I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well this may be my last blog post, at least for a while. It is sad leaving this wonderful trip and words can not express how amazing and life changing it is. For now, here is a video of how I'm feeling sitting at the Heathrow airport after saying goodbye to all my new friends:

And because I am so thankful for everyone who has supported me on this trip and everyone who has been keeping up with my adventures, this is a video I made to show you my semester:

One Last Adventure in Oxford

Well my time in England is coming to a close. Today I took my last trip to the city center to pick up some last minute Christmas gifts.  The city was as beautiful as ever and everything was decorated for Christmas! There is even a small Christmas market outside on one of the main roads. 

I did make sure that for my last day I got all my favorite treats, even if that treat is a milkshake and it is fairly cold outside!

 

In just over 2 days I will be in my way home!

Final Week

Well I am down to the wire. It is finals week here and it is very similar to finals week in the United States. Lots of stress and studying at all hours. There are quite a few differences though. For one, on both of my classes and many of the other classes the final exam is the only grade you get in the entire class! Talk about stressful! Though many of my flat mates and fellow High Point students didn't have any final exams and had a final paper instead so they have been finished for about a week now! The exam procedures are also a bit different. It is almost like taking an AP test or standardized test. Every sits in the gym and it could be more than just your class. The testing conditions instructions are then read off by a computer. There are testing moderators and it is very strict and official. The exams are also anonymous so that the instructors cannot see who's exam is who's and grade based on the name. Though it is super regulated and before you hand in your exam you must seal the part that says your name and student number. 

I have two exams this semester which should be interesting, it is also a bit strange how the exam will be graded. In England a 40% is passing, as opposed to the 60% in the US. An A would also be a 70% where it is 90% in the US. Hopefully this week will go well and I pass all of my exams!

The Special Education System

This semester I had the opportunity to interview a Special Needs Coordinator, my British Professor's Wife Janet, at one of the local primary schools here in Oxford. She gave us some great insight into the United Kingdom educational system. 

http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/education-freedom/reports/teachers-win-case-school-choice

First up was teachers. Teachers have a very different process to go through then in the United States. In the United States, a teacher needs to have a four year bachelor degree at least. Many states also require teachers to have a masters degree, though the undergraduate degree does not necessarily need to be in education. Teacher then have to pass tests in the area that they are trying to teach in. In the United Kingdom, there is a Teacher Education Program at many universities though teachers do not need to go through it. Schools instead are in charge of making sure their teachers have all the training they think is needed to teach. 

The next thing we talked about was disabilities and the process that students have to go through. In the United Kingdom, schools participate in what the United States would call a response to intervention (RtI). This is where all students receive interventions to help in the areas that they may not be performing up to par in. If students still need more help, they would go through the special education process. In the United Kingdom, the emphasis is more on making sure the child gets the care they need. In the United States, there is a large emphasis on the actual categorization of students before they can receive services. The United States also requires any child in the special education program to have an individual education plan (IEP). This IEP gives students spelled out accommodations to help the student meet grade level. In the United Kingdom, students are given an education health and care plan (EHCP) if their disability is seen as severe enough. At the school that Janet works at, Windmill, one student has an EHCP. Much less than what would be seen in an American school. The EHCP is also much more focused on the health aspects of the disability whereas the in the United States, the focus is on changing the teaching and instruction. 

https://hab2013.wordpress.com/dyslexia-the-hidden-sen/

The type of disabilities which take presence are also very different. In the United Kingdom there is a large focus on diagnosing dyslexia. All students are screened for dyslexia in year one. In the United States dyslexia is rarely given accommodations in the school system. A personal thought to this is the emphasis on literacy. Dyslexia has a huge effect on literacy which the United Kingdom puts a large emphasis on. The United States however puts a larger emphasis on maths and sciences in which there are not many straight forward ways to help those with dyslexia. The United States is also very big on testing and research based accommodations. There are no straightforward ways to  diagnosis and treat dyslexia which makes psychologists and doctors less likely to diagnosis it. 

While I learned a lot more from this session, it was mostly education standards where unless you understand the United States Special Education system, does not make a lot of sense. The biggest differences are the focus of dealing with disabilities. The United Kingdom on health and the United States instruction. 

School Visit Year 2

For my last few school visits, I was able to observe and interact with a year 2 class, or American 1st grade. They start the day off with reception, as the students sit in the front of the classroom, the teacher greets each child individually for attendance. Most of the US classes I have been in, the teacher simply looks at the desks to see who is missing or call out role as quickly as they can. It seems as though in the UK schools, the environment is much friendlier and much less rushed. The teacher show an interest in each student and works to have each of them participate in the morning routine. After attendance, the teacher asks each student if they want school dinners or if they have a packed lunch. At Wood Farm and many other public schools the younger students are given free lunches so each student/ family gets to decide if they want to bring their lunch or get free lunch at school. At US public school, students are not given free lunches unless they are a part of the free and reduced lunch program (students whose families are low income). 

https://sites.google.com/a/clintonville.k12.wi.us/title-1-math/

After the morning reception comes a short math practice before assembly. The students were practicing counting forwards and backwards by tens starting at various numbers. After tens they moved to fives. In North Carolina, students are required to be able to count like this by the end of Kindergarten (age 5/6) and a lot of emphasis is placed on these mathematical skills. The students then moved on to geometry, mainly classification of shapes. Again in the United States, this is a beginning of the year standard for kindergarten or the grade below the United Kingdom. The lesson started with the teacher describing a shape and the students guessed. Then the students had a turn at describing. One interesting thing was the slight difference in the names of the shapes. For example, a rectangular prism is called a cuboid in the United Kingdom. After the guessing game it was on to sorting shapes on their own and in groups. First the class did a sample sorting of shapes with curved sides and shapes with straight sides. Next they moved to their math books and made their own categories and practice alone and in groups.

https://www.musclemixes.com/home.php?cat=22

After Math it was time for assembly. This is rather different than the United States. All of the students in stage 1, Kindergarten and 1st grade (The British Educational System), got together to practice winter songs. In the United States, students go to music class with a different teacher. In the United Kingdom, the regular education teacher provides the music and everyone gets together once a week to prepare for the assembly for the parents at the end of the quarter. Most of the songs were different than those we learned in the United States around Christmas season. The songs that were the same were My Favorite Things and Winter Wonderland. I really enjoyed watching the singing, the students all practice sitting sensibly and trying to pay attention.

After singing the students went out for a short 15 minute break. Before break each student was given a piece of fruit provided by the school. Another vast difference to the United States. Students in the United States are normally only allowed one break during the day and that is 30 minutes after lunch. In the United Kingdom, the students are allowed a morning break, and afternoon break and lunch break. It is a requirement for students to get a certain amount of outdoor time each day (Health and Safety). The games and activities that the students were very similar if not the same as those in the United States mainly jump rope and soccer (football). 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamesgrebey/i-went-to-fashion-week-dressed-as-waldo

After break came literacy. Literacy in the United Kingdom surpasses literacy in the United States. The students were working on using the word marvelous. Definitely not something I would have learned in the first grade! As a group the students then played another round of guessing. This time with a favorite book character. Three of which were Wally (Waldo), Cinderella, and Ariel. The next part of the lesson was working on a poem about fireworks for the 5th of November celebration. The students were taking turns finding Onomatopoeia and Alliteration. This is not in the United States curriculum until around third grade (year 4). The students then took the poem and in their work books rewrote the poem in their own words and ideas using onomatopoeia and alliteration. I have never seen a class do this. In school we had to write poems, but they would have to be the students' ideas and words. The United States tend to be more focused on plagiarism and avoiding activities of this nature.

It seems as though my time is always cut short when I visit the school, but I had to leave before the students headed off to lunch so that I could get back to class. Overall yet another great experience that has given me many ideas for my future classes.

Reference

Health and Safety Advice on Legal Duties and Powers. (2014, February 1). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335111/DfE_Health_and_Safety_Advice_06_02_14.pdf

Read the Standards. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/

The British Education System - HMC. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.hmc.org.uk/about-hmc/projects/the-british-education-system/

Happy National Cookie Day!

So according to my Everyday is a holiday calendar, today is National Cookie Day. So in order to celebrate I got myself a Gingerbread Latte and made Christmas cookies with my flatmate Sophie! Today's Cookies: Thumbprint Cookies!!

Here is the recipe if anyone would like to make some!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/butter-and-jam-thumbprints-recipe2.html 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from England! I definitely have a lot to be thankful for this year. Especially for my parents for giving me the chance to spend the term in England and travel the world! I will admit that it is rough being so far away on a holiday that is so focused on family through Skype and FaceTime do help! And though England does not celebrate Thanksgiving, everyone seems to be interested in learning about our unique holiday and the true meaning behind it.

It is nice to be here with other American students as our professors set up a Thanksgiving dinner for us with an English twist! We (the students on the trip, our American professor and her family, our British professor, and the coordinator for our trips) had many Thanksgiving foods, which happen to be English Christmas foods that a restaurant so nicely made early for us. Since I don't eat turkey, I got a pie with cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes. It was really good! We also got mashed potatoes, green beans with mushroom or tomato sauce, candied yams, stuffing balls, and of course cranberry sauce. And for dessert we go pie! Though it of course was not as good as grandma's cooking, it was nice to have the company and spend a good meal together. We even went around and shared what we were thankful for to show our British guests the true meaning of the holiday!

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Oxford Christmas Festival

Today was the start if the Christmas season in Oxford! To kick off the holidays, Oxford had a Christmas Festival full of free activities and cultural enrichment for all ages. It also was the start of the Christmas lights being turned on throughout the city, so a couple of my flatmates and I decided to go check it out!

We started the night off getting some dinner at a burger place, which was already putting out holiday promotions! We then went to the Ashmolean, the art/history museum.

At the Ashmolean, there were many different stations and activities to do throughout. We were able to see various carol and choir groups singing christmas carols in different styles, there were games set out for all ages, skits being performed, and my favorite: Christmas crafts from around the world!! We tried to see as much as possible, though it proved difficult since there were so many different things to see and do and so many people there. We ended up watching the Russian Christmas carols, the Christmas sing-along, and the Cabaret. We also made German and Mexican decorations for our kitchens!! It was a very productive evening and a great start to my holiday season!

 Diwali decorations/activity

 German Christmas Decorations!!!

Mexican banner

Cabaret singer

End result of the Ice sculpture that was being carved outside

Russian Carols

Very complicated sing-along...

Segments of the Cabaret

Resting up from a Wonderful Week

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been recovering from a full week of excitement and fun with my friend Sasha who came to visit! We spent time in all my favorite places and got some things checked off my London Bucket List!! We visited Oxford City Center, London, and even had English tea!

In Oxford we had Tea at the Grand Cafe, the first coffee house in England. We wanted to get High Tea though we learned that high tea consists of fish and deli sandwiches so we changed our plan. Instead we ordered cream tea which consists of scones(biscuits) with butter and jam. Not only was it beautiful, but it was so tasty we got tea everyday after!! I think I am hooked! It is such a relaxing time and everyone is just sitting around in the cafe reading or talking, 

Drinking my yummy Peach tea

On Wednesday we went back into London to visit some more of the beautiful sites! We started by going to Parliament to see the Queen Elizabeth tower(Big Ben). We even ran into the occupy London protesters... it did not really seem much of a protest as the people were just sitting around in front of Parliament and only knew that it was a protest because we heard the police officers talking about it. Since we had to get back early for my class that night we quickly went to the millenium bridge before seeing the guards and Buckingham Palace and getting tea yet again! Not to mention I found my favorite Swedish candy finally!!

Marble Arch

Swedish Cars!!!

On Thursday we were back in Oxford since I had class that afternoon. We started the morning off right with pastries and hot chocolate! Let me just say that the hot coco here is soo much better than at home! They use real milk and everything! Much better than my usual swiss miss! Since it was such a beautiful morning, Sally, Sasha, and I took some beautiful pictures, and you know went souvenir shopping...

The locked me in the smelly phone booth, don't worry I was eventually sent free.

On Friday we were back to London to cross something off my Bucket List! First was Abbey Road, due to the fact that I did not want to get hit by a car, I did not recreate the Beetles' cover. WE then hopped on the underground and were off to Kings Cross Station where harry leaves for Hogwarts each year. It was awesome, though since it has been redone, it does not look like the movies anymore. We then went back on the underground and were off to the Tower of London and London Bridge area. We also went and showed Sasha all the wonderful Harry Potter sites that we learned from our Muggle walking tour. We then went over the quite boring London Bridge and thankfully it did not fall down! We then walked along the river side and got some beautiful pictures before doing a little shopping and got dinner before coming back to Oxford.

Tower of London with the Shard in the background!

Poopies!! 

Tower Bridge!!

Azkaban anyone??

Kings Cross Station

The Leaky Caldron 

Egyptian Obelisk

Diagon Alley

On Saturday we spent Sasha's last day in Oxford. We went to Christ Church, another Harry Potter filming location. It is a beautiful church and looks a lot like a mini Salisbury Cathedral. 

Look familiar?? This is the staircase where professor McGonagall welcomes the first years to Hogwarts before the feast.

Inspiration for the Great Hall

Stain glass window has a picture of the real Alice, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, in it.