Latest and Greatest

• This last Tuesday I presented a lesson plan I made for one of my ed classes---(my class of 14 girls and 1 boy suddenly turned into 3rd graders! :) It was based off of my research topic, which I also had to present on, which was ELL (English language learner) students. I had them do a fun and interactive activity based on the new food pyramid, "my plate". I think it was a success!
• Today, for the same class, I observed in a 4th/5th Spanish dual immersion classroom for 4 hours. Dang it...now I want to teach 4th and 5th graders!  Haha...I think I would probably love to teach any grade though...except kindergarten......:)
• I keep getting more stoked every time I observe in bilingual rooms, although it just shows me how much Spanish I have yet to learn! :/ However, the teacher I observed for today was pretty encouraging. He is from Mexico and said I had a good accent at least! He also said I should help out in classrooms to get better. I wasn't aware that I could just "help out" in classrooms! But anyways, I'm gonna need to do SOMETHING to boost my Spanish skillz by about a million!
• Oh yah, anyone want to pay for me to go to Latin America this summer? ;-)
• I also felt kind of special because the teacher introduced me to the class and later when we were working in the computer lab, a girl raised her hand and said "Señorita Susana!" to ask me for help. Pretty legit.
• I now have the most stressful part of school behind me--it was crazy week with the big presentation/paper due, plus a recorded interview with a Spanish speaker (my friend Blanca from El Salvador) & write up, and the 4 hour observation plus write ups.
• When I went to Blanca's, she served me homemade pupusas from her country that are so delish--thick tortilla with refried beans & cheese inside, with coleslaw & salsa on the side.
• Ever since I've had my email pal/friend from Brazil in high school, I've wanted to go to Brazil... but after watching this move in Spanish class, all I want to do is learn Portuguese (the coolest sounding language, BTW) and go to Brazil and live in the slums and be with the children. But really, there's more moments I want to leave the country than being here. Lord help.
• On the Charis front, we have been interviewing girls for next year already and are praying about next year's management. It still feels like we just started and yet it's almost time for next year! It's kind of a relief in a way though.
• 27 days until Israel!!!
• Well, my brain is fried so that's it for now! Sorry if this was the blog post from Boringsville.

Happenins

Howdy. Sorry it's been awhile since I've written last.

{16 credits+ Charis+ training for Shamrock+ preparing for Israel+ helping plan for a friend's wedding=  BUSIER THAN I WANT!}

 

It's been a good term, though, busy as it may be. Definitely good in learning time management.

"TEACHER-WISE", here is the scoop....

• For those of you who don't already know, I turned in all my application stuff for student teaching and I'm good to go!
• And I am oficially going ESOL/BILINGUAL!! This means I will be student teaching both in Spanish and English and doing my work sample in Spanish.
• Ahhhh! To the last bullet. Have I mentioned how freaked out I am because I definitely am losing a lot of my Spanish? Well, that's besides the point....but I just knew deep down that's the choice I was supposed to make and that it would really challenge me but excite me at the same time.
• I'm taking 2 TCE (ed) classes this term and LOVIN them! For one of them, I get to read this textbook....and I literally can't put it down, it's so fun and good! One of those books that just makes you want to teach RIGHT NOW. Here are some bad pics...

 
• Hmm...what else to say? Oh yes, I will most likely get my first choice to ST at Garfield Elementary in Corvallis. ESOL/Bilingual gets first choice, so booyahhh.
• Well, even though it's Friday night, this girl never gets much of a break so it's back to the books for me!
• 33 days until Israel, which is all paid off by the way!!!!
• Next term I will only have to take 12 credits, which will be awesomeeee.

So long for now!
Suz