I just started teaching at the beginning of March, and while I feel like I have no idea what I am doing most of the time, I’m hoping that will pass.

Fortunately there are friendly teachers at both schools that are willing to help me out, and sometimes they even bring me oranges!

outside the country school

I have two middle schools.  I go to the country school one day a week, and the city school four days a week.  This seems to be unique to the program I am in, I haven’t heard of another program where the English teachers go to two schools.

The country school is way out in the sticks.  When they were showing me where the schools were, the country school wasn’t even on the map.  I have a 40 minute bus ride from my apartment.

It’s a long time to be on the bus, but I don’t mind getting to be out of the hustle and bustle of the city for a little while.   And the countryside will be gorgeous in the summer!

I have an English room where I teach and plan lessons and whatnot.  Most of the other teachers share one big office.

the best part is the heating fan under the desk

I teach 1st grade (7th graders), 2nd grade (8th graders), and 3rd grade (9th graders).  Each class only has about 20 students.

They apparently like to draw pictures of me, which is adorable!

My city school is only a 20 minute bus ride, or 15 in fast traffic and 30 in slow traffic.

I also have my own English classroom at the city school.  This school is double the size and population of the country school.  There are so many teachers so there are several offices and my class sizes are about 34.

I only teach 1st and 2nd grade at the city school.

Both schools are incredibly modern, and the lunches are tasty.  When was the last time you had fresh strawberries at an American public school lunch?  I know I never saw any.