May 27th, 2018

Overall, this experience has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. I knew I would change and I knew I would grow. That is the main reason I wanted to study abroad, but I had no idea how big of an impact this trip would have on me personally. I learned a lot about the classroom and the educator I aspire to be one day, but I have noticed a big change in my attitude. I spent a lot of time on this trip with peers who made an effort not to complain or focus on negative things. I struggle with that in my daily life and can feel that I tend to think more positively after just three weeks with some great people. I also feel that I am more likely to take risks. During my time in Ireland, I did things that I never imagined I would do. Once I return home, I believe I am going to be a more active and adventurous person. Lastly, and most importantly, I feel that when I return, I will be able to be myself around my friends and family making it easier to make new friends in the future. I have grown and changed over these past few weeks in ways I never expected. I am excited to go home and show the people in my life how I have improved and share with them my new dreams and aspirations. 

May 22nd, 2018

There are several things I will take home with me from this trip. First, the behavior management of my classroom. The teacher was constantly praising students for being on task and following directions. This inspired others to be on task as well as made students feel special. She creates an atmosphere that allows the students to feel safe, comfortable, and like they can share their ideas. She never rushed a student and gives them time to think through what they want to say and turn it into words. She also uses the think, pair, share method a lot. This gives the students the opportunity to chat with their peers, allowing them to let out some energy and bond with other children in the class. I am also very intrigued by the fact that the teachers teach their students the letter sounds before the letter names. This is something I really want to bring into my classroom because I think it will lead to children reading at an earlier age and improve their phonics skills. Lastly, I enjoyed how my teacher used games as a way to learn. It allowed the students to be out of their seats, but learning at the same time. This gives them the mind set that learning can be fun and helps them want to learn in the present and future. Being able to experience not one, but two schools in Ireland has really given me some practices and tricks to use in my classroom one day. 

May 21st, 2018

This experience has stretched me personally in many ways. First, I have been brought out of my comfort zone several times. I was put on a plane with group of twenty-six other people that I did not really know that well. Going to a foreign place with people that I only knew by name was very scary for me. After just a few days of being in Ireland I felt comfortable and knew that this trip was going to require me to be uncomfortable a few more times, but I knew it would be worth it. I learned how to make friends through this experience. It has always been hard for me to open up and speak out, but I was able to overcome that during my first few days which contributed to me being more comfortable in the group settings. I was also thrown out of my comfort zone on my first day in an Irish school. I was unsure of their practices and was nervous that I would be in the way or not wanted by the teacher. The opposite happened. My teacher welcomed me with open arms and was a fantastic resource to me. I believe my communication skills were improved through this trip as well. I have become better at speaking up and contributing my opinion to conversation. When I am not comfortable with people, I fear they will judge me for my opinion and not want to associate with me, but I took chances and risks which paid off in the end. There were times when my opinion differed from others, but that was just another learning experience. We were able to have adult conversations about our opinions and learn about other view points. This ultimately resulted in a mutual respect and friendship between myself and others on the trip. I am not the same person I was when I got on the plane to come to Ireland. I am much more comfortable in my skin and I would like to believe that I will continue to take risks in my everyday life like I have done abroad. 

May 18th, 2018

This experience has related to my course work in several ways. Just being in the classroom each day has given me the opportunity to practice behavior management, how to teach, how to write lesson plans, and so much more. Due to education being different in Ireland than it is in America, I have learned things that I want to bring back to my classroom. First, I believe the behavior management plan they practice in Ireland is extremely productive. Students are praised for following directions, being on task, and for sharing their opinions. When they get this positive attention from the teacher and other adults in the room, it makes them want to keep working hard in hopes of getting called out for good behavior again. Also, when one student gets called on for being on task, other students quickly fall in line so they can get recognized as well. In Ireland, phonics is very important and taught at a much earlier age than in America. Students at just five years old are able to read full sentences. I truly believe that they are so advanced because instead of teaching students the letter names, they are taught the sounds of the letter. This gives them the tools they need to sound out any word, leading to them being able to read sentences at a young age. What also has stuck out to me is the amount of brain breaks that Irish students have. They have a ten minute recess and then a twenty minute recess later in the day. This breaks up the learning and allows them to get their energy out making the day much more productive. My future as an educator has been enhanced by this experience for sure. I have learned things about children, education, and myself that I would not have learned anywhere else. I am truly excited to take what I have learned from being in Irish classrooms and apply it to my own classroom.

May 17th, 2018

Over the past few weeks, I have learned so many things about Ireland and education. I have loved getting to learn about the history of Ireland. If I had not come on this trip, I would not have known about the incredible past Ireland has. Between learning about the famine, the fight for freedom, and their passion for their Gaelic sports, I have fallen in love with this country. My favorite thing has been getting to witness the insane amount of love and passion these people have for their Gaelic football and hurling. They have a genuine love for these sports and I can physically feel it when I am around the sport with them. I have also enjoyed getting to be in the schools. I have seen several things that I would like to bring in to my classroom one day. The teacher I am paired with has a great classroom management plan. She sets expectations, reinforces the expectations multiple times, then praises the students who are following the expectations correctly. She also is truly interested in these students lives and families. She knows their parents, siblings, and all of their favorite things. My favorite thing about being in the classroom is seeing how well my five year old students can read. Instead of learning the letter names, they know the letter sounds which helps them be able to sound out any word and read sentences. I am truly impressed with my experience so far and I am very excited to see what else I learn before I head home. 

May 16th, 2018

During my time in Ireland, I encountered several challenges, successes, and setbacks while attempting to achieve my learning objectives. The first learning objective revolved around using my knowledge to answer questions and solve problems. The challenge with this goal was the fact that sometimes, I lacked the knowledge I needed in the situation. Being in a new country with new people, I struggled to always know what the best thing to do was. I was able to overcome these instances by using my peers and advisors as a resources. We were able to put our minds together to resolve issues and answer our own questions. Many locals were willing to help in times of need as well. It was a success for me to be able to demonstrate some sort of independence by answering my own questions, other people's questions, and be able to navigate my way around a foreign country. Of course, there were setbacks along the way such as having to convert euros to dollars, running out of foreign currency, not always having internet connection, and not always agreeing with other people's opinions and ideas. The next learning objective was familiarity with cultural text and their interpretations. My challenges with this learning objective revolved around me not knowing much if anything about Ireland, its history, or its culture before going abroad. As we explored the country, met and spoke to locals, toured museums and monuments, and taught in the schools, I learned so much about the country of Ireland and how passionate their people are about their history and culture. The success I encountered when it comes to this learning objective was being open minded and allowing myself to dive into the culture of Ireland. I took risks and spent a lot of time out of my comfort zone in order to really feel and live in the culture of the Irish people. The last learning objective I strived to achieve was about supporting appropriate interaction with the culture. Again, I struggled with this goal because I was not knowledgeable about Ireland before landing in Dublin. In Ireland, they have different sayings, words mean different things than I am used to, and their social manners are different. After a few days, I was able to adjust to the new culture and learned how to act and not how to act. I was successful when talking to locals and interacting with them after a few days of being abroad. Setbacks of course still occurred when trying to communicate, but overall became much easier with time.

May 15th, 2018

Today was my first experience in a PE class. I had to opportunity to observe a junior infant PE experiences and a first class PE experience. These two groups of students are only two years apart, but the developmental difference appeared to be much bigger than just two years. The junior infants were not as good at listening as they are in the classroom. They struggled to follow directions and listen when the teacher was talking. The first class was much more willing to pay attention to instruction. They wanted to participate in the activities correctly, where as the younger students just wanted to run. The activities the two groups were doing were using the same equipment, but in very different ways. The junior infant used the hoola hoops to sit in and run around, when the first class students were jumping in the hoops with one foot and two feet in an obstacle like way. Overall, it seemed that the junior infants PE was more about following directions and figuring out how to control their bodies where as the first class students were learning skills.

May 14th, 2018

Today was our first day at Bishoptown Boys School. The experience was much different that I imaged it would be. I was nervous about going into a foreign school and working with teachers who may or may not be willing to take us in. I was wrong to be nervous because of the generosity of everyone I came in contact with. My cooperating teacher was very open to the idea of me working with her and her junior infant students. The classroom set up was very similar to what I have seen in the states with the exception of the Gaelic language around the room. Another thing that was similar to the states is the Jolly Phonics curriculum they use in their classrooms. My teachers behavior management plan was something that I really enjoyed and am on board with. She never raised her voice and the students knew to be quiet when she counted down from five or clapped her hands. Students were constantly being rewarded for good behavior and for setting a good example. I am extremely excited to learn more about the Ireland education system and how it differs from what I am used to.

May 13th, 2018

This past weekend, we traveled to the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle. The sights were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I knew that the cliffs would be amazing to see, but I did not know how large and breathtaking they would be. I was overwhelmed by the size and by the height of the cliffs. The castle was less than I was expecting. I did not realize how old the castle was and thought it would be more like Kilkenny Castle. It was hard for me to understand how people lived there back in the day and how it functioned as a home to royalty. Also at Blarney Castle, we saw beautiful waterfalls and scenery. The landscaping was an amazing sight to see. I learned from this weekend trip that I need to see more of the world.

May 11th, 2018

As we begin week two, there are two changes I would like to make in myself to make this a more enjoyable trip. First, I would like to be more open-minded. I want to take risks, spend time with people I usually do not talk to, and be more willing to let the Irish culture be apart of me while I am here. Secondly, I wish to make more time for myself to reflect. Since we have been here, I have constantly been surrounded by people. I think it is important to take thirty minutes a day to reflect on my experience without any distractions or any other opinions.

May 10th, 2018

Looking back, I wish my pre-departure self knew that no matter what happens, the trip will still continue on and work itself out. I was so worried about bumps in the road, but at the end of the day, everything worked itself out. I also wish that my pre-departure self knew that I would make friends. I was so scared to come to a foreign country without any of my closet friends. I was worried I would be left out, but everyone has been so inclusive and willing to spend time with me!

May 9th, 2018

After visiting Bishoptown Boy School, I am excited to begin teaching there and meet my co-operating teacher. From the outside, it looks like a very nice school. After researching the school pre-departure, I think that the school is strict and organized creating a fantastic learning environment for these students. I cannot wait to begin teaching these students and learning about how about schools in Ireland and all of Europe differ from American schools. Once we begin teaching, I think that this experience will start to fly by. We will be busy, with a lot of work to do, and the last two weeks of our time in Ireland will be over before we know it.

May 4th, 2018

As we are heading to Ireland, I have mixed emotions about this trip. I am extremely excited for this adventure, but also have some concerns. I am excited to see the country of Ireland, make new friends, and grow personally and professionally. I worry about my ability to make new friends, being away from home for so long, losing my luggage, and just being out of the country in general. I was motivated to participate in this experience because of the opportunity and adventure that was presented with it. I have always wanted to study abroad. When I heard that I could teach in a foreign country and gain an educational experience from studying abroad, I knew that this was the trip for me. In this experience, I saw an opportunity for growth personally and professionally. Personally, I knew that this trip would teach me responsibility. I knew that this trip would push me out of my comfort zone. I would have to make new friends, learn how to embrace change, and come home a new person with new experiences. Professionally, I knew that this experience would not only give me something to put on my resume to separate me from other teacher candidates, but give me Irish techniques to bring back to make my classroom a better learning place.