Cassandra “Cassie” Key is one of 21 WKU students who earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad. Key, an elementary education major, is a 2018 GCHS graduate and is slated to graduate from WKU in May.
Prior to arriving in Ireland earlier this month, Key did her student teaching at Lincoln Trail Elementary School in Elizabethtown. She taught there for 12 weeks before departing for Ireland, where she will student teach for four weeks.
“I would not be having this experience without the encouragement of my family, closest friends and the scholarship opportunities offered,” Key told K105 in January. “I am so excited for the once in a lifetime chance to have my final student teaching placement in Ireland. I look forward to keeping all of you updated with my travels!”
Cassie’s Journal (lightly edited)
March 31: I flew from Philadelphia to Dublin. I was incredibly nervous to fly outside of the country. The flight was overnight and included dinner and breakfast.
I tried to sleep and enjoyed movies as well. I landed around 6 a.m. local time and went through customs quickly and gathered my luggage. I was picked up by the driver and taken to my hotel in Dublin.
I decided to fight jet lag by staying awake, so I explored Dublin city. It was a bank holiday so most places were not open when I went to explore. However, I wanted to make the most of my day so I walked around the shops and bought some clothes and souvenirs. I also wandered around Trinity College campus.
April 2: Weeks prior to leaving, I booked an all day bus tour to Northern Ireland, which I did on my second day in Dublin. I saw Dunluce Castle ruins, Giant’s Causeway, the Causeway Coast, and the Dark Hedges. This was an incredible way to travel a long distance with other people who were just as amazed by Ireland as I was!
On the bus ride to Northern Ireland the radio announced that motions were in place to be voted on in Ireland regarding education.
My first impression on the country is that the natural landscapes are beautiful and should be preserved. In Westport there is some land that was once covered in old trees. The land is now being flattened to make way for hotels.
April 8: My first day in Westport, Ireland, I was stunned walking into a brand-new placement, seeing everything for the first time. My placement is at a National School located in Westport.
My first impression of my placement is that of a slight culture shock. Students in the junior/senior infant class (Kindergarten/1st grade) at the beginning of the school day start with “tabletops,” which is when the students have a choice of bins or activities and are free to interact and converse with other students.
Students learned the Irish language and today students identified the correct clothing item when told the name. Teachers here go by their first name only. For example, I am known as “Cassie” to the students.
When students complete a page in their workbook they can “design” (doodle) on the page.
Today, the students worked on handwriting, and the teacher began to read aloud. Students had math problems within 10, and they did two Gaeilge (the Irish language) activities. One activity was discussing different clothing items and their corresponding words, and the other was a virtual activity discussing clean and dirty clothing items.
April 9: I led a small group with the Junior Infants and worked with numicon (math) strategies. The teacher continued to read aloud. After Junior Infants went home at 1:10 p.m. I sat in with an English as a an Additional Language (EAL) group learning about nature vocabulary.
April 10: Tabletops today had puzzles. During circle time, students discussed senses. I worked with EAL students by interpreting words.
I also led a class discussion about my gift of a pennant in the shape of Kentucky, and my kindergarten placement students’ fingerprints. We discussed differences in that Kindergarten class and the Junior Infant class in Westport.
We talked about school start times and time differences, and gathered ideas regarding how to decorate the blank pennant I brought to keep in my classroom. We also played Irish Hokey Pokey and Irish Simon says.
April 11: Tabletops were Legos and other connecting blocks. During circle time we did “pass the squeeze.” Handwriting was at the beginning of the day. Students worked on fine motor and learned about moths. Students had extra yard time, as today was P.E.
I began having students decorate the Ireland pennant for my classroom with clouds, flowers, and rain drops. I led a read aloud with students and began the story, Herman’s Holiday.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
