The power of teaching

I was speaking Spanish with a student and his old teacher made a statement that he knew this student could speak Spanish if he would have only tried in his class.  My heart just broke for this student.  The student tried to pick up his pride with a rhetorical statement but the hurt had been done.  I turned to the student to say how proud I was of him.  And I have the rest of the year to remind my students how amazingly gifted they are.

“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”

Haim G. Ginott

I found this statement in the first office I had as a teacher and it is still my favorite teacher quote.  Back then I didn't have a teaching certificate or any experience, but this quote gave me guidance.  14 years later; knowing, understanding, and living this quote is more valuable to me than my teaching certificate.  

 

I have had this student in my Spanish class for three days and he was speaking Spanish with me.  He didn't need to 'try harder', he just needed the right tools.  Oh, do I have the power or what.

School has started

Well, school has started and I'm so glad I recorded my relaxing days in OR so I can go back to remember what it is like to be sane.  I am pulling twelve hour days and coming up on the weekends.  I have changed rooms, teaching four preps (three of which are new), and hourly reminding myself that I should be grateful that I at least have a job.

My Spanish bulletin board.  I actually have two bulletin boards outside my room because it's so big.

My new...VERY.....large room.  Couldn't get the whole room in the picture.

My ticless clock with glass cover and metal rim.

Day eight.....heading home

Face-time with Momma and Daddy.

Caught mi sobrino folding his pajamas.

Heading to Gramma and Grampa's house.

Look Momma....Mi sobrino wrote his name.

 For my last day, mi sobrina wanted me to teach her how to sew.  Her parents are debating if they should get her a sewing machine.  So, we got out Gramma's sewing maching, which was her grandmothers, and let the needle take us for a glorious ride.  This was the sewing machine I learned on, so it was cool to know that mi sobrina was the fifth generation to use this machine.

I worked the petal first.

Mi sobrino was fascinated by our project.

Mi sobrina's first project.  Just having her get a feel for the machine.

Second project...didn't have time to use a pattern.  Base of purse.

Strap of purse.

Connecting the strap to the purse.

She was careful not to go too fast.

Taa-Daa!  A little rough around the edges, but not bad.

A Burgerville lunch to celebrate.  Milkshakes for all!

Burgerville needs to come to Texas.

 I got to the airport and my bag was ten pounds over the weight limit.  Had to take out the garden hose, one jar of honey, a glass vase, and my lotion.  But managed to get more items into my 'one personal item'...lol a forty pound backpack.  Got to the airport early to charge my laptop...which I didn't even use....to find that our plane was going to be delayed.

Gave me more time to shop at the 'Made in Oregon' store, where I found honey mustard pretzels for a dollar.  Only two bags of pretzels fit in my backpack (with some salt water taffy).  I grabbed my backpack to put on my back and it was so heavy that it made me fall back into my chair.....

When I made it to my seat on the plane, someone was already sitting there...the flight attendant took me to the front of the plane where I got a window seat and the row all to myself...score.  So, I was able to take these lovely photos.

The city as I was leaving.

Mt. Rainier?

Mt. St. Helens.

Mt. Hood

Got in about 11:30 pm but it took them an hour to get our luggage up to the baggage claim.  Home by 1:30 am and in bed by 2:30 am.  I was up at 6:30 am and I miss the hugs already.   Mi sobrina left a secret message on my camera stating that she wants to have a tea party the next time we meet.  And oh, what a tea party it will be!

Day seven....we got a little messy

 Are you ready to go for a ride,
To watch some planes flying high?
If so then find mommy's orange pot,
Here we go, ready or not!

He was so excited about the candy!

I love his facial expressions!

 All morning mi sobrina kept asking me questions about the tooth fairy.  Apparently, the tooth fairy ate some of the fruit snacks...but did not open the letter to read it....or take any of the clothes.  It really was too early for me to think of good answers.  I finally had to tell her that she needed to wait for Grammy and Grampa to come over because they've dealt with the tooth fairy before.  She really wants to meet her tooth fairy.

After breakfast I climb up the stairs to find this.

We are ready for an afternoon of adventure!

Welcome to the Molalla State Park!  Monster truck tires everywhere.

Finally made it to the not so sandy beach...more like muddy!

It was hot.

They got sweaty.

Next stop was the movies...they were excited....for the candy.

This made it all worth it!

 Almost every night/nap mi sobrino wants me to read about Dora's abuela making a pumpkin pie.  And it asks the reader if they like pumpkin pie.  Well, mi sobrino always says he like chocolate pie.  So, here we are scoping out the pies for the taking.  Notice at the movies they didn't get all the candy plus pie...very proud of myself for that one.

Chocolate peanut butter pie.

Chocolate cream pie.

Mi sobrino liked the chocolate syrup more than the pie.

Love this face!  Sorry sister...couldn't wipe it off.

After the pie mi sobrina asked if they could go to the dollar store and spend the dollar that came with the movie package.  Why not?  Once we got mi sobrino's attitude on the right track we were there in record time.

Sorry sister...another stuffed animal.

Still love that face!  I hope sister you aren't too embarrassed.

Guess what day it is????  Tuesday....you know what that means.

Dinner...we had more than just corn.

Chocolate got replaced by butter and corn.

 After dinner I put mi sobrino to bed and let mi sobrina stay up to watch ninja warrior.  The spider wall inspired her once more the climb the doorway.  I printed out my boarding pass, mom highlighted my hair (mi sobrina thought I was coloring it rainbow style), and I helped mom figure out her kindle. 

Once I put mi sobrina to bed she was hysterical about me leaving tomorrow.  I put your jewelry on her to calm her down....she went right to sleep.  I'm a genius!  My next challenge...get the superman shirt in the wash.

Day six.....a slow day for those aboard the Tía train

Hot chocolate at Grammy and Grampa's house!

I don't know if I will ever get this shirt off of him.

 If the sky is cloudy and you need a break,
Here's a gift you'll appreciate.
You'll find these under Tía's bed,
To read before you rest your head.

Where Tía slept.  (She thinks you put the presents there ahead of time)

Love his hair...it never gets old.

I think I have read this book 10 times today!

Mi sobrina played with her neighbor friend all day.  They swam, rested in the hot tub, drew pictures, played with my little ponies, rode on scooters, and must have come back and forth from house to house all afternoon.  Here they are having Mac and Cheese and peaches.

Lunch time...I made the mac and cheese too salty.

Chocoooolate cake for dessert....only 50 cents....SCORE!

Ian got up from his nap and so wanted mi sobrina's attention.  She of course was too busy with her 'boyfriend' to which she said " no one come over here because we are going to be K-I-S-S-I-N-G (as she spells it out.) The next day she was going to get married and have a Sleeping Beauty wedding cake.....then proceeded to have a real dialogue with her imaginary boyfriend about the benefits of having this kind of cake.

He kept trying to talk to her...it was so cute.

We decided to take a walk so all could enjoy being together.

Writing thank you letters to Yi Yi and Ni Ni.

I forgot to take a picture of her letter so you could read it....sorry.

He drew a picture of Superman at the top....the red part is his cape flowing while he is flying.  Then Ni Ni and Yi Yi are at the bottom.  (And a 'little fingy')

Mi sobrina thanked them for the ten 'buks' and for taking her to California.  On the back she drew a nice picture of them holding her hands.  The letters should go out tomorrow.

Dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

The largest tostada I have ever seen in my life!

So we get home, have some ice cream, take a bath, bedtime routine and when I get to the flossing part she says to be careful of her loose tooth....WHAT!  I was not prepared for this.  I had to call Grammy and Grampa since they have a direct line to the tooth fairy.  And her name is Rose Twinkle?...We are now naming the tooth fairy stripper names?  She has pinkie promised me not to pull out her tooth tonight since I do not have a direct line to the tooth fairy and I am writing an E-mail to the fairy right now.

Here is a check list for under the pillow:
pillow made out of paper
letter to tooth fairy
outfit (dress, shoes, and a cape)
fruit snacks on a plate
cup of water
fake wings
warning about sabrina; her sharp teeth and claws
warning about mi sobrino getting up at night
present made out of paper
bouncy ball in case they want to play catch
a house ready in case she wants to spend the night in her room

Apparently we want her and her friends to feel comfortable and make sure they have everything that they want.  I'll tell you what she wants....an all inclusive spa day.    What is the going rate for a tooth?  I have $1 coins.  Do I leave a present? 

PS.  We didn't get to the library today, I didn't get a chance to sew with her on the sewing machine (the fabric is at Gramma's house), and tomorrow we might go to the three pools place instead of the movie.