February at Destino-- a look into Kinder

February went by so fast! I can't believe Monday is already March. Kinder has now been in school about 6 months and the students have come a long way. They are picking up vocabulary pretty well and we are slowly working on phrases. However, by far the best thing about kinder is the singing! We sing a lot. It is really fun and the students sound pretty good. Some of their favorites are:
My God is so Big (especially doing little and big versions)
Lord's Army
Deep and Wide
The Wheels on the Bus
Baby Shark
Itsy Bitsy Spider
..... but as of these past few weeks their favorite is "If all the rain drops were lemon drops and gum drops..." though they don't know the words they are really good at the "ah ah ah ah ah ah ahhhh" part.

Continue to pray for Kinder as they adjust to being in school.


Thanks for all of your support,
The Amanda's

Delmer, Maynor, and Edan Geovany with their turtles (donated by Oakland Christian Church of Falmouth, Ky).












Suany Yolani and Juana Yulibeth on the swings at school.
















Alexandra Michelle, Kenia, and Delia Michelle on the teeter-totters.













Sammy on the monkey bars.

Let´s Read!

Joel Jafeth, Allen, David and Cristofer


Ana, Andrea, Rosa, Maritza, Katherine, Karina Nazareth, Milagros and Eunice playing Simon Says


Dominic


Katherine, Ana, German and Diego.



I´ll begin this post on Primero Grado by letting all you padrinos know that your student´s English has come so far since this past August and I am very proud of each of them. I love each of the classes I teach for different reasons. The kinder students are adorable and my prepa class is always enthusiastic. However, the Primero students are reaching the point where they can begin to construct simple sentences and communicate with us in English. I feel like each of them have matured academically and personally since the beginning of the school year and it´s been great to see students who had been just sitting in class begin to take an active interest in what we´re teaching them. Of course not every student in the class attentively listens to our English lessons but overall, I feel like I have an appreciative audience.

I ask for each of you to pray for your student to have confidence when speaking English(and of course in everyday life too). We have a few mumblers in class.

For me, teaching in Primero has become especially exciting because we have just begun to study phonics and reading! We are using the Hooked on Phonics program and the students seem to be enjoying this new challenge. Pray that their enthusiasm doesn't fade and they continue to excell in this new area of study.

Jafeth working on our Valentine's Craft


Knoxville Christian Church donated coloring books and crayons to all the Destino students. We decided to have Primero earn theirs by memorizing 1 John 4:12.

Milagros, Karina Nazareth, Jessy and Glenda


Marvin, Karina Nazareth and Maryuri

Jonathan and Josue

Throughout my academic career I've been asked to sell various items to raise funds for various schools, clubs, my sorority, etc. Although I've sold my fair share of products Destino's fundraising product of choice surprised me. Hamburgers. When it was decided that the students needed a special uniform for PE days the hamburger fundraisers began. Not only are these fundraisers effective and cheap(15 Lempiras, .75 cents) they are also delicious.

Primero shows off their new blusos(sweatpants) for gym days.

From Left: Maritza, Jessy, Josue, Katherine, Karina Nazareth, Andrea, Milagros, Allen, Oscar Abuid, Diego. In front Adonis and David Moises.

Katherine, Karina Nazareth and Jafeth.

Karina Vijil

The first days after Christmas break

Well it has been exciting month! The American teachers all headed home to spend time with family and friends over the Holidays. We now have two days under our belt for the 2010 school year! Tuesday was just exciting as I thought it would be. All of the kids were really excited to see us and we recieved lots of hugs and smiles! Along with some jitters about teaching again the day was full of a reassurance to why we are all here in Sigua working for Destino. Primero is still working toward a pizza party so pictures should be posted of them soon, but until then here are some pictures of Prepatoria (Kindergarten) and Primero. Please pray for the health of the students. Today in Kinder we had 7 kids out! It is quite chilly here and we want them all to stay warm and healthy.

Thanks, Amanda
Prepatoria (Kindergarten):
Boys praying at the end of class.
Milton, Luwin, Erick, Dilver












Prepa students with their new toothbrushes!
David


Roger

Jasmin

Profe Amanda plays a review game with the Prepa kids before exam week.

Elkin eager to answer a question.

Karen, Astrid, Jasmin, and Milton paying close attention.

Wow! They were all so engaged in this game.

PRIMERO

David, Andrea, Katherin, and Cristofer (far left) are excited to be back in school!

German, Cristobal, and Rosa take time to smile while working.

Marvin, Glenda, Ana, Adony, Maritza, and Jafeth stop and look.

Eunice, Allan, Milagros, Karina N, and Oscar sitting patiently

Dominic, Marvin (the big cheeser), Diego, Reny, and Adony

Jessy

Jonathan working hard

Primero-- Learning quickly

The students of Primero seem to surprise me almost everyday! They are picking up a lot of useful English phrases and after only hearing it once are using it in class. It is music to my ears to hear "excuse me" "I am finished" or even just a "What?" The students are also piecing together sentences based on English vocabulary they know, so instead of just blurting out a story in Spanish there will be random bits of English! Since English class is right after recess, they come in telling us stories about which team won while playing soccer and who scored goals! It is a fun time to teach the students English without it being like class.
Before Christmas we will be having a pizza party! The children at a daycare in Falmouth, Ky wrote letters to the Primero students and sent us a package full of macaronie and cheese and pizza kits. So-- look for pictures at the end of the week!
Thank you for your commitment to these kids! Remember to pray for them daily-- your prayers are effective. Amanda and I have seen huge growth in all of the students, but especially in the students that we thought we would have difficulties with. Thank you and have a great time while celebrating with friends and family the birth of Jesus Christ this Holiday season!

Down on the Farm(Finca) November in Kinder

November has been a great month in Kinder! We had the chance to go on our first field trip this month! One of the fathers of our students owns an organic farm and invited us to visit. We got to see lots of farm animals cows, chickens, pigs and rabbits. He also raises coffee, tangerines, gourds, and other vegetables I'd never heard of! The students had a great time and we ended our trip with a soccer game against the preparatoria students

Mariela

Maycol has a case of the Mondays.




Jenifer

Kenia showing off her Christmas Sweater!

Scarleth, Evelyn Mileydy, Delia Michelle, Kenia, Astrid and Carmen(Carmencita)

Suany Yolani, Carmen(Carmencita) and Alexandra Michelle

Eduardo

Astrid

Osman, Delia Michelle and Delmer

Leyli

Juana

Allan, Mahonry and Eduardo enjoying lunch.

Edan Geovany, Harlin Ariel and Allan

Carlos Antonio during our field trip to a farm!

Eneyda and Profe Amanda

Sammy was the goalie during our soccer game!

Suany Daniela

Alex(prepa) and Maynor

Piglets! In Spanish, cerditos!

At the farm's library!