A Heart for Colombia : August 2014

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Ship Shape Classroom

Alright friends, here are some pictures of my 4th grade classroom! It's NAUTICAL themed :)

The welcome sign that is outside our door.

This is on the door to my classroom. All the little boats have the students' names on them.

The anchor has the school's vision statement on it... with several nautical adjustments.

"El Camino Academy is a Christ-Centered (ANCHORED) educational community (CREW) biblically equipping bilingual servant-leaders to transform their world."

This is our behavior chart. Students have clips on it that go with their number and they start each day on "Ready to Set Sail." Then based on positive or negative behavior they will move up and down the chart with varying consequences.

These are our various class jobs.

On this bulletin board I intend to take a picture of each of my students and post it on here.

This is our class birthday chart and a little hanger for no name papers.

The math corner. The posters will change depending on what we are working on.

This is our CHAMP (s) program, which is a behavior system we use to help students know how to act during a given subject. They are awarded points whether or not they are following the system during each subject area.

This is our "I can ..." statement area of the board where each day I will write our learning objectives/goals for each subject area.

Some of our class library. I will be creating a wish list soon of books I'd like to add to my classroom because we could definitely use some more quality 4th grade literature!

Whole classroom pics

Hope that gives you a little bit better of an idea of where I am everyday :)

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

I'm a teacher...What?!

Whoa! Tomorrow I will finally be a "real" teacher! Tomorrow marks the first day of school at El Camino Academy and I will have 22 students under my care ... A bit intimidating, huh !? But really, I could not be more excited! This school year is definitely going to be a challenge, but lucky for me I have an all-powerful, omniscient, holy, gracious God on my side.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has Given me strength , That I've Considered trustworthy, Appointing me to His service. (1 Tim. 1:12)

Our theme for the year is RESPONSIBILITY and I have been given the grand responsibility of ministering to and discipling my 4th graders. Although God has given me this responsibility I must be mindful that it is not of my own abilities, but the Spirit's work within and through me.

I have spent this past week preparing my nautical themed classroom and it will be wonderful to finally welcome my students into it. After countless hours it will finally feel complete! The Lord has truly blessed me in bringing me to ECA and I cannot wait to bless the children and families of the school in turn.

To name a few blessings...

Wonderful roommates! It has been so fun living with Annie and Carrie, two godly women who have hearts of service and are always making me smile and laugh.
A teacher aide, named Zayde who has a heart of gold and is ecstatic to be at ECA and to work with the students. She is a true disciple of the Jesus and has been an enormous encouragement to me spiritually.
Wise, god-fearing administrators at ECA who are more than willing to help and work right alongside you.
Energy and perseverance. Getting a classroom set up is no easy task, but the Lord was with me every step of the way.
Fantastic friends who love the Lord and want to serve Him here in Colombia right next to me.
Health! So far so good so thank you for your prayers :)
Finally, my AMAZING supporters! Thank you to everyone who is supporting me through prayers and finances. You are an incredible blessing and I wouldn't be able to be here without you!

Please, please be praying for me, my teacher aide, Zayde, my students and all the teachers who will be starting the 2014-15 school year tomorrow! Yahoo!!!