And that's my friend Erin, who currently teaches 3rd grade at Sojourn.
3.19.2010
In Case You Forgot...
If you are in the States and I am in Costa Rica, chances are you might forget what I look like. So just in case (and Mom, especially for you!), I still look about the same...
3.17.2010
Top Excuses for Not Blogging
1. I get distracted Facebook stalking. I love looking through people's photo albums. Not sure if it's actually a stalker impulse or just a curiosity.
2. I love checking my email and reading your emails :). Then it takes me a long time to reply because I somehow get distracted by other things.
3. I am busy. I know, that's a lame line, but seriously. Here's my weekly schedule:
Monday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Plan 2:30 to 5, Pilates 6:30 to 8
Tuesday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Teacher Meeting 2:30 to 4, Bible study 7-9
Wednesday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Tutor ELL 3 to 4, Tutor Art 4 to 5, Pilates 6:30 to 8
Thursday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Spanish Class 3 to 4, relax evening
Friday: School 7:30 to 2:30, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend :)
And somehow, in between all that, I am working with the play again this year coordinating sets, costumes, etc. Thankfully I have delegated more this year so I don't have as much responsibility as last year.
4. I still have to study Spanish. Yes, I passed the test, and yes, I can converse, but there's more to learn. Always.
5. I am planning camping field trips. You read that right. CAMPING FIELD TRIPS. My students' New Year's resolution was to go on an awesome field trip. We brainstormed everything from China to Chicago to ziplining to camping. And somehow camping won. The dates are set for April 22nd and 23rd, we have a cabin and tents, we're planning for a bonfire and no electricity and hiking. I have like 5 or 6 parents and our principal helping us... I think I'm in over my head with this one... but it's too late, the kids are sooooooooooooooooooo excited.
6. To raise money for the field trip, I am facilitating lemonade fundraisers. Making 6 gallons of lemonade is no small feat for 11 hyper 4th graders, not to mention counting change in colones when our curriculum only involves change in dollars. Today was our first attempt at a lemonade stand at lunch and after school and we earned c30,000, a.k.a. $60!!!! ¡Fue exitoso!
7. Tricia and I debrief at the end of the day... at 8 or 9pm, so after talking, sleeping wins out over blogging.
8. I haven't felt very inspired lately. Life is full and routine right now, so I don't feel like I have great or inspiring stories to share... But there are upcoming adventures. This weekend we're traveling to Dominical, a beach south of Manuel Antonio, to visit our friend Jared who studied at the Institute last summer during the intensive course. We are excited to see what he's up to there. Also, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is coming in just 10 days and we are travelling to Panama! Lots of stories to come from that, I'm sure! :)
9. I might be standing in line at the bank. Seriously. The ATM is always a long line. The inside of the bank is even longer. I had to go inside the bank yesterday to withdraw coins for our lemonade fundraiser, and after waiting in line THIRTY minutes, the bank teller told me the bank didn't have coins. I asked how a bank doesn't have coins and she shrugged and told me again that they just didn't have coins and she could give me the amount in bills. I asked where I should go to get coins and she asked what I needed them for. I described the fundraiser (while wondering why I needed to justify why I wanted coins) and then she leaned over to the bank teller next to her and asked him if he had coins. Turns out the bank had coins and she just didn't want to help me or something.... seriously, sometimes I wonder why some ticos treat me that way, as if they don't want to help me.
9. I might be cooking. I love using all our fresh veggies and fruits to create new options. Trish is equally if not a more inspiring cook and we take turns.
10. I am easily distracte.................................
2. I love checking my email and reading your emails :). Then it takes me a long time to reply because I somehow get distracted by other things.
3. I am busy. I know, that's a lame line, but seriously. Here's my weekly schedule:
Monday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Plan 2:30 to 5, Pilates 6:30 to 8
Tuesday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Teacher Meeting 2:30 to 4, Bible study 7-9
Wednesday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Tutor ELL 3 to 4, Tutor Art 4 to 5, Pilates 6:30 to 8
Thursday: School 7:30 to 2:30, Spanish Class 3 to 4, relax evening
Friday: School 7:30 to 2:30, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend :)
And somehow, in between all that, I am working with the play again this year coordinating sets, costumes, etc. Thankfully I have delegated more this year so I don't have as much responsibility as last year.
4. I still have to study Spanish. Yes, I passed the test, and yes, I can converse, but there's more to learn. Always.
5. I am planning camping field trips. You read that right. CAMPING FIELD TRIPS. My students' New Year's resolution was to go on an awesome field trip. We brainstormed everything from China to Chicago to ziplining to camping. And somehow camping won. The dates are set for April 22nd and 23rd, we have a cabin and tents, we're planning for a bonfire and no electricity and hiking. I have like 5 or 6 parents and our principal helping us... I think I'm in over my head with this one... but it's too late, the kids are sooooooooooooooooooo excited.
6. To raise money for the field trip, I am facilitating lemonade fundraisers. Making 6 gallons of lemonade is no small feat for 11 hyper 4th graders, not to mention counting change in colones when our curriculum only involves change in dollars. Today was our first attempt at a lemonade stand at lunch and after school and we earned c30,000, a.k.a. $60!!!! ¡Fue exitoso!
7. Tricia and I debrief at the end of the day... at 8 or 9pm, so after talking, sleeping wins out over blogging.
8. I haven't felt very inspired lately. Life is full and routine right now, so I don't feel like I have great or inspiring stories to share... But there are upcoming adventures. This weekend we're traveling to Dominical, a beach south of Manuel Antonio, to visit our friend Jared who studied at the Institute last summer during the intensive course. We are excited to see what he's up to there. Also, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is coming in just 10 days and we are travelling to Panama! Lots of stories to come from that, I'm sure! :)
9. I might be standing in line at the bank. Seriously. The ATM is always a long line. The inside of the bank is even longer. I had to go inside the bank yesterday to withdraw coins for our lemonade fundraiser, and after waiting in line THIRTY minutes, the bank teller told me the bank didn't have coins. I asked how a bank doesn't have coins and she shrugged and told me again that they just didn't have coins and she could give me the amount in bills. I asked where I should go to get coins and she asked what I needed them for. I described the fundraiser (while wondering why I needed to justify why I wanted coins) and then she leaned over to the bank teller next to her and asked him if he had coins. Turns out the bank had coins and she just didn't want to help me or something.... seriously, sometimes I wonder why some ticos treat me that way, as if they don't want to help me.
9. I might be cooking. I love using all our fresh veggies and fruits to create new options. Trish is equally if not a more inspiring cook and we take turns.
10. I am easily distracte.................................
3.12.2010
I Just Found Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Test Date: 02/13/2010KATHRYN K SISCOEKEWANEE, IL 61443
Test: 056 TLP - Spanish
Total Score: 266
Minimum Passing Score: 240
Status: Pass
NUMBER OF ITEMS SUBAREA NAME SUBAREA SCORE
41 or more Reading Comprehension 276
1 Writing Proficiency 270
1 Oral Proficiency 240
SCALED TOTAL TEST SCORE 266
Internet scores are unofficial and are not a substitute for an official score report. Your official score report has been mailed to you.
Now I just have to make a decision about where I'll be next year.... just.
Test: 056 TLP - Spanish
Total Score: 266
Minimum Passing Score: 240
Status: Pass
NUMBER OF ITEMS SUBAREA NAME SUBAREA SCORE
41 or more Reading Comprehension 276
1 Writing Proficiency 270
1 Oral Proficiency 240
SCALED TOTAL TEST SCORE 266
Internet scores are unofficial and are not a substitute for an official score report. Your official score report has been mailed to you.
Now I just have to make a decision about where I'll be next year.... just.
New Blog :)
Writing Workshop has been inspired so much creativity this school year that I thought I would give my students another tool for sharing their writing: a blog. I just explained it to my students this afternoon, and their first published pieces are due by next Friday, so keep an eye on this link:
www.miss-siscoes-fourth-graders.blogspot.com
They're super-excited about it, as am I. Enjoy! :)
www.miss-siscoes-fourth-graders.blogspot.com
They're super-excited about it, as am I. Enjoy! :)
3.10.2010
fourth grade adventures
One day:
bad attitudes about learning Spanish.
a student crying because I tell her she will be an excellent teacher. she does not want to be a teacher, she tells me. i reassure her i will not follow her to college and insist that she be a teacher.
self-induced coughing... an attention seeking mechanism???
plate tectonics experiments with crackers and water. students conclude that earthquakes and tsunamis are dangerous.
a fraction drill while waiting at the bathrooms. 6th graders being so excited that they too know how to change improper fractions to mixed numbers that they join in the drill.
students reminding me of what i forgot to do.
question of the day on our white board: what is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them? answers: ''their smile.'' ''what they look like.'' ''whether or not they are pura vida.''
students yell ''noooooooooooooooooooo'' when i stop reading from our read aloud book.
spelling test.
student spraying girl's perfume all over himself... we have a mini-conference to discuss the difference between girl and guy smells.
reading comprehension tests.
grammar lesson of using ''more'' or ''most'' before adjectives and adverbs.
whew! all in all, a good day.
bad attitudes about learning Spanish.
a student crying because I tell her she will be an excellent teacher. she does not want to be a teacher, she tells me. i reassure her i will not follow her to college and insist that she be a teacher.
self-induced coughing... an attention seeking mechanism???
plate tectonics experiments with crackers and water. students conclude that earthquakes and tsunamis are dangerous.
a fraction drill while waiting at the bathrooms. 6th graders being so excited that they too know how to change improper fractions to mixed numbers that they join in the drill.
students reminding me of what i forgot to do.
question of the day on our white board: what is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them? answers: ''their smile.'' ''what they look like.'' ''whether or not they are pura vida.''
students yell ''noooooooooooooooooooo'' when i stop reading from our read aloud book.
spelling test.
student spraying girl's perfume all over himself... we have a mini-conference to discuss the difference between girl and guy smells.
reading comprehension tests.
grammar lesson of using ''more'' or ''most'' before adjectives and adverbs.
whew! all in all, a good day.
2.27.2010
The Daily Become Extraordinary
A couple thoughts on life right now:
1. I got a super short haircut when I was back in the States for Christmas. The front of my hair was chin-length, but the back of my hair was about 1/2 inch long! I had tons of layers to transition between the two extremes... So anyway, this week was the first time I could get it all in a ponytail again :). The back is probably 2 inches long now! Daily ponytails become extraordinary with super short hairstyles :)
2. Yesterday was a teacher inservice day, and Trish and I presented a ''Scope and Sequence'' for the school to have more solidified standards and goals. The teachers were really receptive and supportive. Some even thanked us for all our work and commented on how organized we were. Then the EFL teacher Carolina and I were going to present about the conference we went to about a month ago, but she had to go to an emergency meeting. So I did both presentations -- the English presentation and then the Spanish presentation! Even though each presentation was about 15-20 minutes, I felt so accomplished to have spoken that long in Spanish!!! (Did I say everything perfectly? No. I was still thinking of mistakes I had made 6 hours later!! I'm too much of a perfectionist!) Again, the teachers were really receptive and thanked me for my work. Daily teaching presentations in your second language are quite extraordinary, if I do say so myself :).
1. I got a super short haircut when I was back in the States for Christmas. The front of my hair was chin-length, but the back of my hair was about 1/2 inch long! I had tons of layers to transition between the two extremes... So anyway, this week was the first time I could get it all in a ponytail again :). The back is probably 2 inches long now! Daily ponytails become extraordinary with super short hairstyles :)
2. Yesterday was a teacher inservice day, and Trish and I presented a ''Scope and Sequence'' for the school to have more solidified standards and goals. The teachers were really receptive and supportive. Some even thanked us for all our work and commented on how organized we were. Then the EFL teacher Carolina and I were going to present about the conference we went to about a month ago, but she had to go to an emergency meeting. So I did both presentations -- the English presentation and then the Spanish presentation! Even though each presentation was about 15-20 minutes, I felt so accomplished to have spoken that long in Spanish!!! (Did I say everything perfectly? No. I was still thinking of mistakes I had made 6 hours later!! I'm too much of a perfectionist!) Again, the teachers were really receptive and thanked me for my work. Daily teaching presentations in your second language are quite extraordinary, if I do say so myself :).
2.22.2010
Life
Life has calmed down a bit after four crazy weeks of being absent at least one day every week (an English conference for three days, bronchitis for one day, flying to the U.S. ... you know, the usual :)). I finally feel caught up.
This Friday is a teacher institute day, and I am presenting two times. Once with Tricia as she has been working on a Scope and Sequence for our school (in human-speak, standards for our school to teach by), and I have helped along the way, so we are presenting the standards to the teaching staff. Also, I will be presenting with my friend Carolina about the importance of reflecting on the classroom environment. I am excited for these opportunities! and of course a little nervous :)
I have to wait 3 more weeks to know my test results. Until then, I am enjoying life in the right here and right now.
I have been teaching about so many different topics... Newton's laws, atoms, multiplication, fractions, reading. I think I am a teacher nerd... I love it. I love relating to the students and continuing to invest in their lives.
I gave my students Internet homework last week to type their spelling words and email the words to me, and they loved it. One girl even emailed me again later thanking me for giving her that assignment. LOL. I am thinking about starting a class blog so they gain a little experience with other Internet technology.
Trish and I have had lots of opportunities to talk to others about our Christian faith... in Spanish... including a Jehovah's Witness Saturday. It turned into an interesting debate for sure. Spanish has opened more doors than we thought possible. I have read that the highest level of speaking a language is arguing, so we are moving right along I guess.
Our latest cooking successes: zucchini and parmesan bake, lentil salsa salad, pumpkin soup, Skyline chili (thanks to Trish's homeland Cincinnati!), and breakfast for dinner. Yum! We are trying to be more creative with our basic ingredients.
So that's a good summary of life right now. Life is good.
This Friday is a teacher institute day, and I am presenting two times. Once with Tricia as she has been working on a Scope and Sequence for our school (in human-speak, standards for our school to teach by), and I have helped along the way, so we are presenting the standards to the teaching staff. Also, I will be presenting with my friend Carolina about the importance of reflecting on the classroom environment. I am excited for these opportunities! and of course a little nervous :)
I have to wait 3 more weeks to know my test results. Until then, I am enjoying life in the right here and right now.
I have been teaching about so many different topics... Newton's laws, atoms, multiplication, fractions, reading. I think I am a teacher nerd... I love it. I love relating to the students and continuing to invest in their lives.
I gave my students Internet homework last week to type their spelling words and email the words to me, and they loved it. One girl even emailed me again later thanking me for giving her that assignment. LOL. I am thinking about starting a class blog so they gain a little experience with other Internet technology.
Trish and I have had lots of opportunities to talk to others about our Christian faith... in Spanish... including a Jehovah's Witness Saturday. It turned into an interesting debate for sure. Spanish has opened more doors than we thought possible. I have read that the highest level of speaking a language is arguing, so we are moving right along I guess.
Our latest cooking successes: zucchini and parmesan bake, lentil salsa salad, pumpkin soup, Skyline chili (thanks to Trish's homeland Cincinnati!), and breakfast for dinner. Yum! We are trying to be more creative with our basic ingredients.
So that's a good summary of life right now. Life is good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)