With eyes wide open

A quick post to reiterate how much I am loving my school and impressed with my teacher and students. Today I ate lunch with the students and they loved asking me for English words and telling me the Swedish words. They somewhat bombarded me with information, but I did learn all my days of the week and to day 'today is' and 'tomorrow' as well as a few other random words. I love their enthusiasm for English and wanting to get as much from me as possible. I was even able to help a student with a geometry question written in Swedish! I can't believe I get to spend four weeks with these kids. I am excited thinking about everything I will learn from them, and hopefully them from me.

Today we walked 700 meters to the gymnasium building. Normally the students walk this by themselves, with no adult supervision. It is their responsibility to pack their backpacks, walk to the gym, across a busy street, get themselves changed and be to class within 10-15 minutes. Although this doesn't sounds super impressive, remember these students are between 9-11 years old. Another major difference was the gym teacher wasn't popping in the locker room to tell them to hurry up every few minutes. I was obviously in the girls locker room and they changed and got ready without any prompts. Class did not start until everyone was ready and sitting in the circle, it was like the students dictated when class should start, not the teacher. They practiced their basketball skills, which was fun to watch.

During a break today, I was able to talk with the special education teacher for awhile. I learned some interesting information about their policies, especially regarding students that don't have Swedish as their first language. She believes (and cited research that supports) students need to first learn their 'mother' language otherwise they will never master a second language and if need be, be taught basics in their mother language until they are able to take on the second. She also told me that as of next year things in special ed will be changing in Sweden. Students will be staying in their regular classrooms as much as possible and the special ed teacher and regular ed teacher will have to work together to make the curriculum for the pupil. She even went on to say that it will be her responsibility to make sure the classroom environment is appropriate for the students with special needs. Students who must be pulled out for services will be done so as minimally as possible and only for the subjects in which they struggle. I am hoping she has break at the same time tomorrow so I can pick her brain some more! I tried to take a picture of her title, but its a too blurry, it says Specialpedagog. From my novice translating skills, that would be a specialist in the process of teaching. Google translator says Special Teacher which I think is true too :)

My eyes could not be open any wider to all the possibilities in teaching...