My day to day life has changed drastically since I last blogged!
As opposed to having twenty-one names (and books and desks and notebooks and pencils and crayons) before me, I now have twenty-one precious faces before me everyday. Twenty-one children with whom I get the privilege to learn as I teach them. As school began last Tuesday, September 3rd, we are already in the second week of school! It is wonderful to put faces to the names that I have been reading, writing, and memorizing for the past few weeks.
Here's a glimpse of my students: 21 students
~ 15 EL (or ESL) students = English Learners (or English as a Second Language)
~ 15 Ecuadorian students
~ 3 Americans
~ 2 Korean students
~ 1 Chinese student
All of my students (except for two from the US) are fluent in Spanish and at times try to use Spanish in our classroom. However, due to the structure of the school, the students are only allowed to speak Spanish during Spanish class (which they have daily) and they must speak English in the homeroom classroom and all Specials classes (Music, Art, P.E., Computers, Library). The school has an Immersion style of teaching which forces the students to practice and use their English often to increase fluency. Teaching a majority EL class poses its challenges yet is also teaching me so much about accommodations and language support for my students (and their families too).
Last week was mostly observations for me but this week I began teaching Bible everyday. In the coming weeks I will continue to add one subject each week until I am full-time teaching for four weeks. I am very excited about my remaining time here but know that it will include endless hours of lesson planning, countless cups of coffee, and bountiful amounts of joy (which makes it all worth it)!
A few verses that have been encouraging to me during my time here:
(Thanks to those of you who shared these with me before I left!)
Ephesians 3:16-19
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
These verses from Ephesians are not only my prayer for myself, but also for my students. While I can teach them to read and write, to add and subtract, and to explore awesome science experiments, my deep desire is that they would be "rooted and established in love" and be able to "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" for them. If I walk away from this experience and at least one student knows they are truly and unconditionally loved by their Maker, my heart will be pleased.
1 Corinthians 15:58
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
At the present time, my "work of the Lord" is in the classroom, impacting these students' lives. If I do this faithfully everyday, my labor is not in vain. However, as I have quickly learned after only 5 days of school, I must stand firm not on my own abilities, but instead I must stand firm by resting in Christ's strength.
As always, I ask, and thank you, for your prayers during my time here. Prayers for strength, peace, and perseverance in planning and teaching, as well as safety and health are continual requests for me.
I would also love to lift you up in prayer as you are doing so for me. Please let me know specifics of how I can be praying for you!
So much love!
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