The first day of school!!

Well the first official day of school, with children, has finished. It is now five o’clock and I feel like I can relax. I have made the list of things to do tonight and have organized the class sufficiently enough for my peace of mind. Now I think I will go home as soon as I finish my blog entry. Overall, as a cooperating teacher once told me, if they are all still alive then everything is okay. Everything is okay!

Actually, this day has been great! It was really fun to finally have my own class and to be able to do things the way I want to do them. However, because I have never really done this before, I am still designing systems. I am working out how many baskets I need, etc. They all have exercise books for each subject that I keep here and need their own baskets. Then there is a place to put homework, work to turn in, etc. It will simply take time to create these systems. There also have to be behavior systems that are designed around this schools system and that will take some adjustment. But now everyone has two cubbies, and there are enough exercise books for all the students. In time though all the other things will be fine.

As far as my class is concerned, they are wonderful! I only had 19 students today because the rest are still coming back on holiday, but they are all terrific. I had two new students, both of whom are ELL learners with first language French. I have never been so glad that I took French instead of Spanish in high school. One of the students spoke some English, but the other used 0 English. It was kind of fun to use my ESOL endorsement in my teaching. I really needed it today!! Overall though, I think they will do fine. I also have a couple of students with IEPs who were also wonderful. I really enjoyed differentiating for them impromptu. Their schedule is not really set, and my lessons are not really grounded this week so I had not planned ahead for them. I did however, differentiate enough for them to participate in everything. I think it was successful.

I hesitate though to say that all went well because there is always, always room for my own improvement. However, overall, I think the students had a good day, and I did as well. I also think that with the first day of school jitters out, as well as a few seating changes, tomorrow will go well. I now have my first day of school nervousness out, and am ready for tomorrow. It know it is going to be a good school year!! Yay for this job!

Adjusting to the first year teaching in Uganda, does not seem like it will be any different from adjusting to teaching in any other school. Of course, most of this is due to the fact that I am teaching in an International school, but otherwise everything in my training is proving exceptionally useful in the classroom. I have used my SPED minor and my ESOL endorsement today, as well as sooooo many other things. I have to adjust to a new school, a new handwriting style (which was the most difficult part of the day-writing everything in legible cursive), and a new curriculum. But, it is absolutely a lifesaver to have two other teachers who know what they are doing, as well as two exceptionally helpful TA’s to assist me.

Overall, it has been a good day! Other than that, I think I forgot to mention in the lack of blog that I have been settled into a new flat in Kampala. We are upstairs which means our balcony views the valley below and at night we have a good view of the city lights. It is quite nice, and I do not spend enough time out there! The rest of the flat is quite comfortable. I have a stove with an oven!!!! This is my favorite part, as well as the hot water heater for warm showers to wake me up in the morning before school. There is also an extra bedroom for visitors!!!! Hint, hint. J It is also very close to the school so I can walk when I feel like I need more exercise or I need to get some extra energy out. God truly blessed us with this flat. I think it is a very good fit for us, especially compared with the other teacher’s houses, (which are wonderful but just different).

I could probably go on and on about things, especially how God is truly good, and is watching out for my new family, job, and life. However, I should probably leave school before six so I need to stop now!

Oh help!

I am so ridiculously behind I am afraid I will never catch up on this blog. I am so sorry to fail you here. I would love to sit down and fill the pages with update after update, but I do not think I can spare the time at the moment. However, I finally have begun to have a better internet situation. We moved to Kampala about a week ago now. Since being here I used an internet cafe once, but it was very slow. I am currently happy to say I am using the wireless at my new school!

Okay, enough about the internet. I am at school after another day of Induction and meetings. I am overwhelmed by the amount of new information I may or may not have taken in. However, I get a break for the weekend.

Oh, I need to talk to the headmaster before she leaves. I will write more later....I promise!

The music lesson

Well, I want to try to write more frequently while I have internet access readily available to me. Besides yesterday was such a good day, I can't resist writing about it. It of course was Sunday, and church was wonderful. We rode to church with the COTN children, so I sat with them for the first half of the service until they left for Sunday School. I always love watching children worship the Lord. I was worshiping and I think my worship was increased by watching these young youngs praying and dancing before God. I know they made God smile yesterday. After the service I spent a little time with my little friends before going home.

At home was my first ever flute lesson. I am teaching Eddie how to read music and how to play the flute, (together of course). He has to be the best student I think I will ever have. I have to say that I was quickly impressed by the speed that he was learning. At the end of the lesson he could read and play five notes. He could play them in two octaves, though it was a little more difficult for him to read them in both octaves. All in all, I immensely enjoyed playing my flute and teaching someone else the same.

Other than that, I think I may have told a few chicken stories to some people even posted them on the blog. I want to continue the chicken stories here now. So, I was taking a short nap the other day and the chickens had already come into the house to try to lay eggs. I had shooed them out, and so I almost closed the door as I laid down to sleep. I had left it open maybe two inches, yet I woke up to a chicken in my house! Those are persistent chickens who want to lay eggs in my house. Then the next morning...Eddie went into the living room to discover a chicken on our table. In his attempt to chase the chicken out of the house, I think the chicken knocked over (or almost knocked over) every glass sitting on the table. It was quite humorous to watch, and I enjoyed Eddie having a turn to chase the chickens from the house! :-) Silly Chickens!!

Well, I think that is extent of my stories for now! When the chickens do the next silly thing, I will keep you updated!