Al Raja School

As some of you may recall, I originally moved to Bahrain to teach at Al Raja School. I spent 2 lovely years there as the seventh grade English teacher before moving on to another school where I took on the role of grade 5 classroom teacher. That was a wonderful (mostly!) experience, as I really love teaching grade 5. But this year finds me back at Al Raja. My good friend and teaching mentor, Verna, called me this spring saying that she would love to have me back at Al Raja. At the time, she was supervising the entire English program from K to 12, and it was proving to be quite the task. She was wondering if I would be willing to come back and help coordinate the English department, and so a beautiful partnership was formed; she would coordinate grades KG-6, and I would take grades 7-12. In addition to managing the English department, I am also back at my old post of seventh grade English teacher. Coming back to Al Raja was a bit like coming home: a lot of the staff remembered me, and about 85% of my old students (now in grades 10 and 11) came back to say hi. It was quite the shock to see some of them: I left them as scrawny, awkward middle schoolers and now find them as full bearded adults! Among some of the first to greet me where the notorious middle school trouble makers, asking, "Miss, do you remember me?" As if there was a chance I would forget! :) Overall, it's been good. Coordinating adds new responsibilities and challenges, but I'm learning as I go. I'm thankful for the opportunity, as in the US I would never be considered for such a position. Funny how being in my 5th year here makes me a veteran!

Here is my classroom...



colorful and organized, just the way I like it :)