A wrap-up of the last week
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2008
1
6
130
Trip End
Aug 01, 2009
Amman,
Jordan
Monday, August 25, 2008
I was ready as I could be and am thankful that I had a pile of things that I had done last year to fall back on. Hurray for actually keeping track in a teacher's planner. :-) In 11 years of teaching, last year was the first time I had ever kept track of what I did. See? Old dogs can learn new tricks!
How many kids to I have? About 125 and we are waiting on about 6 kids that are MIA.
Where are they from? Even more countries than last year! Finland, Sweden, and Germany are some of the new ones. I also have a lot more local students too.
I am enjoying my new room and have put in the request for bulletin boards so life will be a little more colorful when they get up. I can't wait-it must be the elementary teacher coming out!
The first week was "getting to know you" activities. Some of the kids groan but most were really good sports about doing the games and things I had going on. I did a map of "Where is home?" and saw where these kids call home. Some of them have moved more times than me and definately to more countries! It was also good to see a lot of familiar faces in my class and brought a sense of "normal" to 7th and 8th grade classes. My advisory this year is again 8th graders. They are a hoot! Luckily this year is a mix of 8A and 8B rather than just one group all together all the time. We did an activity that timed them on following directions which is always a hard skill to have.
Opening activites
Remember middle school? Talking reigned supreme in things to do at anytime! They got it down to 1:24 and now the other group is taking on the challenge to see if they can beat us. Good luck!Thursday night was the staff back to school gathering at the superintendent's home. A group of us met at Starbucks first and then carpooled over there. I remember last year when I thought I would NEVER be able to find that house but now I am able to lead a group of people there! What a difference a year makes. :-) After that was drinks and such at the Mancuso's and that is always fun and relaxing.
Friday morning was Starbucks again. This morning the O'Leary's joined us. Diana is the new elementary principal and her husband is teaching HS Social Studies. After coffee, Anita and I drove them around Swefiya to the bakery, nut shop, veggie stand and sweets shop. It was fun to be able to show others around as people did for me last year. I bought fresh figs-oh, are they good! Once I got home I made a batch of my fig jam and finished that just in time to head back to Starbucks. I went there to meet Terri, Lisa, Anita, and Stephanie(new chem teacher) to go to Souk Jara and dinner for Lisa's birthday. I love going to the Souk and am sad that I only get to go once as this Friday is the last day due to Ramadan.
Saturday was quieter. I made chocolate chip cookies, another batch of jam and cooked veggies to have on pasta for Sunday at Anita's. I read some in Eat, Love, Pray for book club on Monday and then Anita came up for awhile to watch tv.
Sunday was the news shows at Anita's plus a full day of school. Week 2 has begun!
This week will be fun as we take the MS kids to Al Wadi water park on Wednesday and then I leave on Thursday pm for Tel Aviv to meet up with Barb and Les for the weekend.
More later-
PS-Happy Birthday Auntie Betty!!!! Here's a big hug for you!
