugh at me, but one of my favorite things about the school is the large windows that open like doors. Buildings here do not have ventilation systems, so the windows are a necessity to let in fresh air. If only you could open the windows in American schools more than a few inches! Can I bring these windows back home with me? Please?!
I'm sure more changes will come to mind as I teach more, but for right now these are the changes that are definitely going to take some getting used to. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!
Lunch (there is only one for all 750 students) isn't until 1:15, so between 2nd and 3rd is when most teachers and students eat a sandwich and have an orange drink that I can only compare to Capri Sun, but they are served at room temperature instead of being cold - that has taken some getting used to.
Another stark difference is technology in the classrooms. In this school, there are only 2-3 rooms with active boards or projectors - the vast majority have only a folding chalkboard on the wall that one can move up and down. The school does have wifi and one computer lab. Of course, there are no iPads or Chromebooks that classrooms can use unless the students bring their own, which none seem to do. There is a group of 6th graders who have their own iPads from the school, but that seems to be it.
The students laugh at me, but one of my favorite things about the school is the large windows that open like doors. Buildings here do not have ventilation systems, so the windows are a necessity to let in fresh air. If only you could open the windows in American schools more than a few inches! Can I bring these windows back home with me? Please?!
I'm sure more changes will come to mind as I teach more, but for right now these are the changes that are definitely going to take some getting used to. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!