I usually think of my blogging entries while I'm walking up the mountain after school and come up with some stellar idea, but by the time I actually get up to my house I'm super tired, have to start supper, or have grading to do. So since I've had approximately a month of walking, I'm just going to have a random smattering of activities! Enjoy!
Four weekends ago, we had our second quarter conferences a few weekends ago. My kids are actually doing all right. All except two of my students' averages went up from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2, and one of those was from a 100 to a 99. :) The other student is someone that just never does homework- or turns in tests with three answers filled out. Are you serious? That drives me nuts. This last week I told my kids that if they all got 80% or higher on their Spelling test that I would make brownies. I usually have at least 5 kids fail because they don't study. EVERY SINGLE KID GOT 80 OR ABOVE. bahhh. So, making brownies tonight. :)
In language, the students are supposed to do a research report. I have them go through the process of notecards, bibliographies, and gathering the research, but then I just have them write a 5-paragraph essay. Here's an excerpt from one of my student's "papers":
And another person that are woman that mame we starn that want to recuperit that want to recuperate the argulla. Dante want to recuperate the argolla of the life etern Dante have the argolla first but Vigil siid one man that are like of the inferno but that men are very silenc men
These only can play tallest of 18 year but lille boys play these gamie beuese have a lot of ations and becuese wo very esi to use the control. But the game no are aproile of littl boys becues som parts are scare and some of person that like the blood.
There was three pages of this. And sadly, I understood all of it. :) Most of my students have much better English/writing skills than this, but it's hard to figure out what to do with the few that really have no idea what is going on. I don't know how to help them because by sixth grade, I don't know how much time I can take out of our weekly tutoring sessions just trying to teach English. Thankfully, most of my kids have become much better writers/speakers through the year. This week we focused on the noun/verb agreeing- for example, saying she is or he doesn't vs she are and he don't (I hear that all day, he don't have his desk clean! she don't listen to the directions!) The problem is that English is so stinking confusing! We made a chart saying if the noun is singular it will have no "s" and the singular verb usually has an "s". So, one of my students asked, "If I talk to you, it's just one person, so I say 'you is?'" nope. luckily one of the girls started singing "You are the only exception" by Paramour and I said, "Perfect! You are the only exception! YOU can be the exception!" ... although not quite the only one ;) but it's a start!
Three weekends ago, we visited La Union, which is another school in the Vida Abundante school district. It was really nice to hang out with the other teachers, and we also got to see their Fiesta Tipica and actually enjoy it instead of working the whole time! I ate so much food. :)
at Fiesta Tipica in La Union- rosquillas and ayote- two of my favorite Honduran dishes! rosquillas are bready rings that they soak in a honey mixture until they get soft. Ayote is like a squash that they also soaked in honey. mmmmmm sweeeett.
a typical meal. avocado, plantains, beans, cheese. and always tortillas. yum.
after riding a ferris wheel in Honduras. seriously the scariest thing ever. I know I'm in my 20s and supposed to be all dangerous and throwing caution to the wind so - I did. And I totally regret it. This was the scariest, fastest thing I'd ever been on. And I couldn't get off. DON'T DO IT!!!!!
Poor Jennifer had to sit with me in the seat while I tried hard not to freak out too much. I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologize to my sister, Emily, for always making fun of her getting scared by the seat rocking on the Ferris wheel. I understand now.
Two weekends ago, we had Spring Break!! This is a change from last year's schedule. Last year we worked from January to the middle of April with no days off and it was awful. The kids were sick, the teachers were sick, no one was learning.... :) So, this year we got a Spring Break! I went to Tegucigalpa with my friend Ana and stayed with her family for a few days. It was so great! They were so hospitable and it was fun to hang out with a family. Ana and I ran errands, vegged and watched movies, finally had some free reading time (I had to read Twilight cuz one of my students was reading it for reading points, but I also read Atonement and finished up Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Also, before I finish up this book parenthesis, I highly recommend Enrique's Journey- it's a story of a boy from Honduras trying to travel to the US. Super good. OK back to real blog :)) It was fun to be in a city, but also kind of overwhelming. We went to a grocery store and I almost peed my pants, there were so many things I wanted. :) I did break down and buy some Dr. Pepper, but most of the things (like cheddar cheese! and chocolate syrup!) I left behind for the sake of having money to spend on Little Cesaer's pizza and Dunkin Donuts!
Greasy, fatty, delicious food!! And the melons in the background :)
We also went to a sweet Cuban club a few times with our friends and had a great time dancing- real, Latin dancing, not the American grind haha.
This last weekend, we just relaxed. I made a budget for myself (!!!) for I think, the first time in my life. I don't really need to budget here because I have plenty of money for everything I do/need, but I decided I should probably get into the habit for when I'm back in the States in a few months with no money (speaking of, if you hear of teaching jobs... I'm interested :)). Other than creating my envelopes full of cash, I watched movies, took a walk, hung out with the kids, and baked a cake. Didn't write a blog tho. With all the free time, I probably should have so .... that's why I'm doing it today!
Hope you all are doing well. This COMING weekend, my mom and our friend, Jennifer, are coming to visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I'm pretty excited. :D) Wish us luck as they experience my adventurous life! :)
