Today it’s partly cloudy and 55. The windy has insisted on sticking around the last few ways so it feels colder than that, although it is sunny.

First this morning was 1A. When I got there they were taking roll (one of the students was, so they can get practice saying names). We then reviewed numbers 1-20 like always (they must only learn up to 20 in first level). We then reviewed parts of the body; I would say “this is my arm/leg/nose, etc.” and they would touch it. Later we reviewed phrases like “throw it in the bin” and “it’s delicious”. I explained a couple of workbook activities to the class, in which they had to circle all the objects they could hear/made a sound and then they had to look at pictures and put a checkmark, yes or no, if they could hear it.

Second and last hours were 3A and B. I read to them out of their easy readers and then I would ask one student to repeat what I’d said. I love these classes because 1. They are sweet groups of kids 2. They still are really enthusiastic about answering questions and raise their hands and shout “ME! ME!” We read about bookworms, famous paintings of flowers, horses and things in the ocean.

Third hour was five-years B. Not sure what the deal was, but they were really fidgety and talkative today…like more so than usual. I played a review memory game with them, using the characters from Ellie the Elephant’s story and that was really hard! It probably didn’t help that Ana was off to the side, but still watching, trying to get something else done. I was relieved when she said it was breakfast time and we could stop!

Fourth was 4B. I spent most of the time reviewing some Thanksgiving activities I’d found. I then emailed the some links to Marilu because we’ll start Thanksgiving in sixth next Monday morning and I won’t see her again until then. Oh, I did introduce some body vocab today. Though I don’t really know how they can be just learning things that first level already knows…

I have class at five this afternoon with the eight/nine-year-olds. Will said someone from Tomelloso is coming to help, because they have a surplus of teachers there or something like that. It’ll be great for me because she can handle the Spanish side of things if they don’t understand something.

I also have to go to Ciudad Real tomorrow to get fingerprinted to renew my NIE. My appointment’s at 10:40, but I’ll have to catch the bus at 6:45. I’m rather annoyed because it’s just a renewal; we did all this last year, we’ve already been cleared and are in the system. Plus the bus and train fare twice (I’ll have to go back and pick it up after Christmas) is expensive. Anyway, I’m gonna try to go in there and get it taken care of right away when I get there at nine and hopefully make the 9:50 train back. If not, I have to wait for the noon one...guess I’ll bring a book just in case.

Xoxo,

Court

It’s a bit chilly today…cloudy, windy and 54!

Last night I went to ETIC, talked with Jaime and I now have an afternoon job! He said I can work there until the end of the year if I want, not just until the other teacher comes back! Apparently she’s not on bed rest exactly, she just has to take it easy, so she’ll be back either next week or the week after. I’m not exactly sure of my schedule yet, but I’ll be making 16€ an hour! Even if I only had one class a day, that’d be like 250 a month!

I helped Will out with his classes so I could see how things worked; I was there from 5-8:30. He first had a class of eight-year-olds, then ten-year-olds and lastly adults. Today is my first official day; I’ll have my own classes. I gotta say I’m a little nervous! But in NP I always got a tad nervous too before the first day, after that it was fine.

Today at school I had the three fifths 1^st, 4^th and 5^th hours. I started talking about Thanksgiving, with one of the PowerPoints I found. The one I have for upper level is a bit long, 37 slides, so we ended up only doing about half of it, then next week we’ll finish it and look at photos or an interactive game of some sort. Oh and we also sang a song about the Mayflower! I’d found several songs and poems because I know Rocío likes them; it’s called Upon the Mayflower and it’s sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

In 1B second hour they reviewed and all I really did was explained a couple of activities in their workbooks, in which they had to match the written number with the numeric and then color them and later they had to trace the bodies of a boy, girl and dog and them draw those themselves.

I never really do that much with Analen’s classes (which I don’t really mind with fourth, but I like her 2B!) Though I did read with them from their easy readers, the story about Chippy and the Beanstalk, that I read to the other Ana’s class like a week or two ago.

I just had one class at ETIC today from 4-5:30, the ten-thirteen-year-olds. Alberto’s son, Jorge, is in that class…the only boy and the youngest. It was really simple; I just corrected several activities with them and we did a few book activities and that was it as far as work. Will said sometimes he lets them watch part of a movie for the last half hour, so that’s what we did (Pirates of the Caribbean). I stayed until about six looking over material for class tomorrow and that was it!

I’m so cold right now (surprise, surprise, I know!), I’m going to go make something hot to drink!

Xoxo,

Court

Today it’s a blustery Winnie-the-Pooh sort of day; 58 degrees. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were sunny and not windy. It’s also supposed to rain today, according to my weather thing, but we haven’t seen anything yet…I hope it stays that way!

First and second hours were with Marilu in 6A and C. We first looked at this dialogue, which I read to them and then they repeated and acted it out. Marilu always asks them if they have questions or if there are words they don’t understand. They always say no, so she started asking them what words or phrases meant, like “strongest” “swimmer” and “that’s right” for example. A lot of them didn’t know the meanings, so she got kinda mad, like “why not ask if you don’t know it?” She then told me they’ve spent two months, since school started, on that first unit, which is eight pages long! I was like “SAY WHAT?” That’s like a page a week! What have they been doing this whole time?

Third hour was 4A with Analen. They were taking an exam when I got there and took it for most of the hour. I felt bad for Analen because she had a migraine (and we all know fourth level is like the worst class to have one of those in!), she looked like she was in pain! She left me with the class to go take some aspirin while they were still testing…GREAT. I know I said I was going to ask her not to leave me with them, but I felt bad for her. They started talking a cheating as soon as she left; I could do little to stop them.

Last two hours were with the three-year-olds. They were super cute today and kept saying “hola!” and two of them ran up to me and gave me hugs when they saw me!!! So adorable! We did this really simple workbook page (but it took like 20 minutes, because it was the first time doing book work). They had to color Ellie’s overalls pink and put stickers of Max and Poppy’s heads on their bodies. I learned that not many little ones know how to pull stickers off of a page, so we had a quick lesson in that!

Yesterday Will asked me if I’d be interested in picking up some classes at ETIC, the language academy where he works in the afternoon/evenings. So, today at five I’m going there to talk with his boss! His other colleague is pregnant and been ordered to bed rest. Apparently there were just two of them, so right now he’s on his own. I hope it works out; it’d be so nice to make some extra money! It’s kinda funny because I was the one who originally went there looking for work back in early June, after our program ended for the school year. The secretary took my info and said someone would call me; no one ever did. Then when I came back in September, Will told me they had contacted him and he worked there. I was a bit jealous at first, but then I got over it fairly quickly.

We’ll see what they tell me…I’ll report back!

Xoxo,

Court

HAPPY VETRANS DAY! Hope you enjoy the day off, Dad!

Today is a gorgeous day; it’s 64 and sunny and the wind isn’t blowing so it’s actually kind of warm—awesome for being almost the middle of November! This morning I went to the market. I didn’t really need anything; it’s just such a nice day I wanted to take a walk. I wandered through and looked at all the clothes, shoes, scarves, fruits, veggies, leggings, comforters, dishwashing products and other random things they always have but I didn’t buy anything.

Afterwards I walked to the papelería—paper store—and just browsed around, again, it’s such a beautiful day! They sell books and other little knickknacks; I like to check it out every now and then. I want to buy this little Don Quixote statue they have, but I have no idea how I’d get it home without breaking it!

The paper store was followed by the perfumería; I popped in there just to kinda see what they have…not that I need anything else. They also have makeup and things like that. Their lipsticks/glosses are so expensive through! Something you could be in the US, like Rimmel or L’Oreal brand, for maybe $4 or 5, are like 11 or 12 €! My gosh, I don’t think they’re that great!

I stopped at the store, Ahorra Más, on the way home. I did end up going to Mercadona last night (which took me a while to find my way around, everything is different! I was in there for about 45 minutes just trying to find things and the end, I only walked away with three things, I think). Anyway, they’ve switched a few things around too, since putting out all their Christmas goodies (so now I get to stare at turrón, mazapán and polvorones when I go…can you say “willpower”?) so it took me a bit longer to find what I wanted…not that I’m on a tight schedule or anything.

I think I’m going to start studying Spanish again this afternoon. I started studying it last spring, but stopped when I left for the summer. I need to get back into it; the program I’m doing has taught me a lot!

Xoxo,

Court

It’s partly cloudy and 63 today, not too bad!

Starting off my almost full day in infantil I went to five-years A. After the usual start-of-the-day activities (which always seem to take a while), I reviewed some family members with the class and then played a which-character-am-I talking-about guessing game with them while Ana cut out some pieces for a soccer game we played after that. There were things like numbers, shapes and members of the family. We would say one of them and then the student had to choose the correct object; four correct in a row earned a goal. The girls pretty much dominated, 4 to 1! One boy got mad after the girls scored their first point and so he erased the point Ana had given them. That earned the girls another point and he didn’t get a sticker today.

Second and fourth were the four-year-olds. I read them a new story in which Ellie the Elephant was introduced to Poppy and Max’s family—Mummy, Daddy and Brother. They then went to go find Baby but he wasn’t there! It’s ok though because Duck came along and said that Baby was sleeping with the Ducklings…all ended well!

Third hour Ana said I could look for Thanksgiving activities because they had to do something, like review or something like that (I sorta stopped paying attention after she said to look for activities). I found a few PowerPoints, so my Thanksgiving file is nearly complete!

Last hour I walked into 6B and Marilu said they had to finish copying some Science stuff, so just to have a seat. Well, that always takes longer than you think it will and then they still had to take the ordinals exam the other classes took on Monday. After that was all said and done there was only about ten minutes left, so I corrected 1.5 activities with them and it was time to go.

I think I’m going to go to Mercadona this afternoon because they are finally open again (they opened on Monday after having been closed since before I got here in September). Will went earlier in the week and said it was cleaner and different…so it might take me a little while to find my way around!

Xoxo,

Court

Today it’s sunny and 59 with few clouds in the sky! Again, it’s a little chilly in the shade, but it could be so much worse!

I started off the day in 1A. When I got there Marina was reviewing parts of the body and then I reviewed the five senses. We first practiced pronunciation and later I tested their memory, while holding up a flashcard and asking what it was. Lastly I reviewed numbers 1-20 with them, like I usually do, and tested their pronunciation abilities.

Second and fifth hours were 3A and B with Noelia. They started a unit about living things this morning/afternoon, so I read them a few pages about the characteristics of each and some examples. We then looked at a photo of animals in Africa and they had to tell whether or not the things in the picture were living or not. We wrote sentences about living things being born, growing, reproducing and dying. Noelia had them write them in their notebooks and the all groaned…go figure!

We didn’t do a whole lot third hour in five-years B. We went down to the video room there in the infantil wing and started watching a few videos, mostly for review—head, shoulders, knees and toes and then some family vocab. Pilar, the regular teacher, then looked outside and all other teachers were leading their classes away from the building; somehow we hadn’t heard the fire alarm! Thankfully it was just a drill, but by the time we got back inside the hour was basically over.

I looked for more Thanksgiving activities in 4B. Ana left the class for a little while to go make some copies while they were taking an exam; I wish she wouldn’t do that. I don’t know if she thinks that since I’m there and can leave, or what, but the last few times I’ve been in her class she’s left for a short while. They were their usual feral-like selves as soon as she left: cheated off each other, took someone’s pencil case from them and started playing keep away and beat on the windows like no other when a truck went by. I think I’m going to ask Ana not to leave when I’m there; discipline is not my job!

I still have a few Thanksgiving activities to find, but I don’t think I’m going to do that this afternoon. I spent a few hours yesterday searching and I’m all looked out for the time being. Plus, I figure I’ll be allowed time over the next two weeks to look during class. I can do better things with my time…like siesta!

Xoxo,

Court

It’s partly cloudy and 59 today…it’s not too bad in the sun, but in the shade it’s kinda chilly; I’ll take a day like today over a rainy one anytime though!

School was pretty low key today. I got there and was told by Rocío’s class that she was in Tomelloso for the day doing some technology training. Why does no one tell me anything? I talked with her yesterday and she said nothing about being gone today. So I found Marilu in 6C and helped her check some homework.

I went to 1B second hour and reviewed some familial (is that a word? Sometimes I mix up English and Spanish…) vocab. Marina then put the flashcards on the board, sent one student out of the class, took away one card, brought the student back in and they to guess which was missing. The class then did this coloring worksheet, though I wasn’t really paying attention when she explained what they had to do, the educational value, so to speak. My bad!

Third hour I went next door to 2B with Ana. The class finished up a worksheet and later worked on an exam while I looked for more Thanksgiving activities. I think I helped some of them cheat because I forgot it was an exam and I started “helping” some of them discover the answers. Whoops, my bad…again.

During recreo I went to the office to make a couple copies of the M&M cookie recipe, the ones I bought in, like, last week. Blonde Ana and Marilu had wanted copies and Ana has been asking for the past several days and I finally remembered today!

Then fourth hour I was with Marina again in 5A. We corrected a few activities and then we, Marina and I, read a dialogue for the class about a new girl in school, which focused on descriptions…like hair/eye color. Later we called up a few students at a time to read it for the class. The boys are so much worse at pronunciation than the girls! Marina was like “I don’t understand it, I don’t know why!” But then again, when I was in NP the girls were generally better at pronouncing things. Maybe it’s like an innate ability for girls to be better??

Last hour should have been with Rocío (not that I’m complaining) but I went to give Marilu the recipe and she asked if I wanted to stay with her. Raquel, the regular 6C teacher, was there and the lesson turned out to be Science…in Spanish. They kinda did a tag team thing. They were talking about the Nervous System and I understood most of it!

I can’t decide if I want to take a nap or not. I didn’t yesterday, but rather opted to go to bed earlier (a little after 10:30) and felt pretty good after getting a whole eight hours of sleep! Perhaps I should repeat that…

Xoxo,

Court