Asking 4th graders what they would like to learn this year can be a very adventurous question. Here's some responses I got today:
I want to learn about dragons.
I want to learn how to be a good teacher.
I want to learn hard stuff.
I want to learn to fart loud.
10.19.2009
10.17.2009
Iglesias de Nicaragua
I did a photo study of sorts on the churches in Granada and Masaya, Nicaragua. Here's some results.
'' Where two or more are gathered, there I will be in their midst...'' Looks a lot like church to me! :)
a new church building in Masaya... built by a Michigan church for the Masayan church.
'' Where two or more are gathered, there I will be in their midst...'' Looks a lot like church to me! :)
a new church building in Masaya... built by a Michigan church for the Masayan church.
10.16.2009
¡Que Chapa Soy!
I literally just walked in the door from the grocery store and I HAVE to tell you this.
Tonight I am hosting a pancake dinner with gringo friends here at the house, so I went to the supermarket as soon as I got home from school. Bueno, not exactly the ''supermarket'' but the chain vendor down the street.
So I'm carrying around my little metal basket (very similar to the shopping baskets in the States), and I have it filled to the brim with pancake mix, syrup, eggs, and all the fixings. I'm looking for chocolate of any sort that we can break up into ''chocolate chips'', and well, I'm not exactly paying attention to where I am going. As I turned a corner, the edge of my basket caught the edge of a display of candy... and you can imagine what happened from there. Everything (Hear me, EVERYTHING) came crashing down, and I was standing there turning bright red and trying to find words to say (in Spanish too!!)... Two employees jump on the scene and were chuckling to themselves as I gathered my words enough to say, ''¡Que vergüenza! ¡Que chapa soy!'' (''How embarassing! I'm so clumsy!'')... I said my apologies and they were still chuckling...
Another laughing moment today was when a student noticed a hole in my shoe and could see my toes... she said, ''Miss Siscoe, your toes look a lot like fingers!''... I have heard that so many times in my lifetime, and gee, even my students notice that. Thanks Dad!
Tonight I am hosting a pancake dinner with gringo friends here at the house, so I went to the supermarket as soon as I got home from school. Bueno, not exactly the ''supermarket'' but the chain vendor down the street.
So I'm carrying around my little metal basket (very similar to the shopping baskets in the States), and I have it filled to the brim with pancake mix, syrup, eggs, and all the fixings. I'm looking for chocolate of any sort that we can break up into ''chocolate chips'', and well, I'm not exactly paying attention to where I am going. As I turned a corner, the edge of my basket caught the edge of a display of candy... and you can imagine what happened from there. Everything (Hear me, EVERYTHING) came crashing down, and I was standing there turning bright red and trying to find words to say (in Spanish too!!)... Two employees jump on the scene and were chuckling to themselves as I gathered my words enough to say, ''¡Que vergüenza! ¡Que chapa soy!'' (''How embarassing! I'm so clumsy!'')... I said my apologies and they were still chuckling...
Another laughing moment today was when a student noticed a hole in my shoe and could see my toes... she said, ''Miss Siscoe, your toes look a lot like fingers!''... I have heard that so many times in my lifetime, and gee, even my students notice that. Thanks Dad!
10.11.2009
Nicaragua
$20 for an 8 hour bus ride...
$8 for an exit fee and 2 hours at customs...
and here we are. Trish and I are traveling with two missionary families for a few days to discover how they are making a difference in Nicaraguan poverty. So far, we've learned a lot about what the Dice family is doing... Their home church in Michigan is passionate about not only learning about international poverty but also about doing something about it.
So their home church sent them to language school in Costa Rica to serve as a bridge to churches in Nicaragua. They are investing in helping these churches build lasting buildings (instead of the tin huts and garbage bag roofs) and they are helping pastors get off their feet as business men. Last night at dinner I asked April where Jeff was, and she casually told me he was otu buying a taxi. I was confused and asked if we were driving ourselves around the next day, and she laughed. Jeff is buying taxis as an investment into area pastors so they can work toward owning the vehicle and make a family living at the same time. Once a pastor owns the car, he earns $700 monthly... and the average wage here is $150 monthly. WOW. Jeff and April are a huge blessing to these people, and I can see it in the pastors's eyes as they interact with the Dice famile.
the pastor's son who has SOOOO much energy. Here he's telling me that he's a monkey and can he please see his photo?
Ellie, me, Karis, Tricia. These girls are precious.
The Dice family. Jeff and April with their kids, L2R Mason, Karis, Ellie, Camden. Mason is one of my 4th graders this year.
Mason's brown eyes.
$8 for an exit fee and 2 hours at customs...
and here we are. Trish and I are traveling with two missionary families for a few days to discover how they are making a difference in Nicaraguan poverty. So far, we've learned a lot about what the Dice family is doing... Their home church in Michigan is passionate about not only learning about international poverty but also about doing something about it.
So their home church sent them to language school in Costa Rica to serve as a bridge to churches in Nicaragua. They are investing in helping these churches build lasting buildings (instead of the tin huts and garbage bag roofs) and they are helping pastors get off their feet as business men. Last night at dinner I asked April where Jeff was, and she casually told me he was otu buying a taxi. I was confused and asked if we were driving ourselves around the next day, and she laughed. Jeff is buying taxis as an investment into area pastors so they can work toward owning the vehicle and make a family living at the same time. Once a pastor owns the car, he earns $700 monthly... and the average wage here is $150 monthly. WOW. Jeff and April are a huge blessing to these people, and I can see it in the pastors's eyes as they interact with the Dice famile.
the pastor's son who has SOOOO much energy. Here he's telling me that he's a monkey and can he please see his photo?
Ellie, me, Karis, Tricia. These girls are precious.
The Dice family. Jeff and April with their kids, L2R Mason, Karis, Ellie, Camden. Mason is one of my 4th graders this year.
Mason's brown eyes. and today we follow the Johnson family.
Culture Day... Bon Jour!!
You might remember Culture Day last year... we were China... this year my students chose to be France! They totally took ownership of the research and the projects and I was so proud! Here's some peeks at our ''French costumes''... jeans and white or striped shirts with bandannas. haha, that was about as French as we knew how to get. The students put together a tour guide for our French exhibit... I'll be posting that soon!
The Marianas...
The Marianas and Camila
The twins!! Melissa and Michelle
Jonathan, Lucas, GabrielLucas was super excited about dressing up like the chef from the movie Ratatouille... he even had his own rat.
And the whole class!!!
And the whole class!!! 10.08.2009
This Week's Favorite Quotes
Kids are funny. Period. That's about all there is to it. Here's some of my favorites this week:
student ''You have 14 kids??''
me ''yes''
student ''well you sure look good after that many babies! my mom complains that us 3 kids are the reason she's not very pretty anymore''
''Do you happen to have a growing laser that I can use?''
''Let's take a field trip on YouTube.''
''I can't believe I'm going on vacation with my teacher...'' (said to a friend about me traveling with his family this weekend to Nicaragua)
OR sometimes it's the spelling errors that make me smile.
''A vaccine has weekend germs that trigger the production of antibodies.''
''I think I never want to merry a man with a beard.''
AND other times there's their journal entries that make me laugh out loud.
Writing Prompt -- ''Write a conversation you would have with your lungs and heart as you run across the gym to catch a kickball. Whether or not you catch the ball determines whether your team wins!''
Student Response -- '' 'Give me more energy!'' I said. The lungs answered, '' Never! '' My heart was thumping hard. I was trying to get enough oxygen as I can. I could see my veins. My arteries were in hyperdrive. My red blood cells said, ''We are going as fast as we can!'' My diaphram was about to explode. My trachea needed more air. Then I caught the ball.''
THEN there's the quotes that almost break your heart.
''I held an orphan baby last week.''
''I might come in with a black eye tomorrow because my test grade isn't very good.''
student ''You have 14 kids??''
me ''yes''
student ''well you sure look good after that many babies! my mom complains that us 3 kids are the reason she's not very pretty anymore''
''Do you happen to have a growing laser that I can use?''
''Let's take a field trip on YouTube.''
''I can't believe I'm going on vacation with my teacher...'' (said to a friend about me traveling with his family this weekend to Nicaragua)
OR sometimes it's the spelling errors that make me smile.
''A vaccine has weekend germs that trigger the production of antibodies.''
''I think I never want to merry a man with a beard.''
AND other times there's their journal entries that make me laugh out loud.
Writing Prompt -- ''Write a conversation you would have with your lungs and heart as you run across the gym to catch a kickball. Whether or not you catch the ball determines whether your team wins!''
Student Response -- '' 'Give me more energy!'' I said. The lungs answered, '' Never! '' My heart was thumping hard. I was trying to get enough oxygen as I can. I could see my veins. My arteries were in hyperdrive. My red blood cells said, ''We are going as fast as we can!'' My diaphram was about to explode. My trachea needed more air. Then I caught the ball.''
THEN there's the quotes that almost break your heart.
''I held an orphan baby last week.''
''I might come in with a black eye tomorrow because my test grade isn't very good.''
10.05.2009
Amanecer en Puerto Viejo
Sunrise on the ocean just can't be beat... here's Sunday morning's 5am display...
We had a blast with our group of 5 guys and 4 girls. We rented bikes Saturday and rode to Playa Cocles, which is great for watching surfers and attempting body surfing.. note that I said attempting. :) We covered ourselves in sand and played American football (we always have to clarify which kind of football we are playing!... futbol or football, if you know what I mean). We rented a house and cooked dinner both nights, which was also a great treat. All in all, a good weekend of fun and sun!
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