Teachers in Cayman hail from all over the world bringing new ways of teaching, experiences and knowledge. To gain further insights into the trials and tribulations of teaching, we asked four teachers to break it down for us.
Hannah Hudson
Hannah Hudson is from the UK and moved to Cayman in 2021. She is Head of Infants at Island Primary.
Which famous actor would you love to invite into your class to read out loud to the children, and which book would it be?
Knowing that anyone I picked would likely produce blank faces from the children, I asked them who they would like to visit and here are my favourites of their responses. The answers ranged from; The Queen “because she is famous” to Cristiano Ronaldo, Simone Biles and Misty Copeland because of their great sporting achievements, Stephen Hawkings for “being very interesting” and Malala Yousafzai for “doing lots for girls”. As for the book, it’s a tough call. I couldn’t possibly pick just one!
Do you have any tips for parents who struggle to get their children to read at home?
Take away the books! I don’t mean stories, definitely read stories every day, as it's a key factor in developing a love of reading. But for children who don’t want to read independently, presenting them with a book just switches them straight off – usually it’s one from school and it’s often not that exciting. Instead, encourage discussion around, and then reading of, alternative materials; such as character magazines, recipe cards for baking cookies, graphic novels, toy and food packets, anything at all that doesn’t ‘feel’ like reading.
You can take your class anywhere in the world, budget unlimited. Where would you take them and why?
This is an easy one at the moment; we’ve just recently celebrated ‘Kodomo No Hi’ in class, which is Japanese Children’s Day and the children absolutely loved it! We did lots of artwork around it and held our own Children’s Olympics. We also looked up how much it would cost to get to Japan and how long the journey would take. All of the children were asking for a trip there afterwards!
Sherene Brown
Sherene Brown is originally from Jamaica and teaches Year 2 at Red Bay Primary School.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Recently one of my students brought me a gift bag. There was a bottle of water, a banana, a candy, and a small toy. She also handed me a small piece of paper with the note, “I love you Mis bron you are the bes teeecher.” Along with that, she had a cute drawing of me. She collected small items from her home to make me the gift. I appreciated it so much; it wasn’t a special day, neither was there any important event. Her phonetical plausible spelling moved me more than the gift. She was improving! That stood out in my hall of success!
Which of your current or previous colleagues do you admire the most and why?
I met Mrs Mary Smith on my first day at Red Bay Primary School and since then she has been a tower of strength for me. She calls herself the ‘mother’ and ‘grandma’ of the school. There is never a dull moment with her. She is involved in almost all the events held at school. She is an excellent educator, who cares about every child that she encounters. She is also a role model to the staff and can be depended on to offer wise counsel.
You can take your class anywhere in the world, budget unlimited. Where would you take them and why?
I would take my class to South Africa. South Africa has the best natural wildlife reserves. This experience would provide my kids with a greater appreciation for nature and the opportunity for firsthand experience with some of the most beautiful and magnificent creatures. Africa is also known for its cultural diversity. What a privilege it would be for my class to interact and learn about a people they may only see on a screen!
Kadie Malin Sellars
Kadie Malin Sellars is from the United States and works in the Toddler room at Montessori del Sol.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
I really enjoy watching how much the toddlers change and grow over the course of a school year. A lot of them will start the year barely being able to talk or sometimes even walk. By the end of the year they are able to speak in sentences and are jumping, climbing, and running all over the garden. This transformation is amazing!
How has teaching changed or evolved since you first became a teacher?
The use of technology in schools. Most of the time I find it to be a positive addition. Communication between teachers and parents is more streamlined. Access to different technologies to enhance music class and storytime. As well as use of the internet for different activities and arts and crafts ideas.
Which famous actor would you love to invite into your class to read out loud to the children, and which book would it be?
James Earl Jones because he has such a wonderful voice for reading books, and the book would be The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Which of your current or previous colleagues do you admire the most and why?
That would have to be Annabel Dawson. She brought joy, happiness and light to the classroom every day. Both her laugh and positivity were infectious, and I am forever grateful I had the opportunity to work with her.
Are you concerned about possible speech and language delays as a result of children and adults having worn facemasks in schools over the past few months?
I am hopeful that the children are getting lots of chances outside of school to communicate with other children and other adults without masks on. Hopefully this will negate any possible speech and language delays.
Chad Pollard
Chad Pollard is Canadian and teaches Grades 4-6 at Montessori By The Sea.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Difficult question. Over the last year or so, we are having Alumnae come back to the MBTS community. Some of them have volunteered, others are registering their children to attend MBTS, while others have asked for opinions on courses at university. For me, this demonstrates how much they continue to value the MBTS community.
What’s your best technique for grasping everyone’s attention in class?
In this regard, an authentic Montessori learning environment works differently to a conventional classroom. We have a couple of instruments in the classroom such as a bell and a ‘croaking frog’ that is used for announcements.
Do you think there should be more opportunities to teach outdoors in Cayman?
Outdoor classrooms are becoming more mainstream since the lockdown in 2020. Hopefully, educators and the Ministry will see the value of having outdoor classrooms and outdoor education as a whole and more funding will become available to enable this aspect to happen across the islands.
Which of your current or previous colleagues do you admire the most and why?
Denise Orosa, who is currently the Curriculum Coordinator at MBTS. She is admired by all in the community for her calmness, wisdom and identifying where each child is in their learning journey. She is the best educator I have ever seen. She also happens to be the 2012 Golden Apple Award winner for Primary schools in the private sector.
You can take your class anywhere in the world, budget unlimited. Where would you take them and why?
I believe I am ‘living the dream’ with this question. Preparing and chaperoning students for the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) in New York City has been nothing short of sensational.
