This week, Miss Lauren had the opportunity to teach her own lessons, and it was more than she could have asked for!
My co-op asked me if I would like to take over teaching the math lessons for the kids and I was elated to start teaching! She gave me the teacher's book, some paper, and some markers and let me prepare for the lesson the next day! So, I created some anchor charts and a movement activity to help the students understand the different types of angles (obtuse, acute, and right). I was ELATED to see that the kids listened to me well, and understood the material I presented! What I was even more happy with was that they understood me while I taught in Spanish. Even throughout this first lesson, I could feel the fluidity in my speech getting better and better every few minutes. It was like the less I worried about it, the easier it got.
Below, you can see a picture of me with my lesson and also all the smiling faces after it was done!
My co-op gave me positive feedback and encouraged me to continue teaching the next few days this week. I was also able to teach the kids about parallelograms and different types of triangles. My favorite activity we did with the triangles was I had the kids move around the classroom to the "iscoceles, equilateral, or scalene" spot depending on the descriptions I gave. They LOVED it because it was a game and I loved it because it was a formative assessment to let me know whether or not the students understood the types of triangles. My co-op asked me if I have done that before in the United States, and I told her no - I came up with it on my own. I've have lessons where I have asked the students to move before but not with this particular topic, so she was happy that the students were able to move around!
This week, I also helped my co-op teach physical education and led the students in stretches. It felt good for me to stretch too (and I got to wear comfy clothes to school that day - what a win, win!)
Today, I also helped the english teacher and taught the kids the ABC's in English. I got to sing in class, and the kids sang along with me - it was so fun! *Shoutout to Mom - I can see why you love teaching music so much. The english teacher and my co-op are now asking me to teach the kids a Christmas song in English before this experience is over - challenge accepted. The problem is..which song? I will take suggestions!
My co-op also has a class store where the kids can practice buying snacks with their Peruvian soles. Instead of using a $, the money is written as S/. 2.00 (which is 2 soles). Below, you can see a picture of me hamming it up with the class store. They loved this activity and I did too!
My classroom is only about the size of 2 Burke Hall rooms *Shoutout to all my fellow past and present SNC students. If you're not/weren't an SNC student, the class is about the size of a suburban with 2 extra feet on each side *Mom and Luke you should know that pretty well. All in all, there really is not much space for a lot of movement. The classes are also more traditionally taught with the teacher writing notes on the board and the students copying them down. Also, all of the writing on the board is done in cursive, which is a challenge for me. My co-op says I can write in print but I still try and do cursive sometimes. *Shoutout to Connor because you're the only person who's not in Peru that I know prefers cursive. You would thrive here.
Also, there is not any technology in the rooms and the school shares one TV. So if I want to show an educational video I can use that! My co-op is encouraging me to think outside the box and still have the kids take notes, so I am taking that to heart and I am so excited!
Here's 4 updates from the week outside of school:
- Maeve and I were invited to go to a Spanish class twice a week. We agreed to it, and actually are really enjoying it! The teacher is Peruvian and he is so passionate about the country. We are reminded of grammar rules (I really needed that) while also learning about the cultures and habits of the people here! It's really helpful! Below is a photo of the class...*Please ignore my outfit, I know it doesn't match...Oops.
- One of our new friends is from Saudi Arabia and made us dinner! He made lamb and last night was my first time trying it. Let me just say, it was amazing (shocking, Lauren loved a type of food). *Shoutout to Ralph - we will have to get some in the states sometime!
- Maeve and I tried a new type of fruit called "granadilla." There is a picture below! You have to crack the fruit like an egg, then suck out the seeds from the inside. Even though it was weird to eat, we LOVED it. It's kinda like a pomegranate, but with less of a crunch? *Kristin Schmitt, I think you would really like it!
- I really love all the people who are here with us in Peru: our host family, their friends, the teachers at the school, etc. I really feel blessed and they are starting to feel like family! Gracias a todos!
- Lastly, the highlight:
So Maeve and I wanted to watch the Packers v. Lions game at an American pub because we wanted a little taste of home. I remembered that the Packers do a #RollCall on twitter where you can tweet a photo from where you are watching the game and sometimes the packers might re-tweet it *shouout to Sam for the reminder. So, Maeve and I took a picture, I tweeted it, and WE GOT RETWEETED BY THE PACKERS!! You can see the famous photo below. There may or may not have been a few tears shed. It's fine.
Unfortunately the packers lost, I lost a bet (*Shoutout to Nate - I got too confident...we'll see the lions in December), but Maeve and I WERE seen by the Packers. So you win some, you loose some I guess!
This weekend, we are going to watch the Peru vs. New Zealand Soccer (fútbol) game, hangout around Lima, and continue to make memories.
Next week, I am going to be continuing to teach math and some science as well! Stay tuned to see how Lauren teaches the water cycle *Cue the flashbacks, Meghan McGorey. :P
Hasta Luego!
Lauren