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Sophie Z'OursHi, my dear friends!
Sorry if I don't post much. I will be quite busy with my new teaching position and hope to feel motivation to use my free time to do so sewing better than on the computer... :P
On monday was the big day for all professors and tuesday for the pupils too.
All my new colleagues are very nice including the director of the school. There are 34 teachers in the school and 403 pupils.
I teach to only two levels : third and fourth year of secondary school. These are not the usual classes. They are in a spectial section (SEGPA) which name would translate into : "Section of general and professionnal adapted teaching".
They won't pass our French equivalent of GCSE but a special exam which translate into Certificate of global formation.
We (all 5 main teachers of the SEGPA and the director) meet twice a week to discuss about our pupils and everything else.
As a result, instead of the usual 18 hours/week, I end up doing 20 hours/week (and i am paid for 20, better salary). Some of the teachers are in fact primary school teachers who specialised to teach to pupils in SEGPA. As they are primary school teachers, they have to teach more hours per week (total is 23) and are paid less than secondary school teachers, which is totally unfair.
My first day with the pupils was not that easy, as we had to do all the usual paper work and that's boring for everyone.
It will be a tough work to keep them concentrated during the lessons.
They are pretty nice though.
In one of my classes there are some conflicts between the children and I have to be careful to avoid arguments.
On friday I had a great time with my third year's. We first went shopping to buy some fruits and them went back quickly to make some fruit salad in our workshop's kitchen. All my eight pupils had a lot of fun making it and all participated with a lot of enthousiasm.
I was very proud of them as they did very well.
They all insisted to stay one extra hour (their English teacher was not there) so they had time to invite the director and 3 other colleagues to taste the fruit salad. Then, we organised ourselves to sell it to the other teachers in the teachers' room.
I feel like playing Jamie's kitchen, hehehehehe! The difference if that I am not a Chef... :P:D
Fingers crossed we can keep working that well in our kitchen! It may be harder in the classroom. I have to spend 6 hours a week with that class. In fact, only half of the class stays with me for 10 weeks to study the subject I teach while the other half stay with my colleague who teaches them stonework. Then, we swap groups for ten more weeks. After that, the pupils will have to choose which workshop to keep between the two.
With my fourth year's, I have to spend 12 hours a week. They will stay all the year with me as they already specialised. They are only six including five girls. They don't behave that well and I really hope to get them to understand they need to be nice with me if they want us to enjoy our time together.
I think I will enjoy a lot working in that school with these special pupils.
The stonework teacher and I are responsible for the third year's.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Past Time BearsI'm not sure I understand completely, Sophie . . . are your students the equivalent of our special education students? Kids who have learning disabilities of some sort? Whatever - it sounds as if you have a full load and lots of work ahead of you. Good luck with this new job!
It sounds like you a going to be one busy Lady!
Good luck Sophie and I hope that the students will treat you well.
hugs
Carolyn
Chaska, MinnesotaSophie: I was wondering the same thing that Sue Ann asked. In the United States we have special education programs for those children who have learning or behavioral problems. Is that the kind of classes you teach? If so, that is hard but rewarding if you can inspire those with special needs...
Sophie Z'OursSue Ann and Helen, my pupils are in these special classes because of learning difficulties.
Some have obviously some psychological problems too.
Many are still fighting when reading aloud some text. They manage to find what the beginning of a word is and just invent the end of the word so what they end up reading does not have much sense.
So they are very late in their learning compared to the pupils in the "normal" equivalent levels.
Their sometime bad behaviour is mostly linked to the fact they are ending in special classes and that have lack of confidence. They have been told for many years that they are zeros and would not be able to have a good job. 
But believe me, they are not more studpid than the other pupils; they are just slower in learning.
One of our third year's is currently going through very worrying health problems. This began last year : he is trembling/shaking a lot and is now unable to write. Now his legs have begun to tremble too. The poor boy is scared about it. That's so sad, as he is a very nice and clever boy. Luckily, all his classmates are doing their best to support him. He should have very soon one adult person to stay with him in the class to help him. Docrtors did no manage to find out what his diseace is so they have no clue how to heal him and how it will develop.
I have in the same class another boy who spends his time complaining about not feeling well among his classmate, acting constantly as a victim and hated by all his classmates. This one is definately having psychological problems but his parents don't seem to realise the problem. He often needs to go to the infirmary as he often has anxiety crisis (spasmophilia or head pain). The poor boy has not an inch of selfconfidence. His classmates keep laughing at him, which does not help... He constantly needs to stay nearby adults.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Matilda Huggington-beareSophie, that all sounds totally marvelous. I wish you and your pupils heaps of fun and success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lots of hugs Wendy :dance: :dance:
Hi Sophie, sounds like you are mega busy with your job, but it sounds interesting, I wish you all the best with it.
Pauline
Back Road BearsWow, Sophie. Your new position sounds challenging, exciting and well, exhausting. I think it takes a special kind of person to work with the learning/developmentally challenged pupils you have. A lot of patience and understanding are required, never mind knowing how to handle a diverse number of circumstances. I'd be very tired at the end of the day. But how marvelous to have the opportunity to help all of these children. I hope the doctors can learn what the problem is with the boy who shakes.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! :hug:
