Module 3 Discussion: Moving Students Into a New Culture

I experienced culture shock when I got this new job teaching. It was my first experience at a Montessori school, and once I got out of the “honeymoon” stage, I felt stressed and unsure about my abilities in this new structure. I found I was able to orient myself to this new culture by talking to other teachers, asking them for help when I encountered a problem, and also found community by sharing our frustrations or challenges at the job. Despite the various schools my students come from, I believe in treating every student equally, but I also foster an exchange of ideas in my classroom, with students sharing how they were taught to write or helping others who may not have had the same support at their former schools.