Sunday, February 21, 2010

An alternative to ordinary, everyday sandwiches…

Is it really Wednesday? Wow. The weeks seem so slow, and the weekends so fast. Today is my third full day of teaching. Can you believe it? I have been here for exactly 42 days! Woopey! How crazy is that. Well, anyway…I continue to learn from my mistakes. I am learning how to make routine procedures more interesting, more like a game. That’s what it takes to keep 5th graders interested in ANYTHING! As I got ready to start Bible, I looked around and noticed all my students yawning. This is quite normal after lunch and read aloud, but it was especially bad today. So, out I sent them to do laps. I watched as the competitive ones raced around the patio to see who would land first place while the social butterflies fluttered their way around the basketball court. This was when I knew, I HAVE to do something! We took a few extra minutes and race around the patio we did! They did liven up a little more. For that I was thankful. After school and our lovely faculty meeting, I came back home and ate a wonderful alternative to sandwiches. We Americans like to put our meat, cheese and toppings on two nice crisp pieces of bread. Here, they like to put their meat, cheese, and toppings on nice crispy tostadas. You should most definitely try a tostada topped with a slice of meat, sour cream, fresh cabbage, crumpled cheese, and hot sauce. Mmmmmm, what a delight! Anyway, that was my short break before my long evening of grading and preparing for the morrow. Now, I continue on…goodnight dear readers.
2/17/10

Deliciousness…

Egg roll things
1) heat pan, put in a little oil
2) cut fresh cabbage into little strips.
3) cook cabbage in oil once it is hot. Continue stirring it until it is nice and soft
4) stir in soy sauce
5) take cabbage off of heat.
6) lightly toast flour torillas in clean pan.
7) roll a little bit of cabbage in tortillas. Spread whisked egg on pieces of tortilla to keep it together
8) put a few spoonfuls of oil in pan. Cook rolls in pan.

Rice:
1) Brown rice in a little bit of oil, but make sure rice is coated in oil.
2) cut carrots into small squares.
3) once rice is brown, add 3 ½ -4 cups of water, mi arroz, and carrots. Cover and let cook
4) eat…

Agua de arroz (like horchata)
1) let rice sit in water.
2) pour in blender. Blend until fine.
3) pour in pitcher, add sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla (don’t know how much) dilute with water.
2/16/10

Fully Loaded…

No, I didn’t recently watch “Herbie, fully loaded.” I have just found new meaning in those words as I have become fully loaded with classes. I am excited, but using as much effort as possible to avoid being overwhelmed. Today, I taught history for the first time, a lesson that I was really excited about. I had big plans. I would do stations with the students, using the projector for one (to draw a large map of Africa) and detective stations, having students search their books, Bibles, and imaginations for answers to questions. This was all really great in theory, but we all know that when one thing goes wrong, it can be more like a domino effect. Unfortunately, the projector pitched a fit and absolutely, totally and completely refused to cooperate. And of course, during this time, my students found the projector fascinating. I was left with a projector that refused to work and a class completely distracted. After my students left, the other group of fifth graders came in for their history lesson. I had to think of something quick! How could I have them make other maps, without using the projector? I decided they would just have a drawing contest. We would see what group could draw the map. That’s exactly what we did. The second period was much smoother and I felt a sense of accomplishment since I had learned form my mistake. I am learning that much of teaching is preparation, confidence, AND the ability to think quickly. You have to be able to think of other things within a short period of time to make your lesson go better, to wake up your students, or to just make things more fun.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Forever goals.

My first week of ALMOST full teaching is almost over. I have been teaching everything my teacher usually teaches except for History, which I start next week. I have loved every minute, but realized how much work it really is! Though, I must say, I have also learned how amazing it is to be ahead and prepared ahead of time. It's a beautiful thing in life, that is for sure. Yesterday, I had my first real teacher epiphany. I was completely unprepared for Bible…kind of. I was teaching on Samuel and the Israelites when the lost the battle and took the ark of the covenant with them. I had taught this lesson last semester and loved it, but I didn’t get to really prepare at all before I taught it again (shhhh…don’t tell!). Now, this is not a good example for you to follow, you student teachers to be…I was totally unprepared, but obviously the Lord can use those like me. I only got through 2 of the 3 chapters I was supposed to do. I was teaching about how when Dagon, the god, was before the Arc of the Covenant of God, he felt flat on his face and broke apart (ok, so maybe I was a LITTLE more dramatic, but anyway…) and how all the people were getting tumors and dying. Can you imagine all the people in Guadalajara dead or having tumors? They were eating out of the palm of my hand. After talking about this, we ran out of time and I said, “Is it ok if we finish our story next time?” and of course they said, “NOOOOOOOOOO we want to finish it now!” oh, the joy of teaching. I had to try my hardest to keep from smiling! I have realized that I want every lesson I teach to end just like that, “please can we keep going! Don’t stop!” This morning my students were sad to stop our activity because their Spanish teacher was there. I am learning to even have a love for Math…next subjects to conquer: Reading (and THAT’s a hard one!), grammar and spelling, and History. I’m excited, but looking forward to growing as a teacher…what excitement lays ahead!

Four weeks…

Can you believe it? I have been here for 4 weeks!!! Where has the time gone? How will I ever be able to leave? I have no idea. I feel like God has been confirming the possibility of coming back to Mexico in August, but nothing is sure yet. I talked to my parents on Sunday, expecting to be bombarded by questions and advice. Instead, the words spoken to me were, “Sheila, whatever your decision, we support you 100%.” What incredible parents I have! My grandfather even agreed to fly down and see me! My best friend messaged me and said, “I will miss you, but do whatever God wants you to do.” The encouragement has not stopped coming. I am so incredibly blessed to have such a support system! Please keep praying for God’s guidance and peace as He leads me in what to do next year!
02/03/10

Today was my very first full day of teaching. It will not happen every day this week, but today was the day. I taught Math, Reading, Grammar, and Spelling. I loved every moment. I definitely was making up stuff as I went along sometimes, but it was fun to have my own class and yeah. In math, I got to teach my students something new. We got the joy of using protractors today to measure angles. We measured things in the room that had angles, the open door, the desks, the window…They enjoyed getting out of their seats and doing things. I then taught reading on summarizing. The students came to the front, chose a paper out of my little cup and had to summarize the topic written on their paper. Grammar and spelling though…this was my challenge. All future student teachers, here’s a free tidbit: BE PREPARED! =) no really…be prepared. Know what you are doing ahead of time…EVERYTHING. Make sure you have copies of everything you need. For me, I needed copies of a worksheet, but didn’t have it. So, we made it up and everything was just fine. My favorite part of teaching today was saying, “ready, get set, GOLDFISH!” or “ready, set, GOLDEN!” After a while though, they got smart, too smart. They could no longer be tricked. I am going to love being a teacher, I’m convinced. I had some doubts when I realized how much lesson planning there is and that I would have fifth graders, but in spite of it all, I’m loving it! I’ve been planning for hours, and now it’s time to hit the sack! Goodnight readers…read on!
2/8/10

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Ready for the pain...

This time, I was prepared. I had already been through the shock and felt the pain. When I went to the orphanage again today, I was ready. I knew what awaited. I walked into the baby room and of course, was flocked by children. Most of the time, I had a child in each arm, spinning them around and hugging them. Once again, I saw their hunger for love, but this time, I also saw their pain revealed through anger. Some of the children want so much to be loved that they become frustrated and angry. Can you imagine living with that pain? Can you imagine being so desperate for love? I wanted to take every one of them home. Thankfully we got to take one! =) Fili, who the missionary family is trying to adopt, came home with us. He constantly wants to be held, and I happened to be the closest one at the time. As we toured and looked around the new church building, he clung to me, pointing to all the sights and fun things around. It’s been so amazing to see this family and everyone loving on little Fili. I long to be part of it. Today was a test of sorts, trying to figure out if I’m really cut out to help with an orphanage. Do I have the strength? Can I love then unconditionally? Can I love them, but be firm even when they are frustrated and in need of love? I think so. Today I realized, if this is what the Lord wants me to do with my life, He will provide the strength. That is my conclusion. The missionary family here in Chapala has said that if I come back, I could live with them. There are three English schools in Chapala. Also, the principal at Lincoln has encouraged me to come back. Grad school? Teaching in Chapala? Teaching in Guadalajara? Who knows…I’m waiting and praying for God’s guidance and peace.
02/01/10

I once was blind, but now I see…and how thankful I am!

Today, we went on a field trip!!! I have heard that every field trip ends in a headache for the teachers…I found this to be quite true, but not because of the students. Trompo Magico was an amazing experience. There were so many hands-on activities for the students to do. There was a section that was to teach the senses and functions of the body. If you held onto this machine with your hands, you could watch a fake heart pumping to the beat of your heart…creepy, I know, but definitely cool. There was a place where you could smell all kinds of different scents and you could literally WATCH sound waves. If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is. Our last section of Trompo Magico took place in a very dark room (several rooms actually). In this area, rather like a maze, it was so dark you couldn’t see a thing. The only advantage you had was all your senses EXCEPT for sight. There were traffic sounds. We had to find our way around the cars and try to cross the street, without sight (they weren’t actual moving cars, mind you). We had to feel the different foods and eat without being able to see; we had to go on a boat ride without seeing. This whole time we were only to use our hands and walking sticks. This seems really great, but my main challenge was the fact that I was practically deaf AND blind. I understood very few words our guide said. I understood words for left, right, straight, sit, be careful, and that’s it. I did not understand anything that was going on. I was separated from my students for the majority of the time. I never realized how frustrating it could be. I can’t imagine being blind and moving to a different country. For an hour and a half, I could not wait to get out of that room! I couldn’t wait to see where I was going. I couldn’t wait to understand what was going on around me. Finally, at the end of our tour, I literally saw a light at the end of the tunnel and my heart leaped for joy! Also, I saw our tour guide at the end. I was shocked to find that he was blind. I had no idea. The whole time, it was the blind leading the “not-so-blind.” And believe me, he did a FAR better job of getting around in that room that I did! Wow! What an appreciation I gained for those who are blind or deaf. I couldn’t believe how stressful it was and how frustrating it could be. What a blessing to have eyes that see and ears that hear. How thankful I am for the gifts God has given me.
01/29/10