Five Fun Things We Did In Kindergarten
1. Played new games and read new books.
We started off the trimester with some fun new things. The new file folder games and new superhero books were a huge hit!
2. Celebrated 100 days of school.
To celebrate being "100 days smarter," we ate 100 jelly beans, made necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops, played a relay race with 100 stickers, and made sunglasses with the number 100.
3. Had our first PE class.
What do you do when you find you have an extra 20 minutes before recess? PE class! My kids absolutely loved the spur-of-the-moment activities. Obstacle course relay races on the playground was a favorite for everyone!
I really value the importance of learning about other cultures around the world. Our Around the World unit in social studies has been great for that! This week, we started studying Mexico. We had a lot of fun making Fiesta decorations for our classroom.
5. Learned that militon is NOT an animal.
This is militon. It's an everyday vegetable in Haiti, much like potatoes and carrots.
To give my students a break from sitting on Friday, I had everyone stand up for a quick round of Act Like An Animal - a game in which I call out an animal and everyone in the class acts like it.
Me: "Act like a kangaroo."
Class: *hops around the room*
Me: "Act like a lion."
Class: *roars loudly*
Me: "Act like a......"
Synthia: "MILITON!"
Five Moments to Cherish
1. A silent question.
It's 7:30 and the school day is dawning. My feet trace the dusty path that leads to the school building and I begin preparing my mind for the day that is about to unfold. As I make my way into the building, I am surprised to find my path blocked by Synthia, who has her hands in the air and a silent plea in her eyes. Hold me? she asks without saying a word.
And suddenly her legs are wrapped around my waist and her arms are tight around my neck and her head is nestling into my shoulder. Again, her silent plea is louder than words. Love me? she asks.
My rocking arms and gentle embrace give a simple, yet silent, reply. Always.
2. A crisis averted.
Davis has managed to make it through nearly 4 days of school without any major outbursts or fits - a huge accomplishment for this tantrum-prone five-year-old. Unfortunately, the streak has to break eventually...so I'm not surprised when I turn around to find him pressed against the wall, sobbing loudly, with large tears rolling down his cheeks.
Glancing from him to his virtually-untouched lunch, I know the problem without having to ask. Stooping in front of him, I wipe the tears from his face and speak quiet words of encouragement in his ear. Soon, he has allowed me to coax him back to the table where he reluctantly lets me to spoon warm corn into his half-open mouth.
When the tears have dried and the food is gone, I tell him how proud I am of him for finishing his lunch - but even more so for conquering his tantrum. I keep him there a minute longer - just to savor the moment - before sending him to the carpet to read with the rest of the class.
3. A family moment.
Like any normal afternoon, the Green House is full of the inevitable hustle and bustle that ensues when you have 13 kids. I'm sitting at the dining room table with Edline, the lioness of the house. Strong, passionate, and full of love, Edline definitely qualifies as a hero in my book.
As I talk with my Haitian mom, Melissa's hands are weaving in and out of my hair. Lousna is running back and forth, popping in and out of the room forgetfully. Velise is learning to cook spaghetti in the kitchen while Esther tries to convince me to stay for dinner...in five hours.
In the presence of my Haitian family, I wonder if anything in the world could be better than the simple beauty of life they have discovered and fostered here in this house.
4. Beautiful conversations.
Dance Worhsip - a ballet class for little girls that I teach in my home - is something I always look forward to, but never more so than today. Recently, our devotions have centered on the topic of beauty. After warming up and stretching, I call my young dancers to me and have them sit in a circle on my living room floor so that we can begin our devotions for the day.
We talk about beauty - both inner beauty and outer beauty. We discuss the importance of outer beauty and the fact that we are made in God's image. That He created our skin, our hair, our eyes, and our bodies. He created them and He loves them - and that makes them beautiful. Then we discuss the importance of inner beauty - the way we love God and love others. The way we treat people. Faith points out that when we are beautiful on the inside, it shines through and people can see it on the outside. My heart overflows with love for these girls and with the joy of having the chance to help shape their understanding of beauty.
5. A sleepy reminder of my call.
It's a warm afternoon. The air is stiff and heavy around us. The large hallway, which is full of benches and chairs for Friday chapel, is crowded, making it especially hot. I can feel Ana in my lap fighting her sleepiness. As we close our eyes to pray, Ana looses the battle and is carried off into a dream. I shift her carefully into a more comfortable position. I can feel her breath against my chest, slow and free of worries. Rocking her in m arms, I am reminded that this is why I came to Haiti. To care for the orphans.
I can't think of anything I'd rather do.
Five Things I'm Excited About
1. I finally got around to hanging some pictures on my wall. =D
2. I've been working hard to sort, organize, and label ALL of my classroom books, so that we can have a new classroom library! (Pictures to come when it gets set up!)
3. 7 years ago, my mom and I got on a plane and went to visit my brother in New Orleans. Now, she and I are planning New Orleans: Round 3 to go see my brother graduate with his PhD from Tulane University. I couldn't be more proud!
4. This song that I heard for the first time and really love.
5. For a few months now, I have been taking an adult dance class in town three days a week. I LOVE dancing and I am so excited for our recital coming up in June!
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