Beginning Days In the School

The past few days have been full of relaxing and teaching. Saturday some people went scuba diving and a few of us stayed back and went to Maria's for fresh juice that was amazing. We had pineapple orange juice. It was cold and very refreshing. Then we went to George's again for breakfast and it was delicious again. We spent the whole day lounging around at the pool and then went to dinner. We had the poker run with everyone that night. It was really fun. We got to ride around in the golf carts they drive here. At every place we stopped, we got a card and whoever had the best poker hand or something like that when we got back to Pedro's won some money. It was a lot of fun. No one really understands how the winner was decided. 

We decided to have four people on the back of our golf cart instead of three. They aren't really rules here about driving.

Sunday was another relaxing but fun day. Some of us wanted to try out the church and went to the English mass at San Pedro's Catholic Church. It was the same as at home, however they did not sing the responsorial psalm and when we did the offering prayers, children read them. Also, the priest's accent was very difficult to understand. There is no air conditioning which is farely common here beccause it costs so much. There were doors open and fans on. The church was right on the beach and very hot and sticky. 

Then we went down to Carribean VIlla which is Peter's ocean resort for the BBQ. The sailing club was out practicing in the water so that was really cool to see. We also had six innertubes stringed together and floating couches to sit in the water with, which was really relaxing. Then for dinner we had our welcome dinner at Caroline's Cafe. The food was declicious and she closed the whole restuarant for our dinner. Everything is made fresh right when you order it, so it took a while but it was well worth it. I had fresh pineapple juice and the vegatarian pasta which was angel hair pasta with brocolli, califlower, carrots, onion and bell peppers in a cream sauce. It also had garlic bread with fresh garlic. Everything is so fresh here and I love it.

Now today is Thursday and we have been in the schools the past 3 days. I am with Miss Mazy at Isla Bonita in Infant 2 which is the equvalent of 2nd grade in the United States. The ages are more first grade though. My students are all 6 or 7 years old and adorable. The day starts at 8:30 with an assembly. Then we either have spanish or social studies depending on the day. Next the kids have a 30 minute break where they mostly all go out and buy tons of sugary things whether it be candy or soda. Then they come back in and we either have DEAR time which is very different than in the US. The students read out loud and we  walk around helping them if they get stuck on any words. Then the students have science, healthful living or PE. They only have PE once a week and the teacher teaches it to them. Next we have math for an hour. Then the students have an hour for lunch and they can go home if they want. A lot of the kids do and not many of them eat the school lunch. Ms. D is nice enough to provide all of us lunch for free and it has been amazing so far. Then we have an hour left of school for language arts. From 2 to 3 is "evening school" where the students who need extra help stay a little bit longer and get a little extra lesson. A lot of the kids run around and play until 3 when their parents come and get them anyway. Some of the older kids just ride their bikes or walk home alone. 

Once I get back from the school I have just been hanging out by the pool, eating dinner and pretty much going to bed early. Planning isn't a huge thing in the schools here. I taught math yesterday and since there are not a ton of resources, it was very different. We used the clocks the students had made and their math notebooks to write the times we were saying down. Today I am taught a lesson on phonics and the hard and soft sound of "g". She showed me the page she wanted me to teach them and it was only 2 sentences. That is very different for me. I have to take two sentences and create a lesson that will last an hour while also teaching the students what they need to learn and make sure they understand it. It went really well though. First we reviewed and I gave each student a work and they had to tell me what letter it started with. Then I taught them the meaning of a hard and soft g. I said some words and had them all tell me if it was hard or soft. Then they took notes on the difference of the two. That is weird for me too. I have never seen 6 and 7 year olds taking notes. They are only a few sentences but it takes forever since they are so young. Then they had two workbook pages to complete and most of the students did farely well. Today was Miss Eve's birthday who is a lady who really cares about the school and contributes money to them no to the students to be able to go. Even at the public schools, the students have to pay a small amount to go. We had a small assembly for her and sang happy birthday. We all got a piece of cake and she let all the students out at 2 today. so we all got to come home early and spend extra time at the pool. Some students had a small drum line which was super cool.

In the school I have just been walking around helping students do their work while also teaching. Few lessons. There are a few students are behind in the class, so I might ask to pull them out some like I would do for special education because that is something very new for the people in Belize. They are not really sure what to do with the kids when they are behind. I would love to try and get the two kids who are having trouble reading to read a little better by the time I leave. 

One of the biggest difficulties I I have had so far is not having resources for when the kids are not understanding things. For the past few days I have noticed my kids are having a really hard time with telling time. In the States I would have worksheets for extra practice or I would show a video that would help them remember. I also do not have internet to help me find something to do. Instead I have had to come up with the "videos" myself thinking of fun ways to remember if it is asking quarter past the hour then we go forward in the hour but quarter until the hour we go back and hour. Also, I kinda of had to make the worksheet myself. I wrote problems on the board and had them do the times in their notebook and went around and checked them. It is also really helpful having 13 other teachers here because when we are having trouble coming up with ideas for something, we have each other. 

It has been great so far and we have some exciting things coming up soon!

To my Murrayville students, do you guys have any questions about the school or Belize or any questions that you would like me to ask my students here?