I'm not quite sure where to start with this blog - my week seems so boring after my last entry! Ha but then again, most things might seem pale to that comparison.....
Last week went well academically. The older kids and I are getting into a routine, and they seem to remain interested in our lessons. We reviewed our extra clases (study giudes) for this week's exams, and they finished their animal projects. These projects will replace their Science Exams for the quarter, so they were very important. Needless to say, when I showed up Friday, ready to be wowed by their finished project presentations, I only had half of the class show up. The rest were..."sick." I know a couple actually were sick, but it's just a weird coincidence, if I do say so myself. However, the kids who have presented so far, have all made A's - grades that they truly EARNED! Yay! I was so proud! They had truly thrown themselves into this one, and I had high expectations, so I'm so happy that they did well. This week, we will begin studying the human body with a few lessons on bones! I think they kids are excited, so hopefully this science unit will go as well as the last. :) The older kids continue to chug along in math - I am throwing a lot at them as we try to get ready for this next exam, but I think they are handling it well. Ask me again after their math exam today! HA! In English, we continue our "Between Us" activity, and I am learning so much about my students. Most days, I am chuckling the entire time I'm reading! I'm also providing them with creative writing opportunities that they think they are no good at until they are done. It's like they all have writer's block that eventually yields great works. I hope to keep pulling on those creative strings more and more as we progress.
My little girls continue to entertain me. I was wary going into such a young classroom, but I've learned so much already. Even though we are in a routine, they surprise me everyday and keep it interesting. I'm learning how to understand their Spanish, so I can actually answer their questions (in English!)....However, the phrase "Ella esta peliando" haunts me in my dreams. I have heard that phrase probably 50+ times JUST TODAY. That being said, they are getting used to me more I think, and I'm proud of their progress with phonemic awareness! They are a able to participate and understand and remember more and more things each day. They learn so fast! I'll admit I've done a poor job of taking pictures of their art, but we've made Elephant masks, stuffed Fish, self portraits of our Faces, and we've counted Door, Eyes, and Fingers in our counting activities. I'll try to take more pictures soon!
Outside of school, I've been kind of laying low. I've been a little homesick this last week or so, but I have been very thankful to have the support of family and friends. My mom sent a little "rainy day" envelope, and I had to open one of them last week. The envelope contained little tag messages from friends that contained words of encouragement and love - JUST what I needed! So if you wrote me a little tag note at my graduation party, THANKS! It meant a lot. For real. I've carried them with me to school and read them anytime I felt down. :)
This weekend was a good escape though....Amber, one of the volunteers, left on Sunday, so we all spent Saturday at Playa Preciosa (the one I've been to like three times now). It's still just as beautiful as the first day I went. That was a nice relaxing day, and then we ventured "out on the town" Saturday night. We had heard there was salsa dancing, so we wanted to go where all the people went. We started the night playing pool (at a bar that's owned by one of my students' parents haha). There, we ran into some people we knew, and the Frontier volunteer group from the jungle camp was even there! After pool, we went over to Aqua Luna, where the salsa was supposed to be happening, and it was slammed. I didn't even know there were that many people in town. Ha! The funny part is.....I've been here almost a month, right. It's so small, and I go on the same routes every day, that I'm getting confused as to whether I have actually met people who look familiar or if I've just seen them around town enough that they look familiar! HAHA! I have a hard enough time remembering who I've met in Auburn, much less somewhere small where I feel like I've seen everyone at the grocery store!
Anyway, Saturday - it was nice to get out of the house but be able to relax. Zahra, the volunteer that's still here, and I were supposed to go kayaking Sunday, but we ended up planning to chill down by the bay instead. THEN we ran into Nela and Maria there, and they invited us to a pool/dinner party - like a grill out in the South. So, we went! Why not? It turned out to be just the thing Zahra and I needed to relax, eat some AWESOME homemade food, hang out with good people, and even meet our neighbors and some new friends. All in all, a good, spontaneous evening.
BUT, this week, it's back to the grind. I worked super hard last night, and I was able to plan and gather/make resources for the next two weeks of Science. I also have Materno mostly planned for two weeks. Now, I just have to make it through exams this week, do report cards this weekend, and gear up/get organized for (GULP) parent conferences next Tuesday and Wednesday. It's gonna be a crazy week or two academically, and I think I'm gonna introduce Zahra to the wonderfulness that is Matapalo this weekend. :) There is no place like off the grid to get your mind together and ready for what's next.
Back to school I go! More in another few days!
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