School, Spanish, Silly, Savior

Wow. This past week was a very heavy school week. I spent every night working incredibly late. One funny story I had this week was while I was teaching multiplication to my students and my principal also happened to be observing during this time. Now for this story, do remember that I’ve joked about how great my English has become. My student had raised his hand and said, “We have to do multiplicating.” And I responded with “Yes. We have to do multiplicating.” without even realizing that that’s NOT a word!!! My principal laughed and then I realized and said, “Yup. I speak English.”  The influence of ESL speakers is great.
I also learned a hard lesson this week about how exactly to do report cards. In few words, I messed up big time and got to redo them, and I will NOT do that mistake again. The grading system here is frustrating. It’s incredibly strict.
A 95%+
B 88-94%
C 76-87%
D 70-75%
F 0-69%
It’s so hard too to grade things. Other teachers…help here!!! With smaller assignments that don’t have as many questions and what not, I only make them out of for example 10 points. If I decide to grade each question, get one wrong and you’re already at a B. It’s strenuous.
My student Leonel has returned to school. He’s incredibly smart kid. Thankfully the burden is off my shoulders of it being my personal responsibility to get him all caught up. Luckily he’s an incredibly smart kid because when he took the money test without studying he got a 97%. Incredible I tell you.
This past Friday I had Parent Teacher Conferences which were all in Spanish. They overall went really great. The one mistake I made was giving a mom the wrong girl’s report card. I have 3 sets of students that have the same name; therefore, it was unlikely to happen. This mom freaked out on me in a gentle way. She whipped out all of the papers I’ve ever graded and sent back home to show me. I couldn’t believe it. I also had electronic and hard copy of my grades and soon realized the problem. We both were embarrassed. However, overall they went ok. It was good to have parents on my side for the most part. However, most of them were concerned as to why the child got honors or not. If they “usually do” then they were disappointed. Guess what folks? Fourth grade is not 3rd grade!!!!
This weekend has been great with Friday: PTC, granitas after, played pool, sat in a furniture store , and joined up with friends for great laughs and baleadas. They are great. Saturday: grocery shopping where I finally found things I’ve been looking for for months now, church group, church, ate at the Wings Factory, and chilled at a friend’s house for the rest of the evening. Sunday: woke up early to venture out with my group from church to go to Santa Lucia to celebrate two friends’ birthdays. It was super fun to be with them. Pictures to follow soon I’m sure.
One more funny story before I go. When we walk down the street we get all kinds of attention. We’re used to ignoring it by now. However the other night someone got original besides just “Hello. I love you.” in the worst English accent ever. This man began singing “Pretty Woman.” We just started laughing. I even turned and smiled and said nice job. It was hilarious. I was glad I could appreciate it too.
Right now I feel like I’m pushing to Thanksgiving. The time is passing by. I can’t believe it’s been 3 months already. Wow.
Well, I leave you with this prayer.

My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
Your will does not mean
That I am actually doing so.

But I believe that my desire to please you
Does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
In all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
Apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
Though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
-Thomas Merton