September 3, 2007

First day of school!

I’m not very good with children. Knowing I have to be enthusiastic all day long is tiresome. This year is going to be a battle with myself. Learning patience is my goal this year.
If you haven’t guest, I teach kindergarten. I’m responsible for 22 little bodies. My boss, Sharon says, if my children are out of line once it counts as one strike. Three strikes equal fired! So you can imagine me running around trying to keep my children in line. No, my class is pretty well behaved. The first day was when all listened intently because they wanted to do everything right. Everyone knows how that is. No matter what job you have the first day you follow the rules. Right down to the last second of lunch break. But this good streak only lasts for so long. Before you get comfortable and show your true side. I’m just waiting for my children to change into little monsters. Maybe next week…?
The first day of teaching was the worst for me because I felt so disorganized. Organization is my key to success. This way I feel confident. One day was not enough to get ready. Especially for new teachers! Any who, I did survive my first day of school; I’m sure I was as nervous as the students.

September 4, 2007
Tuesday

My students are still angels. Thankfully! My friend Katrina has first graders and they are so bad. She is expected to handle 32 children. Its so funny to hear some of her stories, but at the same time I feel bad. The principle, Sharon expects a lot from the teachers. All the teachers fear her. I don’t yet, but when she puts me in the spot light I will be. Katrina has been warned by Sharon several times about certain students, but one person has only so many hands.
My 7th grade math class is causing me so so many problems. I just don’t know how else to simplify the math than I have already. Not only is there a language barrier the students don’t listen. I can’t tell you how many times I have repeated myself. I mean come on their in 7th grade. I can understand repeating myself in kindergarten, but not in 7th grade. Everyday I have a board assignment. Which is like a minnie quiz; it’s a way for me to do attendance and also make sure they understood the last lesson. I told them what a board assignment was, what to expect on it, and when it will be due. I don’t know how many times I had to repeat myself just to get them to do the stupid board work. It seems that what I say goes in one ear and out the other. I CAN’T stand it! Oh and when I’m teaching the lesson all they do is talk; so rude and annoying. After so long I get so tired of talking over the voices I just tell them if their talking so much than they supposedly know the lesson already and I assign the homework. With in 30 seconds all the students are yelling, “Teacher, Teacher, I don’t understand!” Even though I’m annoyed I try and help them again, but once again, talking! I have a dead line with the school, which is to finish the whole book by the end of the year. We are suppose to be in chapter 2 or near is; we are only in chp1:2!!!!! I just don’t know how to get the kids to listen. I really do want to help, but I can only do so much. They have to meet me half way.

September 5, 2007
Wednesday

Today was a better day. Things started to move smoothly. I have this one student in my class, Chimnol. He is so cute. I would have to say he is one of my favorites. He has this pouty face. When he doesn’t understand he comes up to me holding his pencil and paper. He talks to me in Khmer, obviously, but I know what he wants. He is just so cute!! I could just kiss him on the cheeks and hug him to death; if only. Srynut, is a girl and is cute, but I think has some kind of learning disability. She doesn’t ever pay attention, and can’t sit still. Today I had to move her right next to my desk. Any assignment, I’m having to sit and watch her because she’ll color all the pages; Try Try Net is another student I’m having to do the same with.
Math today went a little better but not much. I think I’m just going to have to do a seating chart. I talk to Sharon about the 7th graders today and she said to try it out a little more, and try different methods of teaching. So tomorrow I think I will have each student read a problem and have one person figure it out on the board. We will see.

September 6, 2007
Thursday

So I did move the 7th graders. I don’t thing their to happy with me. Oh well. If only they would have shut up! I did try to make all the students come up and do a problem on the board, but it still didn’t help the noise level. Oh, the other day I had a board assignment really easy. Two of five questions were personal. None of them turned it in on time. I told them they have 10 mins to finish the board work. As I counted down everyone must have expected me to just expect it late, but I didn’t care if it was 3 seconds late, I didn’t except it. Some students came up after I said time was up, but I just looked at them and said, “I don’t except late work.” I kind of felt bad, but at the same time, if I’m not strict their just going to walk all over me.
My kindergarteners were just as sweat as possible. I think their getting more comfortable, because some students are showing their monster side.
I’m so happy tomorrow is Friday. I just want to sleep. Every night for the past week I go to bed at 8ish and wake up at 5:30ish. We have to be at the school by 7 for teachers worship. I like to get to school at 6:30. it only takes about 5 mins on a moto and 10 to 15 to walk. The moto rides are 25 cents, 1000 ruos. The exchange rate is really good 4000 ruos to a dollar.
………….Just pray that I get through to the 7th graders.


September 7, 2007
Friday

Yes, it’s Friday! Today school was only a half day. LOVE THAT! I didn’t so any work today. Today is just a day for me to relax and take is what happened all week. After school we went to the markets and shopped for food. We also went swimming. It was really nice. For a dollar we can swim all day. The pool was in the back of a nice hotel and really BIG! No one was there. Katrina, Heather, and I had the whole pool. We didn’t stay to long because we had to get ready for Sabbath; clean house, laundry, ect…. Later on after sunset we had a meeting with Kim and Ben to have worship. It was pretty fun. Ben gave a talk about the girl washing Jesus’ feet. I don’t remember the name of the story in the bible, but hopefully you know what I’m talking about. Katrina and I went to bed pretty early. We were just exhausted from the week.

September 8, 2007
Sabbath

Today we sang songs with Ben and Kim. Bringing my flute up here was a big mistake. I don’t consider myself a great flute player, so when Ben and Kim want me to play I just shy away. I really do want to play, but I also don’t want them to truly know how bad I suck.
So, on Saturday I wanted to play my flute alone down in the conference room, but before I knew it Ben, Kim, Katrina, Rithy, and Rit (teacher) wanted to play and sing songs. I was kind of annoyed, but whatever. Today I was also feeling claustrophobic. Our apartment is not all that big and when Sabbath comes we can’t go out and play out on the grass. There is just no where to do this, except down by the river. But the only thing is if we are seen riding a moto or tuk tuk we could be considered bad Christians. If the river was in walking distance and if I knew where it was then I would consider it.
On Sabbath we just sing songs. Its fun, but going to get old over the year; I can’t wait till I get back and play in the grass. Oh! Another thing is I couldn’t really relax at the river because people are watching you and waiting for you to forget something, and the beggars are unbelievable. I do feel bad for them, but if I help one then 30 will come. Sometime last week while we were at the river this beggar come up. I don’t usually look at them, but this one I couldn’t help myself. He had the size of a medium blown up balloon bulge growth in his neck! Unbelievable!!!! I think the beggar noticed I had to take a double take and wondering if I was going just stair or pass the dough. I stuck to my rules and didn’t help any because not enough. Oh! This reminds me of another beggar. She was this sweat little old lady, so fragile and weak. I feel pity on the beggars here. Their nothing like the ones we see in the states. At least state beggars have the option of going to a help house (whatever it’s called). Here, everyone fends for themselves. SAD….