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.