It's the first day of school and the kids are scheduled to arrive in a couple of hours. I'm looking forward to putting faces to the names that I have been reading (and practicing how to pronounce) and getting a solid grasp of where they are at. It has been really hard to plan for this semester as I really don't know what to expect, so this next week will be filled with keen observations and frantic planning. Here are some of the major questions I have going in to the program:
These are just a few of the connections going in to these next four months. I am excited about the uniqueness of this program--about the freedom that it brings to experiment without having to worry about covering curriculum or standardized testing.
- What kind of cultural sensitivities do I need to be aware of? What do I need to know in order to not offend them? Are there cultural differences in relation to physical proximity, gender bias, religion, height, gestures, cast system, family relationships, etc.?
- What are the repercussions of coming from a refugee camp? What struggles do they face?
- What do they need to know about Canadian culture that will help them succeed in their new lives here?
- How can we teach them Canadian culture without losing or diminishing aspects of their native culture and language?
- How do we communicate with them in a way that is engaging, effective, and on their level?
- What do their lives look like outside of the classroom? How do we connect their real lives with their classroom and make authentic connections?
These are just a few of the connections going in to these next four months. I am excited about the uniqueness of this program--about the freedom that it brings to experiment without having to worry about covering curriculum or standardized testing.