Today was our first day at Dwight International School. I am in a first grade classroom while Megan is in third grade and Sarah is in fourth grade. The struggle though was just trying to get to the school. Today originally was going to be a trial day to see how long it would take to get to the school. Since we have to take the hotel shuttle, ferry, subway, and then walk there is a lot that needs to be accomplished and if one thing is late you are late for everything else. Of course this had to be with our hotel shuttle. It showed up late so we ended up catching the 7:00 ferry and the 7:30 subway which lasts half an hour. The problem is we needed to be at school by 7:30. By the time we actually got in we felt awful for being late. How can we be late on the first day? Good impression by the Gustavus gals!
We were soon husseled into our classrooms for the day to meet the kids and the teachers. Compared to schools in Minnesota and regular public schools it is different compared to Dwight. Here we have two co-teachers in a classroom at all times. Sometime they teach one subject and sometime they do a lesson together. I am really hoping we are able to jump in right away with assisting and even doing one or two lessons. This allows us to worry less about full time, finishing education department assignments, and seeing the sights and smells of New York.
Some fun information about Dwight: Dwight was the first school in North America to offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. The students are also graded based on international benchmarks. This is the only universal curriculum in the world. The Primary Years Program (PYP) at the Dwight School will focus on develioing of the whole child as a student and a classmate. The point is to always be focused for student-centered approach with their strengths and interests. Also there is LOTS of inquiry based questions to be asked from the students. This is probably the one thing we are nervous about because we have never experienced such a thing. We will learn though!
Fun thing about the kids at school. For lunch and recess they go to Central Park. Central Park!
After school we went down to the World Trade Center Museum to take a look around at all the pictures and videos they had posted. It's so strange to see things here that make me remember seeing people rush down the streets with a dust of smoke following. Later on when my family is here we are all going to the Memorial to see the exact site. It will be a site to see!
Tomorrow we are on our own to get to the school. Deb and Shelly have to head back home. However, it is parent-teacher conferences so we will only be attending for half the day as we have meetings and tours set up for us. I'm really looking forward to meeting with Stephen Spahn, who is the chancellor of the school. I'm specifically excited to learn about the Korea teaching job openings next fall.
It will be another tiring day to come but we are getting used to early days already!
-Heidi
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