Trends.

I'm currently very out-of-date with American trends, but allow me to make you aware of current Colombian trends:

As Seen in the Hallways of ECA and Streets of Colombia:

1. Hair Tinsel
You know, the annoying shiny stuff you throw on your Christmas tree, only for your hair.

2. Ribbon Hair Weave
It's adorable on little girls and pretty low maintenance once it's done. I'm a fan.

3. Severe Side-Part

You'd think the girls all got caught in a wind storm, until you see them touching their hair every minute to keep it in place!

(this isn't even very severe)

4. Silly Bands
Yes, we all know what they are.

5. GoGo's
Just another collectible toy.

6. Tico Tacos (Mighty Beanz in the States)
Apparently they're big with kids in the U.S. too.

7. Pogs
It's bizarre that my students are playing with the same thing I used to play with on the playground at their age!

8. Fanny Packs
They've made their come-back here, or maybe they never left?

9. "We No Speak Americano"--If it isn't number one on the charts, I'd be surprised!
(I personally find the song to be really annoying and pointless, but there is something catchy about it.)

This Week in Second Grade...

Meet Susana!

Happy Birthday, Susana!

Susana's birthday was on Monday. I got to help celebrate by attending her birthday party over the weekend as well as celebrating in class. For her party she invited all her classmates to join her at a movie theater to watch "Enredados" (Spanish version of Disney's "Tangled") and then back to her house for pizza, cake, and ice cream. Susana has two older brothers who also attend ECA. A few of her favorites are: color--brown, food--eggs and rice, book--Bible, and game--Rummi-Q. Susana also takes ballet and piano lessons. Susana's classmates appreciate her because she is smart, silly, and funny. I appreciate Susana for her bright smile, big heart, and hard work ethic. My prayer for her is that she will continue to take a bold stand for what she believes in and in her passion for sharing her love of God with people who don't yet know Him.

Meet Referee Josue

I just couldn't resist sharing this picture with you! God has given Josue an abundance of energy, creativity, and humor. He makes me smile and laugh constantly, which I love, except that he can make trying to be a disciplinarian very hard! Here he is showing me his new referee gear which is a collection of found and homemade things (yellow card, red card, and whistle). He likes to act as referee during the boys' daily soccer matches at recess. He hands out quite a number of penalties and even keeps a running record of names!

Meet My Reading Group

Here's a picture of some of the students in my reading group. Here we are reading about Ruby Bridges. We read about MLK, Jr. on his birthday, and followed it with some information about the Civil Rights Movement and famous people like Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges. The reader is wearing a big bow in her hair, just like Ruby wears in the book. We have a new tradition in my reading group where the reader gets to hold or wear something that represents the book or main character. It is a way to know whose turn it is to read and to imagine ourselves as part of the story. The boys impressed me with this one though, willingly wearing the big blue bow and even smiling, not caring that they looked silly. :) We have also used things like a top hat and a pair of suspenders in the past.

We're All Getting Older!

This is week 2 back from Christmas break--which means we're already 2 weeks into 3rd quarter--so crazy!

It seemed a little strange welcoming the students back after 3 weeks away. It's amazing how much a 7/8 year old can change in 3 weeks! (They were also amused with the way I changed over break, asking why my skin was orange!) My students all seemed taller, older, and wiser as I greeted them at the door last week. Despite my doubts and preconceived notions, they did awesome at getting back into the swing of things, and it was actually me who needed the most reminders about our routines and schedule! Being back, I have been reminded again how much I love all my students...I have such an amazing bunch! It's also been fun seeing how they have grown and are growing, looking less and less like first graders and more like third graders! With the new semester, we have pulled out lots of new, more challenging books and have stepped up our game/pace in the classroom! They are responding with enthusiasm and hard work!

Last week we also welcomed a new student into our class. He is making friends and working hard, and fitting in wonderfully. The first four days back we also celebrated four birthdays. We were playing catch-up from break and also celebrating some half-birthdays of students with summer birthdays. We also celebrated a birthday right before break, so here are the 5 birthday kids!

Happy Birthday, Samara!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

Samara turned 8 just before Christmas break. She had a special time celebrating with her sister who is currently in college in the states and was back in Colombia for a visit over her birthday. Samara also has a brother in high school at ECA and her father is a Spanish teacher (mine, actually) at ECA! Samara has a tri-lingual family, with her mother being Brazilian and father Colombian, and the children all learning English at ECA! Samara is sweet, gentle, and loving. She is a loyal friend. She often shares a smile and hug with me at different times throughout the day. My prayer for her is that she will continue to grow in confidence and boldness as a student and person.

Happy Birthday, David!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

David turned 8 on New Year's Eve. David has two sisters, one older and one younger. His father is in the army, and is currently away, serving outside of Colombia. Family is very important to David, and he looks up to his father especially, who he wants to grow up to be like! David loves to play soccer. He plays soccer at recess with the other boys in class and also on our school's elementary soccer team. David also plays drums. David has a positive spirit and lots of energy. His friends appreciate him because he is funny and nice. My prayer for him is that he will always use his energy in a positive way, and will do everything for the glory of the Lord. We can also be praying for safety for his dad while he is away serving and for the rest of the family as they adapt to not having him home.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

Hannah turned 8 a few days before we returned to school. She has one sibling, a younger brother. Her father is American and works as a pastor and her mother is Colombian. As you can tell from the above picture, Hannah has a very goofy side! She is a free spirit and often displays independence. She enjoys working and playing with different people and doesn't choose to be friends with just one person. Her classmates appreciate her because she is smart and kind. I see leadership potential in her strong, bold personality, and I pray that as the Lord continues to develop these character traits, that she will stand strong for what she believes in and will lead by example.

Happy Birthday, Jose Daniel!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

Jose Daniel will turn 8 in July, so we celebrated his half birthday. Jose Daniel has an older sister, who is in high school at ECA, and his mother also works at ECA. As you can see in the picture, Jose Daniel is another silly one! In the mornings as I greet each student with a handshake or a hug, he'll sneak by with a giggle, waiting for me to call him back. He is also talented in making silly faces and sounds! He is always eager to help in the classroom, especially with passing papers. My prayer for him is that he will continue to learn to give everything his best effort and to take pride in his work.

Happy Birthday, Isabella!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

Isa will turn 8 in July, so we celebrated her half birthday. Isa has a younger brother who will hopefully join her at ECA next year. She has a calm, sweet temperament. She is in tune with those around her, and likes to see everyone happy and getting along. She also plays piano. My prayer for Isa is that she will grow in confidence and boldness, standing up for herself and what she believes in.