It’s been a while since I wrote anything here. I don’t know why. Maybe I’ve been extra busy with school, exam season having just finished up this week. Maybe I haven’t been in a writing mood. Maybe there’s just not that much to say. Whatever the reason, I’m in a writing mood today, so here we go.
I’m starting to get to a point where I see the end of the road here in Paraguay, at least for the time being. There are still three months left of school, but we’ll probably finish our book material before October. That’s sort of exciting but also daunting because it also means I need to fill two months of school with invented material. Jason Steidl, you can be expecting an email from me soon for ideas.
The kids are generally doing well with some outstanding and some not really getting it. I suppose that’s the life of a teacher. It really sucks to give a kid a D when I see they actually try really hard in class. With my grading system, it’s really hard to get an F unless you just never do ANYTHING. It’s getting tough these days with some classes because the material is getting more complex. The 6th graders are learning more grammar and less vocabulary, so the exams are harder as well as my instruction. Sort of the same with the 1st graders, but at least they can still use pictures to relate material (“How many trees are there?”). I am really enjoying being with the 3rd graders because they’re getting out of the basic basics and entering into a bit more complex material, and most of them seem to be picking it up.
One of my favorite things I’ve experienced is when I see the spark of understanding go off in a kid’s brain. I have one student, Carlos, who at the beginning had no interest in English and figured he’d never understand so he didn’t want to try. These days, he’s one of the first in his class to raise his hand to try to read and answer questions. He says he likes English now. With others, I can see at the beginning of new material the confusion on their face. Then all of a sudden as we’re working, they breathe in real quick, their face lights up, and they throw their hand in the air to answer a question. And then they answer it correctly. I think those are my favorite moments.
Please pray for someone to be convicted to come for next year. It would be great if they could come very soon to be in class with me and get to know the kids. So far we haven’t heard from anyone. Also pray that Spring Fever doesn’t drive us all crazy (Friday was *really* difficult for all of us) and that discipline can still be maintained in the classroom. Finally, pray that I can find material to do with the kids to use up the two months we’ll have left. Thank you all for your support for me both financially and spiritually. It means a lot and is felt profoundly.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.
Two words for end of the year fun: tiger movie. Oh yes– and the Max Lucado movie where the wooden doll people have to wear stickers or stars, in English, and then in Spanish. Good luck, man, and may God guide you in coming up with some ideas.