Still Teaching!

We just finished our first week back at school after Semana Santa! It sure kept me busy.

Last weekend we went up to Siguatapeque for the national Pathfinder Camporee--my first Pathfinder Camporee ever! The Pathfinder Club from our church had been there since Wednesday, but we watched them on Sabbath morning march down the main street, along with all the other clubs. I loved watching each church present themselves in their khaki uniforms, holding signs with memory verses, and marching in patterns! :D That night we camped--Andrea, Sasha, and I tried to smash down any twigs to keep them from sticking into our back and crammed into a two person tent. In the morning we helped take down the campsite, packed the refurbished high school bus, and rode back down the mountain to Comayagua.

The heat has finally struck! Every day I attempt to stand under the fans that oscilate from the classroom ceilings as I teach. I think my students in the front row might have figured me out. :D

I keep realizing what a never-ending process teaching is. I don't just mean the grading and the planning--I am continually learning new ways to respond to situations in the classroom and how to love my kids individually. I love that! I'm still not sure if this means I'll end up teaching in some capacity in the future, but I guess I won't rule it out.

Student Files: Allison

Wow! This picture is old. Since the time this picture was taken, Allison chopped her hair and shot up 3 inches vertically!

Allison is my typical quiet, super sweet, friendly, shy, adorable girl.

Two weeks ago she came in the Teacher's Room looking for her mom (the Art teacher). She ended up telling me all about her aunt and uncle who are visiting from their missionary post in Albania! Her little nervous smile shone through with excitement as she told me about her little cousin "who has four years" and already speaks English, Spanish, and whatever language they speak in Albania.

Then she said, "And I already know words in Albanian!" She rattled off strange sounding words that meant "cow," "friend," "hello," and "Happy Birthday." In her excitement she tucked her hair behind her ear for the thousandth time and clapped her hands together. I smiled proudly and asked her if she liked learning Albanian.

She nodded vigorously. "Yes! I want to learn. Then I know 3 languages!"

Student Files: Kimberly

Haha! I can't even think of Kimberly without laughing!

She is so smart. She is so goofy. She is such a tomboy.

For the Science Fair I let 5B choose their groups to work in. They split into two groups; one group was all the girls and the other group was all the boys... and Kimberly. She was totally fine with it. I think Katherine teased her about it. Kimberly shrugged, sat down, and smiled.

Kimberly was named Star Student because of an incident that happened in class.

Alondra would NOT share her Bible book with Byron. Byron had forgotten his and I asked him to share with Alondra (it's punishment--I make the boys and girls share books if they forgot theirs... they do NOT like sitting with a member of the opposite sex! haha!). Well, Alondra didn't just complain, she flat out refused. Poor Byron looked confused and bewildered! Alondra moved her desk two inches farther every time he tried to even look at the book to follow along with the story.

I kept my eye on the situation--Alondra, displaying her stubborn streak, would not give in. Suddenly I saw Byron turn around. Kimberly nodded at me and handed him her book with a smile. She scooted her desk quietly next to Andrea's chair and kept following along. All without saying a word.

Oh, and she's a Math wiz like no other. I love having Kimberly in my class!

Copan!

Happy Semana Santa!

Last week kept me busy with recuperation tests and Parent/Teacher Conferences.

I can't believe it's April already! On Sunday Andrea, Kandice, and I took two buses and 7 hours to the little town of Copan Ruinas, on the Guatamalan border. It's the home of the famous Copan ruins, some of the most intricate Mayan ruins in Central America. We found our hotel and hunkered down for some real vacation time. On Monday we went on a horseback ride on tiny, but very determined horses. Our guide Ephraim explained history of the Mayans and pointed out notable sites in very very slow spanish. I felt quite accomplished when I understood almost everything he told us (or at least the main points! haha!)

On Tuesday we took a tiny little mototaxi to the actual ruins. I loved exploring the temples, seeing the famous ball court, and climbing the centuries-old steps! I can hardly believe how intricate everything is! We thought we were fortunate to have an overcast day for our exploring. Unfortunately, it started drizzling. Then it rained. Then it poured a good, sturdy rain-forest rain. haha! We took cover under trees on our way back to the museum at the entrance!

Today we're back in Comayagua because tomorrow is the big Semana Santa celebration. Comayagua's got the second largest celebration in Central America, so we have to see it! They decorate the streets with intricately designed carpets made out of colored sawdust. It sounds amazing!

On Friday I will have exactly 2 months left in Honduras and only about 8 weeks of teaching. I'm starting to think about what I want my kids to remember when I leave. I hope they remember the important things. Will they remember how to change an improper fraction into a mixed number? Or will they remember how much their teacher loved them?

Twenty-one.

I'm officially super late at posting this, but here it is.

On March 25, 2009, I turned 21!

I woke up to smiley-face post-it notes put up by my very awesome housemates saying "Happy Birthday." All the missionaries made me an awesomely huge breakfast. Aren't these girls amazing???

At school my 4th A girls came running up to me--"Miss! There is a cake!!" They were so proud of themselves. (Erick, the trickster, tried to take credit for it all. He said, "Miss, look what I did for you." Dariela and Raquel almost screamed, "Noooo, Miss! He did nothing!!! It was us!" haha!)

My 5th graders hugged me, sang for me, and in general were everything a teacher could want. Sally looked up at me with her mischievious eyes as she hugged my middle, "Miss, I forgot it was your birthday!" I should've suspected then.

As it was, Alondra found me after school. "Miss!!! We came back to the classroom from computers and there is a big frog in there! It's thiiiiiis big!" I had to smile to myself. (I'd seen them trick Miss Emily for her birthday). I have to admit, they surprised me with all the confetti they pelted me with as I opened the door! Balloons, confetti, Dunkin Donuts, and soda. I love my kids!

My 4A girls demanded that we cut the cake after school. I think their favorite part was smearing pink frosting all over Miss Kristen's face! haha. Kora said she liked my "make-up." :D

That night the Missionaries made me a surprise Italian dinner--I'd gone to a soccer game out in the country with Andrea (little did I know, she was babysitting me!) We ate such good food, took tons of pictures, and didn't stop laughing.

What a perfect way to turn 21!

Student Files: Geovanny

Ahhhhh.... Carlos Geovanny. This is the second Carlos in 5B, hence, we call him Geovanny.

I don't think I've ever met a crazier kid. He bounces off the walls, all over the place, touching everything, falling everywhere. I call him a sloppy genius--his Math book looks like he scribbled all over it, but all his answers are all correct.

Every week he comes to my desk to tell me the memory verse and puts on a show for the class. I need to take a video of it.

When I call him for his turn he shouts from his desk, "No! Geovanny no come today!" Then he stumbles out of his desk like he's marching towards the guillotine. "No, Miss!" He collapses against the wall behind my desk and waves his hands all over the place. He grabs my arm, pretends to cry, and more likely than not, falls on the floor in a pretty realistic panic. By this time most of the class has stopped working on their worksheet and is laughing histerically. Finally I say, "Geovanny, you have 20 seconds."

When the majority of the class finally ignores his show, Geovanny stands, back against the wall, swaying back and forth, waving his hands like a conductor, and repeats the memory verse flawlessly.

Messy + brilliant + wayyyy too much energy + performer + always happy = Geovanny. :D

Student Files: Daniela

Daniela. I think she's a new favorite.

Last partial Daniela didn't pass Math. This partial she's one of my few faithful participants.

"So what kind of fraction is this? Anyone? ....Daniela."

"An improper fraction."

"Very good! And how do we fix an improper fraction? Eduardo, turn around. How do we fix an improper fraction? Alessandro, where's your notebook?"

Daniela's concetrated expression reaches me from the back of the classroom. "Daniela, what do we do?"

"We divide?"

"Very good!"

Last partial her dad was in the US buying products for the family company. When he got back, she couldn't talk about anything else. A lot of families live that way--one parent, or even both parents, work in the US and send money back home, so our kids live in single-parent homes or with their grandparents, aunts, or cousins.

I adore her hardworking, non-complaining, positive attitude, not to mention her quiet teasing. Plus, she's always at the door when I come into class, "Miiiiiss. Good morning! Can I help you?" (As she pries the water bottle out of my hands.) :D