Sunday, August 28, 2011

A Thunderful Afternoon

Jo and I have been sitting here working on grading and lesson plans while enjoying the low rumblings of thunder and the rain hitting the roof.  So much for my laundry drying, but it has made for a good work time.

Yesterday we went to Antigua to go marketing, explore a bit more, eat Indian food, and just relax and read at a coffee shop.  This morning we attended church at Vision de Fe.

I am thankful to have a roommate! :)

Check It Off

Friday we had a half day since it was the last Friday of the month. This means that the kids have a patriotic act and that teachers usually have a professional development time after the kiddos go home.

I had the opportunity to present the professional development.  I am thankful that I could do so because it was one of those things that I had been meaning to do but had not yet gotten around to it...until this week.  The topic was using videos in the classroom to support learning, particularly with reading comprehension.  I got to share a couple of my favorite strategies, including the KWL chart and Somebody Wanted But So (I think I may have learned both from Kylene Beers). 

The kicker?  I did it all in Spanish!  Praise God!  Anita helped me fix up my handout so the phrasing actually made sense.  It was exciting to be able to communicate ideas without needing a translator.  And, it was exciting to check it off my list of Things to Do Before the Next Stage of My Life Ensues.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Teaching Math on a Friday Afternoon

After the third time of warning the boys to stop talking to each other and threatening to make them write "I won't talk while the teacher is talking" one hundred times--a discipline measure I am fully NOT in support of because I don't want to turn kids against writing but used as an empty threat (another bad practice) because nothing else came to mind at the moment--I finally sent one student out into the hallway.

We moved his desk and his chair out along the railing.  It really is a nice view from there--a volcano in the distance, rolling mountains, fields.  I fretted a little bit that this probably meant the afternoon was lost for him, but at least these last fifteen minutes would not be lost to the other students.

Back in the classroom, I started going over the practice problem on the board.  We were drawing a comparative bar graph of student quiz scores.

"Where should we put the students' names?" I asked.  "On the x- or the y-axis?"  The students, now working quietly, were nonresponsive or mumbled their answers.

"The x-axis!" a now small voice called out from the hallway.

"Yes," I said, pursing my lips to contain a chuckle as I wrote the names along the x-axis.  "What score did Lana get on Quiz 1?"

"Seven!" he cried, in unison now with two of the top girls in class. 

And so the lesson continued, me asking the questions, my ornery student and a few of the others answering.  Thus, learning was done, even on a warm Friday afternoon.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Comfort in Friends and Family

I've been so thankful for this time that Mom has been with me!  We have kept busy, and she has been a huge help with the English department at La Senda as we wrap up 3rd quarter.  We definitely missed Katie the first three days of the week since both Mom and I had to substitute in the preschool and kindergarten classes.  Small ones learning English is really not the best fit for me...the 5th graders felt like a refuge!  The tykes are cute and fun to play with and help, but a much different challenge when they need to be taught.  Little Mynor, all of 4, looked at me yesterday and, with pity in his voice, said, "No habla mucho espanol, verdad?"  (You don't speak much Spanish, do you?).  I think the little ones feel like we are at a great disadvantage for not speaking their language.  Little do they know this is many times how I feel when I try to teach them!

Thankfully, Jo arrived yesterday from Ohio to teach the little guys during fourth quarter.  She jumped right in today.  We are so excited she is here!  She is an elementary teacher and has taught at various schools all around the world.

On Saturday, I take Mom to the airport and pick up my very good friends Matt and Carly Braun.  Can't wait for these new visitors!  I'm ready to show them Guatemala linda and share with them the ministry I've been seeing firsthand here.