Rural Practicum 2012: Anaktuvuk Pass.: 2012

02 May 2012

Being Home

Well, I am going on week two of being home. I missed my tenth graders and the random things they say during class. But, I am so glad I went on this rural practicum.

Since I began this journey of heading into the teaching program, I have thought I would enjoy teaching in a rural setting. But only after I have all of my school stuff done. It is not fair for a teacher to head out to the bush, just to leave after a year to "finish their own things." For this reason I have wanted to finish my degree and then spend at least 2 years in a rural community. Heading out to Anatuvuk Pass, AK for the week that I did, cemented the fact i would like to teach in the bush at some point in my career.
All of the people were nice and invited us into activities and such within their community. As has been referenced below in my post about Bingo.The kids were great and we were able to see the younger classes as well. It was an interesting experience to teach in a fifth/sixth grade class while my degree is in secondary.
In the long run and looking down the road, all i want is for an opportunity to teach. Watching that student that was struggling or having a hard time, finally "get it" is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.

Our last day

Group picture

Silly face!

Flying Out

View of the airport

Flying Home

Little plane

Post office

20 April 2012

Home

Made it back to Fairbanks. Pictures from my flight home to come soon!

19 April 2012

FOUND!!!!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I found my glasses. Where you ask? Rolled up inside my sleeping bag.... Well, I can say I checked my entire suitcase twice... Who would have thought sleeping bag? Well there is your good news for the night. Next to my $1 winnings, I am on top.

SHADOW PUPPETS!

Here it is guys, what everyone has waited for. The shadow puppet presentations. We had the 1st and 2nd graders come into our classroom, even the principal dropped in.

"The Grandmother"

"The really strong baby" This is the group Alicia worked with this week.

"The two ogres" This is the group I worked with for the week.

They are all very photogenic

BINGO!

We are playing bingo!
Well, really we are waiting for it to start. So far there has been only elders coming in, but it has been interesting.
Problem of the moment? No daubers... We asked about them, and were told to use pencils.... Then when we looked forlorn due to our lack of pencils.... "I jokes. I have some in the back."
After waiting until 8 to start, we thought it was 7, we were happy to discover, neither of us knew how it worked. So we sat and talked about it, then called my mother. After we still were unsure, we asked the lady who sold us tickets. We opted out of game one, and we're waiting to play another game.

Well, we were sadly, SADLY, mistaken as to the rules. It appears, our first go round and purchase of sheets, was ONLY for game one. And how it works here is you buy a sheet for each game at the beginning of each round. Once we discovered this we scrambled to cover spaces. And three other women walked over to our table to help!! We were a sight, to say the least. Due to our HORRIBLE start, we are trying round two, with only one card, to prove ourselves. One lady even took my sheet to help.

What an experience. But I do have to say, the women here were WAAAAY more helpful than at a bingo parlor.

All through the beginning of the next game they asked us if we were getting it and telling us to follow the pattern.

Well, neither of us won, so we sat out the next few.

I played $5 worth of pull tabs and won $1! Go me.

Inside the Bingo hall

Bingo Hall

Bingo hall

Bingo Hall

On the wall in the Bingo hall

Getting ready.

We were excited. This was round one...

People in the Bingo Hall

Bingo Hall

Bingo schedule

Yes my dauber has glitter.

My Bingo set-up

Four tries!

Back of the pull tab

Success and failure

The shadow puppets were a success! Videos will be up later.
The failure? I lost my glasses while packing to move into the home-ec room and now cannot find them. I have torn apart my bags twice, dumped out my purse and shower bag all to no avail. So here I am sitting without them.... Thinking well isn't it super that I lost my vision insurance at twenty-three.
Oh well, guess I will have to manage without.

Wake up!

Well we woke up to fog this morning and a brisk 5 degrees. We are hoping it clears before our trek past the airport this afternoon.
BONUS!!
Pancakes for breakfast!
Joke of the morning by Kaylyn, "why did the mama chicken go to the store?"

"to buy eggs! Get it?!" Haha

Kaylyn; Our joke teller

Breakfast!

Pancakes and Ham

Chillier than it has been

A view outside. Fog.

Switching it up

This morning we are moving into the school. When I got here on Monday I flew in with another teacher, one that was here for the pre-school and kindergarten classes. She volunteered to stay inside the school and I went over to itinerant housing across the street. Well, now it is Alicia and I's turn to stay in the Home-Ec room and the teacher we are working with is moving into our lodgings. This is due to the fact that she was a long-term sub, and the teacher for this classroom is coming home Friday. It should be an interesting next few nights. We are cutting up more fruit and heading across the street to see what is on the breakfast menu.
Breakfast for all students and staff is free, the students pay 3$ for lunch. Today, Alicia and I are having lunch at the school. Since we are staying in the school, we will be trying our hand at basketball tonight with some of the youth. They come to the school every night there is gym time, and stay until 10:30P.M.! We also are going to try our hands at BINGO, I will keep you updated as to our progress and winnings.
Also, today is going to be our shadow puppet debuts! We are practicing all morning, and in the afternoon, we are going to be preforming for the 1st and 2nd graders. Our students are very excited to get to use the shadow puppets we have worked so hard on.