Day 3

OK! On track now!

Today was the first day I got to see the students and observe some lessons, very exciting! The other teachers and myself headed to the school at about 7:45 this morning. When we got there we met with the director and were introduced to the four different classes each of us will be working in. Instead of dividing the classes into Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and so on, since they start at age three, they have Kindergarten 1, 2, and 3 which is about the same as pre-school; Primary1 A, B and C which is the same as first grade; Primary 2 A, B, and C which is about second grade, and then they start at grade 2 after primary 2. The letters just differentiate the various rooms- they don't have a difference on the students' age for that grade level.
I will be in Primary 1 B. The students are so tiny! They are absolutely adorable! I am so excited to start working with them.
After we were introduced to the classes, the director took us to the teachers office which is set up like a cubicle (pictures coming later!). Here the director downloaded a very large document that outlined the Hong Kong education system and syllabus which we are free to look through and use if needed. Much of the information I was reading reiterated what I had learned at CWU which was reassuring in the sense that both educational systems have some of the same views. We stayed there for a few hours going over the various documents she left for us and then left for lunch around 11am and returned at about 12:30. When we came back there was a train of students walking through the foyer and saying "hello!". It was very cute! It definintely seems like they are happy to have us there!
After we caught back up with the director and figured out plans for the evening we all went back to apartment and are continuing to unpack and unwind before dinner in 2 .5 hours with the principal and assistant principals. I am thinking this will be a very informational dinner since we will all be discussing what we will be in charge of as student teachers. I will be sure to let you all know how it goes! :)