A few more weeks....

Only 3 and a half more weeks to go!!

I just had a COST (Consortium of Overseas Student Teachers) meeting at Grand Valley State with my cost coordinator and I am feeling more at ease with everything that I need to get done before I leave. Must register with the embassy so they know where I am going, register at Padnos International Center at GVSU, figure out the money situation, and pack lightly (this won't be hard for me to do....HAHA).I am finishing up my unit on Michigan History and should have it 100% done by Wednesday. Student teaching is totally awesome at Lincoln Elementary.

I am loving my third graders, it will be hard to leave them since I have only been with them for such a short time. I am planning a South Africa day the last day I have them, Oct 15, so they can experience the culture too. I plan on having my third graders at Lincoln pen pal with my students in South Africa. I think that would be such a learning experience for both sides as well as myself.

My immunizations made me slightly sick, fever, stomach ache, so I took today off to recuperate. I am feeling much better and I refuse to get sick for the next three weeks. Can't happen, too much to do. I am dreaming of all the traveling I will get to do the last 2 weeks in South Africa. Wine tours, elephant parks, safaris, shark diving, bungee jumping....man oh man.

All for now,
Miss P

Beginning of the School Year!

So here we are....a few more days until school starts. I will be teaching the first half of my semester at Lincoln Elementary School in South Haven, MI. My cooperating teacher, Carrie, is fantastic and I know I am going to learn a lot about whole group teaching, pacing and general education curriculum from her. I am excited to start my unit plan which will be on Michigan. The curriculum in South Haven focuses a lot on Michigan History. I plan on also doing a special day focused on South Africa so my students can make the connection that I will be leaving soon to teach there. I would love for my students at Lincoln to correspond with my students at Kingswood College through blogging and writing letters. I think that would be an experience that would help motivate students to WRITE as well as it would be very relevant and tangible insofar as the letters would be coming from where I am located!

All for now....

Miss P