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Melissa Gray is a Junior at St. Michael's College and is studying in Bath, England this semester through the ASE Program. Melissa is an Elementary Education major and will be completing a field experience at All Saints C.E.V.C. Primary School as part of her teacher education program at Bath If you would like to ask Melissa a
question about her experience please send your question via e-mail to Entry 16 - December 11th (the last entry) Hello Everyone, My time in England is drawing to a closing way too soon. I have one week left and then I will be home. Where does the time go these days? This past week was lots of fun, three of the days were spent in Stratford – Upon – Avon. For those of you who don’t know Stratford is where Shakespeare was born, grew up, and is now laid to rest at Holy Trinity Church. I actually went and visited the house where Shakespeare was born; the house his dad, John Shakespeare, owned and lived in. It was very interesting to see how they lived back then. One interesting thing I learned was that the children would actually sleep in the parents’ room until they were 5 years old (old enough to work a candle on their own) and then they would move into their own room. or the children’s room. I also visited Holy Trinity Church and saw where William Shakespeare was buried, along with his wife and a few other members of his family. Many other properties you could visit that were somehow related to Shakespeare are: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (where his wife was raised), Halls Croft (house of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and husband Dr. John Hall), New Place (place Shakespeare bought in 1597 with his money he made in London and where he died in 1616), Nash’s house (owned by Thomas Nash, the 1st husband of Shakespeare’s granddaughter), and Mary Arden’s House ( where Shakespeare’s mother grew up). Besides walking around the town, we were lucky enough to get to see 3 of Shakespeare’s plays preformed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Merry Wives the Musical was performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It was about Sir John Falstaff who is out to woo two very rich women to solve his financial problems. However, he soon discovers that the women are too much for him. Together the wives set out to teach him a lesson. Two movie stars were in the cast; Dame Judi Dench (seen in Chocolat, Shakespeare in Love, many James Bond movies and more) and Simon Callow (see in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Phantom of the Opera and more). This was a very interesting play because it put Shakespeare’s play Merry Wives of Windsor as a musical. The next two plays we saw were in promenade at the Swan Theatre, meaning that the audience is actually part of the show and that the play moves on around the audience. Along with being preformed in the same theatre, they both have the same cast and stage set up. The first play we saw in promenade was Pericles, again put on by the Royal Shakespeare Company. This play is about Pericles who arrives in a foreign country to search for a wife, but discovers a dark family secret in the royal family (incest between father and daughter). Due to his discovery, he is forced to run for his life. He suffers a shipwreck and loss of all status on an epic and magical journey. Pericles is an odyssey of a man driven by love and loss. This was my least favorite play of them all. I just really didn’t care for how it was done. However, I really enjoyed Winter’s Tale. Here they did a great job with including the audience. This play was just really well done, even though the set was very simple. I was just really engaged throughout the whole play. The play all starts off when King Leontes of Sicilia accuses his wife of adultery. His jealousy results in the disintegration of his family, as his wife and children are lost to illness, grief and abandonment. After 16 years pass, his daughter (lost in the haven of Bohemia) begins the journey of healing of the family’s deep wounds. On our last day, we spent the afternoon at Warwick Castle, before seeing the last play and returning to Bath. I was very impressed with this medieval castle, it just wasn’t ruins. It was originally built by the Normans to defend the northern border of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia (around 914 AD). It was later occupied by the Earls of Warwick. It was set up how they would have lived. There were many wax figures that looked and represented real life people, for example Daisy the Countess of Warwick hosting a Weekend Party for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. It was really beautifully restored and set up. So it was a great trip to Stratford. I was really excited to see Shakespeare’s plays preformed in his own town. I felt very special! While this past week was all fun, next week is finals. Moreover, it is our last week here in Bath, England! It is really sad to know that this week is the last week I have here and also may last week to enjoy all of what Bath has to offer. Bath and the ASE staff have become my second home and family. I am really going to miss it, but I will always have all my memories. However, I know I will always have a place were I am welcome to come back to. I wish you all well in your final week of the semester. Happy Holidays. See you in January. Sincerely, Melissa Gray
Entry 15 December 4 Hello Everyone,
This past week was the last week of regular classes. I can’t believe that it is already almost over. The time has just flown by so quickly. This coming week we will be in Stratford for 3 days and will see 3 plays. The following week is our very last week here and that week we will take our written finals.
One of the very hard things I had to do was say my good-byes to the students I have had the privilege to observe and teach 2 lesson to (which I did my last two weeks at WASPS). I was actually really nervous to teach these lessons, because I never had to teach a whole class lesson before. But in the end I gained self-confidence knowing that my lessons went really well and that the children actually learnt something from me and had a good time doing it. The topic of my lessons was Letter Writing. I wanted the students to write letters, combining both term topics; Ourselves and India, and to send them to an affiliate school in India. So, I had them write a letter talking about themselves in the first paragraph and inquiring about another student’s life in India in the second. This was to help build communication skills through a different communication strategy. This falls under the National Curriculum standard for English Key Stage 1 En3 Writing: Composition that pupils should be taught to put ideas into sentences and use clear structure to organize their writings. My objectives were that the students would: 1. recognize ways to use letters, 2. learn the format of a letter, and 3. demonstrate their ability to write a letter.
The students responded very well to this activity. They seemed relatively excited about this writing task. They were especially excited about sending out the letters and hopefully getting responses to their questions. At one point, in between discussing the parts of a letter, the information which goes in those sections, and after generating examples I gave the students a little break. I could see that I was starting to loose them at the end of the demonstration and that they were starting to get fidgety. I had the students stand up behind their chairs and shake specific parts of their body. This was to help get out the wiggles and to get the blood flowing before the students started on the activity. This seemed to help refocus the students and get right in to the activity.
At one point during the activity I turned out the lights, there was dead silence. I wanted to tell them that it was almost break time and once they have completed the goal I set them (have the address, date and at least 3 sentences done) that they could start their break. I was later asked if this was a “new” method of gaining the students’ attention. I guess that they have never seen this done over here in England. Mr. Eaton was very impressed at how it was so effective in gaining the students’ attention without having to yell or try to talk over them. He said that he was going to have to remember that and use it. I was quite pleased that I could show him a little something that I knew.
I was very pleased with the outcome of this activity. The students came up with some great letters. Moreover, they had some very insightful questions to ask their new friends in India. Many students wanted to know what toys they play with, what food they like, and if they have certain animals or pets there. Others inquired about family life and their school life. Other students were curious if they could speak English.
However, I really wonder where some students came up with the questions they did. It makes me wonder what has had an influence on them that has already colored a picture of what a student from India is like and the area they live in. One boy wanted to ask if they have toilettes there. I simple told him that it wasn’t a very good question to ask because I asked him how he would feel if he got a letter with that question in it. Also, another girl went on to say in a story about how “evil people take the kids, tie them up and do bad things to them.” My immediate response to this was “did you see this on TV?” She said she had. So, I turned this little story into, “so do you wonder if they have any brothers or sister.” It just makes you really wonder what makes students come up with some of their responses.
I am really glad that the students really liked the lesson. It really helps me out as a teacher when I can target their interests and key in on their intrinsic motivation. The following week, we rewrote the final copy of the letters, added a border, and sent them out with a picture of the students to their new friends in India!
I am looking forward to the next few weeks, but I don’t want them to go by too fast. I am really going to miss it here! Until Next Time, Melissa Entry 14 November 27 Most students have only one class a day, which only meets for 1 hour and 50 minutes with a 10 minute break in between. Each Student has 4 classes a week and there is a possibility that you can have 2 classes in a day (but never any more than that). Thus, you only meet once a week for each class. The earliest possible class starts at 9:30am and the last possible class of the day starts at 4:00pm. If you are not in class, there are plenty of different options you have to spend the rest of your day. Many students have the gym membership to the fitness center right in the middle of town or you have the option to get a membership at the Bath University fitness center. Many students opt for the fitness center in town because it does have the better deal and it is closer. IF you prefer to run or walk outside there are many different paths you can take. Many students prefer the path along the River Avon or the Kennet and Avon canal. In addition to the use of the fitness center at the university, we are able to join their clubs, societies and athletic teams. We are affiliate members to Bath University, meaning we are entitled to participate in all that the college has to offer its students. We are able to use their library as well. When there is work to get done, many people work right at Nelson House. Nelson House is where the program is based out of. This building is made up of 6 different floors. In this building are the staff offices, classrooms, library, computer lab (internet access), and the very bottom floor is a Common Room where you can also bring your lap-tops and hook up to the internet. It also has a little fridge that is ours to use if we want to bring a lunch or keep drinks in there. This building becomes exceptionally busy during the weeks that papers are due (we only have 2 rounds of papers to do for each class). Some opt to read for classes and/or have lunch in the Abbey square. Here you can be entertained for hours on end with a variety of street performers. Additionally, on nice, warm days, others choose to read in the gardens right near Nelson House. If you don’t have classes or work to get done, there is much to see in and around the city. I can’t even begin to name all that there is to do. There are many museums, theaters, concerts (lots of the clubs have live music every night), historical sights, gardens, sports games (Bath Rugby) and much much more. If you can think of it, it is probably there to do. Also, there are many places to go and eat, whether it is to grab a quick bite (Café Retro) or a sit down meal (La Flamenca). If you can’t ever figure out what to do, you can consult the Newsletter that Claire sends out every week with the list of things going on for each day. At night, sometimes friends gather together at one of the local pubs to chat over a nice pint of cider (or whatever your choice drink is). You don’t necessarily have to order an alcoholic drink. Pubs have a very relaxed atmosphere where you can even go there to have a cup of coffee and do some reading. Plus, it is not very uncommon to see little children hanging out in there with their parents. The drinking age in the UK is 18. Some night we have dinner parties. Either we invite and cook for some friends or go to their place and they cook for us. These are always fun, because you get to have a great meal with some nice people and just chat and hang out. Going to school here does not always feel like you are actually at school. You live in our own house with other American students and are very much part of the community. You experience independence more than you possibly ever have before in your life. You are solely in responsible for all that you do! Entry 13 November 20
Dear Everyone, This week in school was interesting. I got a little more experience with Jolly Phonics and what it is about. I also have developed some opinions about it that I will explain below.
There was an in service day at WASPS on Monday, so today the morning half was the Monday schedule and the afternoon was the Tuesday schedule. This means that I got to observe some different lessons. I also learned that along with the term topic being light there is also a focus on India. This is really good to know because it will give me some options to work with, when developing my lesson plan.
Usually on Mondays the students have their spelling test, so that is how we started off the morning. I actually gave a spelling test one-on-one with one student. This student happens to be the one I also worked one-on-one with last week. This particular student works much better one-on-one. I say this because on weeks that he works with the whole group, he may fill in only one work-sheet and zone out for the rest of the test. It would seem to be a much better test of his reading skills if I could keep him on task. He has a very hard time with the “sh” sound, for example in shin, shed, shot, and shut. He got the “s” but didn’t know the sound was made with an “h” too. He also read beautifully next weeks spelling words to me. I was very impressed and happy at the same time!
In the afternoon, I got to reassess some students on their Jolly Phonics sounds and names of letters. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t assess them properly, due to the slight language differences in pronunciation. But I did fine and had no problem at all. The thing that struck me the most is that basically all the students know the sounds of the letters, but cannot tell me the name of the letter. When I would point to a letter they would immediately tell me the sound it makes but when I would ask what the name of the letter, they would do the sound of the letter again. If I asked more than once, they would start doing the action that goes along with the sound. (In Jolly Phonics, there are friezes or actions that go along with the sounds to help the students learn the sounds better by being able to make a connection.)
However, I am not sure that I totally agree with the method. Yes, it seems to get them reading faster, but there is a lack of knowledge and connection between the action, sound and name of the letter. I feel that knowing the name of a letter is vitally important, especially when it comes to the more challenging sounds and spelling of words. Because not all the words we say, sound as they are spelt. For example, many of the students have a problem with “sh” words or double vowel words, because they cannot hear the sounds of the letters separately. Not all words in the English dictionary are spelt the way they sound, and I worry that they are going to run into difficulties. How do you feel about children not knowing the names of letters, just their sounds and actions? Until Next Week, Melissa P.S. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Entry 12 November 13
Hello Everyone,
This week's focus for going into schools was lesson planning. We were to see how the teacher manages his/her lesson. We were to pay close attention for the good and bad points.
This week the students have started a new term, meaning a new focus. This term they will be focusing on the topic of Light. I am very interested to see how Mr. Eaton incorporates the topic of light, in all of his lessons, throughout this term. I feel that this is a very limited focus, especially to discuss for weeks at a time. I can’t wait to see the lessons that involve light.
Today I really focused on how Mr. Eaton delivers his writing lesson. I have never really paid close attention to all of the details (but that can be because I am usually doing some other task and come late to the circle). I am especially interested to see how this writing lesson will involve light.
I didn’t catch all of the details to the introduction to the lesson; because I was working with a student in his Jolly Phonics book to help him catch up (he needs extra support, due to having autism). I was helping him on two different pages. The first page had to do with spelling certain three letter words. He was provided with a picture and he was to write the letters on the lines provide. He did a fantastic job at this task. The only thing I really had to do was to keep him focused on the task at hand. I also helped him sound out the words, and he could tell me mostly tell me all the time what the letter was that made the sound. I would have him point to the letter on a chart, so that it would reinforce the sound of the letter with the name and what it looked like (at times he could describe the look of the letter, but not know the name or he could point to the letter, but not know the name). He did extremely well. He could even put the sounds in the right place, if he picks out the sound out of order. For example:
When we worked on the other page it was drawing pictures that matched what the word said. This was a little more difficult for him. He had a hard time because it was working on long vowel sounds and he was still at the stage of sounding out each letter (not really understanding the long vowel rules). For example, words like snake and kite.
At any rate, back to the writing lesson and how that went, I observed much of the introduction part through overhearing, while I was working with a student, but I was able to join soon after it started. Well, to get the students’ attention he did the count down from 10 to 1, giving them 10 seconds to settle down. He went on to talk about how they have started a new term and that the term was about lights (he asked them if they remember what they talked about earlier about all the different types). From this they moved into generating a list (which he put up on the white board) of all different types of light sources (candle, light bulb, moon, sun, fireworks, etc). He said that today’s writing assignment would be writing a list poem, using a different source of light for each line. He went on to demonstrate what they were supposed to do. He generated ideas of different lines from the students. For example: The blazing sun shines on me. The colourful fireworks go bang! The twinkling Christmas lights show off the tree.
He said, “Are you getting the idea for what you need to do?” “You need to have a source of light, describe it and finish it off.” At the same time he underlined the describing words in one color and the source of light in another.
He next moved on to talk about their topic books they have and how last term it was Ourselves and this topic book would be about Lights. So this writing exercise would be their first entry in to the book and that they would later make a cover for the book, like they had last term. The students were excited about starting this new book. While he sent the students to their seats, I passed out their topic books and he wrote the date and title on the blackboard (telling this is what they must start with at the top of their page). Next he went to the Smartboard and wrote some describing words in red and some lights sources in blue. He told the class if they got stuck to look up here and match a light source with a describing word, and that would be half their sentence already put together. He also turned the white board that they did the example on so the students could follow the example.
Mr. Eaton set a goal for the students to make before they could go out for break (they had to have their title, date, and the 1st line of their poem done). All students met this goal, and no one has to stay in to meet the goal. After break, each table was given a specific goal of how many lines their poem must contain (this depended on the overall ability of the table) Moreover, Mr. Eaton had a LEA at the table where the students who need extra support are. This way he and I could move around more between all the other students.
After all, this is a Year 1 and the students aren’t prepared to work independently at this stage; many students need support and at this stage they could all still greatly benefit from one on one attention (which is a little impossible, plus there isn’t any funding at WASPS to have more LEAs or increase the LEAs’ hours). Well, today goes to show that a year does much a great difference in learning. As a teacher, depending on the age we teach, we have to modify our plan of attack accordingly. As I learned from Mr. Eaton, the classroom environment is drastically different too. This goes to show that teaching isn’t as easy as popular belief. Teaching is a hard job and one of the key ingredients is being flexible at quickly adapting to the ever changing learning environment. Until Next Week, Melissa Entry 11 - November 6 Advising Week and Bonfire Weekend
Hello Everyone,
This week, we
each had two different meetings; one with our mentor and one advisor
meeting. I had my mentor meeting with Su (Our mentors or assigned to us
After a busy week we had a great weekend! This weekend is known as Bonfire weekend (or Guy Fawkes Night: ( November 5th 2006 is the 401st aniversary). Remember, remember the fifth of November The Gunpowder, treason, and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot… I am not really definite on the whole meaning but I will sort of give you a basis of what I was told about the day. Basically there was a plot to blow up the King and Houses of Parliament in Nov. 1605 by Catholics who where mad at the treatment towards Catholics by James I. It also concerned the peace agreement between England and Spain. James I headed a government that was strongly anti-Catholic and actually saw Catholics as a threat. James actually sanctioned anti-Catholic legislation. So Catholics got mad and plotted to blow up the King and Houses. But the plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes and his henchmen were tortured and executed. So fireworks and bonfires are lit to remember this potential plot of November 5th 1605.
Entry 10 - 30 October 2006
Holiday in England and Paris
Hello Everyone,
Everybody left me Sunday, so the beginning of
the week I spent around Bath. I spent
So, Paris was just amazing! I got in Paris Thursday evening and I met a few people from Bath there and spent the night with them at the Woodstock Hostel. We spent some of the evening exploring the area around the hostel.
Friday, morning I left them to meet up with a
friend from home, Justin, who is studying abroad in Berlin, Germany. We
met up at the
Little
Hotel, where we planned where we should start. We planned to start
the afternoon off at the
Centre Pompidou where Justin could check out the architecture (he is
an architecture major studying at Norwich University). It is a very
modern building where the mechanical systems (like heating) are in ducts
visible from the exterior and are color-coded. From here we planned to
venture on down to the Seine
It was really hard to leave such a wonderful place. But the time came for us to go back to the hotel. It was hard to have to leave Paris the next morning. It was such a great experience, I am very grateful that I got the chance to do it. But, I had to come back to Bath and back to my studies, because that is one of the main reasons why I am here. Au Revoir, Melissa Entry 9 - October 23rd (Visit Weston, a suburb of Bath, where Melissa' school is locates).
Raglan Castle Photograph copyright © 2006 by Jeffrey L. Thomas (reproduced with permission) 
Hello everyone, end of the day. Plus, it was a fun day because this week was book week. Meaning that here are lots of fun things going on around school. The starting routine for Year 1 and 2 have slightly changed since the week before. The students used to be let in by 8:50 am when the doors were unlocked.
They came in with their parents
or guardians. They could take as I asked about why such a change took place. Mr. Eaton said that it works much better this way. He likes this new start to the morning much better, because he brings the students in and they can get right to work and not drag out the good-byes. I have to say I agree with him on this. On my first couple of visits I actually thought that it must be hard for a teacher to get the day started on time with all the parents coming and going. On a happier note, today was a very productive day in room 1E! The class worked very hard working on their class book. This week is book week; so much is going on for the students that involve books. This year’s theme is “Readers all around us.” Many of this week activities include parents, teachers, and special guests coming in to read the children books all throughout the week. There will be various activities and creative workshops going on. Also, there is a book sale going on. Thursday evening the students may come back to school dressed in their pajamas for the annual bedtime story. On Friday, students may come dressed as one of their favorite characters from “Peter Pan.” The afternoon is cinema time; they will watch the movie “Peter Pan.” Sounds like a very fun week to be a child in school. Who doesn’t like to have books read to them? I know I still enjoy it. I think that this is a great program to have in school; it makes reading fun and that more attractive to students. So, back to 1E being productive. As a group Mr. Eaton thought it would be appropriate and creative to make a class book. Seeing as how the students really enjoyed the story of Moses, Mr. Eaton decided to go along with their interests. Today the class worked on drawing and coloring their part of the story of Moses with crayons. Once they were done, they used Brusho (a transparent paint) to fill in the background, such as the sky or sand. Once the pictures were dry, Mr. Eaton took pictures of the pages to put them on Photo Shop 3. Then I mounted them on black, cardboard pages. After lunch, Mr. Eaton started to work on the words for each page with the class. In the end, once all of the words are made for each page and the story is complete, the students will each type up the words for their page. Moreover, they will also practice reading their pages because they will eventually be recorded on Photo Shop 3. In the end, the finished product on Photo Shop 3 will read the story to the class, as all the students have dictated it, along with their pictures for each page and the words. I cannot wait to see this final product. It is just going to be so amazing; the students are really going to be so proud of their selves, as I will with them. Today also as part of book week, a lady acted out the book, “Room on the Broom.” She also did a magic trick for the students, along with closing with a puppet show. It was a nice change up from just a normal reading of a book. Acting out a book really grabs the students’ attention, moreover it brings the book to life. It is much more entertaining. Today was just my day; I really felt wanted and needed. This is what I am there for, to be useful and experience aspects of being a teacher; even if it sometimes has to be odd jobs. I played a big role in assembling to Moses book. I also learned a new task, switching the students reading books and giving them new ones to go home with. The most challenging task of all was Special Person Time. I was put in charge to run this very important part of the day; to acknowledge someone in the class and talk about why they are special. At first, I had a hard time to gain the children’s attention, because they have never experienced me being in charge, plus Mr. Eaton never told them I would be leading. So I had to get the students to sit quietly in a circle around the student. Once everyone was ready the wasp (stuffed animal) could be passed around, so that each student could say why that student is special to them. I had to deal with some students for talking and being disrespectful; leading to moving some students around. Moreover, there was an outside factor that caused much of the disruption among the students. The reception class was outside to play and where the rug is there was a door to go out, made of out glass. Some children from reception tend to look into the window and make faces, so you can see why this can be a problem. Eventually, one of the adults on duty had the students move away. This goes to show that not all things are under your control, there are many factors outside your power to control. On a side note, I learned that OFSTED is due to come sometime this year! It has been 5 years since OFSTED’s last visit and usually they come every 4 years to the schools. They will be in the school for 3 days. Mr. Eaton feels that they may focus to sit in on Math lessons. This is because math scores have gone down in recent years, which is not a good thing. They may try to figure out why that is. It would be great if they were there on a Tuesday while I was there. I would like to see exactly what takes place and how the atmosphere changes, due to their presence in the school. Well, I know that they will not be coming in the next 2 weeks because it is holiday. So, next journal I will tell all about my holiday in Paris! Until Next Time, Melissa Entry 8 - October 16th
Hello Everyone,
Last weekend the program went on an overnight trip to Wales. We left Friday early and came back Saturday evening. I was a great trip; however, it was a little cool and damp, but everyone survived just fine.
Tintern Abbey Photograph copyright © 2006 by Jeffrey L. Thomas (reproduced with permission) For more photos click the photograph
Built in 1131,
Tintern Abbey was the 1st Next, we went to Clearwell Caves in the southern region of Wales. Clearwell caves is actually part of a natural cave system, but was later mined. (Typically you mine some place and it may later be a cave, it is very rare to be a cave then a mine.) Clearwell Caves have been mined for iron ore for over 4,000 years, most extensively in the 1800s. In fact it is still mined today! Friday night we stayed at Welsh Bicknor YHA (a youth hostel). It was once a Victorian rectory. It is set on a riverside with views of the Royal Forest of Dean and Symonds Yat. We actually had to park the coach ¼ mile away and walk over a bridge (River Wye) and through the woods. It was quite the walk. Welsh Bicknor used to be in Wales but due to land disputes and the change of the river it is now in England. Saturday, we got up, dressed, ate and grabbed our packed lunch and headed back to the bus. Our first stop was Hay-On-Wye. It is located on the northern tip of the Brecon Beacons National Park, between River Wye and the Black Mountains. Hay-On-Wye is known as the “town of books” because there are nearly 40 different bookshops, mostly which are second hand shops. I bought 4 different books, each for a £1. One was a cookbook and the other 3 were for my future classroom (books about different projects and such). The last stop of the trip was Caerphilly Castle. This is a 30 acre medieval castle, one of the largest fortresses in all of Europe. I was really amazing to explore this castle, we could actually feel like we were part of it, peering out the attack holes and all. Leslie (my roommate) and I took a picture together sitting at the head of the table in the Great Hall; looking like we were ready for business. All in all it was a fun weekend, despite the weather; in fact it really added to the experience of being in old medieval places. There were many wonderful sights. There were some of the most beautiful sights of the countryside. To add to it, sheep out number humans 4-1 in Wales; they just seem to be everywhere.
Until Next Time, Melissa Entry 7 - October 9th Sidewalks of Bath Hello Everyone,
I know the topic of the sidewalks of
Bath sounds a little odd or even silly,
On many of the main shopping streets there is
much hustle and bustle on
Additionally, there are a wide variety of artists on the sidewalks. Some are belting out the most beautiful words in song; others are strumming or blowing their instruments to a tune. The best musicians I saw were at the Bath Abbey; they were a group of 3 males playing the xylophones. Actually, at the Bath Abbey there is quite the competition for performing time; you have to reserve/battle for a spot. One of the best artists was creating a chalk work of art with his canvas lying on the sidewalk; it was of the Virgin Mother and child. It was the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. There is much talent on these sidewalks in Bath entertaining us, just waiting to be acknowledged. Although there are many nice scenes on the sidewalks, there are scenes less pleasant to the eye. Some of them would include a gathering of homeless people and their dogs. Nonetheless, there are some homeless people who are trying to help themselves get back on their feet. One way they do this is by selling the “Big Issue.” They have to buy these newspapers themselves, daily with their own money. After selling them, they get to keep a cut of the profit (they sell for £1 and keep 70p). This helps to teach them about money management. One of my first mornings here, as we were crossing a bridge, we met Scooby-Do selling the “Big Issue” and dancing to the music coming out of his boom box. These people are very grateful to all those who buy from them. The sidewalks can also be a dangerous place. It is almost a battle everyday to survive walking on the sidewalks or crossing to the other side! In Bath there are many side roads that are quite narrow. With cars parked along one side of the street, it really makes them quite constricted to others driving up and down the roadway. In fact, I have seen many people drive on the sidewalks in order to get by; this is especially true for buses. Moreover, you need to look both ways before crossing the street (right, left, right). Pedestrians do not have the right of way! This is why it is very important to wait for the man to turn green (in the pedestrian traffic light, signaling for you to cross the streets. There have been many close calls. It is hard to get used to them driving on the “wrong” side of the road. In addition, the sidewalks are dangerous when it is raining out. Many people fall because the sidewalks become so slippery. I have seen many people fall down and get hurt (one of my housemates did), even a little old lady just the other day. I have to even admit that I have too; flip-flops and slippery sidewalks don’t go together. My advice for rainy day foot attire is something with a good grip, sneakers, for example. So there you have it, the good and bad of walking the sidewalks of Bath.
Until next week, Melissa Entry 6 - October 2nd Harvest Festival
Friday at WASPS was the Harvest Festival. Harvest Festival is a day where classes sell fresh produce that they have brought in. Also, they celebrate the day by singing some harvest songs for their family and friends. They also told their parents what a harvest festival was all about (celebrating the year’s crops) and gave thanks to God for what they yielded. It was really cute to see the children have fun performing their songs, along with learning the value of sharing and giving to others through collecting can goods and selling their produce for charity.
Friday was also open day. This means that parents are free to come in and out as they please. Open days are especially for prospective students and their parents. So it is a day to impress! It is a day that teachers must be on their toes, and make sure everything goes smoothly within the classroom, in order to make a good impression.
Friday was also a different day for me. I usually don’t go in on Fridays, but I was to make up for not being here last week. When I walked into the classroom, there was a new teacher, Mrs. Snook. As it was explained to me, this is usual for her to be there on Fridays. Mr. Eaton only works Monday through Thursday and she comes in every Friday. This is kind of a strange idea to me, only working 4 days a week. She even told me that the teacher next door does the same, but her day off is Thursday. I guess that I am just used to a teacher teaching all week only. I just wonder if working 4 days is considered full time? Well, I could see how this could be a good thing for the students. It give the students a change and teaches them to be flexible with different styles of teaching. Plus, it allows them to have a variety of teaching methods and styles, classroom management and lessons.
I don’t know if it was just because of what today is, or just because there is a new teacher, but things went much differently than usual (meaning the activities of the day). There were four different activity stations today. They were:
1. Puzzles and books on the rug, math (figuring out different ways to make
up 3. L anguage, which I was in charge of (having children write names given tothem correctly; focusing on remembering capital letters and not joining it to the lowercase ones which are joined together. Handwriting is different here than in the states).
I really thought that the stations were really appropriate, especially given the day. Math was especially a great activity because it was personally relevant to the children’s lives; making change. (It is very important to make lesson and activities relevant to the students’ lives; they will be more interested and apt to want to learn better.) They switched stations all morning. In the afternoon was the Harvest Festival performance.
All in all it was a great day. It was nice to see a change in the classroom. Plus it was great to see how someone else would handle the same students. Moreover, it was great to be part of a special day; the Harvest Festival and Open Day.
Until next week, Melissa Entry 5 - September 25th
Hello Everyone, This past week I was in Oxford which I didn’t like as much as I do Bath. About half way through the week, I couldn’t wait until I went “home.” Oxford is much more of a city than Bath; much busier and bigger. Oxford is a city made up of 39 different colleges (there is no such thing as Oxford University). I stayed at University College of Oxford. I didn’t enjoy staying here as much as I love living in my house with “my Prior Park family” in Bath. We all had nice, large single rooms, and we even had a maid come in every day, but it didn’t have a homey feeling. We had classes as usual, except I didn’t go to WASPS, which I really missed a lot, but will be making up next week. This week I felt more like being at school, than I have all semester, thus far. It was a little hard to have classes, and homework, and be able to enjoy all that the city has to offer. However, I still managed to get a lot in, especially free stuff (very important to a college student). One of the most entertaining activities we all did as a group was going punting. I had so much fun trying to punt; it isn’t as easy as they make it look or sound. We went 5 to a boat and took our turns at the art of punting. We ran into other boats, hit some trees, and hit the bank; but we didn’t loose anyone out of the boat and we had so much fun laughing! It was a great experience! We also visited some museums in Oxford. The most interesting thing at the Museum of the History of Science was Einstein’s Blackboard. They had an original blackboard that they kept from one of Einstein’s lectures at one of the colleges on the expansion of the universe. It was so cool to see his true handwriting and formulas. The most exciting thing at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History was the dinosaur skeletons, which I have never seen before. I got to see my very first T-Rex! This museum is connected to the Pitt River’s Museum which has a very scary vibe/lighting display. It also has really creepy displays, like the Treatment of Dead Enemies (heads) display. Needless to say, Leslie and I didn’t stay here too long to linger around! Other visits were to the Eagle and Child pub where Tolkien and C. S. Lewis met. I went to Alice’s Shop; where the story of Alice and Wonderland came from. Lewis Carroll was from Oxford and there really was a real Alice that he wrote about. Her father was the dean of Christ Church college at one time. Christ Church is also a beautiful college to visit. Moreover, it is the sight of some of the Harry Potter tapings (the staircase and dining hall). Saturday, on our way back to Bath, we stopped at Blenheim Palace. Here is where Winston Churchill was born. It is a gorgeous place; there is so much beautiful land surrounding it. Leslie and I went through the Palace Maze; it is the 2nd largest hedge maze in the world. It only took us between 10-15 minutes to go through, the average is 25 minutes! All in all, I had a great week; I got to see lots in such a short amount of time. But I am glad to be back in Bath. I really like it here! Until Next Time, Melissa Entry 4 - September 18th
Well, last week was my very first full day at
WASPS. I had a
great day! So let me fill you all in about my first impressions and
experiences.
So as you all know there are 29 students (5 and 6
year olds) in the Year One class I am in. The very first thing you notice
as you walk in to the classroom is that all the children are dressed
in black and yellow school uniforms (some have white and grey, but they all
look so cute). So, what do I think about these uniforms? I find them to be
a good idea. By wearing a school uniform all students are alike. No student
is singled out by not dressing with the style or having really
expensive clothing. Students are all on the same level; you can’t judge
their status by their clothing. I think that it eliminates problems,
especially associated with class and SES. All children can feel like part of
a group! Belonging is of major importance to children, at any age,
especially the lower levels. Children need to feel like they belong
and are safe before they can begin to want to learn anything at all.
Also in the classroom, I noticed the Smart
board. They seem to be big on technology here; not much use of the chalk
board at all. The students even have a built-in class around using
computers. I understand the move towards technology, but should it really
be part of a daily curriculum at Year One? These children are five and six
years old; shouldn’t they be practicing their writing and fine motor skills
with pencil and paper first?
Going along with the feeling of belonging (as
earlier mentioned), I felt very well receive when I came into the
classroom. Two little girls gave me a hug as soon as I entered the
classroom. What a warm and caring gesture to get when you are new somewhere
(to feel like you are welcomed and belong). This shows it is important to
be warm and caring toward your students as well, just think how they feel.
The school also provides a positive, warm,
and caring atmosphere. I had my first experience with a school "assembly".
Here in England, schools have daily assemblies that allow the whole school
to come together as one community. There are different types of assemblies:
Clergy, Collective Worship, and Class-led assemblies. Tuesday it was a
Clergy assemble where the whole student body and staff sang the harvest song
which contained the word Lord. There were readings from the bible by
students, and there was a man from the Weston All Saints Church there who
spoke to the children about the bible story. This is so much different from
the states; this NEVER would occur!! However, I find that the point behind
the assemblies, getting the whole school community together, is a good
idea. It shows that they are a “family.” Everything about a family is
positive; it shows that you have support and safety.
The Education system in England has close ties with the Church of
England.
Well, this week I will be in Oxford staying at
University College. So, next week I
will share my finding about life in Oxford.
Until next time, Melissa
Entry 3 - September 11th Hello
Everyone,
I just completed my first week of classes! Monday was the
first day of classes. I have the very first and last class times of the
day. I had my education class from 9:30- 11:20; I really liked my tutor a
lot. In the afternoon I had my Terrorism class from 4:00- 5:50.
Tuesday, I would normally have been in my school placement all day, but this
week we went to see our practicum school and introduce ourselves to our
teachers. I am at Weston All Saints Primary School (WASPS, and yes, they all do dress in
black and yellow). I am in a 1st year classroom and there are 29
children! They don’t have the rule here that after 20 students in a
classroom you have to have another full time adult in the room. So, Mr.
Eaton is very grateful that I will be there all day Tuesdays. This is Mr.
Eaton’s first time doing 1st year, so he said that he is learning
at the same time how to teach them, he used to be a 2nd year
teacher. He is very laidback and quiet, so it should be an interesting
experience.
Wednesday, I had my Science and Spirituality class from 9:30-11:20. I think
this class will be very interesting. We will be discussing if science and
spirituality are in conflict and if someone can be religious but at the same
time believe in science.
Thursday, all of the education students met with our advisor (Andrew
Butterworth) to discuss how our adventures went in finding our schools. We
had a great time hearing everyone’s trips and first experiences. After our
meeting, Andy took use to Café Retro for some coffee and tea; he is really a
nice, sweet man.
Friday, we don’t have classes. So, two of my housemates (Leslie and Liam)
and I went to get a milkshake. We went to a place called ShakeaWay. It is
the best place ever to get milkshakes; you can have any kind you have ever
dreamed of having. They have over 150 flavors (here is a list of some: at
the Shakeaway
website I tried the Hershey’s cookies and cream; it was very good. The
milkshakes are not thick like at home, they are milkier. It really hit the
spot J!
Saturday, Leslie and I went and did some more touring. Today all around
England they have opened up these
historical
buildings, which normally wouldn’t be open to public, for FREE! There
are a few here in Bath that we to see.
Today will be a work day!
Until next time,
Melissa Entry Two - September 4th
Well I have made it through “survival
week.” It was a really great week! We got to know Bath pretty well. They
have taken us on various (walking) tours of the city. One day we did a
shopping tour to show us where to buy food and such. They also took us on a
tour of Bath University where we can go to use the library and
actually participate in sports and clubs. Saturday, we went on another tour
of a flea market and a farmer’s market. There was a great selection of
fruits, veggies and meats there. My roommate and I bought some veggies to
make a stir fry for supper, it was delicious.
We also did a little touring of our
own. Our 'house' went to the Roman
Baths. It was really quite amazing
to see and walk through it. The trick is to go later in the day, close to night
fall, you can really get some great pictures. Plus, at night they have
torches lit all around the Bath. On Sunday, the
program took us to
Stonehenge, Salisbury, and Avebury. These are also spectacular places
to visit with lots of history behind them. Stonehenge is quite popular in
the States; lots of people are familiar with it. However, we are not as
familiar with I have seen some really great things while I have been here. However, yesterday, we started classes which I have enjoyed so far. Today I am going to my school for a practice run (to make sure I can get there). I am very excited! Have a great week! Until next time, Melissa. Entry One - August 28th |
Hello Everyone,
I’ll start by introducing myself. My name is Melissa Gray and I’m a junior at Saint Michael’s studying Elementary Education and Psychology.
This fall semester I am in Bath, England studying abroad through the Advanced Studies in England (ASE) program. Here, I am taking the education program that has classes, but also allows me to be in a British Elementary School one day a week. I will also be taking a class called Terrorism and one called Science and Spirituality. I am really looking forward to these classes, especially the practicum part of being in a school. However, I do not start classes until next week.
This week is all about getting to know Bath and how to “survive” here. They actually like to call it “survival week,” because they introduce us to the city and show us where things are and how to do certain things, such as laundry in the houses (18th century plumbing).
It is just so beautiful here! The train ride was something to see, there was so much countryside, with lots of nice looking, big farms (lots of sheep and goats). My housemates and I all made supper together tonight, it was even better that we all cleaned up together. After we were finished we all went out for a walk tonight and met up with some others from another flat (apartment) just to see the center of the city. There are a lot of wonderful buildings and gardens. I can’t wait until tomorrow when they give us a tour of the city so that I can see more.
Well, I have got to go to bed. I have only slept 1 hour in over 2 days, due to the time change (5 hours ahead). I will update you all and hopefully figure out how to send you all some pictures. Take care. ~Melissa