1. What is your role at BSB Sanlitun and why did you decide to teach at BSB Sanlitun?
I am the Year 1 Lions Class Teacher.
I decided to teach at BSB Sanlitun mainly because of the diversity of the cultures within the school. Not only among the students, but there are many teachers with different backgrounds, experiences and styles to collaborate with. This is something that I saw as an opportunity for not only career progression but also personal growth. I love learning about different cultures and BSB Sanlitun is the place to do it.
Additionally, the strong focus that the school places on being kind is something that I really resonate with and have tried to instill in all my teaching experiences. Finally, being a Nord Anglia school, BSB Sanlitun can open doors to all parts of the world and that is something that really excites me.
2. Describe a day in your life at school.
Before the children come into the classroom, I spend some time reviewing the class materials for the day and setting up the tables.
I like my class to have a happy and energetic feel to it so as the children come in and unpack their bags, I usually play some catchy songs that we can all sing along to.
When the children are all on the carpet, I spend a bit of time talking with them, seeing if they have any questions about the day and if they want to share anything. Then, the children will either go off to a specialist class or I will carry out my classes.
Throughout the day, I usually spend time with small groups working through whatever the activities for the day are. At the end of the day, we spend some time talking about any upcoming events of the week. Before the children go home, we’ll play a classic game of 'Miss Dale' says, I try and catch the children out, but they always win! I give the children a high five before they leave and remind them to do some reading at home.
After a day of teaching, I meet with other members of the Year 1 team to discuss any important points of our week and then spend time preparing for future lessons.
3. What do you enjoy most about teaching?
There are lots of things I love about teaching. Something that I enjoy the most is how rewarding it is. Seeing the children make progress, whether it be big or small, really makes me feel fulfilled.
There is no better feeling than seeing something click for a child for the first time. I love being a part of their learning journey and even though sometimes it might have taken a lot of effort and time to get there, the ‘light bulb’ moment is priceless.
My primary school teachers have had a big impact on my life and I hope to have the same with my students. Hopefully one day when they are older, they will look back and think ‘Miss Dale taught me that!’.
Another thing I love is that every day is different! Each day brings new challenges and rewards, there really is never a dull moment. Finally, although as a teacher my main purpose it to teach, I also never stop learning whether it be from my students, my colleagues, or the parents. That is something that I really appreciate about being a teacher too.
4. Tell us about your life outside of school?
Outside of school I love travelling to all the wonderful places China has to offer. I love how diverse this country is, especially the different dialects of the Chinese language. I have visited quite a few different cities but there are still lots of places on my list!
A big hobby of mine is football – I love it! I am the chairwoman of Beijing Celtic Women’s team.
We currently have 2 women’s teams that play in the CIFL leagues, and we often take part in tournaments. We have a men’s team that we watch every weekend. I really enjoy the community feeling that being involved with a sports team brings to my life, especially being so far away from family and home.
Through the football club I have made some friendships that I know will last a very long time. The number on the back of my football shirt is 7 so my friends usually call me DD7!
