HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY!!! Hope everyone's enjoying their day off! :)

It’s kind of poopy today…43, cold and rainy. Thankfully it wasn’t raining when I left this morning or on my way home¸ but the sky is heavy with clouds and it looks like it could start at any time. It rained for much of the day yesterday also.

Today was pretty laid back and easy. In the sixth levels we spent the entire hours talking about our weekends (what their vocab is about). The vocab included things like going to the swimming pool, restaurants, the cinema, staying home and other leisure activities.

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Before third hour I ran into Rocío and the topic of MLK came up. She said she hadn’t had time to find anything and I volunteered to look for some activities (mainly because I had 4A that hour and had no desire to go and stay there). So I went, read them a short story and then asked Analen to leave class early.

I was “in the zone” looking for activities and I didn’t want to stop until I’d found a few things, so I asked Ana if I could come late to the three-year-old classes. I ended up missing the first one and arrived about ten minutes late to the second class, last hour. I was able to find several activities/MLK materials, though—a PowerPoint, an excerpt of his speech with Spanish subtitles, a word search and a short little 15 sentence story about his life. Mission accomplished!

I have class with Javi at 4:30. I changed our Friday lessons, so now they’re Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, all at 4:30. I could have sworn when we talked last Wednesday he said we’d meet at 5:30 on Fridays but he showed up an hour early last Friday. It was a surprise. Anyway, no conflict with Eloy’s club, so that’s good…or is it? I kinda want to have an out depending on what movies he chooses; if they’re boring I don’t wanna go!

Oh! I applied to OPS yesterday! Two positions: Spanish and ELL, both secondary. They were posted back in November, so I’m not sure what kind of apps they’ve received so far, so we’ll see. If course Lincoln’s still my number one, but I may have to settle for something else (I’m praying not, though!).

Xoxo,

Court

Today it’s a mild 54 degrees; the wind isn’t bad and the sun pops out every now and then!

My class with Javi yesterday afternoon was super simple: he brought this easy reader he’s reading in class and he would read a paragraph and then we would translate it. We’re going to have class for an hour every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. I forgot though that Eloy’s English club starts tomorrow (and I already told him I’d go…even though last year it was a bit boring, but he really wants to have a native there and I’m too nice to say “no”. So yeah…). I can’t change tomorrow’s lesson but the following Fridays I’m gonna ask to switch days or hours

Today wasn’t too bad. With five-years A, after the usual start-of-the-day activities, I read them a story…although now I can’t remember what it was about! Afterwards we played this “game” in which the kids spun this top thing on a board with all their vocab pictures and they had to say the word it landed on. They were supposed to get their own boards and tops to take home and play, but they were kinda loud and weren’t listening too well so Ana said no!

To the four-year-olds I read a different story about Ellie, Hippo and Mouse, who went to the park. Hippo couldn’t swing, go down the slide or use this toy car because he was too big. Poppy then swoops in magicked (I don’t know a real word!) up a huge swing for all of them to fit on. The morning class then had time to draw a picture of the park, but the afternoons didn’t.

With 2A third hour we introduced some new vocab about the weather (which I don’t quite understand because even the three-year-olds know the weather…maybe they’re going to focus more on writing the words and pronouncing them…). I read the vocab and they repeated it. I then put the pictures on the board and called them up individually to stick the correct word with its picture. Lastly they copied, drew and colored the vocab in their notebooks.

6B was pretty laid back; we spent the hour discussing our parents’ jobs. It took a long time because we went one by one; we didn’t get finished, only a little over halfway. Marilu and I would ask things like “How many hours do they work a day? What does your mom cook? (There were A LOT of stay-at-home-moms) Does your dad work here in Socu? (Many didn’t, I was really surprised at that…like they only come home on the weekends!)

I picked up a few things at the store on my way home and now it’s time to relax…Happy weekend to me!

Xoxo,

Court

It was super foggy again this morning when I left for school. It’s partly cloudy now and although my weather thing says 54, with the wind, it feels about 40ish…BRRR!

I don’t know why, but all the kids were kinda annoying today; they were loud and didn’t want to listen…some were obnoxious too. Almost every teacher was like “Wow, they’re terrible today!” It wasn’t so much first and last hours as the in between hours.

First we reviewed body vocab and hygiene phrases and later we reviewed a bit from their newest unit, fruits and vegetables. We did a worksheet in which they had to stick fruit/veggie stickers in the appropriate column; they then had to draw their favorite fruit/veg.

Second and last hours, with the third years, we reviewed the alphabet and that was followed by spelling classroom objects and animals. Later we started a new science unit about vertebrae and invertebrate animals. I read them a couple of sections from the book and then we repeated sentences one by one.

Five years B was pretty annoying...but I’ll cut them some slack though, because they’re so small. We sang a couple of songs and I reviewed some toy vocab with them, but they were rambunctious little ones. We also did this simple worksheet where they had to stick on three stickers. I was pretty happy today that we always finish early in that class so they can eat “breakfast”.

4B was annoying as ever today. Aside from the two minutes I spent introducing their new vocab (which I had to stop literally every three seconds for because they kept talking) I sat there and stared blankly at the wall. Some of the kids tried to talk to me but I just ignored them. I really detest that class.

I have a lesson this afternoon! Marina (1A/B) told me that her cousin needs classes, or rather his mom wants him to have classes. His name’s Javi and he’s in high school; 16 or 17 I think Marina said. He’s coming here at five and from what Marina said it should be pretty easy for me…he’ll be bringing his books/something to work on and I basically have to be there for assistance. That I can do!

Xoxo,

Court

It’s a sunny 52 degrees outside. It was rather chilly this morning because it as super foggy but that cleared up midmorning.

With Rocío’s fifths first and last hours we were back in the video room learning more about Nebraska again. She found some info from the Nebraska State Historical Society about Native Americans so we have a sheet about that, also a fill-in-the-blank worksheet about state facts and a city word search. There are also a couple of coloring sheets (different than last year, thank goodness!), but those look kinda boring. Of course I got to class and she was like “Let’s (meaning me) look for videos on YouTube. She wants a general one about Lincoln (which I actually found!) and one with the Huskers. Why she never tells me what she wants before class starts, I’ll never know…

In 1B we reviewed toy vocab (doll, car, ball, etc) and then played a memory game to further ingrain everything into their brains. They then did a sheet in which they had to color the vocab objects; it’s pretty much the same every week.

I went to 2B third hour and Pilar De Leon is back!!! She’s so sweet! She was the 1B regular teacher last year but left before the year ended because she had problems wither her neck. I thought she was gone for good. She’s been in Madrid recuperating for a while and says while she feels better; she’s still only 70% well. Anyway, I read the class a story about the weather (in which it snows, the kids have a snowball fight and build a snowman and then wake up the next morning and it’s all melted). We then sang a song about sun, rain, wind and snow.

Marina’s 5A is a little behind Rocío’s, so we stayed in the classroom and they finished up a couple of worksheets about their food likes and dislikes. They were all like “How do you say _____?” and so Marina would tell them. I would have been like “Guess who’s your friend? Mr. Dictionary!”, but it wasn’t up to me…

I’ve got to update my LPS profile this afternoon. I got an email last night saying they’re closing out the 2011-2012 profiles as they are gearing up for listing 2012-2013 positions (yay!). I’ll prolly have to apply for general positions again, like I did back in September. Kelly emailed me my Spanish recommendation a few days before Christmas and I emailed Valorie about the ELL one last night, so she should be doing it within the next two weeks. My profile will be more complete soon!

Xoxo,

Court

Today it’s super clear (we’re talking totally blue skies as far as the eye can see) and 48…a bit chilly with the wind, but overall it’s not bad.

Back to school today! It was basically a nothing day, but that’s how it usually is first day back after Christmas. With the sixth levels we went around the room and talked about what we received from either Santa or the Three Wise Men. We were supposed to start the new unit after that, but it took longer than anticipated, so that was all we did.

Third hour I reviewed some vocab with 4A (orange juice, fruit, milk, cake, etc) for like five minutes and then talked to José Carlos, the regular teacher, for a while. Analen usually has them copy some vocab, so that keeps them busy most days when I’m there.

I was with the three-year-olds for the afternoon classes and those went pretty quick. I read both classes a story about Baby Duck who couldn’t find Mama Duck, so she went looking for her. On her way she found Monkey, Hippo and Ellie, who finally took her back to Mama Duck. Fourth hour had time to do a coloring sheet but last hour didn’t so we watched the story I’d just read on the computer.

Now I’m really tired; as expected from days of staying up and sleeping in late! I can’t decide, though, if I should take a nap or just have some coffee and turn in early…

Xoxo,

Court

It’s 48 and clear outside; not bad for January!

I know it’s been several days since I’ve posted; there just hasn’t been that much going on over break. I finally finished reading The Help though! I started it way back in September when I came. I read on the plane and a couple of days after that but I then kinda stopped…not really sure why. But I again last week and finished Friday. I had downloaded the movie several weeks ago but decided I didn’t want to watch it until I had read the book. I watched it last night. Such a good movie…and book! I’ve moved on to Heaven is for Real now; that shouldn’t take too long to read, it’s so short.

Well, tomorrow it’s back to school and my posts will go back to normal. It’s been a relaxing break, but I’m ready to go back!

Xoxo,

Court

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! And whoa, it looks weird to see 2012 written there!

Weather’s not bad today, 54, although it is cloudy. It could be a lot worse for January (seems weird to write that!) though; wouldn’t it be great if it didn’t get too much colder?

Good news today! I got a package from home…MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!! Thanks Mom and Dad!! I so enjoyed opening up the box and unwrapping all the presents (thanks for wrapping everything so nicely, Mom, it felt just like Christmas …kinda). I think I would have enjoyed it just a tad bit more, however, if I wouldn’t have had to pay 40 Euros to receive it! Something about there being a Customs tax because of certain items inside. Don’t ask me which items were taxed though, because I have no idea. I’m not really sure which items warrant a tax; I have had to pay before, but not every time, so it’s a little confusing. Is it not enough that the sender has paid? I mean, come on now!

As annoying as that was, it didn’t ruin my “Christmas”! I’m surprised by how much I got!

·         TWO scarves (well, technically one’s a shawl, but no need to be picky!)

·         Something Barrowed on DVD

·         TWO books: Water for Elephants and Heaven is for Real

·         NINE packs of gum: peppermint, spearmint and cinnamon

·         A bottle of lotion (Sensual Amber!!)

·         THREE little Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers

·         An iTunes gift card

·         A Lindt chocolate bear

·         Some Lindt milk and white chocolate balls (thank you, stocking tradition!)

Looks like I’ll be busy reading, watching, chewing, listening, eating, looking good and smelling good for a long time to come! Thanks again Mom and Dad…and I can’t wait to be in the flesh next year!!!

Xoxo,

Court