Thursday, March 6, 2008

Drama, Drama, Drama...

If any of you have read Cady's latest blog update, you will know what I am writing about.

This week, the dentists are here. That alone, strikes fear in the hearts of any child at Sonlight. Since there really is no dental care around, we are lucky to have an amazing dentist who gives a week to come and help all of our students.

After seeing the dentist, our kids then get to have their teeth cleaned. They get to pick a prize out of the box...and who doesn't love prizes!! Shelldens loved her neon green basketball headband..

On Tuesday, we had to send home notes with our kids about getting vaccinations. So yesterday was the fateful day. I thought we were going to be okay, we had talked about it, but then...the vaccination people got a little confused. They all came into my classroom with their supplies, came to the front, and lined up. This created a little bit of freaking out (I would have too!). They left and went outside, and after recess it began. Most of my students were coming back in with smiles on their faces, and told me how strong they were. Then I had 6 girls who were bawling. Wailing. Crying so hard you would have thought their arm was about to fall off. Who loves getting shots?? Not these girls!!

If the students didn't bring back their sheet signed, they weren't able to get their shot. Most of my students brought their sheet back, some had already had their shots, and then there was Sophiana. Sophiana's sheet said no...and she was so upset!! So she sat at her seat, tears streaming down her face, all because she wanted to get a shot.

I really and truly hope today is better than yesterday!

Friday, February 29, 2008

Al George

Al George is one of my students. He has a very political name!
He is very funny...and always laughing. He gets all the little hidden jokes inside of our stories (which is hard for my kids since they don't always comprehend the background) and loves to make up stories of his own.

It seems right now that Al George loves me. He has told all of the students around him...and in the past two days, I have received many small bits of paper with the following written on it...

"I want to cise cise Miss Ashley" (cise is translated in 1st grade language to kiss).

Its good to be loved...even by a 7 year old!

Where did our puppet go??

My roommate Cady is a professional prankster...from the stories I have heard...she became a legend in college! So it comes as no surprise that she has now begun her pranking in Haiti...the targets, my 1st graders!
Cady 'puppet-napped' our favorite puppet, Jackie Chan (my students lovingly named him). On Tuesday morning, she 'sent' us a note that said something is missing from your classroom. What is it?? After we decided that it wasn't Vasthie (who was out sick with chicken pox...as you can see below), we realized that it was the beloved Jackie Chan.
So I have taken this opportunity to use this time to teach...hard to believe I know! But we are writing letters, describing him, and working on our sentences. The students have been really funny about it, and are always asking me if I have seen Jackie when I leave the room for just a second! Even yesterday in the late afternoon, I saw one of my students who asked me if I had seen Jackie Chan, and then asked me if he was in the box that I was carrying! It will be a funny day once we find him! I will keep you posted!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Blame It On The Rain...

Today I had a flashback...with the help of a CD from Thom. Thom and Cara go through their CD's and then send them onto the White House girls...so we can see if we want them! Today, I had a sack full of CD's on my desk...and the first ones I pull out are burned, then I pulled out an amazing copy of Milli Vanilli...Girl You Know Its True. No joke! Now if my students are going around singing songs such as "Girl You Know Its True" or even "Blame It On The Rain"...its not my fault!

Monday, February 25, 2008

The Zipper Man

So there is this man that comes to church on Sundays that I have affectionately named the Zipper Man. He’s in his late 50’s (I am guessing) and is very involved in church. I noticed this last year, and really thought it was so funny. He comes to church with a little lunch box that zips around. In that lunch box, he carries his Bible, his hymn book, and another book. All three of these books are zippered around the covers to protect the pages. I am hoping that he has stock somewhere in zippers...

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Suzy Homemaker...

I have been little Miss Homemaker today (Mom, Grandma, you would be proud!)
This morning when we got home from church, I decided to make some cupcakes. Then, Cady and I had to talk about lunch, and we were having Emelien and his brother Josue over for lunch. So I then made some baked spaghetti. I was proud of myself today!!
Having Emelien and Josue over today was so much fun. Emelien works with John at the school, doing construction. He is 14, and has picked up English with John's help. He works hard, is super responsible, and easily one of the sweetest kids I have ever met. His little brother Josue, is in preschool, although he is 7. Josue just started school this year, and so he is starting a bit late, but working really very hard. These two boys are just amazing...and after an afternoon of silly dancing, laughing, singing, and translating words from English to Creole and vice versa, I felt very satisfied as Suzy Homemaker!!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Birds...

I have a fear of birds...and not because I think they are scary, I think many birds are beautiful, I just get nervous that a bird is going to attack me and peck out my eyes. Dumb huh?? And I think I only watched the movie "Birds" once!!!


My students during recess like to be creative. Many imagination games are taking place all day...and they love to use anything they can find in their games. A few weeks ago, my kids found these pieces of a tree that had fallen off and were laying on the ground. They collected them, put them together, and made 'nests'. Then they came and grabbed my hands, pulled me over, and showed me how they were the birds and they had made nests. I think I can handle these birds!