Summer break is over and so is my birthday vacation. This means that Kelly and I are back into the swing of our normal routine here in and around Salcajá. The clock has started on the last quarter of our Peace Corps service.
I hope that I have hit the ground running with my kids. I have learned that getting back into school is hard for teachers and students alike. I am currently working at two schools and teaching in about 9 classrooms. The kids seem to be reacting well to the course so far.
This year has been especially challenging right off the bat. In one school we have experienced an unexpected raise in enrollment. This in turn means more students per classroom and more effort to keep everyone on track. The first day of school we did not have enough desks for all the kids and one class was held on the basketball court. I can really look back and appreciate the small class sizes that I had growing up. Now I understand why teachers are always reminding people the importance of a small student to teacher ratio, because it makes the process of learning so much more efficient.
Aside from the normal life skills classes, I have been asked to look into what it takes and costs to set up a chemistry/physical science lab for my smaller school. This year we have a new building and the staff believes that these kids need more science education. (Someday I will explain the Telesecundaria education format) If anyone out there knows anything about setting up a simple lab for middle school, please let me know where to start.
This is why it's called the dry season
The end of our street
the Castle of Salca
Random old machine
The View on the way home from school
The road between home and work
Making Collages
Sharing goals
Sharing goals
sharing
The clouds rolling into the valley
My Students
On the playground
Playing Games
Break
Chillin on Don Ricardo's Van
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