RollerCoaster Life

So it has been quite the week of teaching -- particularly in Peace Train Class. Wednesday we had 13 kids in class (the number should give you a clue about how class went... I don't know if I believed before that 13 really is unlucky, but now I'm definitely considering it!). Thank goodness one of our helpers was there! She came, even though a little sick, and just saved the day!. Of the students, 10 were boys (two of whom were guests, not signed up in the class) and 3 were girls. One of boys just really struggles, and asks for attention in many many negative ways -- swearing in English, giving the finger (though usually subtly), or just generally acting. Several of the other boys tend to follow his lead. Then, one of our "guest" boys was right up the same alley. Several of my other students, who tend towards the calm sign were just spun out of control. Though everyone was mostly fine in small groups, it was impossible to do any of our whole group activities.

Class ended. We survived. And I thought... "why did I want to be a teacher? why did I ever think I could do this? I am in SO far over my head!"

Then today happened. We had a small group -- only 6 students, 2 girls and 4 boys (which was normal for the first cycle and small for this time around -- I can't help but think that it wasn't just me that was worn out after Wednesday!). It was one of the most beautiful classes ever. We started by making different emotion faces to decorate the train car of the week (Examine emotions for each solution), worked with potato stamps in one station, did music in another. For our group game/activity in the middle, a helper and student acted out a conflict and then made "emotion sculptures" out of the students to represent how each person in the conflict felt -- and then we brainstormed as a whole class a solution. I stood in for our special guest (who ended up not coming...) who is a muralist who is going to help us paint a peace mural! We talked about guidelines for painting and, with paint on paper plates, used the primary colors to make the secondary colors. Everyone participated, everyone was super engaged. And at the end of the class, in our closing circle reflection on "moments of peace" from the class and "what we liked," more than one student said "EVERYTHING!"

To top it all off, after class I talked for a few minutes with the parents of one my students. This is my little girl who came to the first cycle of Peace Train and then wanted to come back and do it again! In all of the classes since starting May, I think she has missed maybe 2. I was worried that it wasn't as good an experience for her this time, with all of those rowdy squirmy boys, but her parents say that she still looks forward to coming. That one Friday she missed to go on an excursion with her dad and she said "I don't know, maybe I shouldn't go so I can go to Peace Train." ! On top of that, they told me they are seeing benefits and growth in her at home and at school that they attribute to her participation in class. They see her able to focus for a longer period of time and being super creative!

And I remember ... this is why I want to be a teacher. I read somewhere that those moments of regression are important (maybe even good) because they are an inherent part of the process of learning, growing, moving forward.

Some pictures! (in the craziness of this week I forgot to bring my camera to both classes, but here are some good moments from the class so far)

Opening Circle


Learning about Peace Maker Monsenor Romero


Music!


Story Time (using the Story Glove to review the story)


English Lesson!


Drumming with our Special Guests: The Centro Arte Drum Corps


Exercising with Special Guest Colin


Visiting Centro Arte's Museum