For starters I've gotta say... wow! I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that my visit to Boston would be this amazing!
I knew I would see a lot of different things and that I would get new ideas, but I never expected to meet such wonderful people, wonderful teachers, who would literally open their doors to me at any time of the day and offer their support and attention, sometimes taking away from their own personal time.
These first three days I've been hopping from class to class - Monday between kindergarten and 1st grade, Tuesday between two first grade classes and today between a first grade class and a second grade. And these next two days I gotta figure out a way to hop between the other three 2nd grade classes, a first grade class I didn't yet get an opportunity to observe and a few more from 3rd and 4th grade groups.
But in these past three days, I already got to sit in at a presentation to fifth graders about the colonial times in America and their habits; an entomologist's visit to a first grade class, where she showed several kinds of insects, a millipede and even a tarantula (so exciting!!); a professional development conference about wellness and the importance of teachers being self-compassionate in order to keep their mental balance and prevent burnouts and depression, which ended with a very entertaining volleyball game between some of the teachers; and so many other inspiring things...
I knew I would see a lot of different things and that I would get new ideas, but I never expected to meet such wonderful people, wonderful teachers, who would literally open their doors to me at any time of the day and offer their support and attention, sometimes taking away from their own personal time.
These first three days I've been hopping from class to class - Monday between kindergarten and 1st grade, Tuesday between two first grade classes and today between a first grade class and a second grade. And these next two days I gotta figure out a way to hop between the other three 2nd grade classes, a first grade class I didn't yet get an opportunity to observe and a few more from 3rd and 4th grade groups.
But in these past three days, I already got to sit in at a presentation to fifth graders about the colonial times in America and their habits; an entomologist's visit to a first grade class, where she showed several kinds of insects, a millipede and even a tarantula (so exciting!!); a professional development conference about wellness and the importance of teachers being self-compassionate in order to keep their mental balance and prevent burnouts and depression, which ended with a very entertaining volleyball game between some of the teachers; and so many other inspiring things...
After only three days, I truly feel sad that I have to go, just because I already feel at home. Not only my host family has been amazingly helpful and so so much fun to be around, but in school every morning I am greeted with smiling faces and with so many warm “Hi Ana, how are you?”. I meet new people every other minute, I have lunch with different teachers every day, I spark conversations about my project in every corner I turn and, best of all, I receive such wonderful feedback to the idea!...
I couldn't be happier that I dared to dream this dream, that I dared to go out of my comfort zone and put my job aside for a time, to pursue this project. I am, now more than ever, absolutely sure it will make me a better teacher and hopefully it will allow me to influence so many other teachers who have the same passion I have, but not the same means to discover all of this the same way I am. To all these amazing people, I leave my deepest and truest thank you and a very sincere invitation to come down to Cape Verde, where I will do my best to welcome you as well as you've welcomed me.
I couldn't be happier that I dared to dream this dream, that I dared to go out of my comfort zone and put my job aside for a time, to pursue this project. I am, now more than ever, absolutely sure it will make me a better teacher and hopefully it will allow me to influence so many other teachers who have the same passion I have, but not the same means to discover all of this the same way I am. To all these amazing people, I leave my deepest and truest thank you and a very sincere invitation to come down to Cape Verde, where I will do my best to welcome you as well as you've welcomed me.