En la escuela (In the school)

Marie and I have now taught for 4 days in the school here in Sumpango. Let me remind you that it is the beginning of the school year for this children (they started last Thursday). So far it has been a success (at least we think so!). Many of the teachers are on strike, so many students do not have class. Strikes here are normal, though, because the teachers are not part of a union. I think this will make it more difficult next week when Marie and I start teaching our own classes and are literally a week ahead in some classes. Oh well, welcome to the life of a teacher. :)

This week, Marie and I have been teaching all the grades together wherever there are teachers present. We have taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. It has been good to get some practice in together. We have been reviewing the alphabet and numbers mainly. Many of these students have been taught by other English teachers from the states (many from Wisconsin!). One hard part is when half the class has been taught and the other class knows no English. Pray for wisdom for decisions around these ideas.

Here are some differences that I have noticed at the schools in Guatemala!
-classes start at 7:30 and are done by 12:30 with a break in the middle of they day for a snack
-the classrooms needed to be painted, so they painted while we were teaching!
-it is not uncommon to see younger brothers and sisters in the class (one little sister was so cute!!! I could even understand her Spanish)
-Marie and I were trying to find the classroom we were going to and found some second graders (I think). They were so excited to see us and gave us a huge group hug after they helped us find our class.
-The school is almost entirely outside, it is surrounded by a fence and a gate that is locked during the day.
-It is not uncommon for students to miss school for teacher strikes and many holidays (much more than the states)!

My Spanish has definitely been improving! It helps to be surrounded by it all day, speaking it during instruction, listening to students, teachers, and family members speaking it, and watching movies and T.V. shows en Espanol with Spanish subtitles. I've only been here for one week! I can't imagine how well I will be able to speak Spanish (I hope) if I continue to study and intentionally listen and speak it!

From Guatemala!