Back to Teaching

After that nice long break, its back to the reason why I am in Ireland... Teaching! Yesterday (Monday), was my first day of full time teaching. I am teaching 1st years, 2nd years and transition years. In the states that would be 7th grade, 8th grade and 10th grade. In a few weeks I will be getting 5th years (11th grade) instead of transition years.
I was a little nervous when I first got up front but it all went well. It was weird because I am so use to teaching first graders, it is a bit of an adjustment. Two of my cooperating teachers just gave me the book and asked me to plan a unit from the book, so I am teaching fractions to my 1st years and circles to my 2nd years. My other cooperating teacher showed me a website and asked me if I make a lesson from one of the examples. I was really excited about that because I got to do what I was mostly interested in. My unit is on symmetry and patterns, by the end of the unit I want the students to come up with a pattern and draw it on a sheet of paper. With all three classes I am planning some creative projects, I hope everything works out and the students enjoy themselves.
So far teaching is not much different from America and I am excited for what is to come.