Monday, February 15:
Acto cívico
On Monday, we began our day with a ceremony to both welcome the students to school and to provide information on how to live a healthy lifestyle and ways we could make the school a healthier enviroment. We were also given a demonstration on how to prevent the spread of dengue, chikungunya, and the zika viruses. The entire school community chipped in to do their part around the school grounds to clean up the garbage, clear out the gutters, and do everything to ensure the prevention of mosquitos that spread these dangerous viruses. Kínder 1 and I were in charge of cleaning up the garbage in the area just outside of our classroom. Once we were finished with our civic act we went and visited the library for a short video that again described the ways in which dengue, chikungunya, and zika can be both spread and prevented.
When Kínder 2 arrived, we proceeded with our day as usual because the civic act only took place during the morning. Our days start with two-three songs that get the students ready to get to work, one song is about a snake that searches for it's tail in forest, another is a counting song based on skeletons that wake from their tombs. Although Kínder 2 arrived in the afternoon on Monday, they were still able to view the same video in the library in order to ensure the students an education about the three viruses transmitted by mosquitos and how to prevent them. Because February is the month of Healthy Lifestyles, the students also learned about what living a healthy lifestyle meant by discussing the types of food that are nutritious, how important physical activity is, and why these are essential to grow up to be strong and healthy.
This was the first week that I got to work with Kínder 1. I am now working in two classrooms, both at the Kínder level but both classes are very different from each other. I am grateful for the opportunity to see the differences between the classrooms but it can be a tiring task to remember the way that each teacher runs their classrooms because by the end of my next week here, I will be the main teacher running the classes.
Tuesday, February 16:
In Kínder 1 on Tuesday we discussed the right and wrong ways of using the bathroom, brushing teeth, and washing hands. There is a bathroom in our classroom but the students struggle with the idea that only one student is allowed to brush their teeth or wash their hands. This is something that we are continually needing to remind them of. In Kínder 2 we continued with our instruction of colors, sizes, and shapes. The students were given an image to color in according to the shapes that appeared in each space of the image. (Circles=Red, Crosses=Green,Stars=Pink) The students also got the opportunity to visit the computer lab for the first time today! |
Wednesday, February 17:
Kínder 1 began their day in the computer lab on Wednesday. Our time in the lab was spent learning the rules and the different parts of the computer. Because the air conditioner in the computer lab isn't working, we were unable to practice using the computers. Our art activity of the day was ripping newspapers into thin strips that would be used the next day to create homes that would then be painted. |
In Kínder 2, the students brought a toy from home to describe to the class based on color and size. This was to continue the learning of both shapes, sizes, and colors of objects. This is the first week that the school lunch room has been in service. Kínder 2 has the afternoon schedule this week which means that the students are provided lunch to eat. The government of Costa Rica budgets enough money so that all students are able to eat for free each day.
Thursday, February 18:
In Kínder 1, I got to read the story How Dinosaurs Go to School (In Spanish of course!) As to be expected the students loved it. It doesn't seem as though the students here get read to in the classroom very often. I have been doing my best to incorporate as much reading as possible to give the students a chance to be read to, something that I believe is very important for students at such a young age. |
Kinder 2 has been going to the greenhouse, located at the back of the school grounds, every afternoon to make sure that their plants (lettuce, cilantro, onions, cucumbers, and red peppers) are giving sufficient water to thrive in the dry environment. The goal with these plants is to produce the vegetables that are required to make a delicious and nutritious salad.
Friday, February 19:
La Escuela de Excelencia Los Geranios
The door on the right is the entrance to my classroom with Kínder 1.
The view at the front of the school.
Hallway one, The door with the children on it is the computer lab.
The main hallway.
The main office area.
Another hallway in the school.
Center of the school.
Saturday, February 20:
Jaco
Saturday morning, Brittani and I woke up bright and early at 5AM to catch a bus to San Jose where we would then take a taxi to get to a bus station that had buses going to Jaco beach. Jaco greeted us with 95 degree temperatures and a nearly cloudless sky! We found a hostel to stay in right away after arriving in Jaco and then once we had our things in our room we went straight to the beach for the remainder of the day! This was my first time in the Pacific Ocean!
Once the sun began to set, Brittani and I made sure to be on the beach so that we could capture the spectacular views of it setting right over the Pacific Ocean!
Sunday, February 21:
Sunday morning Brittani and I got up bright and early once again thanks to the sun beating directly into our room! We got coffee and some breakfast before getting onto the hot bus for 5 1/2 hours. It was nice to get back and have a cold shower before resting for the rest of the evening and preparing for another full week with the kiddos at Los Geranios.