Te Quiero Mucho Teacher.

At least once a week I think about my decision to join Peace Corps and become an English teacher. If I was being really honest, sometimes daily. On the service side of things, I think about that fact that I'm missing my sister's last 2 years of high school, including prom and softball games.  I'm not doing activities that I loved and made me feel like me, rowing for one.  I'm missing a whole bunch of things, with a whole bunch of people I love, who live thousands of miles away. I have doubts about the one thing I was so sure, so excited and worked so hard to get accepted into. I talked about Peace Corps non-stop before my departure with anyone who would listen. So why am I having this internal struggle...I got exactly what I wanted. With regards to my career, I'm a first time teacher. No teaching degree, no experience, working in three (count them... THREE) elementary schools. I organize, I plan, I make, I teach first through sixth grade and its hard, so hard for me. I struggle. I get tired. Sometimes I get lazy and just don't want to plan. Most time I don't even know if I'm enjoying what I'm doing, is teaching for me? Lots of time the answer is no.

Then little, tiny, quick as lightening moments happen with students and it completely turns me around again.

The most recent quick as lightning moment happened at Escuela El Carmen. I ride my bike to the school, about 20 minutes outside of my town. It is the poorest of the three schools I teach at. The schools is set up much the same as the others- two classrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen. There are enough desks and chairs for students but all other resources are scarce. I have to say, out of all three schools, I enjoy myself most at El Carmen. It is the best fit for me and I can't put my finger on why, it just worked out that way.

This past Thursday I was giving a lesson, my second to last for the day. I was giving the second graders a lesson on weather in English. (Sunny, Cloudy, Rainy) To have a little fun with learning I decided to make a weather dice. I gave each student a piece of paper that had an outline of 6 connected boxes, some of which had white tabs. Inside each box was a picture of one of the types of weather. Students colored the pictures, then cut out the connected boxes, folded and then glued the tabs in order to make the weather dice. Once finished gluing, the students tossed the dice and repeated the English word that corresponded with the picture face up.

During the gluing and cutting part of class, one of my students came to show me his dice. I said my usual praise of "what a good job! I love the colors you used, so creative!" before he turned to sit back at his desk he passed me one of the scraps of paper used to make the dice. As I was opening the paper another student came to show me their work as well. Daniel jumped in front of the other student and said "no, this paper is only for you." So I waited to open it. When all of the students where at their desks playing I opened my secret note from Daniel. It read, "Te quiero mucho," with hearts and a picture of a girl (which I assume is me). It was short, done on an impulse with scrap paper, but it made my day. No one told him to write a note, he just decide to draw a quick picture and say something nice. I'm sure he doesn't know I'm blogging about his small gesture or that he made me happy and impacted the how I was feeling about teaching at that moment. To be honest Daniel made me feel reassured of my decision to join, happy with being a teacher and that I was wanted. All of those feelings from this little boy who decided I was a nice enough person to receive a "te quiero mucho" note. 

Up until yesterday I was not happy with teaching. I'm not sure why that particular gesture changed my perspective, but it did. Since I began teaching students have given me positive comments that made me feel good, but didn't change the fact that I wasn't enjoying what I was doing. I don't expect to be fully in love with the job everyday (its a tough job). I don't know if teaching is my longterm path, but for now I fully enjoy visiting El Carmen and am so happy with being a teacher at that school.

Thank you Daniel for getting me out of my funk, doing something kind for someone else, and being the cutest darn second grader I know.

Book Donations! Please and Thank you!

Greetings from your favorite Peace Corps Volunteer,

As you all know, I am serving two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica. I was accepted to the TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language program and have been living in Costa Rica since October. Currently, I work in rural Northern Costa Rica at three elementary schools and teach grades 1-6. These students are receiving English classes for the first time. So exciting for the kids and schools! 

The Challenge: These schools have basic materials and little funding to meet the needs of their students. Forget about English resources, there is nothing. I spend a majority of my time preparing for class by drawing, writing and making all materials for my students. 

The Need: Children's Story Books! This would be an amazing tool for teaching English. I am looking for book donations from friends and family who have outgrown their books. All types of children's books would be greatly appreciated!! I plan to take themes from books and create a more interesting fun lesson out of the stories. For example: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," I could use that story to teach days of the week, numbers, colors and food. 

The Sad Factor: Children don't read for fun. There is no reading circle during school, bedtime stories at home, or book clubs during vacation. Books are expensive, many families can't afford to purchase them. As a result reading for fun and to promote learning is non-existent. I made a small picture book, complete with illustrations, for a 1st grade class to teach numbers 1-5. While reading the children where completely focused. They laughed when I spoke in funny voices or made silly faces. At the end of the story, I asked the students what was their favorite book to read? No response. Through a little more talking I found out that this was the first story book that had ever been read to the students. It made me so sad, because I loved bedtime stories, especially when my parents read to me. I still remember my favorite books and can't wait to read them to my own children one day. This is why I would love to incorporate books into my lessons. Firstly, to show that reading is FUN! Secondly, to use as an English resources and something I can leave behind that the children can continue to use after my two years of service.

Books: These are just ideas...I will gladly accept and use anything you find to donate. THANK YOU!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?

The Rainbow Fish

Anything by Dr. Seuss

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

The Little Engine that Could

5 Little Monkeys

Good Night Moon

The Story of Ferdinand the Bull

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Guess How Much I Love You

The Berentstain Bears

Any book, all books would be an amazing gift for my students and something I know they will love.

If you find books you are willing to donate they can be sent to my mom or myself. If you are interested in donating please email me! I will give more details and contact information for send the books.

My email: julianne.davis23@gmail.com

THANK YOU/GRACIAS!

Julianne

The Wiggles

I never thought I would have The Wiggles on my itunes let alone ipod. Now I dance, sing and teach English with my Wiggle cd. It was probably the most fun I've had with my 1st - 3rd grade students. We learned how to shake, nod, clap, jump and stretch our sillies out, and wiggle them all away today.

In all seriousness it is a great tool. I'm going to use the song "Dr. Knickerbocker" for the parts of the body lesson, "Fruit Salad" and "Hot Potato" for different types of food... etc. The kids got so excited when I pulled out the stereo, everyone was listening and participating...most importantly speaking in English! Its hard to come up with activities for the youngest groups, there are only so many times I can ask the kids to repeat a word then color the picture before they revolt. Plus, they get rid of excess energy they may have used to interrupt or distract others in class.

If anyone has children cd's that your family has outgrown, including holiday music, please let me know! I would love to use as much music as possible.

"Were gunna shake, shake, shake our sillies out..."

Jazz Chants

Thanks to our IST-In Service Training, I learned how to make and use Jazz Chants in order to teach English.  They are a big hit with both my elementary school students and adult community class students.

A Jazz Chant is a rhythmic poem you can create in order to teach vocabulary, grammar structures, commands, etc. Verses are often repeated to reinforce the lesson and it is not necessary to make everything rhyme. Students can simply sing the words alone or add clapping, snapping or stop their feet to the rhythm. When students feel comfortable with the vocabulary you can separate them into groups and make a sing-off competition. 

In order to teach Jazz Chants;
1. I introduce the vocabulary or grammar structure by itself. Write it on the board and have students copy the information.
2. I bring a hackie sack with me to every lesson, another great tool. I pass the ball around and quiz the students, then let the students ask each other.
3. I write the new Jazz Chant on the board, which incorporates the lesson into the song and have the students write it in their Jazz Chants mini book.
4. We practice singing! The first couple of times I sing a line and the students repeat.

With younger students I like to make paper bag puppets they can use to sing the song. Sometimes we change our voices to a higher or lower pitch or make dances to go along with the words.

In all cases, elementary or adult, the students have a lot of fun learning the songs and spend the rest of the day singing what they learned.

In my Adult Community English Classes they are learning: introductions, greetings and basic conversations starters. For example: Hello, good morning, What is your name?

Here is of the Jazz Chants I use to teach this subject...

Hello good morning

How are you?

I'm fine, thank you (x2)

Hello good afternoon

How are you?

I'm good and you? (x2)

Hello good evening

How are you?

I'm bad (x2)

GOOD NIGHT!

(students like to shout the last line)

Last night I challenged my students to write their own Jazz Chants using the vocabulary we practiced and any other English words/phrases they know. It was a big success! One group came up with a chant that I think is hilarious!! Here it is...

Hey, good morning

Good morning (x2)

What's your job?

I don't work (x2)

SORRY!

My host brother's group came up with that Jazz Chant. I couldn't be prouder...hehe

I hope they will let me video record some of their songs in the future.

Nature Girl

I live in a tropical climate, which means lots of bugs and weird animals. Its awesome when I get to snap a shot of a sloth, or a toucan is chilling in a tree outside my window. What I'm not use to is finding all the other creatures inside my home. When people come to visit I feel like their should be an entrance fee for the wildlife exhibit, do not pet the animals sign and a departure rabies shot. (Well, maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration, but my house is always full of surprises!)

        

              



On the plus side, my reaction timing has improved, the flying cockroaches love aiming for your head. I'm going to be great at dodge ball when I get home. Who wants to start a team?

Most recently, a bat has decided to make his home in our bathroom. He doesn't do anything, except hang upside down in the shower. I use to get surprised when I would go to use the bathroom, look up and find him right next to me. Now I think he is kind of cute, plus he eats the spiders and mosquitoes.

The most irritating is the gigantic herd of mice living in the ceiling above my head. They love to come down on the other side of my wall into the house and fight. I use to be really afraid of them, especially at night, but now I feel like I'm in that Disney movie, Ratatouille. Remember the scene in the beginning where Remy, the main character and a mouse, is in the old lady's house. He was looking for food to bring back to the colony of mice when the old women walks in with her shotgun and starts shooting. Remy and his brother try to escape by climbing back into the ceiling where the family lives, but the old lady shoots too many times and the ceiling caves in. Hundreds of rats fall down into the home and begin run everywhere. That's my room. I'm the old lady living below a colony of mice who are a few gun holes away from caving in on me. My mosquito net will save me right?

IST- In Service Training

March 22-31

IST- In Service Training happens 3 months after swearing in. TEFL is a pilot program, the first English education group for Costa Rica. Therefore there are a lot of issue to work out. IST was much needed and appreciated. 

Tico 21, my Peace Corps group, got to stay at the Crowne Plaza Corobici for 10 days. I walked into this swank hotel after 6 hours on a hot bus, rocking my chaco sandals and camping backpack. I'm not exactly their type of gringo customer. I was sweaty, dirty and my hair was more of a don't than a do. There was air-conditioning, hot showers, I had 4 pillows all to myself and a flat screen t.v. with shows in English! We were there to work but it felt like a mini vacation. 

Training was amazing, we were able to vent about the negative and learn about all the successes. I felt like I was able to get back in the driver seat and take control of my projects and not let them control me. I gained direction and perspective and feel more prepared to work with my schools and community. Thanks IST!

Finally!

I've been waiting 6 months to get a picture of a sloth!

When I arrived in my community I asked what kind of animals lived in the area. Coope has many different species of birds including toucans, there are congos, sloths, iguanas, ect. It has been my mission to get photos of a sloth, toucan and congo.

I told my host family that I love animals and would like to take pictures because none of these animals live where I do in the states. Before long the whole town knew that I wanted to take pictures of animals. Since then, people come running or call my house in waves to tell me which animals they have seen and where they are.

Today was the day I finally got my picture of a sloth. It was in a neighbors yard in a small tree. I could have reached out an touched it! Did you know sloths hiss?