11/6
Today we had our first choir meeting, only about 20 people of the 40 I have written down showed up. I guess that is part of the culture here to not show up because many of the parents are the same way. Another aspect of this culture is that the kids are spectacularly shy when it comes to public performance of any kind. I can hardly call their names out in class without their faces grimacing in terror at being called out as an individual. They act as a single organism when in a group but when singled out they feel either like passing out or conquering the world (island).
It has been raining the past few days in a row and it gets really annoying because it is harder to go out snorkeling when we have such poor weather. But when the weather is good, the sea is really just part of who I am now. I have gone snorkeling so often that I have become quite accustomed to the routes that we take past the break and it is normal to see a shark or two on each snorkeling adventure. I actually got to touch one on the fin which I now realize was pretty stupid because white tips are some of the most aggressive sharks towards humans but it was small and I was so close. I probably won't do that again.
So I thought it might be nice to share with you all my daily schedule and how it usually goes most of the time.
Monday: 7:30 A.M. Staff Worship
10:15 A.M. 1st Grade music: These kids are so trouble some but they make up for it when they tell you they love you or just randomly come up to you and give you a hug. In class we are learning about the different cleffs (treble, bass) and we are learning to sing a scale. We will also soon start watching the sound of music.
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| This is my music classroom! |
12:45 P.M. 3rd Grade music: These kids are more attentive than the first graders but also are quite rambunctious. They love to sing and we are learning the words to "Do Re Mi" from the Sound of Music.
1:30 P.M. 12 Grade Bible: I love teaching this class. All the people in this class are awesome. They may be unruly but they all have unique and wonderful characteristics. We have gotten to the point of joking and poking fun and it is at times hard to remember that I am not supposed to be their friend (while in class). I am supposed to be their teacher and since they are close to my age or older than me it is difficult at times to not want to joke around with them. I want to make sure they learn and not just have a good time in class. Right now we are learning about family values and are doing a project about our ideal families. They don't really like doing any projects but since I have been showing them their grades more often, they feel motivated to do better so most of them have an A in the class.
2:30 P.M. 2nd Grade music: This may be the hardest test of my patience thus far in life. They are loud, they hit each other, they cry more than the first graders, and they run around class. The only way I can stop them is if I get my guitar out and start singing to them. I do my best to put them in a sleep like trance and sneak knowledge into their small developing minds. I am attempting to get them to draw a treble or bass cleff but so far efforts to keep them occupied have been thwarted by their desire to destroy my mind utterly with blood curdling screams. So pray for me on Mondays.
Tuesday: 7:30 A.M. Staff Worship
10:15 A.M. 4th Grade Music: These children like to talk a lot but for the most part are attentive and learning based on the results of their quizzes and tests. I showed them a song that River Davis let me record with him called "I Felt Free" and since then they have taken to coming up to me and saying, "Mr. Peter! You're famous!" and then running of giggling. Which I don't really mind but gets annoying with 20+ kids yelling it at you.
11:00 A.M. 5th Grade Music: These children can sing. I have allowed three of them; Ira, Adrian and Alerie to all join the older choir because of their vocal talents. This class is really loud but they are selectively loud, that is to say that if one kid is yelling they all yell, but if some kids start paying attention they all pay attention. I am teaching them some of the sound of music songs as well and they are having an easy time of it. It's really on and off with them so some days I go back to the teachers lounge exhausted but most of the time it is just residual exhaustion from Monday.
12:45 P.M. 6th Grade Music: These kids are great, some really great singers and some really studious pupils. I have grouped their ciriculum with the older grades and most of them do really well in class with assignments and tests. I made one of the most organized students on this grade the librarian for the choir and she has done a good job so far. Her name is Jeita Peter. Also some of the girls in this class are taller than I am, so that's that I guess.
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| 7th Graders Billy and Randon discussing how intersting my music class is. |
3:45 P.M. Teachers Training: Essentially giving us basic skills to use in class that will make it an effective learning environment.
7:00 -7:30(ish) Mid Week Worship: Some of the student missionaries are in charge of the worship service at this time and we usually sing and have a short devotional talk.
Wednesday: 7:30 A.M. Staff Worship
8:25 A.M. 10th Grade Music: There are some really smart kids in this class but at the same time there are some kids who seem to not try or care at all about school. One person in the class names Sunbeam, gets perfect on every test and paper and always seems bored. Another student names Ebilla Joe never seems to understand anything I say but can speak english perfectly with her classmates. She doesn't test well and will have to my best to work with her on that. It is my responsibility to make sure these kids succeed in my class.
10:15 A.M. Recess Watch: At this time at school I usually put gym shorts on and play some basketball or volleyball in the gym with the kids. The girls are incredible volleyball players. It takes my full effort to be able to beat them when playing. The boys are pretty average at basketball but they are even better than the girls at volleyball. It really is incredible to watch them spike with such consistency and precision.
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| Some 7th graders playing with their technology and recommending what apps I get on my phone. |
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| More 7th graders. |
11:30 A.M. 7th Grade Music: I call this my american class. All of the girls seem to know every soap opera on T.V. and the boys all speak english without the local accent. They test very well when they study but challenge my control of the class a lot. It is difficult to get along with them at times but sometimes I just have to show off some guitar skill to them in order to get them to know how serious I am about teaching them basic music theory. They have come to get to know me a little better and I am feeling better about teaching them now that I have about a month and a half teaching at Delap SDA.
1:30 P.M. 12th Grade Bible
Thursday: 7:30 A.M. Staff Worship
9:15 A.M. 11th Grade Music: This is one of the smaller classes so it is easier to talk to them and have them learn more about what music really means to me and how it can help them in life. Sometimes I will let them play around with my garage bad app in the sampler mode. You can record a sound and play it back in many different frequencies. It's fun and educational at times. In this class everyone does pretty well in tests but when they forget to study they try and trick me into giving them the answers in class. They have yet to succeed.
10:15 A.M. Recess Watch
10:30 A.M. 12th Grade Music: Most of the 12th grade class is really smart when they apply themselves but for some reason they don't want to get involved with singing or anything musical. It is hard to get their participation but I WILL PREVAIL…eventually.
1:30 P.M. 12th Grade Bible
Friday: 7:30 A.M. Staff Worship
8:25 A.M. 9th Grade Music: This is a huge class but most of the sweeter kids are in it. Gideon, Zinnia, Amber, Mathlina…..they are all excellent students and are all part of the pathfinders of Delap SDA, the local church. There are such a wide range of characters in this class. Some pay attention while others chat away in Marshallese. It is difficult to keep silence in the classroom but since most of them can sing well I give them the opportunity to do so in class. Also in this class is the most charismatic person I have met. His name is Steven Charles Ramos but he goes by Charles. He is such a great person and since he is in pathfinders I get to see him more often so I try to give him as much advice as I can about whatever he asks me. I love so many kids here in Majuro already. It will be hard to leave.
10:30 A.M. 8th Grade Music: This class is small but usually very quiet. They do well on tests and listen but it is hard to tell how much sticks since I only have them once a week. I wish I had more time with all the classes for music. I could accomplish quite a bit if I did. There is a kid in this class named Wiselee and he is one of my favorites. He is the class comedian so I have to quiet him at times but he always listens when I ask him.
11:30 A.M. Chapel: They usually ask me to play guitar for this but I have escaped a few. It is nice to have a quick little devotional and try to have all the kids listen and sing as a group.
That's my schedule as of now. I'll keep you updated!
Fin 11/7/13
