Pictures

My mom sent my my camera to computer adapters so I could upload pictures for everyone to see. check em out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/arneff

Or just click on the Pictures under Cool Links.

Apparently White Board Markers Are the New Weed...

I was a part of the staff that tutored last night, and what ended up happening was very interesting. When we showed up at the dorms and there weren’t any kids there. After about 15 minutes 3 girls showed up but nobody else came for quite a while. Then I found out that the dorm staff decided to show the students a video on the consequences of premarital sex. Apparently they showed it to the girls first and the guys second. Showing the video was probably a good idea (especially with these kids); students should always consider the possible consequences to their actions. However, I do question the dorm staff’s choice in choosing to show them the movie during tutoring, which is on a set schedule on Wednesday s from 6:30-9:30. Why couldn’t they have shown the video some other time during the week? Eventually though they did let some students come and we were able to give the kids the extra attention and help need with their work.

            Halfway during my time in tutoring, I noticed that Miss Q (will remain anonymous for legal privacy purposes) entered the room, sat in the corner and appeared to be in a bad mood. I approached her to see what was going on and found out she was upset that her friend Agnes got PR’ed (which I believe is Parent Removal). She said she didn’t want to be here at school and that she wanted to go home. She started to complain about her homework, teachers, the dorm staff and the activities they make the students do. It was clear that she really missed her friend. She then went on to say that she had talked to her mom on the phone and asked her mom to come get her and take her out of school. According to what Miss Q said it appears her mom is going to come and get her sometime in March? It didn’t appear that she was going to be taken out and put in a public school….I think she mentioned something about visiting her grandmother. I was a little upset by this, I like Miss Q she’s a nice girl and a good student. I don’t want to see her leave school and fail the semester because she misses her friend. From what I heard about the students’ home lives I’m not sure it would be the wisest decision either. So for the rest of the night I tried boost her spirits a little bit by encouraging her and making her laugh. I told her if she left I wouldn’t have and cool people to hang out with and I might cry in front of the whole class. She just gave me a funny look and laughed.

          

The other day the principal sent out an interesting memo to all the teaching staff. Apparently some of the students had been stealing teacher's white board markers, dying hair them (specifically their bangs) and huffing them. How do these kids think of these things? This stuff never would have occurred to me at their age, at least I don't think; I really can't remember what I was like in 4th 5th 6th 7th and 8th grade. It looks like I might have to practice my “criminal mind”---probably not the best choice of words---more often and my teacher observations skills. Crazy!

I taught again today. We finished reading the section of the text book on the Mayans. It might have been the first time the students actually read the text. I'm pretty sure every other time when their were assigned to read it, they didn't and just tried to find the answers to their homework. The reading got a little boring, both on tuesday and for the short amount of time we did it today. I know reading textbooks aren't very fun, but its good for them. The only way they'll ever increase their reading levels is to practice. I also tried to help them with their comprehension by asking them question and filling out a graphic organizer together. After we were done reading about the Mayans, we started the section on the Aztecs. However instead of making the students read even more textbook, I chose to present them the information in a PowerPoint and semi-story form. I think they liked this method a lot better, and I preferred it to. I will probably do it this way more often, but they need to read too. Anyways after talking about the Aztecs we discussed their religion/mythology/gods. Next I had them create their own god, give it a name, draw a picture of it and write a short story about it similar to those of the Aztecs.----I don't think this is heresy for a Christian, at least I hope its not! lol----They seemed to really get into the project. I can't wait until Monday to see what they've come up with.

News Flash

In other news, I am going to be an Uncle, again. My brother and his wife are having a girl. I don't know the possible names or any other details, but still...pretty cool.