Q: Is your school big?
A: No she isn't.
Q: Is soccer your favorite sport?
A: No is isn't.
No, I haven't lost it. These are some of the answers Stefan was seeing on the test he was grading last week. Teaching he-she-it in his 5th grade English class isn't going so well. Despite even our creative attempts to design extra practice worksheets with a Pirates of the Carribbean theme (My name is Elizabeth. His name is Jack. They are pirates. The Black Pearl is the pirate ship. The ship is big. They aren't on the island. Will is on the island. The treasure is on the island. etc and so on.) they still didn't get it (but were excited about knowing who Jack and the Black Pearl were!). Sigh.
Stefan gave them classwork to do and had each child meet with him out in the hall to receive their test and to talk to him about it -- gosh, one kid, one of the badly-behaved ones, literally burst into tears out in the hall when he saw his grade! Needless to say the average grade wasn't too good. Frustrating for the kids and for Stefan since they will have to go over all this again.
Meanwhile I am busily preparing the house for a weekend guest. More on that later....I'll have to do a proper blog introduction for our houseguest!
*prayer request* Juliette's grandfather in Toronto suffered a fall earlier this week and is not doing well. Please pray that the situation would improve and that his pain would be eased. Grandpa does have advanced Alzheimer's and keeps forgetting that he has broken his hip and cries in pain every time he tries to get up out of the hospital bed, so please pray he somehow can remember this situation. It's not easy being far away from family when things like this come up and it's difficult for the family that is there working the hardest to help (esp my aunt Esther, she's working overtime again). We are thankful for a nice, competent (and Christian) nurse who has been hired to be with him in his hospital room and help monitor his care. She was also with my great aunt in the hospital and was a good liaison to have. Grandpa's faith has been important to him in his life and we rest assured that no matter what happens he will have a happy ending.
Friday, October 5, 2007
just a few things
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4 comments:
Hey you guys, Have finally signed on. It's my first stab at blogging (back). Sorry to hear of J's grdfth's fall. I agree it is hard to be away from family when the need arises.
Church life is busy. Very. Annual Mtg this week. Additions/deletions from the boards always challenging. Bldg project has slowed d/to objections from neighbors. But we are pursuing. At work so will sign off. Wishing you well, and will pray for the teaching issues. That could be discouraging. But love conquers many hurdles, this may work together for the good of many.
Much love and missing you both.
Deborah and Jesse
Hi there! Had to smile at the English grammar problematic.. :) Sometimes the simple things are so hard to teach, because you take a lot for granted. It's sometimes hard to find the way to reach the learners.. I'm quite happy I've still got two years time to trial and error in practise.. ;)
Saija
(I'm still here if you'd like to contact - and STILL need to practise my English pronunciation.. ;) )
those responses are so funny!
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