Ces't La Vie

Today during recess a group of my students were following me around.  A teacher on the yard noticed and admired the relationship I have with them.  "They love you!"  She said.  I told her I loved them too.  I feel like an important female figure in their life.  These children look up to me.  It's pretty cool.  I have never really had anyone look up to me before.  Knowing how much of an influence I have in their lives prepares me for the immense impact I will have on others in the future.

Props

Props always make a lesson more engaging.  Children do not like to just sit around and read straight out of their workbook.  So today when I took out the slow learners group; after having gone over the entire lesson with extra time to kill, I thought of a way to make things more interactive. What did I do?  I took out my cell phone and picked out short text messages that they could read.  They thought this was very funny.  I would have them read the text message and then decipher it by telling me its meaning in Hebrew.

Another prop that goes over well is the light up microphone I bought from the liquor store across the street.  I test my students by asking them how to say a word in Hebrew and only when the microphone gets passed to them are they allowed to answer the question.  This teaches them to be patient and not shout out the answers all at once.

Hanging out with my 1st grade student singing into the microphone.

Some People Dream Of Success, While Others Work Hard & Achieve It

Today the 5th graders were preparing for English standardized testing with a listening comprehension exercise.  One of the low achievers started to sob during the middle of the exercise.  She did not answer one question because she did not know any of the answers.  All I wanted to do was go over to where she was sitting and comfort her.  But I could not.  Instead I watched her as she pulled her sweatshirt over her face to hide her tears.

Throughout the entire year I have been working with her; although, she refuses to learn.  She goofs off during class, she doesn't listen, she doesn't apply herself, she cheats-- and she knows less English than my first graders.

This has showed me that you need to earn whatever it is that you want to achieve.  The amount of effort you put into something results in the success of your yield.  My student is a shining example of this principle and experienced a harsh reality check as all the other children breezed through the exercise.

Enthusiastic.

Hanging out with my darling 3rd grader during Recess.  Her name is Liel.  She loves to give me bunny ears.  She lives near me and sometimes we walk home together.  Whenever she sees me she erratically runs up to me with her pink rolling backpack.  She is a firecracker, just like me.  I look forward to seeing her, as she puts a smile on my face.

Good Deed Day

Today was Israel's national Good Deed Day.  The entire school received t-shirts that said "Doing Good" on the front of it. They spent their time repainting the school- from its fences to murals to buildings.  The children were running up and down the schoolyard with paint all over their clothes, hands, and faces as the sun shined down upon them. It was a happy day and I think the children enjoyed a break from their normal routine inside the classroom.

My fifth grader Osher double fisting the paint brushes.

Touching up the railing.

Being meticulous. 

Picking up trash.

Painting a mural on the ground.

Proud of her mess.

Oy Va Voy

In case you're wondering how my students feel about English, this pretty much sums it up!

Free Like A Bird

Rolling around on the lawn at the Caesarea ruins.  

Isn't it beautiful?

How lucky I am to experience such a beautiful place on Earth.