This morning when my students arrived at school, they still seemed to be on a sugar rush from the day before. Several of them still had candy with them and were preparing to eat some of it. I quickly put a stop to that and said they could eat it anytime after lunch or during the dance that afternoon. One of my boys had a large bag of Swedish Fish that he looked ready to demolish. It made me sick seeing their desire to eat candy at eight in the morning. After our morning settled down, it was time to teach the 3rd graders regrouping. I had all the Base 10 blocks out and was ready to conquer this sometimes difficult concept. I had been preparing how to go about it in the car that morning and felt like as long as they listened, we'd be okay. They all had their manipulatives on their desks and we were ready to go. The manipulatives only seemed to confuse them more though. I was so sad. I had really wanted to use them but it made them more lost than they already were. Mrs. Lopez told me that they know how to do it on the board without manipulatives so I have a feeling they were taught without them originally so trying to use them now is probably pointless which stinks. I do not think they really understand why they have to borrow. They just know they have to do it. I guess that is just a concept I will have to keep reinforcing throughout this chapter to make sure they really do understand. I worry some days that if I do not teach these lessons completely perfect, that I will mess them up for the rest of their lives since much of what I teach is a foundation for the rest of their education. Pressure!
After math, my students had French which they really do not like and are often times very rude during it. It really upsets their teacher who is a sister (I'm not sure which order.) but does not have the greatest classroom management. My class has no respect for her so we talked after she left about how you have to respect someone even if you do not like them or their class in this case. They were so lost as to why they should do that. I took that chance to remind them that many people were rude to Jesus during his life and yet He still died for them and us. I hope it clicked with a few of them but since they do not have her again til Tuesday, they probably won't remember. I tried though. We had one of my favorite lunches today (chicken nuggets, mac n' cheese, broccoli, and mandarin oranges) and after that, it was time to start getting ready for the dance. They were supposed to be packed before the dance so everyone got ready and then I ready them a few poems about school. Many of them were sucked in and really enjoyed listening. I have a blast reading to them and being silly and they enjoy listening and laughing. The closer it got to dance time, the more stir crazy they became. We finally lined them up and headed outside to the courtyard where the DJ had everything set up.
The dance party finally started and my students had a blast! It was hot outside with all the dancing we were doing but they enjoyed it so much. All the preschoolers were out dancing and then there were the middle schoolers that were dancing (kind of) on the side of the courtyard to themselves. They were too cool to come join everyone else. Trains of preschoolers were formed and my students were jumping and dancing up a storm. The hour and a half flew by quickly thank goodness because I was feeling a bit sweaty out there. It was time for my students to go home and enjoy their long weekend! I was ready to go as well though. After some cleaning in the classroom, Patricia and I headed back to start our 3-day weekend.
Tonight I have relaxed and am mentally preparing myself for the full apartment we will have here all weekend! Amidst my relaxing, Patricia handed me a letter I had received in the mail from one of the 8th graders I student taught last year. I have a few of them as friends on Facebook and she had told me that she was going to write me a letter but when Patricia handed it to me, I wasn't sure who it was from. When I opened it and saw who it was from, I could not help but smile and feel so good inside. She is a very sweet girl as it is but receiving that letter just made me realize how much I really did enjoy teaching my 8th graders. Her letter also made me miss them though, especially since they are now high schoolers! Moments like this really get my mind rolling again about what age I would like to teach after this year is over. I miss middle school because of how I am able to relate to them as well as how many activities and different types of lessons I can do with them. It just makes my decision really hard but easy at the same time as well I suppose. I cannot be picky about what I want to teach when I am done down here so being open to any grade really helps.
Well enough about that topic. I am going to hit the hay so I can clean and do some grocery shopping before our "hurricane of people" as Cristina called them comes tomorrow! I can't wait to see everyone and have some mayhem happen down here. Say prayers for safe travels for them tomorrow but also a prayer of thanksgiving for everyone that has or is in the military in honor of Veterans' Day.
Happy Friday!
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