Adaptability

Adaptability is probably the most important skill I've had to employ in my first month as a teacher. As I said in an earlier post, I do not see my students nearly enough to make a huge impact on their knowledge of Spanish language and culture. This week will be no exception because both my seventh and eighth graders will be hard at work on the ITBS standardized tests all next week and unfortunately, I will get to see them even less.

The three days I will have with students this week will be of the utmost importance because along with the eighth graders completing a quiz, all my students will be asked to prepare for the visit from Father Frank's Kids. Father Frank's Kids are a group of students from Latin American countries that come to the school each year and meet our students. This year they will perform a dance and I am expected to lead a Spanish bingo game with the kids and my eighth graders.

The visitors arrive in two weeks. So far, my students and I have discussed different questions to ask them, such as "Te gusta futbol?" and "Cual es tu comida preferida?" but the real test will come when my students are forced to interact with the visitors. I will see firsthand how my own students will adapt to the task of serving as ambassadors by communicating with confidence in a language other than their own.

It's difficult to plan lessons when classes are cut short and I don't see my students as much as I'd like. However, during my first month, I've made it clear to my students that though I may have a rapid teaching style in the short time I spend with them, I'm always available to give extra help. I've given them extra time to study the "Expresate" Textbook for tomorrow's quiz. Just as I have adapted to their style of learning, they will be expected to adapt to my style of teaching.