So I realize that I'm not very good at keeping this current. I'll try to do better :) Anyway, life since the last post has been pretty steady. I've been able to do some cool things, both at school and away, and I'm feeling more and more comfortable here.

In terms of the classroom, I am finding myself being more and more involved, which is great. I have been helping co-teach lessons since the beginning, but I've gradually been doing more and more of them. This week I start teaching full-time and I am so excited. The planning process for this has been a little stressful, but I'm excited to get going. One thing that is interesting to me at this school, and I can't decide if I like it or not, but the principal is SUPER involved in the planning process of all lessons. Each week she meets with every grade level/subject team and discusses their plans for future weeks. She is sure that their objectives, activities, and assessments are all aligned and well-thought out. She also has them do mini reflections for each lesson taught. I think she uses these for evaluation type supports, but I'm not sure.

I like that she is really involved because she has a lot of great input. She wants to be sure that every lesson consists of direct instruction (teacher lecture), guided practice, and independent practice. She is an advocate for small/cooperative learning activities, to an extent. I like her involvement, but it seems to me that it may be something that could be delegated. I'm not sure...I can't decide. For me, as a first year teacher, it would be nice to have someone who was so involved in my learning and supportive in helping me understand the ways the curriculum standards are directed. I don't know...

One thing I got to do last week on Thursday, was go with my 4th graders to Guayabo! I have never been with students on a field trip before and it was so cool! Guayabo is located close to the city of Cartago, in the Province of Cartago. It's a national monument that consists of Pre-Colombian ruins dating back to over 4000 years ago! We hiked through the rainforest discovering hidden secrets left behind by these ancient civilizations. Our students had been placed into small groups in their Social Studies class and they researched different native tribes from this era. This was a very neat experience for them to see that their research had led them to correct information, and they were able to put their hands on the things they had only read about. How many people get to experience something like that?!?!


The field trip was a very powerful experience for the students. At the park, with the ruins as their backdrop, the students presented their research only to be congratulated by the expert tour guides that were with us all day. They all felt so proud of themselves by the end of the day. It was a LONG day, 12 hours, but every minute was worth it. I was given the opportunity to gain insight into something that the locals haven't even seen. I kept telling people where I had been, and many of them had no idea where I was. I feel very fortunate to have been given that experience.

The past 2 weekends have been great for excursions. Not this past weekend, but the one before, we went with Rachael's friends to Heredia. We stayed there one night. We managed to go to a semi-pro soccer game (Heredia vs. Limon, both provinces in CR), have dinner at a mountain top restaurant/karaoke bar/discotec, hike Volcan Irazu, and visit amazing botanical gardens. It was a lot in 24 hours, but so fun! You'll have to check out facebook for more pictures, because I can't really describe in words just how awesome it was.



This past weekend Rachael and I ventured for the first time to the Caribbean side of the country. We spent the weekend in Puerto Viejo. This was a different kind of experience for us, and not quite what we had expected. It was beautiful, but it rained all day Saturday, which didn't give us much to do but nap and read. Both things were of course done sea-side, so no complaints, but I think I would have rather spent the day on the beach...I know...I'm a brat.

One thing that we were told A LOT before going to Puerto Viejo was to be REALLY careful with our things as theft has become an increasing problem. We are already aware of how not to be idiots while traveling, but I think the amount of advice was just too much, and quite frankly freaked us out a little. Now, when traveling in Costa Rica it is extremely important to keep track of your things and not flaunt your self as a tourist and what not. But I think that had we been a LITTLE more relaxed, we may have enjoyed ourselves a little more. But, overall no complaints. It was very nice to get out of the city and onto the coast for the weekend.

This week has started slow. I seem to have come down with some sort of illness, I'm not sure what but I am sure that I'll be fine in a couple of days. I think the next couple of weekends will be spent around Santa Ana/San Jose. As many of you know Twilight comes out on Friday, and we're not going to miss it. Call us nerds or whatever, but they're showing it in English at the Multi-Plaza, so that's where we'll be on Saturday...with all of the Twi-hards.

The next couple of weekends will be slow but nice. We're saving funds for our traveling that will come in a few weeks. I think the biggest expense until then will be the movie and a pedicure for $3. I'm pumped. Well take care and I'll try to do better at keeping this more up to date. :)