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Week 2 at Colegio Menor

I cannot believe that I have already been in Ecuador for two weeks, the time has flown by! This past weekend I spent time traveling! On Saturday, I went to Termas Papallacta with two other WKU students and relaxed in pools filled with water from natural hot springs! Sunday, we went to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World)! Since our trip to Ecuador is short, we make sure to spend the weekend traveling as much as possible! This coming weekend is a Holiday weekend, so I will be traveling to Banos, Ecuador for a few days! 
Sunday at Ciudad Mitad Del Mundo monument!

College Menor is a great school and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to spend the remainder of my student teaching here. As far as my involvement goes in the classroom, I mainly help with individual students. I make sure to circulate throughout the classroom and help students whenever needed. I have not had the opportunity to lead whole class instruction because students have been preparing for their Academic Showcase presentations, so that has been the main focus! There is a small group of students that stay for extra help after school, so I have had the opportunity to lead the instruction that takes place during this time. I am also the students, and sometimes teachers, go to person when it comes to pronouncing a word or identifying a word. Everyday words that are used in the states are words that are just being introduced to the students here, so I have helped tremendously in this area as well.

There are many similarities and differences when comparing a classroom from the US and here in Ecuador. One of the biggest similarities is the subjects that are taught. Students in both schools are being taught the core subjects math, reading, and writing with science mixed in as well. Students are also learning the same concepts relating to these subjects as well. An apparent difference between the schools I have previously been in and Colegio Menor is the other classes offered and the amount of time spent in these classes. Since Colegio Menor is a bilingual school, students here spend five blocks per week in Spanish class. Students also spend almost one to two hours almost every day in a ‘special class’ (music, art, physical education, library) with a few exceptions. With this large amount of time in a different class, teachers are provided extra time for planning and other meetings.

Colegio Menor is a school that is very different from what I have previously had experience in. I have learned so much in such a short period of time in and out of the school. I look forward to the remainder of my time at Colegio Menor and I am anxious to see what other experiences I will encounter! 

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