Getting Messy at School!

Our 3rd graders are starting to learn how to write this year. I know that it seems late to start learning how to write, but 3rd grade is when they learn how to write the Latin letters equivalent to the Macedonia Cyrillic letters. So according to the Macedonian curriculum, they combine the two so as not to confuse the kids. They have learned their letters and are now starting to spell words. As a fun review on Friday, Irena and I decided to get a little messy in the classroom. Once Irena finished teaching her lesson and the kids finished their seat work, those that finished got to come to the front of the room and "spell" with me.

 You can see the look on Stephanie's face that this is something they are not used to seeing. We put shaving cream on the desk and the kids had to use their "special pencil" aka their finger to practice writing letters and spelling words.

 The best part about using shaving cream is that if you mess up it is very easy to erase. And afterwards, it leaves the desk with a nice fresh and clean smell.

 One of the students had to spell the word "doll". The more advance students know how to spell the words that we have been practicing, but for most of them Irena and I had to help them spell the words. Also, another way to practice if they know their alphabet.

 Irena got messy too.

It was a cheap and fun lesson. Plus something new and interesting for the kids. When I pulled out the shaving cream, you could just see the looks on the their faces "What is Michelle going to do with that?"

Until next time, I will try and stay out of "messy" situations............but I make no promises.

Getting ready for the National Spelling Bee!

On Monday, we had our Spelling Bee Qualifier at school.  For weeks our kids have been studying and finally it was the big day. Each student had to write ten words correctly in order to pass and participate in the BIG Spelling Bee on April 7th. We had thirty kids show up and nine qualified! They were all sooo nervous, since they have never done anything like this before. We had five kids at a time come into the classroom and one by one I read off their ten words. Sadly, if they got the first word wrong, they were out, but happily I had candy and pencils for everyone that participated.

 Waiting for their turn to spell.

 Calling out the words.

 What? What is that word? Can you say it again?

 I loved the confused looks on their faces.

 Irena was there to give congratulatory hugs!!

These girls were sooo excited to qualify. They are all friends and the two waiting were more nervous and excited than the one who had to spell.

Next Stop the National Spelling Bee in Skopje!!! Don't worry Resen will be ready!!!

So Fresh and So Clean!

This past week, all of the MAK 15 group (my group of volunteers) met up in Skopje for our Mid-Service Conference. Yes, I know, we are definitely over our halfway point, but the Peace Corps staff needed some time to get ready once they got the MAK 16 group (the new group of volunteers) settled into their sites. This conference was originally planned for the beginning of February, but with the "lovely" weather we have been having, it had to be postponed.

During the conference, we had technical sessions (for the teachers: critical thinking, how to teach, writing a paragraph, etc) along with language lessons (I took only fun classes: travel, men's talk, and what do women talk about over coffee?). Two were taught by the language teacher I had in Lozovo, Despina. And my theory is if I don't have the language down by now, I am not going to; and then of course, there were Peace Corps mandated sessions (bystander intervention, and a little information about when we end our service).

Irena and the other counterparts came up and we overlapped on the last day. It was nice to be able to sum up what we have accomplished already (the English Library and the students new love of reading, classroom management, organization, etc) and also talk about what other idea's Irena had that she would like to do while I am still here (Reading Club, and doing a few small plays with the older kids).

Another part of our Mid-service is our one year check-up, both with the doctor and the dentist.  I was warned about this; but let's just say it was still very interesting, especially the dentalt part.  After living here over a year and seeing my students "rotting" their baby teeth right out of their mouths, I was curious to go to the dentist. The dentist that we go to is in Skopje; and according to the flag flying out front, they practice the "art" of dentistry.  It was a very nice and clean facility. It only had one room with two dental chairs.  They have all the new technology, computer screens with the dentist chairs, I even saw that they offer Invisaline instead of braces. The chairs do not recline back all the way, you more or less lean your head back. The dentist checked my teeth.....NO CAVITIES!!!  And then he "power washed" my teeth. Yes power washed.  No electric brushes, no toothpaste...just an electric water gun and what tasted like salt water. YUM!! Then I swished around some mouth wash and next thing I know I am walking out the door. In total, from the time I walked into the office from the time I finished my cleaning........10-15 minutes max. Then it was off to the Peace Corps office for my physical check-up, which is done by our Peace Corps doctors.....all good there....I passed!!!

Then I met up with a fellow volunteer and we grabbed lunch at where else....McDonald's (it's the perfect place to go once your teeth are all clean and the doctor says that you are healthy AND it puts a lump in your stomach for that 4+ hour bus ride back to Resen). See sometimes McDonald's is the right choice!