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~ The Journey to Middle School Spanish ~ |
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Haz cliq para espaņol |
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Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 |
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Curriculum Vitae |
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Home Page |
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Contact:
Marilyn Gorgas-Cahill |
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8th Grade trip to Casa Spain Restaurant
with an anonymous student and Mrs. Andrea (the other Spanish teacher) |
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People often ask me how I ended up teaching Spanish, particularly as I was born in New Jersey, with a Danish, Greek, and PA Dutch ethnic heritage. Well, here's the journey.... Part 4 |
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The 2004-2005 school year was my first experience teaching 7th and 8th grade. It brought me full-circle, to my first year as an American (U.S.) middle-school student. It was one of the most painful growing experiences, both then as a student and now as a teacher, that I have ever had!
Seventh grade was the most challenging, as the kids appear to be at the most conflicted point in their adolescence. They need a teacher who knows what she's doing and can be a "rock" for them, and I admit, it took me a while to figure that out!
On the other hand, the eighth graders were patient, and willing to bear with my inexperience at their grade level. It was with mixed feelings as I watched them commence the next phase of their growing years at the MacKinnon graduation on June 17, 2005. |
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Casa Spain - with more anonymous students |
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2005-2006... |
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This year (2005-2006) is the best so far. I finally have my own classroom, which not only cuts down on the running around, but also greatly facilitates classroom management and organization. The biggest lesson I learned this year (thanks, 7th grade teachers!) is to be highly structured and absolutely firm with expectations for performance and behavior. The middle school classroom definitely cannot be a democracy. I have also learned to appreciate these kids for who they are as growing individuals, and for where they are, a crucial crossroads in their journey through adolescence.
Involvement with the high school articulation committee has also given me a perspective on where they are headed, and how to help them on their way. I am looking forward to each new year, and each new group of young people as they move, sometimes unaware, through the river of time to their respective futures.
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