So after many setbacks, holidays, and generally a bunch of stuff getting in the way, I have finally started teaching classes only a month late. Two weeks ago tomorrow I taught a 5th grade class on blood types. This Monday I taught 6th graders the importance of being responsible parents, Tuesday I taught another group of 6th graders about diseases of the female reproductive system, and yesterday I taught more 5th graders about the endocrine system. This last 5th grade class was supposed to be 45 minutes, but PE was cancelled so surprise! I got half an hour's notice that I was going to be teaching a 90 minute class instead. After scrambling around to get things together, it thankfully turned out fine. Today I wasn't supposed to teach, but just happened to be in the 6th grade classroom, planning on helping with OTV (occupational, technical, and vocational class) but because their schedule was messed up due to an unscheduled religion class, Profe decided to take advantage of the fact that I was there and have science instead. I got to teach half of a class on the male reproductive system, even though I had planned nothing and really had no idea what I was supposed to talk about. Usually I kind of like to look up vocabulary in advance so I have an idea of what I'm going to be saying, but surprise! I was invited to explain what the penis does, what the testicles do, and the journey of the sperm. Good thing the teacher is pretty sin pena (without shame) so she was able to fill in the blanks where my preparation and vocabulary failed me. Tomorrow I am teaching the first group of 5th graders the endocrine system. I'm just going to use the same lesson plan as I had the first time, tried and true. I am going to have to explain to my teachers though that just because I am in their classroom during science doesn't mean I am prepared to teach every class. And if the class is extended, I would like a little extra notice so I can plan accordingly. An hour at least would be nice. And although they have all been good about the whole co-planning thing, I will have to explain the co-teaching thing again. This means no leaving during class, even if it's just going one classroom over to talk to another profe. And no sitting in the back of the room while I'm at the front. It's a team effort, and if they're not a part of the team, what is my purpose here? I will say though that they generally do a good job of jumping in and helping with explanations if I get stuck due to my sucky Spanish.
Although it appears that I am complaining about my first real week of teaching, I'm not. It actually went better than I expected. My activities were relative successes, and I think a few of them learned something. My only real shortcoming was that my Spanish is still fairly limited, but of course that will only get better. Also behavior is an issue, but I am suggesting some ideas to the teachers to help with that, and it's not my primary responsibility anyway.
Also, last week I went to the beautiful Selva Negra for a weeklong training in the cloud forest of Matagalpa. I saw a pygmy anteater and a bunch of birds that aren't around here in Rivas. It was a lot of information packed into a short time, but it was very nice to be in the mountains and in the cool and of course it was nice to see my training group members again.
Right now the neighbors' marching band is practicing again. I wonder what event is coming up now? Always something new in Nicaragua.
