Starting teaching/weekend out of Managua

Last Monday was my first day at school.  It was only a staff work day but it was really nice to get to know the other teachers and the school without the worry of kids.  I meet my cooperating teacher who is very sweet and I am very excited to be working with her.  We also are doing a book study for professional development which I am really excited about.  I realized my need and desire to be constantly learning more professionally and this definitely is helping to fulfill this desire.

Last Tuesday I met my kids.  I don't think I have ever been so nervous to meet a groups of 20 six and seven year olds.  It is kind of hard because some of the don't know as much English and the kids usually talk to each other in Spanish.  This has been especially true after coming back from a month of winter break.  It's kind of difficult situation because I want them to be conversing with each other and doing think pair share but I never know if they are on task or not.

This week I have taken over writing.  It has been an adventuring figuring out what works and what doesn't with all ELL kids in a very open environment where it's usually fairly loud.  Have three little angels that don't seem to want to do any writing but I have already seen improvements in there stamina to write.

Yesterday I came home very frustrated and overwhelmed by the whole experience.  I called my mom and she suggested really focusing on building relationships with my students.  Today this was my main focus and I have to say it made it much more enjoyable.  I am beginning to appreciate and get to know the little personalities in my class.  I know you aren't suppose to have favorite but let's face it I have a little tiny favorite.  This little boy is seven years old and I have nicked name him the mob boss.  He is absolutely hilarious and always has a comment to say after every class discussion.  He also loves food and money and is very good at ordering people around.  The thing is they listen to him because he just has that mod boss way about it.  My teach and i constantly are smiling at each other when he does something that is mob bossish.  :)

The other really exciting thing is that we got out of Managua this weekend!  It was awesome!  Managua can kind of kill your spirits and so it was nice to see other parts of Nicaragua.  On Saturday morning we went to Granada for breakfast.  It was SO GOOD!  We went to a place called Kathy's Waffle House and then toured around Granada.

Above is a picture taken from the Cathedral's bell tower looking over at Lake Nicaragua.  The largest lake in Nicaragua

This is the cathedral!  I think it is so absolutely stunning!

This is a video of La Laguna.  We went to an overlook on Saturday then went swimming in it on Sunday! So much fun and so beautiful!

This is at a the Monkey Hut Hostel.  If you ever visit Nicaragua look it up! We went swimming and ordered pizza which was super good, but Sarah got sick after eating it.  As you can see though it's a little piece of paradise.

To get in you jump off the end of the dock.  We then swam out to the far floating dock.  I hope you can see it in this picture cuz it's kind of far away.  The water was really choppy this day so I was exhausted swimming out there and back...plus I had run Sunday morning so getting out of bed on Monday was a bit of a challenge. :)