Hello all! My name is Melanie Mannix and I am originally from Riverview, Michigan. I attended MSU for undergrad and have my bachelors degree in Elementary Education. I taught second grade for a year in Michigan before my husband's job took us to Germany for a year. There I worked for Child and Youth Services for the Army. We now live in Greenville, SC where I have taught second grade for the last two years. I teach in a general education classroom and have only moderate knowledge of students with learning disabilities, but I feel like this class will make me a much stronger teacher.
My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary on June 14. We plan to spend a week, for the 4th of July, in the Traverse City area at my family's cottage this summer and I couldn't be more excited. Although I have lived away from Michigan for a few years now I will also consider it home!
I love to do anything outdoors. I spend time in the summer hiking, camping or relaxing by the pool. Please feel free to say hello anytime!!!
I am new to the blog scene so I hope I am doing this right. It is really interesting that you were able to live in Germany for a while. I am always really interested to hear how education differs from one country to another. What would you say was the biggest difference between the education system in Germany compared to the U.S.?
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar question, but more related to the military. What were the largest impacts for the students with military parents? The stereotype is that they move frequently. Usually, this correlates with lower academic performance but socio-economic factors can mediate everything! How did you notice the "military moves" impact your students?
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteI didn't actually teach while I was in Germany but I did work for child and youth services (I wanted to work part-time so I could travel, but I can kind of answer your questions.
As far as the German education system, the biggest difference I saw was they seperate kids into students on the road to higher education, and blue collar workers around a middle school age. Their lives are planned out for them at a young age and the child's opinion is not really considered. It depends on how they do academically.
The students who went to school on base do relocate often. Most of them are only there for three years. I heard very different things from different parents. Some feel it doesn't have a huge impact because it is such a norm for all of the children there. The military really is its own little culture.
On the other hand, I did notice there were a lot of people who home-schooled their children. There was a group who met together and did stuff with the kids and it was a much higher percent then in the area I taught at in Michigan and the area I am teaching at in South Carolina. So not all parents must feel that the school are up to par.
That was kind of a long answer to say I don't really know how big of an impact it makes!
Hi Melanie! We had the math class together last fall:) I am also interested in life outside of the US, so I enjoyed reading about your experiences. My sister lived in TC last year while teaching in Kalkasca. She loved it, minus the not stop snow from Oct. to April;) Glad to have you in another class:)
ReplyDeleteHey Jodi,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to be in a class with someone I know (well know via the web!) Kalkaska is actually the closest city to my cottage. What a small world. I must say I miss the snow so much now that I live in the South!
Hi Melanie: Hope you are able to enjoy some cherries when you are up in TC...or some cold brews at the Left Handed Brewery. I have been meaning to get up there to have a haircut while sipping a brew. I've heard they have that set-up going on. Enjoy your time there! It's a beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie. We had math class together in the fall. I look forward to working with you again. Hope all is well. I hope you enjoy your time in Michigan.
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