Raindrops

The weather here is very unpredictably, predictable. It does make since when you think about it because it only changes about 10 degrees, it could be sunny, cloudy or rainy. However Today and yesterday we had two serious rain storms. Within seconds it will go from completely calm to utter down pour. There was a kitchen unit outside the classrooms( I am not sure why, but it was) and with in 2 minuets the two sinks in the kitchen unit were overflowing. Today in church it was 10 times longer. It felt like the island was going to flood and we were just going to float away.

This week was...( Deep Breath... shoulders go up, and down...) difficult. I now have 22 students, and O boy. By 11:30, which is lunch time, I am completely beat into the ground. From repeating myself literally 85 times, for everything. Most days it feels like I am just talking to my back wall. So frustrating. Just one exampled that I timed, just for an experiment. We took a 11 word spelling quiz, traded papers, and graded them then they turned them in... Guess how long it took. Just take a guess.... Just 11 words remember. It took 55 minuets. My goodness.

I was having a really bad day on thursday, I do my best to not let the kids see, still trying to be energetic, and nice. I just sat down in my chair and said that we were going to wait till everyone was quiet then they could go out to recess. It is amazing how fast they can shut-up when they want to do something. I quickly dismissed them and just sat, rested my head against my very full chalk board, holding back tears. One of my girls came up and said " Miss Kaitlin, are you okay? Smiling." I said " Yes, I am alright". I told her to out to recess and I would meet her out in a few. She starts to walk to the door and I close my eye and pray that I could make it through the rest of the day. As I am finish, she has come back into the classroom and crawled up onto my lap and has wrapped her arms around my neck and is resting her head on my chest. It is amazing how powerful a hug can be.

I am pretty sure it was on Tuesday that one of my girls brought me the globe that my aunt gave me from home. She comes up to me and asked me, " Miss Kaitlin, what island are you from?" I turned the globe around and pointed to California. She responded, " Wow that is a really big island! " I tried so hard to not laugh. I said yes, yes it is.

I got more packages this week, and many of them had a bunch of stuff for my kids. It was wonderful. I now have more books for my kids, books are really great. So if you have old 4th/5th grade level books that you don't need or want anymore, and feel compelled to ship them to me... Please do.

I am sorry I am all over the place I am trying to remember what happened this week.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night there was absolutely no wind what so ever. It was SO HOT! I then made the decision that the wind was not going to come back. So I went to the store Tuesday night and got a fan before the open house. Molly and I slept so good that night, which could have been because of sitting through a 3 hour PTA meeting/Open house that we had to go to. Tuesday night, after going to the store and getting a fan and Ice cream :) We had open house for the first time.

One of the boys in my class volunteered to help clean my room after school, So I had a clean room and We waited. I only had two parents come in, One of them came in and told me that her two twin boys will be in my class tomorrow. I tried to look as positive as possible, smiled and asked if they were identical and what their names were.

Then I had another parent, who isn't technically a parent but he works at the wellness center here. He is helping out one of the girls in my class, her mom is an alcoholic and she doesn't have a dad. So he is very involved in her live, giving it balance. Which is wonderful. So we talked about the wellness center and how to get the kids more involved. I can't wait for a field trip. Then I had one gentlemen that came in. He didn't have a kid in my class, I am almost positive he was lost but it was very hard to understand him. I got a hand shake like Nick Norton. ( You would only understand if you were in the Missions class... Sorry ) and then I directed him to the gym. After the open house we sat in the gym for almost 3 hours. It was not a fun experience. Thats all I am gonna say.

The one thing that seems to be working is the Fruits of the Spirit song and Books of the Bible. My kids love it. Its really funny. I am also playing some songs during puzzle activities or during recesses that it is raining outside. And they are starting to sing along with those songs too.

Wednesday morning we have chapel, and my kids did surpassingly well. The other classes were not as well behaved. However there is a rule at school that there is no gum chewing. And three of my kids were just smacking gum, my kids are not very sneaky. So I walked up to them and told them to spit it out as I held out my hand. ( I felt like my Mother). They reluctantly put it in my hand. a few of the other kids were like eewww. Miss Kaitlin that gross.

Wednesday and Thursday my kids forgot how to walk. We walk in two, single file- Straight- lines. It just wasn't happening. So we practiced walking. A lot. After P.E. we walked for a good 20 mins. It is still a struggle. But I got some exercise.

On Monday morning my kids are raising the flag and leading out singing the National Anthem. So for social studies class we went outside and practiced singing loudly and how we were going to stand. The first time they sang it, it was very quiet. They were very embarrassed because some of the high schoolers were out and other parents. I then reassured them that they were doing a good job and said that you will have the entire school listening on Monday morning and if they wanted to go back to the classroom they needed to sing loud and proud. My kids were once again very motivated, and were yelling their National Anthem. SO Funny. They are honestly really great kids, kinda drive me crazy. But really great kids.

A popular name for me right now is, " Miss, Miss, Misss, MISS... " Dahh. Drives me crazy. I calmly say My name is not Miss, Miss, Misss, MISS, and ask them what my name is ? Then they say my name just fine. So since the majority of my kids are calling me Miss, Miss, Misss, MISS I have been repeating myself a lot, reminding them that my name is not Miss, But Miss Kaitlin.

Thursday, in the afternoon, my kids struck out. So funny they were so mad at each other. So for striking out they have to all stay in the classroom for 10 minuets. Silent. I made my self very clear that if anyone talked the time would start over. 4 minuets down, One of my girls started to talk. In a very serious voice I told the class that the time starts over. SO FUNNY. So they had to wait in the classroom completely silent for basically 15 minuets.

On friday, actually everyday before they leave my classroom they have to get a high five. I tell them all that they did a good job and to make sure to remember their homework. On friday I had one of the boys in the front. He put both of this hands up, so I put mine up and was still making announcements to the whole class. He hit my hands as fast as he could. Then I started to dismiss the kids and they are starting to get creative on the high fives, I get fist bumps, or a spinning, running, jumping high five's. But the boy that was in front gave me the two high fives and as he was walking out of the door he wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed really tight, and said Good bye Miss Kaitlin, I will see you on Monday Morning.

Friday night Molly and I, after vespers, went to the boys apartment and we made a chocolate cake. Just because :) and Austin's Aunt had sent him candles. So we put one candle for each of us(5) and we sang Happy Birthday to us... Completely ridiculous but really funny. Sanity is found in a chocolate cake, and "adult" conversation.

The little things are what is getting me through. I didn't really express the difficult parts because those aren't as fun to write about.

Watching The Sound of Music was exactly what I needed. :D if you haven't watched it in a while you should! its a great movie. Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on kittens.

Love and Prayers from Majuro