Weekly Reflection 3

This week was extremely productive. I was given many more teaching opportunities at the middle school, and was able to connect with the students individually as well. It was the final week of my project, and above all had some of the best work days. 

I made activities for the students to do, and realized during execution that they do not always go as planned. Sometimes I would run out of time, or realize that one of my jeopardy questions was unclear or confusing for the students. Quick adjustment is often involved. Looking back on my schooling, I realize how flexible teachers must be with class time. Sometimes plans are postponed because a student (or group of students) is absent, or an activity you made for them is too challenging, and sometimes too easy. Much patience is required. I learned that even though everything does not always fall into place, with the right attitude and ability to think quickly, a class can still be productive. 

I also learned that although it seems like a difficult task to get students interested in a subject that may not be their strongest, it is possible! The culture-based project that I created for them to do did not grab everyone’s interest, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of students who really took to it. While some students appeared to be bored and uninvolved, some of them seemed to really enjoy finding out about something they had never heard of. One flaw in the rubric that I made was that I was not very specific with what I wanted. The reason I was not was because I wanted them to have the freedom to be creative and discover new ways to share information. However, this intent sparked many questions about specific project details. When asked on the spot how many slides they needed to create, or whether their visual element had to be cohesive with those of the rest of their group, I was not immediately sure of my response. I had to think it through in order to give them an answer, and also make sure that I was consistent in my expectations and requirements with all the groups and with both classes. 

One thing that I was not expecting was how wonderful their presentations were. Some of them put in much more effort to yield a result that exceeded what I had asked for. They also looked proud of their work. The idea behind their presentations was for them to teach the rest of the class about their topic. Many of them glowed as they shared their knowledge of things that no one else in their class had ever even heard of. I hope that they will be able to take what they’ve learned and use it someday, perhaps during a conversation, a future class, or simply everyday life. That was the reason that I chose this specific project. When I thought of the things that helped me gain more knowledge about the language I was learning, I thought of the more random subjects that many are not familiar with, that I have been able to incorporate into intelligent conversations with teachers and fellow students. There’s a great feeling that comes when someone mentions a specific topic, and you know enough about it to contribute to the conversation. 

This project has really helped me to understand what it takes to be a teacher. It was not easy to say goodbye to the students or to Ms. Greenly, but I am that I was able to make a difference and prove myself as a capable future educator. 

Week 3-Friday

Today I reported to the middle school for the last time at 9 am. Upon arrival, Ms. Greenly and I prepared for class as usual. The students gave their presentations today. Coming into this, I was not sure what they would do. I made the project pretty flexible so that the students could choose what they wanted to do (within a few certain guidelines), so it was really up to them how much effort they put into it. I was blown away. They really went above and beyond and exceeded my expectations. They included facts about their topics that were very interesting, and it seemed like they were enjoying learning about stuff that is so different. One girl even made the dessert that she had to research-and it is a very difficult dish to make! (Perhaps I should have told her that before she made it) But she did a fantastic job and the whole class thought it was delicious. It was nice to have them be able to try something truly French and homemade. I don't think there was one person who didn't love it. Also, other groups created elaborate power points with great visuals and many facts (which is what I had asked for). Another student even included pictures of his topic "Les Champs-Élysées" from his own travels to France. He was able to give a firsthand account to really illustrate his topic. Overall, everyone did a marvelous job. I had to score them, and it was not difficult at all. They put in a lot of effort, and that really made me happy. Overall, it was a great last day. Some of the kids seemed sad to see me go, while others showed indifference. But I didn't mind. I had fun with them and I learned a whole lot. My parting from Gail Greenly was sad, but I assured her I would keep in touch to tell her how I was doing. This was a great project, but now I'm looking forward to graduation!!

Week 3-Thursday

Today I helped Mikaela with her E and A block classes. As both classes are working on their final projects, I was there simply to answer questions and help in any way that I could. The French 3ers seemed to have most things together (their aptitude of the language is awesome!) but the French 1 class needed a bit more help. It was nice to answer their questions because it brought me back to things that I had learned a long time ago. Also, it was important that I explain things to them instead of simply giving them the answer because they have to understand it too! That part was difficult for me because sometimes when they ask why a certain phrase is written that way I just want to say, "because that's the way it's supposed to be!" but I know that that does NOT help with their understanding at all. Gradually my explaining got a little more clear. Between the two classes I used the time to work on getting all of my final materials together. Tomorrow is my last day! Then next Wednesday I have a little exhibit of my project that I will be showing in the Wise Center. As I was printing out all of my work throughout this project, I realized just how much there was. Every detail of my plans had to be mapped out in advance. I was able to see how one of my ideas could evolve into a learning experience for someone else. That's pretty cool. Tomorrow the middle schoolers present their projects! Because of time constraints this week, I'm not sure if everyone will be done, but my hope is that the majority have finished. I'm excited to see what they have come up with and then grade them! (Don't worry-I won't be too tough!)

Week 3-Wednesday

This morning I left for the middle school around 9 am. After I arrived, I helped Ms. Greenly sort out some graded tests that were to be handed out. I spent the rest of our "morning meeting time" before class started organizing and making sure that everyone was all set for their project. After the students got there, they continued their research. There was not a whole lot for me to do (since they are the ones creating the presentation) other than answer the occasional question. However, the biggest challenge was when I was asked questions about the grading and requirements of the project, such as, "will these kinds of facts be good enough?" and "how would you like us to combine our individual topics within our groups?". Ms. Greenly left answering these questions completely up to me, and it was a bit difficult because I had not quite thought that far ahead. However, I was able to quickly think of what I would like to see and then let them know that. I'm glad they are putting in enough effort to be specific. That they actually care enough to want to do the project according to what I would like to see. It was great. I was also able to help some of them with their research (some of the topics are more difficult to find a lot of information about, such as the desserts), which was a nice way for me to individually connect with some of the students. I do not know all of their names by heart yet, but I'm working on it! I was actually surprised at how many I did know as I was handing back their tests today. I only have one day left with them on Friday, because tomorrow I will be back with Mikaela's classes for the day. I hope that they get their projects done, and I can't wait to see what they've come up with! Although I'll miss this project, it will be a relief when I am done because I have been so busy with the spring musical whenever I am not working with the students. This last week is the most rigorous, but also the most fun because I get to really challenge myself and see how much I can handle.

Week 3-Tuesday

I reported to the middle school at 9 am this morning. The first thing I had to do when I got there was go and pick up the computers for the students to use for their research in class today. Then, I made sure I had printed out enough rubrics for the project (I made this rubric last week) and I also made sure that each student had a topic. When they arrived for class, I explained in much more detail the project that they were being assigned. After waiting what seemed like years for the computers to log in, they began googling and researching. I went around to each student individually to ask them their topic, and to see if they had found out anything surprising yet. Some of them had, and some of them seemed uninterested. If they were struggling to find out what it was, I gave them an example of my encounter with it (each topic is a person, place, or food that I came in contact with or read about at some point during my time in France). I tried to pick topics that I had some knowledge about already so that it would be easier to help them research and understand their presentations. When they found out that they would be presenting on Friday (because it is my last day), they looked a little nervous. But I don't think I made the project too complicated, and I think that they will get it finished without any problems. Some of them seemed really excited about their topics, and really wanted to know more. Others even offered to make their food dish and bring it in for the class to try! I really loved seeing that kind of enthusiasm. Tomorrow we will continue with the research, and then the students will get into their groups and come up with their ideas for their group presentation. This will be the equivalent of a quiz grade for them, so I hope they take the time to do a really good job.
Humorous (yet embarrassing) side note: I think that when I walk through the hallways I am sometimes regarded as a student-and it takes teachers a couple minutes to realize that I am not. I don't think it's because I look young (although I am short), but that some of these kids look so much older than middle school. Many of them don't even look like kids. Even so, I try to carry myself as an adult so that hopefully the other adults will be able to tell. There's an interesting fact about evolving generations.

Week 3-Monday

Today was an extremely productive day. I reported to the middle school as usual at around 9 am. Today was especially great because for the first time I was allowed to lead the whole class for both blocks. I started each class by introducing the project topics for the presentation they will be doing on Friday. I think this will be successful considering no one seemed to know what any of the topics were. I was tempted to tell some of them when they asked what their person (who was actually a dessert) was famous for. I think they will be quite surprised when they research their topic and find out what it actually is. After that we played jeopardy in the first class (which they loved) and my "O ù est Pierre" game that I created. They even took it to the next level, asking if they could do it with their eyes closed. When I said that if they did that they would have to learn more new vocab, they jumped at the chance. It was nice to get them up and moving around a little bit. They looked like they had a lot of fun. They also really love the jeopardy game. They asked if I could create more games for them to do! The best part is that I don't think they even realize that they are learning as they do this. I really hope they keep up the enthusiasm and really apply it to their projects. I can't wait to see what they come up with! Tomorrow they start their research, and I hope that their topics interest them. Overall, I feel like I was able to connect with the students the most today. When I told them that this was my last week, they even sounded sad! It's nice to know that even though middle schoolers can seem completely uninterested, some of them actually care. What a relief!

Weekly Reflection 2

        This week was very different from last week in that my schedule completely changed. While last week was spent mostly planning and creating activities, this week I was able to try them out. I had the opportunity to teach a full class on my own and create and execute activities for the middle schoolers. Overall, this week had a very important part in my project, and I learned a lot.

One thing that is very important when teaching is time management. It is important to be able to fill a class block with activities that the class will really benefit from, while at the same time prioritizing certain things when class time runs short. While teaching Mikaela’s French One class, there were a few things that we did not get to, but everything tuned out just fine. We reached all of my biggest goals during the class, and they all seemed to really enjoy what I had planned. I also learned that when you show a substantial amount of enthusiasm about the subject you are teaching, it can raise the level of enthusiasm of the students as well. They want a reason to get excited about what they are learning, and sometimes simply standing there and talking to them will not work. I tried to make things more fun and share my own passion for the language with them, to show them that learning a foreign language can be really beneficial in life. This included telling them about my own experience living and studying in France, which was a new and exciting idea for many of them, especially the younger ones. 

I really enjoyed having the chance to teach an entire class entirely by myself. It was a large responsibility, but I loved every second of it. The classes were attentive and respectful, and put in a lot of effort to do their best and stay engaged.  When you get a positive response to your hard work, it makes planning for the next class even more fun. It’s a great feeling when really take to what you’re saying, and when you know that they are learning. I realized that I really enjoy helping others understand, and that even though it can be a challenge, the moment that they do reach a level of understanding is really awesome.

I was asked to create a project for the students at the middle school to do that is centered around French culture. I took the time to create a task sheet, rubric, and list of project topics for the students to choose from. This was a good task for me to do because it showed me how much work and attention to detail is needed to create an effective project for students. Ms. Greenly was very excited about my project, and the students are set to do it next week. I am also anxious to see how they like the project, and whether or not each part will work out. 

The most surprising element for me this week was seeing how quickly class time can go by, and how valuable each second is. While I sometimes wished that I had more to do with the classes, I valued each time that I did get to lead an activity or spend individual time helping the students. I think that is the part that I enjoy the most. Individual help is very important in the learning process, and being able to help just one student better understand something is a real accomplishment for me. I can definitely take what I’ve learned and apply it to the last week of my project, which I hope will be the most successful and beneficial. 

Week 2-Friday

Today I went to the middle school around 9 am. It was somewhat of a slower day since both classes had to finish a test and a quiz. I started out by organizing some flash cards that really needed it. Then, as they finished, I was able to share with them some of my pictures from my time in France last year. As most of them have never been to Europe, they were pretty enthralled. It was nice to be able to tell them about some of the things I learned, as well as some of the things I noticed about France that are vastly different from the United States. Some of them looked shocked that it was possible to have a place that was so different. While I think they've learned a lot about the French language, I don't think they understand very much about its culture and characteristics. That's why I'm excited to give them their project next week. I think it will really open their minds to certain things about France that they had no idea about before. I left the school around noon, and after lunch, met up with a student from one of Mikaela's classes who needed a little extra help with what they were learning. It was a great opportunity for me to be the one trying to explain the concept instead of the one learning it. I had to try really hard not to confuse them and to make everything more clear. I think I helped...I hope! It felt good to know that I could use what I've learned to help someone else out. Also, I really enjoy it. I don't find any of the work grueling. I think it's fun. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to go back to Mikaela's French 1 class to help out with their Saturday class. They're making crêpes and tartes. I'm pumped. Yum!

Week 2-Thursday

Today I headed over to the middle school around 9am. I showed my planned activities to Ms. Greenly, and she told me that they would fit in just fine with the plans for the day. I then spent some more time refining my plans, and made an answer key for the Jeopardy game I created yesterday. For both classes, today was mostly about review for a test because they have not had French class in a couple of days (they had state testing). After they finished their review, I got to do my human sentence exercise with the other class. It was a little more difficult because the class is much smaller. During the second class, I got to do my Jeopardy activity. It ended up working out really well. I was nervous because I wasn't sure whether I had made it too easy or too hard for them (I have only been in their classes two other days so I wasn't sure what level they were at) but there ended up being just the right balance of right and wrong answers. Tomorrow I am going to do the Jeopardy with the other class, as well as another activity I made up. Next week will be spent almost entirely on the French culture project I created for them. I'm anxious to see how they do. I left the school around noon. Overall, it was a very productive day, and good to observe the students and how they each learn. I hope that before my project is over I will be able to get to know their individual learning styles a bit more.

Week 2-Wednesday

Today was my second day teaching Mikaela's French 1 A block class. I got to Proctor around 9am, and began class almost right away. I started class by giving them a quiz. While some whizzed through, others seemed to struggle a bit. However, they seemed pretty enthusiastic and were not angry with me for giving them a quiz, so I would call that a success. Next, we moved on to Human Sentences, an activity that I had created for Tuesday but forgot at home. It seemed pretty easy for them-almost two easy. I think I mixed up the levels of the middle schoolers  and high schoolers! After that, they performed their skits. It was really nice to see them having so much fun with each other. Some groups had the whole class laughing at one point. The best part is that I know that they were learning. They were enjoying themselves by actually carrying on a semi-complex French conversation. I'm not sure if they realize it, but it's a great accomplishment. I had the class vote on their favorite (to see who would win the chocolate bunny prize), and there was a three way tie! So I asked them to put their heads together, do some quick thinking, and improvise the sequel to their telephone conversation skit. Some did very well, others seemed nervous and could not verbalize exactly what they wanted to say on the spot. Either way, they all did very well and the winners ended up being Hallie and Abby. I think that activity was pretty successful. We unfortunately ran out of class time (classes are shorter on Wednesdays for sports games) so I didn't get to everything I had planned. But we got through most of it! I had so much fun with them-they are a riot. After class was over, I spent a couple of hours planning some activities for the middle schoolers before they start their project on Monday. I made up a "Where's Waldo" type of game called "Où Est Pierre" to help them learn how to give directions, and I also made up a jeopardy game of all the things they've learned this year. I hope they like it, and that they can see how much fun learning a new language can be. What I found when I was learning French (and even now still recognize) is that I learn the most when I'm actually applying what I've learned, and that it's the most fun to be able to use what you learned in a classroom to help you out in real life. Foreign language is the perfect example of that.

Week 2-Tuesday

Today was by far the best day of my project so far. I reported to Proctor at around 8am, and taught my first class ever. I taught Mikaela's French 1 class. When I got there, Mikaela wasn't there yet, so I had no option of being shy. I got to talk with the students and tell them what we would be doing that day. When Mikaela got there, she just went and sat in the back, and everything was up to me. I began by reviewing their homework and answered a couple of questions. Next we did an activity all together on adverb placement. I was so pleasantly surprised at how much they know and are able to answer. Also, they were all really vocal so there were no awkward silences and always plenty of volunteers. After that, I had them write skits. I answered their questions while they did that which was really fun. Tomorrow, they are going to perform their skits. They will also have a quiz which I wrote and will grade. It was fun reviewing things with them and making my lessons become a reality. I then led some reading, vocabulary, and a game of French Pictionary in the French 3 class. We had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, that was my last time in their class. They were also very nice and really engaged. I had a ton of fun! I really enjoyed my first day of teaching! I hope tomorrow goes even better. After the quiz, we will watch their skits and play some games to make sure they understand the current grammar and vocabulary. If the rest of my project pans out like this, all the work will be well worth it. I'm learning a lot.

Week Two: Monday

Today I reported to the middle school around 9am, and helped Ms. Greenly sort out some papers and worksheets for the students to do. Today was a lighter day for them since they just got back from Washington D.C. and are very tired. It was nice because I got to know the students  a little better and got to talk with them. The highlight of today was that I got to lead one of the classes in a sentence activity called human sentences. They seemed to really like it and think it was fun. It was also fun to direct, I could tell I really had their attention. It was nice to have them listening to me. Other than that, Ms. Greenly loved the project idea that I came up with, and we are going to have them do it next week! All of my hard work over the weekend planning it payed off. It was a relief to know that I had done it right. I hope that the students don't necessarily see it as too much hard work, but I hope they think it is fun and interesting to learn about different people, places, and food in France. I'm excited to help them and share my own personal knowledge of France that I gained from living there. While one of the classes seems a but uninterested and bored, the second class at the middle school is always fully engaged and energetic. They seem like they really want to learn. I'm excited to continue being in their class!

Weekly Reflection 1

     Although this week was somewhat stressful, it was a great start to my project. It was also a definite test on time management for me. My biggest challenge was budgeting my time at each school and making sure I got my hours done. Aside from that, my time in each class was very fun. Even though I only had one day at Kearsarge Middle School last week, I learned a lot about how a class of their age functions. I learned that in the same class, there will be people who have a passion for learning the language, as well as kids who are just trying to get through it. It is important to find activities and styles of learning that will work for every different student to cater to their ways of learning. I also learned at Kearsarge that sometimes it may take them a few tries to understand a new concept, and that patience is key. It is also important to know when and when not to help them. That is something that I will have to practice and really get down, because while we do not want them to fail, we also do not want to give them the answers.

I also learned a lot during my time at Proctor this week about lesson planning. I was asked to plan out two class periods for Mikaela’s French one class next week. It takes a lot of time and patience to make sure that each minute of class is productive and will keep the students’ attention. I tried my best to include fun activities that the students would learn a lot from. I also really enjoyed the planning. It ended up taking many hours, but they went by quickly because I found it fun to be in charge of planning what they would do. It gave me a chance be creative and organized and to tap into my own thoughts as a student. I was able to figure out what worked the best for me and to apply it to what I was planning for them. The only surprises that came to me was how long the planning took, and how it is equal to much more than the daily class hours. I think that I was asked to do that planning because it showed me exactly how time consuming being a teacher can be outside of class. This experience taught me a lot about what being a teacher is, and how it is not just a day job.

 
    I can take what I’ve learned this week and apply it to what I will be doing next week. While this week was mostly about planning, next week will be about teaching. I know that while both are equally important, they are also very different, and require different skills. I am hoping that I will be able to take what I’ve planned and use it to effectively teach and show the students that what they are learning can be fun and very useful in everyday life. I hope that I will have the confidence and the patience to do a good job. It will be a very different experience for me to be at the front of the class where everyone has to listen to me! I am confident that they will be great listeners and hopefully take a lot from what I say. 

Friday-Day 5

Today was a pretty busy day. I got up around 8:30 and worked for two hours on lesson plans and other projects for all the classes I'm helping out with. After that, i headed in to Proctor for Mikaela's E Block French three class. It was my first time in this particular class, so it was good to get to know who's in it and what they are studying. They are a little more fun in some ways than the other classes because they know enough french to actually carry a great conversation. I will have fun planning their activity because I won't have to pay so much attention to the level of the sentences, vocabulary, and length. I will be in their class next Tuesday, so I plan on creating a fun activity (maybe charades or jeopardy) for them to do. I also ran the lesson plans I came up with yesterday by Mikaela, and, besides a few minor adjustments, they are gonna work out great! As much as I enjoy doing all the planning, I am excited for the weekend. Although I will have to do a few hours of work since I lost so many this week because of my AP exam day and all of the schedule changes. Next week should be better in that way. I will be at Kearsarge on Monday, teach A block at Proctor on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then be back at Kearsarge for Thursday and Friday. I'm working on planning a project for the middle schoolers that they will hopefully finish by the time my own project finishes so I can see their presentations. Overall, it was a good first week!

Thursday-Day 4

Even though I did not go to any classes today, it was still really busy. I had no idea that lesson planning could take so long! I started around 11:00 am and ended up working a total of three hours throughout the day. And I am still nowhere near finished. It’s important to have a plan in order to fill an entire class block of time. I tried to include some cool learning activities as well as some fun activities outside. I didn’t use any outside sources for ideas, so I hope that my activities end up being successful! What I did was I thought back to what helped me the most when I was learning French, and what was the most fun. I tried to mix it up a bit. I also corrected some quizzes (which I now understand why teachers complain about that stuff, because you’re looking at the same material over and over again) and even created a quiz of my own for the students to take on Wednesday. I know they will do well (don’t worry, I didn’t make it too hard)! I also came up with the idea of having them create and perform little skits using the vocabulary they are learning. I made it into a competition for a giant chocolate bunny, because I know that for everyone and everything in life there has got to be some sort of grand motivation. I really hope that they get into it and enjoy it as well. The point is to have fun while “secretly” learning. I hope they don’t catch on! My biggest hope is that they don’t think everything is totally lame and that they actually participate and listen to what I’m saying. Oh well, we’ll see!

Wednesday-Day 3

Today was a lot more fun and a lot less stressful than yesterday. I reported to Mikaela's A block class around 9:00am, and stayed through to observe and get a feel for what they were studying. They are an extremely bright, energetic class. They seem really interested in the material. However, as it is nearing the very end of the year, they are in need of some fun class activities. I'm hoping I'll be able to provide that. I left around 10:00am because Mikaela had a Spanish class (which I could've stayed for, but I wouldn't have understood anything) and returned to meet with her again around 11:00. We discussed for almost an hour how I could help teach the class. We decided that next week I will teach her A block class on Tuesday and Wednesday. She also provided me with all their books and materials that I'll need to plan two class periods. I am planning on including grammar lessons, vocab. review, and even maybe a quiz (I'll try not to be too hard on 'em). We also discussed the possibility of me teaching a lesson or two in her French 3 class as well. With what it takes to fill an entire 55 minute class period with activities that engage the students and are also fun, I have my work cut out for me. I have a lot of planning to do. But I am not too stressed because I have the entire day tomorrow to get this done carefully and thoughtfully. It is Earth Day at Proctor, so there will be no classes and therefore I will have no commitments until the afternoon. I look forward to spending time on this and really trying to make a careful and well-done plan. I will also probably use that time to plan out some activities for the 8th graders at Kearsarge for when they get back from Washington D.C. I'm really excited to start actually teaching, and I can't wait for next week! I'll let you know tomorrow night what I came up with.

Tuesday-Day 2

Today was somewhat uneventful because instead of doing anything that has to do with my project, I had to take the AP French exam (which I suppose has something to do with my project since it's in French). It started at noon, so I slept in a little bit before heading off early to school. After four and a half grueling hours, it was done-and I'm pretty proud. In order to make this post more interesting, I will try to think of links that this has to my project.
1. If I do decide to teach French, I will be aiding students in their journey towards the AP exam, which for them could be a positive or a negative thing (depending on how they do).
2. I'm fully aware that teaching requires much patience and levelness of head, just as was required of me today during my examination.
3. After spending countless consecutive hours being exposed to a foreign language, I usually cannot think straight and end up having to translate my thoughts from said language to English-which has been plaguing my mind all afternoon and into the evening (The connection is that this could be my life every day if I choose to spend countless hours teaching said foreign language).

That is all I can think of for right now. Especially because my brain has not worked properly since my exam. However, I am really looking forward to tomorrow. I will be sitting in Mikaela's French classes at Proctor and helping in any way that I can. I am hoping that soon I will be able to plan and teach a lesson of my own. My project is really just beginning, and I'm excited to get started!

Week 1: May 9-13

Monday-about 2.5 hrs.

Today I reported to Kearsarge Regional Middle School around 9:15am. I went in to meet with Ms. Greenly about what we would be doing for the day, as well as for the rest of my project. After telling her a bit about my experience in French, she informed me that both of the blocks she teaches would be taking a test today. I was surprised to find out just at what level these students were and what they were learning. Looking back to when I was their age, I don't think I knew that much! I reviewed the test they'd be taking, and it looked challenging. As soon as the first class came in, I was introduced to them and they began taking their test. It was good to watch how Ms. Greenly checked on their homework, and how she even helped them on certain parts of the test that most of the class seemed to be having trouble with (without giving them the answers of course). Later on, as the second class was beginning, there was a fire drill. Although this part of my day had nothing to do with teaching French, I learned a lot about how the teachers relate to the students and their safety. I was reminded of the rigidness of rules and regulations at a state-funded public school. After we all filed back in, the second class began. I once again met the students, and they took their test. What was different about this class (other than the fact that they were much quieter and seemed to have more motivation to work) is that Ms. Greenly allowed me to correct some of the tests from the previous class. Although it was nice having that kind of authority, a part of me still wanted every student to get every question right so that they can have perfect grades (although naturally that is not the case). Oh well, I guess I'll get used to it. All in all, it was a great first day. The students seem energetic, lively, and (some of them) very interested in learning the language. Although I will be with Mikaela's class at Proctor for the rest of the week (the 8th graders are taking a class trip to Washington, D.C.), I look forward to continuing my teaching at Kearsarge next Monday.