Elementary Update

This is Emily. I (along with Carol and Rachael) am at Fred Ipalook Elementary here in Barrow. Unlike the other 5, I have been in my own classroom all week. This session of student teaching I am working in a 1st grade classroom. It's been quite a change from 4th grade. These kids are so full of energy!! Even though 1st grade isn't quite my niche, I'm having a lot of fun and I'm beginning to appreciate all of my early elementary teachers more and more.

My cooperating teacher has kept me busy from the very first day. I've been working with small groups doing guided reading, running art projects, and reading many stories to the class. I also spend a lot of time with a small group of kids who need some extra help with math. I've also been going with them to their specialist classes. It's been very interesting to see how they are similar or different to specialists back home. They do have an Inupiat class 3 times a week that seems to be very unique to this area. It reminded me a lot of classes I had back in elementary school called Indian Ed. They learn about the Inupiat culture and learn numbers, colors, the pledge, and many other Inupiat words. They even get their own Inupiat names.

With testing going on in the school, everything has been a little crazy. Today is the last day of testing so I am looking forward to things settling down in the next few days.