Feeling the Heat in Finland

I needed to attend a training for my new school because everything is different. Well, I suppose some things are the same- I will be a teacher ... there will be students and a school .... there will be learning ... that's about the end of similarities. ;) 

The training was intended to introduce me to the new stuff and get me ready for "making the PYP happen in the classroom" (that was the name of the training). Unfortunately, by the time I was hired, all the US based trainings were full.  So I had to attend the one in Finland... too bad, right! 

I left the US on the 22nd. Barely but finally made it into Latvia on the 23rd. Showered and spent a night in my apartment. And then took the 50 minute flight north to Helsinki on the 24th. The good news is since the sun hardly sets here/there (right now), jet lag wasn't bad! 

 Many joked before I left that I would be freezing cold, forget what warm feels like, become a polar bear, etc. And yes, I fully anticipate a whole new level of cold in the coming months. But Finland was far from an introduction to chilly Baltic weather. It was the mid 80s the entire time there. The workshop was in a school designed to keep heat in.... an it did!

The school and hotel were outside the center of the city, so I can't say I did a lot of exploring in Helsinki... but again, it's only a 50 minute flight :) 

The workshop was fantastic! Exactly what I needed. Explaining the PYP program in a few words is a bit difficult because it is a huge, and awesome, idea. A few basics about it... *as I best understand it at this time...

-The PYP is inquiry-based... so basically instead of standing up front and regurgitating information to my students so they can complete worksheets, they will be challenged with open-ended questions and a bit more free to pursue information that is and feels relevant to them. It's the constructivist model of teaching.

-It is concept-based.... All of the themes or units are structured around a big idea. There are six main themes. The goal is to integrate all the material- reading, maths, science, together under the theme. The concepts are big picture-- so instead of WWII, we would examine conflicts... what causes them, how are they settled, what repercussions, etc... big picture concepts vs facts and figures. 

-The ultimate goal is internationally-minded students.... makes sense for an international school. Makes sense for anyone in today's world, if you ask me! Getting students to be well-rounded people who can think and solve problems. Students who recognize the responsibility they have for caring for our planet and know how to cooperate with other people regardless of background and differing perspectives. (This may seem like something all school's should strive for, and it should be, but sadly there is not always emphasis placed on this. Not the case with PYP- it's the central focus.) 

-There are a bizef amount of specific terms and abbreviations related to the program... I'm still sorting through all of those :) That was actually something we did at the workshop... we spent about a half hour just breaking things down and putting them back together. It was so very helpful! 

I spent three days there externally sweating from the high temps and stuffy room. And internally sweating the fact that I still didn't really know what was going on. I met some wonderful teachers there who were able to give me advice and talk me through some questions I had. I do admire the teaching community and wonderful mentors I've met because of it! They weren't afraid to admit that this style takes a bit of adjusting and time to figure out, but that it is worth it in the end. The workshop leader even admitted that after several years of working with the program there are still new things she discovers and figures out. One told me it's like the first year of teaching all over again... and that's exactly how it feels. 

Two years ago, I had no idea what to expect. I had little idea what I was doing. Trial and error was my everyday and I frequently worked harder than ever just to feel that I was surviving the day. 

It was a great year though. 

I learned. I grew. I changed. I survived and (like to think I eventually) thrived.  

Looking at the next few weeks, I am filled with those familiar doubts and fears. I am anticipating a year of confusion, frustration, hard lessons, and that sense of failure that makes eventual success feel so good.

The temperatures will cool down here eventually. But I have the feeling things are just heating up in my career..... bring on the second first year of teaching.