The 2015-2016 school year has begun at Santiago Christian School!! We are currently in our second week of school. What a busy time of transitions. I have 22 students, each with unique personalities and so much to offer. My first day was as nerve wrecking for me as it probably was for most of my students. I had put so much time into making sure things were ready, but I still didn't feel completely prepared. My students arrived early and filed in with their parents, carrying backpacks full of school supplies. I tried to learn names and remember what parents were with which students (I quickly forgot). Parents took first day pictures of me with their students. I put on the front of being a confident teacher while quaking inside. We were off. The first week was spent going over and over procedures and classroom routines. It wasn't until this year that I realized the importance of spending a good amount of time on procedures. We are still continuing to review and practice often this week. My days consist of teaching, lesson planning, and early nights to bed. The heat has been a major factor in the energy level of students (and this teacher!). This makes afternoons difficult for teaching, but we are learning to adjust one day at a time.

Teaching here has been quite different in many aspects. We start each day with morning meeting, which is a good way to begin the day. The students greet each other and we do an activity as a class. Each morning I write a morning message to them to encourage interaction and remind them of what is going on that day. It sets the tone for our day. I've been teaching them the procedures for games from the Everyday Math curriculum each morning. Next week we are starting Everyday Math lessons, and having pre-taught them some of the math games will make it easier to play the games that go with the lessons. They are gone for most of the morning to their special class of the day (Art, Music, Technology, Library, P.E.), Spanish (which is daily), two recesses, and lunch. My core teaching time is in the afternoon, which is when I teach the Reading Street curriculum (including grammar/spelling/writing) and Bible. 

We were desperately praying for rain from this tropical storm to cool things down some, but we haven't gotten any yet. There is another round coming though. I used to think the 80s were hot, but after having temps around 100, I'd take anything cooler. There was a slight breeze the other day and one of my students commented that he was cold- I had to laugh. Low 90s cold?

I'm still learning to be very flexible. If I have something planned that worked in the states, but doesn't work here, I find a different way to do it. Getting frustrated or impatient doesn't help me reach a solution. Besides the heat, the noise is taking a while to adjust to. There is the constant sound of the fans, the older students playing outside the window, water bottles clanking on the desks, etc. Complete quiet doesn't exist. Even when my students are quietly listening, my voice is straining to be heard. 

I'm also learning to ask questions. At first I didn't want to bother anyone and am used to being completely independent, but that wasn't realistic. I didn't know what to do in an earthquake drill (we didn't have them in Illinois), I haven't taught ESL students, and I hadn't taught this curriculum before. I need help! And God's given it to me as I've humbled myself and asked.

Balancing school and home life has proven to be difficult. I told someone that it seems I eat, breathe, sleep school. There just wasn't a break. She reminded me to be patient with myself as I adjust and that it's only the first week. I've had to make an effort to give myself time for other things, even if it's simple things like going out to eat with friends after a long school day, reading a book, or watching a movie on Netflix (thanks to my roommate). This past weekend I had the option of lesson planning all day (in a hot apartment) or having a girls day out seeing all the great stores in Santiago and I chose to put aside schoolwork for a few hours. I chose to eat out with friends and try an ice cream called "My Love". By Monday I felt refreshed, ready for a new week. I learned I have to find and maintain balance for me and for my students.

My days begin early. I could complain about how hard it is to get up, but there are so many positive things that only come from early mornings. I'm thankful that I get ready before the sun rises and the heat kicks in. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with God before my day gets crazy. I'm thankful I have time to be prepared for my students to walk into the classroom (usually). I'm thankful for the times of staff worship and devotion two mornings a week that set my mind in the right direction for the day. I ask God to turn my complaints into praises.

At the end of each day I look for the blessings in the midst of my tiredness. I remember the short one on one conversations with students at recess, I hear the laughter as I fall off the sidewalk trying to make sure they walk on the sidewalk, the smiles after success, the chance to encourage a student having a rough day, the excited chatter about after school plans, etc. God reminds me this is why I am here. So tomorrow I will get up and see what the day holds....