School Really Started: A reflection

It seemed like ages ago when we were getting ready for first day of school at New Haven Chinese Language School.  What a transforming year we had last year!  As more teachers with like minds joined us at NHCLS, we worked together on everything, from curriculum to school-wide policies, from scheduling to professional development.  (I love our teachers!)  This is only our second week back, and I am seeing a difference in the rigor each teacher is bringing to her classroom.  This is when I think it's rewarding being an administrator.  You see it in all of the teachers and students.

Some of our little successes include, the heightened enthusiasm in the entire community, an increased enrollment in all of the classes, the continuation of our afternoon class, a beginning adult class, and a large pre-K class that had to be split into two classes, and maybe three in the very near future!  How I hope all of our students will persevere through the years and keep up with coming to school every Sunday! 

As a teacher - I have a class of first graders this year.  They are so happy participating in game after game of character recognition.  I often ponder, what is the difference between educating heritage v/s non-heritage students?  Yes, heritage speakers often need more reinforcement with reading and writing, as opposed to syntax and oral abilities.  But is that all?  I ask myself, what do I want to see Chinese school teachers work on with my own children?  I think it goes beyond teaching them how to read and write.  I want my children to identify with their cultural heritage.  I want them to appreciate what my native culture has to offer.  Having said that, I care all so much too for my non-heritage students.  They show me that children have such open minds to new cultures and to things different to their own.  They show my children that our culture is important, interesting, beautiful and, most of all, accepted in the world.  I appreciate their motivation and their desire to venture into something different.  I learn so much from my students everyday.