Welcome to Music!

My music classroom for this year!

I’ve realized that in my two years here in Santiago, Chile I haven’t blogged much, if at all, about my job.  And now that I’m about to leave the country in December (yes, I’ve submitted my resignation letter) I thought that there’s no better time to talk about it than now.  For two years, I’ve been working as the Infant House music teacher in The Grange School, a British-Chilean private preparatory school which is literally a 7 minute walk from my apartment.  The school is located next to a country club, has a big campus with the Andes mountains in its background, and with students from pre-kinder to 4th medio (the equivalent of grade 12 in Ontario).  I teach in the Infant House building, which has six kinder classes and six pre-kinder classes of 24 students each.  I see these children three times a week, twice in during their music lessons and once during the choir period.  Though each class has a teacher and teaching assistant, I am a subject teacher which means I teach these classes alone.  Admittedly, my first year was rather difficult (what with, at the time, being a recent grad therefore first year teacher in a new country learning a new language with children in their first years of school therefore not knowing any school rules and speaking only Spanish).  I’ve since learned the ropes, including the many behaviour management and motivation tactics, the games and songs, and the language.  And you know what?  I’m loving it!   Teaching is a never-ending learning experience, and I know that it can only get better in the years ahead.

This year, I’ve been given a large classroom in the Infant House building which is a big improvement from my first year (when I taught in a separate building).  Being in the same building as the students and teachers has allowed them to know me better and vice versa.  It’s also made me closer to resources, the office (and principal), the staff room (where the tea’s stashed!), and most importantly, the washrooms (NOT to be mistaken as the laundry room as so many people here seem to confuse that word with.  I was baffled when, during my first day at work, they told me that there were no washrooms here.  People here use the words “bathroom” or “toilet” instead).

Haven’t seen my colourful music class?  Well, check it out!

The front of my music class.

In my first year, I was given a music classroom in a separate building from the Infant House, underneath the chapel.  It had a big space, comfortable carpet flooring and risers for children to sit on when singing (for proper posture).  Unfortunately,  it also had a few disadvantages: a) it was far from the Infant House building and which meant leaving me literally alone with 24 students and no one near me to ask for help when needed, and b) there were no bathroom facilities nearby (a necessity for 4-6 year olds).  Check out the difference from this year’s classroom to last year’s (below).

My first music classroom.

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