More Than Just Teaching

I am back!

2011-04-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

hello followers and visitors!

I stopped posting for some reason that is not important anymore. The thing is that this teacher is back!

God gave me the chance to teach the same group I taught last year :) !!! so I am truly happy about it. I have many stories to share and some pictures to show ! and as a plus this year : My best friend is now my co-worker! amazing huh? :D

These are some of the photos of our end-of -year play . (October 2010)

:)

2010-02-24T17:30:00.000-08:00

I love the group of kids that God gave me this year.

I have two groups of 11 and everything has worked

perfectly so far.

The only thing is:

Are 5th. graders' parent supposed to be

so...

(let me find the adjective)

hmmm

I can't find it.

Well, I would probably act the same way.

Here's a question

2010-01-11T20:45:00.000-08:00

How can a teacher be disrespectful toward a

co-worker and talk to their kids about

RESPECT ?

and then we complain

when our kids

are mean to others.

The beginning is near....!

2010-01-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

Every day we get close to the new school year here in Guatemala. Teachers, as you know, are the first to go back to school to prepare the classrooms, the material, the environment, everything!

I am truly grateful to God for giving me this job and allow me to be learning so many things these days through all the workshops and conferences we have received in these two days.

The school will beging an anti-bullying program which sounds really great and it sounds like we will have the perfect tools and preparations to stop that ugly movement before it begins!

I am really excited, which is surprising cuz I thought I wouldn't feel this way :)

There are some new teachers that are very friendly and tha't definetely a GREAT PLUS :)

MORE NEWS COMING SOON!

Some changes

2009-11-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

I'll be 5th. grade teacher next year ....

let's see how I do....

What does this photo have to do with it? nothing. I just like it. :)

The school principal called me to her office. She gave the most kind and reguarding words any principal have ever given to me about my job :) and I give GOD ALL THE GLORY !!!!

The end

2009-10-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

School year is over here in Guatemala. I must admit that having kids with ADD in my class for the firs time was not easy. I had zero knowledge about it and I had to educate myself on that.

I learned so much!

During this school year I grew up and I learned againg how to be light in the darkness, which is one of the reasons why the Lord took me to this school.

I'm not sure about what' going to happen next year, I don't know if I'm staying in this school, cuz part of me wants to go back to THAT SCHOOL where I really felt at home. As I was heading home today , I put it all in God's hands.... I told him that I'm scared of asking HIm what I really want because I don't know what's best for me ! He does! I'm confused right now.

I am absolutely CERTAIN that God made me to be a teacher but my heart really wants to know where He wants me to follow this calling.

I hope that He answers my prayers and could bring peace to this now anxious soul.

In the meantime, I gotta say one single note from a girl made my day and my school year I think! it says " THIS YEAR WASN'T THE BEST FOR ME (she had an injure in her back, she changed school in the middle of the school year, her parents are getting divorced) THOUGH I REALLY THANK GOD FOR BRINGING ME HERE TO THIS SCHOOL, WHERE I MADE REAL FRIENDS, WHERE I MET GOOD TEACHES, WHERE I LOST MY FEARS BUT MOSTLY CUZ I MET YOU. IF I HAD TO GO BACK TO THAT SCHOOL AND LIVING ALL THOSE TERRIBLE THINGS AGAIN, I'D DO IT... JUST TO MEET YOU AT THE END.

I LOVE YOU AND I'LL MISS YOU."

These tears rolling down my face say how much her words touched me and how much I thank God for letting me touch lives for HIS GLORY ONLY!

Being a teacher is a true journey of the heart and I do not want neither can do it on my own.

Good bye schoo year 2009

Good bye to my 24 sixth graders

Good bye to your laughter in the hallways

Good bye to your spanglish speeches

Good bye kiddos...

I'll never forget you all.

Outdoors !!!

2009-10-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

School year will be over in 10 days so as part of the last activities we took 6th. graders to Zuriel Camp :)

We had a lot of fun and I can not believe how these kids of mine won't get tired of jumping, running playing! they're so full of energy!

I guess being 26 is not a great help !

Take a look!

6 weeks...

2009-08-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

+ 2 weeks of evaluation and school year will be over .....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by this time of the year we all are a kind of tired and lacking creativity... so here's where I need your help :)

Schools requires every student to do an oral presentation weekly, like.. kind of show and tell but harder, got it ?

So I ran out of ideas :S

Could anyone be so kind to give me some suggestions for 6th. graders oral presentations ???

Thank you !

A+ Day

2009-08-01T01:48:00.001-07:00

Today was a special day at school... It was called A+ day cuz the kids were supposed to show their parents the hw or project in which they made their best effort. :) and all grades presented a special dance for the parents, and there was a lot of food so I loved it! haha !
I'm loving my school.:)

My kids :) before going out to dance

My kids enjoying the show

some adorable 1st. graders

1st. graders dancing :)

me and a friend :D

3 months more

and school's out !

What teachers make :)

2009-07-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

I found this video in Tangle :)
We all know someone who we REALLY WANT TO SHOW this video to, don't we?
:D

Decision !!!!!

2009-07-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

After 8 years of teaching. I have decided that I really want to do something else with my life.

It's not that I don't want to teach anymore. I think teaching is a gift that God has given me and I want to continue doing it until he says the opposite thing.

The thing is that Passion for PHOTOGRAPHY has been in my heart for more than a year now, and I have been taking phototographs whenever I have the chance. The only thing that was holding me back from studying photography was my own fear.

Today in a Teacher's workshop at the school where I work, one of the psychologists explained how she could handle both her clinic and her photography thing.

She encouraged me to pursue my other PASSION and I'm determined to do it.!

Well, I have done if for a year now, always trying to learn and always trying to take criticism to grow but today I make my decision to take it more seriously and I'm happy about it!

WHO SAID TEACHERS CAN'T BE PHOTOGRAPHERS!!?!?!?!?!!?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shotsbysaii

Teacher's Day

2009-06-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

Today, is teacher's day here in Guatemala.

5 people have wished a happy day to me, 4 former students and my boyfriend.

I miss those years when all my students came to me with their arms ready to

hug me.

I didn't have the chance to be with my friends teachers because we're on a mandatory

break from school due to that weird fever.

Well,

happy teacher's day to myself.

I read a story about a blind teacher. Wow! it is really inspiring

[As a Christian Teacher] You Are The...

2009-06-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Apple of God's eye

Branch of the vine

Child of the Father

Designer of games

Explainer of Heaven

Faithful follower

Grace given example

Hugger of children

Inventor of crafts

Jesus-talking story teller

Keeper of discline

Lover of children

Mentor to many

Nurturing exhorter

Outstanding oportunist

Prayerful petitioner

Quoter of Scripture

Revealer of Salvation

Servant of the King

Temple of the Holy Spirit

Unmistakably called

Vessel of the Truth

Warrior in His army

Xtraordinarily blessed

Yet humbly grateful

Zealot for the Lord!

After 5 months I'm still trying to adjust myself to not being in a Christian School. I guess you can't put a candle under a table. You can't hide its light. God's calling is to let our light shine so others can see Him through our lives.

I'm sure God's purpose for me being in that school goes far beyond an academic thing. There must be something in me [from God] that I can give or show to these kids, even when it's been hard, I must complete the task that God has assigned for me.

I tried to upload some photos of the Science Day at school but It jut won't work.. so here's the link if you want to take a look :

http://http//www.photoblog.com/saiimemories/2009/06/05/science-day-at-school.html

FrusTraTed

2009-05-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

...that's how I feel...

I don't want to write the whole situation here but I want to express how [emotionally] tired I feel.

How to get thought THOSE HUGE WALLS?

[Lord, hear my prayers]

Mother's Day at School

2009-05-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, all my students' mothers went to school to work on a handcraft with their children.

It was a nice activity because they got to spend some time together at school and they made a nice gift.

While looking at them, I began to wonder how my own kids will look like, how am I going to educate them and how will I feel when they say "happy mother's day, mom"... I guess I'm gonna have to wait a couple of years, in the meantime, I will enjoy seeing these beautiful images.

Everything

2009-04-25T17:28:00.001-07:00

Maybe you have watched one of the "Everything skit" video, and if you have, it surely made you cry.

Last year, I showed it to my students and they totally loved it so we decided to present it to the school.

They stayed for rehearsal for days and when they finally presented it, it caused great reactions.

There were people crying cuz they could remember and see what God does for us.

oh, and this teacher felt very proud of them, btw :)

It's been a year but I thought it would be nice to share here.

Jesus showing all creation to His favorite creation, us.

...Jesus, loving us so we can fall in love with him...

...We are seduced by other things that separate us from our True Love...

...We try to fulfill the world's expectations of BEAUTY...

...Now empty inside, we search for a quick "solution" to our loneliness and separation from God...

...When we realize that we can't do nor be anything without Him, we try to go back to his arms but we are too deep in our sin and our enemy wants our soul so it's a constant battle...

...but when we cry to The Lord, He listens, He has mercy of us and ALWAYS comes to rescue US and fight for OUR HEARTS AGAIN...

...and He is greater that all things in the world. His blood cleans us from all sin and we can go back to His arms again.

This nostalgic Teacher says:

2009-04-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

If you're a teacher, please tell me if I'm wrong, crazy or what..!!
Have you ever felt like you will NEVER connect to a new group of students the way you did it with one before?

I don't know how to express what I feel right now... some people call it NOSTALGIA, I call it

NEVER - ENDING LOVE

P.S: Special thanks to :

SMILE, JESUS LOVES YOU

CHRIS

TEACH EN ESPAÑOL

RAY OF SUNSHINE

TATIANA

for their comments on my previous post !!!! you deserve an award ! and hugs !!

Dissapointed [of myself]

2009-04-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

I didn't go to school on Wednesday because I was feeling really sick
I felt like my head was going to explode!
[I hate not showing up to work! I really hate it! because substitutes don't know what to do and how to do it and also because I feel extremely irresposible]

Today, I got late to school so my coordinator wasn't exactly smiling when she saw me in the morning and I totally understand it ! If I were a coordinator, I would react the same way!

anyways....
I wrote a note to her expressing how sorry I am for this DISFUNCTIONAL week :S

Next week will be better!

[NO PHOTO FOR TODAY]

Good thing : One of my students decided to teach me how to play drums !!! yay!!

Since it's my 1st. day off ...

2009-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I get to post something silly and funny...
OOhhh I had a flashback of when I used to play this !! and this is the first time I actually like the results!!
xD



		I will marry Noah.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in hawai in our fabulous Mansion.
		We will have 8 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a pink hummer.
		I will spend my days as a photographer, and live happily ever after.

ohh it's Noah from "the Notebook" movie
:D btw

I know u wanna play too! go go go!!

Just one more day...

2009-04-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

... and we will have a week off ....

yeah, Summer Break

our little duckling wants to go the beach

(at least he's going, cuz I'm not)

How does American grading system work? is it only by letters like A, B, C....? cuz here is all in numbers! students must get 70 points in each subject to pass them.

The Guatemalan Education Department decided to give students a chance to pass the classes they failed by letting them doing some extra work to get to 70 points.

Teachers don't agree with that measure at all cuz they say that if a student didn't use time effectively, didn't turn in homework and failed in all short quizes then he shouldn't get another chance...

My position:

50% in favor

50% not

My favorite things about this week [at skool]

1. In our reading class we read about Petronella hahaha! UNUSUAL FAIRY TALE!

2. I talked to a parent about how God can heal her sick daughter ... [ the seed is in her heart now]

It's so nice to know ...

2009-03-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

...the things your students love and the things that actually describe them as unique human beings. The light in their eyes when they realize you CARE for them beyond their grades, assignmentes, behavior and blah blah blah...is HEART TOUCHING. ♥

He loves collecting cards, cars and he can't live without music :)

She loves dancing and SHE'S SO TALENTED!! She has a special gift in artcrafts too :)

Guess what.... She loves MCDREAMY !! :D ...!!!
She loves to collect stuffed animals and she's fan of skating.

consider this entry UNimportant if you want but

ohhh THESE THINGS MADE ME SMILE TODAY...

Do you know Ms. Powell? if you don't, you SHOULD.

Yesterday I spent some time at her website...and I found TONS OF USEFUL IDEAS!!!!

Her book is on my WISHLIST!

http://www.thecornerstoneforteachers.com/

He goes like....

2009-02-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

Miss, I wanna give you some candies ... may I ?

Me: of course! :)

He gives me the candy and a hug

Next day:

Miss, How come you were not in the school bus today?

Me: well, My dad gave me a ride ...

He hugs me again.

When a child (even when he's already a pre teen) hugs you

you can feel his honesty and just how he is genuinely

giving you some of his love.

... and that, my friends... is PRICELESS...

♥

Today it was Ana Luisa's Bday (The Spanish teacher)

and we had a big celebration!

I organized everything, it was a little bit difficult to hide

the cake, the food, the balloons, the sodas...etc. and GET THE KIDS TO BE

DISCRETE!

lol

but at the end

you won't believe how great

things went

The kids defenetely love her and I feel lucky she's my co-worker.

In this 6 weeks, I've learned a lot from her and the way she manages

her class.

She's a great person.

This has been a good week ...

ughh... I was asked to play soccer today ...

teachers vs. 6th. grade girls ...

I didn't play...

SOCCER IS NOT MY THING

I'VE GOT OTHER TALENTS

Oh teachers won btw

I didn't know about this until Friday...

2009-02-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

The term executive function describes a set of cognitive abilities that control and regulate other abilities and behaviors.

Research has demonstrated that these functions are performed by the prefrontal lobes of the cerebral cortex, in conjunction with subcortical regions of the brain (limbic system). It is only within the last decade that executive functions have come to be fully appreciated for their impact on cognitive and emotional functioning, and more specifically, cognitive inhibition and initiation, self-regulation, and motor output. In general, executive functions are a collection of related, yet distinct abilities that provide for intentional, goal-directed, problem-solving action. Executive functions are conceptualized as metacognition in the sense that they orchestrate numerous subdomains of thought and action.

Executive Function Domains and definitions :

1. Initiate : Beginning a task or activity

2.Inhibit : Not acting on an impulse or appropriately stopping one's own activity at the proper time

3. Shift : Freely moving from one situation, activity, or aspect of a problem to another as the situation demands

4.Plan : Anticipating future events, settings goals, and developing appropriate steps ahead of time to carry out an associated task or action

5. Organize : Establishing or maintaining order in an activity or place; carrying out a task in a systematic manner

6. Self-monitor : Checking on one's own actions during, or shortly after finishing, the task or activity to assure appropriate attainment of goal

7.Emotional control : Modulating/controlling one's own emotional response appropriate to the situation or stressor

8.Working memory : Holding information in mind for the purpose of completing a specific and related task

Yesterday, some experts went to my school to talk about Executive Functions and I quickly associated some problems in my class to the lack of these functions in my students. I even began to wonder if MYSELF COULD BE SUFFERING AN EDF !

I found these articles very helpful

http://www.schoolbehavior.com/conditions_edf.htm

Valentine's day!!!

2009-02-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

I know, I know ... you saw it coming... a typical post of how a teacher enjoyed her Valentine's Day..

I haven't celebrated this day in ....6 years!

so let me be happy!

hahaha

LOOK AT ALL THE PRESENTS/CANDIES I GOT!!

Ok.. that's NOT the point!

LOOK AT MY KIDS!! They are all wearing red because there was a competition called

"RED HEART" in which every kid had to wear as many red clothes as they could

and the winner would get a pizza! This section didn't win but the other did so

I was happy anyway

Then we gave gifts to each other and ate some delicious food

and this note was probably the thing I loved the most about this day

It says "happy Valentine's Day, You are a very

entertaining teacher and eventhough we don't know each

other so well yet, I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH."

Thank You God for this AWESOME DAY!!!

The instructions were...

2009-02-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

Make a drawing of a city you would like to go to study. Imagine you're already there and you're sending a letter to your parents or friends.

Guess which country was the most common...

..Yes... U.S.A

:)

I think the girl who made this wants to study medicine since she's a big fan of Grey's anatomy (just like her teacher haha)

...I wonder what this girl wants to study in Las Vegas.... I've never been there so I don't know much about it...

Some of my students are excited about an exchange program that the school is preparing. I think it would be really great for them. They could be exposed to the language, they would make friends and they would learn many things.

Is there any exchange program for TEACHERS? :D

Can somebody explain me why...

2009-02-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

...some parents think that if you send a note home because their child is not turning in hw it's because you DON'T LIKE THEIR CHILD?

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

We, teachers, devote our time and love to the well being of your children, and trust me, I'm not interested in just teaching grammar, reading and blah blah blah ... I am really trying to transform lives and make an impact. If I send a note because your child is not showing resposibility or he's being disrespectful it's because I LOVE HIM and I WANT HIM TO BE THE BEST HE CAN BE.

Please, don't get the wrong idea..

:(

:(

today...

2009-02-03T18:18:00.001-08:00

My students from section A presented their first civic assembly

They did a great job!

This teacher is proud !

I should give all credit to them and to Ana Luisa (the other 6th. grade teacher)

So the day seemed to go so well... until we were in the Grammar class...

I was walking around the class and suddenly I started to feel dizzy and I lost all balance ! I had no control of my body

Ana Luisa and the Principal helped me and showed genuine concern which made me feel better. This isn't normal. Something must be wrong with me.

I pray that God takes control of my body and my SOUL because my body might be reflecting my emotions.

ohh

one of my boys said: " miss, I like your class"

It made me smile.

If you don't like the sound of children screaming...

2009-01-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

...You would not like being in this place at recess time...

...Let's face it we've all thought so...

Schools requires me to stay in a certain place during recess to take care of the kids so during the last days I've been analyzing their behavior ...

what makes them laugh, the things they do to make new friends, how they get lost so easily in the "hot Wheels" world, the "innocent" gossiping among girls (all ages), the way they share their food, how HIGH they can jump, how fearless they can be, the high notes their voices can hit, how an innocent friendship starts

and

Their pure and genuine laughter with no worries

at all.

so... This teacher likes being at that spot during recess.

Officially ...

2009-01-19T16:24:00.000-08:00

THE FIRST PICTURE OF MY NEW

STUDENTS

That was the best I could do !

They were not supposed to know I was taking

the picture

so I took my cell phone out and put it back in as

fast as I could!!!

I hope to have tons of pictures of them!

ohh they are so lovely...

Oh meeting their parents was...

umm let's say I was REALLY nervous

hehehehehe

but it was ok.

I NEED A CAR!!!

If I had a car it would take me like 20 minutes to get to the school

Between Planning and Decorating ...

2009-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

I already made the plannings for weeks one and two

These girls were right there by my side while doing that IMPORTANT and sometimes STRESSFUL job

about the decorating thing... take a look !!!!! (I followed some advice I got here)

so, in between these common teaching duties, we were preparing for teacher parent comference tomorrow ...

I'm gonna meet my students' parents !

...and ...that is not the REAL point either, the point is that today a parent came to school and she showed us an amazing video and then she started crying saying thanks to the teachers of the school and the way they have helped and love her son.

It is not an every day thing to hear a parent saying those words and to feel how she was talking made me cry.

I'm feeling part of the school's family already :) and it's been only 6 days :)

I pray I can make a difference in all kids' lives this year.

ohh here's the video! I almost forget!!

IT IS WORTH WATHING !!

After my First day....

2009-01-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

I concluded that:

God was the one who moved me to that place and I feel grateful

I've got many things to learn

I'm not good at socializing :S (if it wasn't because some of my old friends work with me there, I probably wouldn't talk to anyone)

I have to improve my vocabulary ...( the school principal is so professional and smart and I love the way she talks)

We as teachers do not discipline the kids, we discipline their attitude and behavior so they are not LAZY OR IRRESPOSIBLE, they show those bad habits and we as teachers should help them to change that.

The comments to my previous post really ENCOURAGED ME !!!!! ohh and the words of my lovely boyfriend did too. :) so I could start this new adventure and mission with a big smile on my face and trusting God will be with me along the way.

Now, there's a thing....

hmmm... I have to "decorate" my classroom and I can't paste anything on the walls or the door, neither hang anything from the ceiling ... so I'm trying to figure out what to do about it.

...and I don't know what to do about those HUGE WINDOWS that cause an ugly and diturbing reflection on the board .... should I ask for curtains? or should I paint them ? hmmmmm

...In 5 days...

2008-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start working in a new school.

I must admit I'm nervous!

I haven't been in front of a group of studens in 5 months!

Students will not show up until the last week of January but teachers need to go and prepare all things we need and have some workshops and stuff (you know)

oh god! oh god!

A new year

A new job

A new group of kids

May God give me His wisdom and grace and my ears be open to His words.

I'll miss Science

2008-12-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

...oh god..

I just realized that next year I won't teach Science.

I'll never forget the science projects we used to do :)

Honestly , it was my favorite subject to teach

ohh and this ---->http://www.teachersdomain.org/ helped me a lot!!!

Biomes Mobile :)

Measuring density :)

Ecosystems and volcanoes

Class of 2008 (interrumpted)

2008-12-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Third year at that school and I could not wait to start a new school year
I was really exited and full of energy.
I met them and all things seemed to be working the way they should be.
In July, I had to say good bye to them because the school authorities decided it that way without any reason, and this is what I wrote on my Journal: (I was really hurt and it sounds like I made a big deal of it but trust me, IT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR ME)

"Yesterday, a experience that gave me a lot ot satisfaction, learning, happiness and aventrues came to an end.

Three generations of 6th. graders were in my hands and each one had something special. I will never ever forget them.

I have been crying a lot, not for losing a job because I know who my God is, I know my talents and the things I've got to offer. What really hurts is this unfair separation from my students and the fact that I did not get the chance to say good bye. The last thing I said to them was something like " study for the test!".

I know the coming days will be terribly sad, full of memories and thinking about what they're doing and who their new teacher is. I know their strengths, weaknesses, talents, what motivates them, what makes them laugh....

I have these 38 little peoplel in my life that will never leave.

Each day, I will ask God to take care of them and guide them.

I feel like I was taken the most precious thing in my life away, they used to give me light and being part of their lives goes far beyond any type of vain financial reward.

Someone told me that I was overreacting but seeing a group kids learning, growing up right in front of your eyes, open their hearts to you, tell you about their lives, make you part of their dreams, watch them getting the best of you, to see them laughing and crying, hear their "love words" for you and love them like they were your own children... CHANGES THE LIFE OF ANYONE.

I will miss them."

I received a huge number of mails and phone calls from my students, their parents and my former students from that school saying how much they missed me and how sorry they were about the whole situation.

It all impressed me cause you as teacher, never know the TRUE point of you influence.

This is one of the text messages I got:

" I can't believe it. I think it was yesterday when I met you and you became the best teacher I've had. Now tomorrow brings one more day without you but I know that from all roads, one will lead back to you"

Class of 2007

2008-12-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

It was my second year in the same school and I had really great expectations with this group.

The previous teachers had labeled these kids as "the wors class" and they were constantly complaining about dicipline issues

When my coordinator told me that I was going to teach that class I was like ...ok... let's do it..

I think having watched Ron Clarck's movie just days before getting those news, helped me a lot.

I knew it was going to be a challenge and I knew that they have difficulty recorgnizing authority.

During the months of november and december I spend a lot of time praying and filling in a small notebook with tons of ideas and preparations procedures to start 2007 in the best way possible.

And I can say now, that my mission was accomplished.

God gave me the grace, wisdom and courage to work with each one of those kids.

We had so many great times.

Besides, that year I had a really odd and bad illness that sent me directly to bed for a whole month without being able to walk.

That time alone in my bed, talking to the Lord, really gave me the spiritual awakening I really needed to end that journey with joy.

Class of 2006

2008-12-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

This group of sixth graders gave me a lot of sweet memories.

It was my first year at that school and I had going through a major transition in my life, besides, I had never taught Science so it was a challenging time for me.

I will never forget the way they let me part of their lives and how I was able to bond stronly with them to the point of getting their phone calls up to this day.

I wrote something in my journal about them, I was actually writing to God...

"Dear Lord:

It's october, a weird and painful month. It's 8:45 and I'm thinking about those children you let me met on January, and I can't avoid crying because during this time they have touched my heart and soul.

They made me cry, laugh and learn.

Each name, each face won't ever leave me.

Lord, I'm sorry for the time I was not what they needed, for the times I did not listen, for the times I said wrong stuff and maybe it hurt their hearts.

I'm sorry for loving them so much that I can't stop crying when I think about saying good bye to them.

I'm trying to make my heart understand that my my job is done with them... but it's so hard.

I don't ever want to replace them.

They will no longer be in my classroom, I'm aware of it... still can I please get the chance of keeping them in my heart and mind for ever?

I'm sure they don't have an idea of how complete and useful they made me feel. They were my reason to wake up every morning and they were also a reason to pray.

Allow me to have a space in their minds and let them not feel ashamed of that teacher, the so not perfect one that loved them in 2006, when a period of their lives was coming to an end.

Lord, give them great teachers; let them shine in all they do and make their dreams come true.

Be everything to them and let them fall in love with you ...

I place them in your hands....

Thanks for this wonderful year.."

First entry

2008-12-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

This is my third attempt to have a blog about teaching.

I've been working as one for the last 7 years which means I started doing this when I was 19.

I teach English :)

If for some reason you find mistakes in my writing, let me know :S I would really apreciate it.

I'm not an English native speake, my first languate is Spanish so some entries will be in spanish so that I don't lose my true essence :)

School year in Guatemala begins in January so right now we're on vacation so I won't post current stuff but I will dedicate this december to remember some of my previous experiences in other years.

The tittle of this blog is "more than teaching" because I truly believe that the hard work teachers do, goes beyond grading papers, reading books, answering questions, facilitate learning and stuff like that. I think it is about the future of our country, molding lives, being guides and role models, and always having a friendly heart that truly cares about the well being of our kids, regardless of their age.

I've made mistakes but my heart is always willing to be the teacher my students deserve.

Join me in this beautiful journey...