There weren’t many kids in my third grade section A class today. Since I didn’t have a chance to play Loteria with them last week we ended up playing today. Then I also had them tell me the colors using candy and we wrote on the whiteboard. In my other third grade class even fewer kids were there. I guess going to school the last few days is optional. So we worked on colors with the candy and discussed animals, but mostly we just talked and goofed around. It was a really relaxed day and I love just hanging out with the kids and chatting with them.
One of the most memorable things I did today involved my shirt. I had worn a pink shirt that I bought specifically for today for the kids in my classes to sign. I had my students that were in school today sign my shirt. As a tradition, the ninth graders my the school have others sign their shirts since they all go to high school next year which means a different uniform/different shirt. I know that was fun for them and I used to do the same thing when I was a camp counselor. So I figured my students would like it too. It was a ton of fun! I had them only write their first name because if they wrote all four names there wouldn’t be room on my shirt. Most of the kids followed the “only your first name” rule, but a few wrote their second name or drew something. But that’s okay. It makes the shirt special.
My second grade class
With the second grade teacher
Cleaning the classrooms
Helping out
Bulletin board at my school
Some of my second graders
Cleaning off the door
Sweeping
Some of my third graders
Playing Loteria
Very cute
About 1/3 of the class was there
Posing for the camera
Then they piled on the ground
One of the moms of my second graders had brought a piñata for the class. When I heard about it I went to watch and get pictures. They all wanted me to hit the piñata. I didn’t want to take away from their fun so I squatted down to make myself shorter and I didn’t hit it that hard. Then it was the kid’s turn. As I’m sure you can imagine, it can be dangerous when one kid is swinging a stick around near a group of other kids. But no one got hit, thank goodness. And soon the piñata burst open with all the kids falling to the floor to collect the candy.
After that it was fourth period of the day. But the class I was to teach in wasn’t there. They were getting ready for a special lunch they’d be having around noon which I was invited to. And my fifth period class had already gone. So I just hung around the school talking to people and having kids sign my shirt until lunch. Several of the fourth graders had so much fun signing my shirt that they wanted me to sign their arms. So on one arm I wrote “Alisha USA” and when they wanted another autograph I wrote “Alicia ES” which is my Spanish name and El Salvador (ES).
The pinata!
Waiting for the fun to start
There I go
The first kid
Some candy fell out
Spectators having fun too
Swing away
Whack that pinata!
More candy fell out
Having way too much fun
Someone's gonna get hurt
Who's next?
Be careful
He hit it really hard
Getting the rest of the candy out
They wanted to take a picture of me
Too cute
A few more third graders
Finally it was noon and time for the lunch to begin. Several of the moms of the class had volunteered to make lunch for the group. They brought in a pot of fresh pineapple juice, salad, rice, chicken, and tortillas. I helped hand out the drinks and then the teachers asked me to take pictures of all the students. I went around and took pictures of everyone. Then I sat down and ate lunch with them.
After lunch it was time for ice cream. Cecilia, whose son is in the class, had brought a huge box of ice cream. I helped her scoop it out and into cups for all the kids. Once all the kids got ice cream we served the moms. Several kids came back for seconds. Amazingly, we managed to go through all of the ice cream. Soon the kids began to take off. I said goodbye and helped clean up. The lunch with ice cream was a great way to end the final day of school.
Writing my name on their arms
The teacher talking to the class
Fresh pineapple juice
Serving up salad
Chicken and rice
Very cool
Look at the camera
We want to eat
Lookin' good
Cheese!
Hello there
Please don't take my picture
More of the teachers from the school
Yes, I want your photo too
Handing out napkins
Another photo!
In mid-chew
His younger brother is also in the class
One of three girls that goes to the school
Posing for the camera
Marvin, Cecilia's son
Bunny ears
My plate of food
Scooping up ice cream
The ice cream line
He wanted a picture of him eating
More please
There's Marvin again
Lots of ice cream
I’ll be seeing the teachers again in a few days for a special outing so I’ll write about them at that time.
The front of my shirt
The back of my shirt
Marvin and me
