I survived my first week of school, and I must admit, it wasn't bad at all! My schedule is SE Consultation (kindergarten), Reading, Math, Writing, lunch, Advanced Reading, SE Consultation (kindergarten), Home Tutor, and Plan. We don't place any kindergarten child in SE unless there is a major, major problem. Placement in SE normally doesn't take place until after third grade. Prior to that time, we provide SE services to all children who need the extra help in keeping up with their peers.
Our students are taught in their native language Yup'ik through second grade. Then they enter a year we call Transition. During their year of transition, they receive morning classes taught in English and afternoon classes taught in Yup'ik. After transition year, they enter 3rd grade, which is all English. So, they actually have an extra year of school.
My SE consultation is with the K-Transition. Tough to do since we are supposed to speak Yup'ik! But, most of the kids do speak English, so we get by. I have tried to speak Yup'ik, but they think it's pretty funny. The Yup'ik alphabet has only 18 letters and it is very gutteral. So, for me, it's tough. Even with help from the teachers, I still don't pronounce the words well.
My classes are regular division reading, math, and writing. I have only two students in reading and writing, and I have five in math. My absent percentages have been very high this week - due to hunting. As you might imagine, hunting is an excused absence. I also teach the advanced reading class. Remember, these students are all considered to be ESL students, so reading is still very difficult for them. Right now, I have begun a unit on Edgar Allan Poe. They are all juniors and seniors and have never heard of Edgar Allan Poe. Before you make a judgment, re-read Poe. You may be surprised at how challenging his word choice can be - especially for an ESL student.
For Monday - Thursday our day begins at 8:45 and ends at 4:30. On Fridays, our day ends at 12:20 for lunch and then a staff meeting at 1. The rest of the day is ours to work in our rooms. During school on Fridays, we offer Eskimo Dancing when the students have lunch. I had only one student last Friday, so we went to lunch early so he could dance. The older students dance and teach the younger ones. Since this was a learning experience, I thought hey why not. . . so I joined them. I think I was rather awkward and stood over all of them, but they didn't giggle too much. They just smiled and covered their mouths. I was usually moving my hands the wrong direction. Maybe by May, I'll be dancing and speaking Yup'ik!
Another highlight of the week was our first all school assembly. We had two elders from the village come and talk to the students about respect. They spoke in Yup'ik, so I didn't understand a word. But the kids were attentive. Only the little ones were moving around. One did a handstand! It was rather amusing. Other than that, it was a good start to the school year.
Here's Tammy dancing with a few students.
Our students are taught in their native language Yup'ik through second grade. Then they enter a year we call Transition. During their year of transition, they receive morning classes taught in English and afternoon classes taught in Yup'ik. After transition year, they enter 3rd grade, which is all English. So, they actually have an extra year of school.
My SE consultation is with the K-Transition. Tough to do since we are supposed to speak Yup'ik! But, most of the kids do speak English, so we get by. I have tried to speak Yup'ik, but they think it's pretty funny. The Yup'ik alphabet has only 18 letters and it is very gutteral. So, for me, it's tough. Even with help from the teachers, I still don't pronounce the words well.
My classes are regular division reading, math, and writing. I have only two students in reading and writing, and I have five in math. My absent percentages have been very high this week - due to hunting. As you might imagine, hunting is an excused absence. I also teach the advanced reading class. Remember, these students are all considered to be ESL students, so reading is still very difficult for them. Right now, I have begun a unit on Edgar Allan Poe. They are all juniors and seniors and have never heard of Edgar Allan Poe. Before you make a judgment, re-read Poe. You may be surprised at how challenging his word choice can be - especially for an ESL student.
For Monday - Thursday our day begins at 8:45 and ends at 4:30. On Fridays, our day ends at 12:20 for lunch and then a staff meeting at 1. The rest of the day is ours to work in our rooms. During school on Fridays, we offer Eskimo Dancing when the students have lunch. I had only one student last Friday, so we went to lunch early so he could dance. The older students dance and teach the younger ones. Since this was a learning experience, I thought hey why not. . . so I joined them. I think I was rather awkward and stood over all of them, but they didn't giggle too much. They just smiled and covered their mouths. I was usually moving my hands the wrong direction. Maybe by May, I'll be dancing and speaking Yup'ik!
Another highlight of the week was our first all school assembly. We had two elders from the village come and talk to the students about respect. They spoke in Yup'ik, so I didn't understand a word. But the kids were attentive. Only the little ones were moving around. One did a handstand! It was rather amusing. Other than that, it was a good start to the school year.
Here's Tammy dancing with a few students.
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