Clearly, Annemarie Orth and Skip Crosby are reaching teachers in Maine, as we have two new PLC members from there, both of whom have been working with Annemarie. This is from Zoe, who requests advice from the group:
Hope all is well. I just completed my student teaching with Annermarie at King School and she suggested I reach out to you for some advice. I was first introduced to CI while long-term subbing at a school in Maine. Watching the teachers at the school use the methodology was so inspiring – and made me wish that I was exposed to it in my own language learning. I then had the awesome opportunity to spend the next semester student teaching with Annemarie. I learned so much about CI/TPRS and found my own love and passion for using this methodology!
I am excited and nervous about the possibility of having my own classroom next year where I can experiment with everything that I’ve been learning. Though I don’t know what I’ll do without Annemarie to support me! (She suggested the blog as a way to continue to stay connected with other like-minded language educators). I am so thankful that my introduction to teaching included this method and can’t wait to continue learning and growing with it.
As with many others this time of year, I have been job searching and struggling with how to present myself as both a new teacher and as a CI/TPRS teacher. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for how to go about this in interviews and demo lessons, especially in schools that have never heard of this method or in schools with specific protocols for lesson and unit planning. I was also wondering if you had any general advice on finding a job that is a good fit given that I am still new to this and relatively inexperienced.
Thanks for your help! I am looking forward to great conversations on the online PLC!
Zoe Eiber