Time Flies When You're...

I can't believe it's already the end of February. In education, whenever you pine, and I mean really lust after an upcoming vacation, you feel like a weakling once the date approaches and look back and realized you survived; maybe with a few lacerations, sprains and bruises, but you're still breathing.

That's how I feel two months after Christmas break and as our Carnival vacation approaches. We're so lucky to have this week off, although it probably doesn't come close to the 'vacation' time the east coast has seen because of Snowpocalypse Deux.

Our class has dealt with a replacement for Venine, who has been superb, I've discovered a few more little mountains in the area, have taken FULL advantage of the new track and field (great space for yoga!), Genevieve has been making mad cocktails at Taino on Saturday nights and I've spent a lot of time on iTunes movies and now, as a must, Kindle. Bye, bye paper and pencil, hello travel-friendly.

The light at the end of our PSB tunnel these two months is the end of a pretty hard-fought battle with two of our kids. What's so difficult about teaching this age, or any age really, in Haiti is the discoveries made about their little personal lives. I've had similar disciplinary cases in the States and I thought back to how I dealt with those and how they were as well to struggle through and how we achieved success in the end. And I realized, we had parents on board.  Which really leads me to believe that education begins at home. Tumultuous home life and early maternal deprivation can happen in any economical situation and in any city. I can probably tell the tale of students in my class to many educators in the US who deal with children from similar backgrounds and they would share my frustration and discouragement. The difficulty as a teacher is when you learn about these hardships these babies are facing and figuring out how to constructively discipline them when they are creating a tornado in your classroom. Unfortunately these kids are often met with violence at home as a disciplinary measure. So our nice chats and second or third chances or cozy hugs and forgiveness don't really dig in deep to their reasoning or empathy. They must be so confused.

I have to say though, we have spent two days in class without these two and it was night and day. We had normal disciplinary problems, but the 24 children who were left responded favorably to our explanations and were really happier in the classroom without the constant worry of what the other two were doing. Just like myself and my co-teacher. We were free to teach and express joy in their accomplishments and have fun. I'm sure any teacher can relate who has had a difficult child in their classroom, unfortunately all your energy and love and patience goes to one kid instead of your class. And unfortunately you cannot give all attention one place, it has to go to the majority.

I'm not sure what will be decided in the end but I hope for the rest of our class it is a decision that will benefit them in the end.

Until then, here are some videos I have had such pleasure watching over and over:

Esther reciting the days of the week poem in French

Lorvens and his band in all their glory. These kids have amazing beat at 3.

"Baby Bumble Bee" by Gloria

Mardi Gras in St Marc. The beginning of the parade which happens every Sunday in town leading up to the Carnival on March 3, 4, 5.

Manny, can never get enough. Happy Birthday to me!

I can't remember what we were 'supposed' to be making with the play dough, but this was much more creative and entertaining.

PSB Pep Rally for our school-wide Sport Week. We battled it out against PSA.

PSB Tug of War during Sport Week.