Let me introduce you to a piece of my world in Al Ain.
It's been a long time coming, I know. But I'm gonna pull the "Insha allah" card. Oh how I wish those of you on the other side of the world understood just how funny that statement is right now.
ANYHOW...... we are coming upon NATIONAL DAY in the UAE. Forty-one years ago, December 2nd, the UAE became a country. This is a very BIG deal. It is celebrated in a HUGE way! Lucky for us, their colors are green, red, white (and black) but it looks and feels like Christmas in our schools, all along the roads, on the cars....literally EVERYWHERE you turn! They are serious about this day! (more pics to come soon)
As I mentioned in my previous post, Thursday was a big deal for several reasons. Yes, it was Thanksgiving and I was very thankful for many things. That day, I was also very thankful for a MAJOR VICTORY kinda day!
Those of you who are not teachers, please bare with me. I attempted FULL BLOWN centers (with my morning group) and it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!! Like, messy play doh sight words, a cutting and pasting center, a magnets center and a flashcard type math thing....all going on at the same time!
Okay....let me let you in on another piece of my world. This seems like just a normal day in America. I mean, seriously, I've only ALWAYS taught this way. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT the lecturing type or the worksheet queen. Ummmm...... I am in a foreign land where the reason I am here is because of an educational reform. Teaching the way we know it.........is COMPLETELY FOREIGN to them. They've never seen it. They don't understand it. Some are embracing it. Others are not.
Let me just tell you though, I was scared out of my wits the first day trying to take roll and calling out a name (I bet you didn't know, they all have 7 names). AND I bet you didn't know.... they're all pretty much the same. In one class I have 5 Zayed Mohammeds, 7 Mohammed, 3 Theyab Nassers......and so on. So I'm calling roll. I call the first name. All the sudden, a kid shoots straight up out of his seat, stands at attention and YELLS "NAM". No clue what is happening. Not a clue. I literally JUST FOUND out this past week that "Nam" means yes. oh. okay. (but you have to have a lot of throat action going on when you say these words).
ANYHOW again............. I was soooooooooooo excited at break time I went and told everyone I could find!! But I resisted the urge to then ask my HOF and Principal if I could go home at that point b/c I wanted to end on a good note. Beeeecause..... the afternoon group...is suicide.
However, being the brave (or stupid) soul that I am I plowed on. It's Saturday night, and I still regret it. But it's all good.
I wanted to show you some of the precious faces I see each day. Their deep, brown eyes will melt your heart. Maybe the reason for the delay in sharing this is because it has taken 3 months to get to this point.
Each morning, we have Morning Assembly. Every grade/class stands in straight lines and does the morning routine. Here, we are doing our morning exercises. They are wearing their traditional dress, the Kandora. All of the Arabic teachers (you can see some in the background)are wearing Abayas. 
This is one of my precious turkey-legs. This week, they are coming all decked out in National Day decorations.
They are honoring the Sheiks of their past. (by the way, they aren't called "sheek" it's more like "shaaaayk" but again....add a throat/cough/hock-a-lugi kinda sound and ya got it!) My goal is to be able to master the throat sound when I say their names and some key words that will get my teacher point across (or make them stop running away from me!) ha!
NOTICE: the twirling guns. GUNS??? why the Americans ask? just sayin........ (always an adventure, right? :))
Here are two of my munchkins all decked out hoping to win the prize for most spirited.
This little guy's name is Mubarak. It means HAPPY. He is truly the happiest kid I know. He makes me laugh alllll the time! He's the sweetest thing, but ALMOST has more energy than I can handle! (and if you know me, I have PLENTY of energy to keep up with the boys....but phew.....he can wear me out! I like to think it's not because I'm getting old or anything....it's really more so because I don't understand his Arabic chatter. Chasing him around the room is kind of tiring too. lol
This is a "new" addition to our days lately. Apparantly, the 5th graders are being picked to be the "patrols". These are the uniforms that real policemen wear in this country. Becoming a policeman is the only thing these kids want to be when they grow up. Now teachers, wouldn't you consider this to be a position EARNED by being good each week? hmmmmmmmmmmmm....... You WOULD THINK....right????? :) haha
I posted this little squirt for different reasons. NOTICE the winter coat anyone? Oh yes. The boys have been coming to school in hoodies and thicker coats for the past 2 weeks. WHY? Not so sure. It's still in the 80's here. And--IT'S NOT COLD PEOPLE! Granted.... the past week or so, I have not been standing through our 45 minute long OUTDOOR assemblies with sweat dripping down my face, back, and legs.
It's been a long time coming, I know. But I'm gonna pull the "Insha allah" card. Oh how I wish those of you on the other side of the world understood just how funny that statement is right now.
ANYHOW...... we are coming upon NATIONAL DAY in the UAE. Forty-one years ago, December 2nd, the UAE became a country. This is a very BIG deal. It is celebrated in a HUGE way! Lucky for us, their colors are green, red, white (and black) but it looks and feels like Christmas in our schools, all along the roads, on the cars....literally EVERYWHERE you turn! They are serious about this day! (more pics to come soon)
As I mentioned in my previous post, Thursday was a big deal for several reasons. Yes, it was Thanksgiving and I was very thankful for many things. That day, I was also very thankful for a MAJOR VICTORY kinda day!
Those of you who are not teachers, please bare with me. I attempted FULL BLOWN centers (with my morning group) and it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!! Like, messy play doh sight words, a cutting and pasting center, a magnets center and a flashcard type math thing....all going on at the same time!
Okay....let me let you in on another piece of my world. This seems like just a normal day in America. I mean, seriously, I've only ALWAYS taught this way. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT the lecturing type or the worksheet queen. Ummmm...... I am in a foreign land where the reason I am here is because of an educational reform. Teaching the way we know it.........is COMPLETELY FOREIGN to them. They've never seen it. They don't understand it. Some are embracing it. Others are not.
Let me just tell you though, I was scared out of my wits the first day trying to take roll and calling out a name (I bet you didn't know, they all have 7 names). AND I bet you didn't know.... they're all pretty much the same. In one class I have 5 Zayed Mohammeds, 7 Mohammed, 3 Theyab Nassers......and so on. So I'm calling roll. I call the first name. All the sudden, a kid shoots straight up out of his seat, stands at attention and YELLS "NAM". No clue what is happening. Not a clue. I literally JUST FOUND out this past week that "Nam" means yes. oh. okay. (but you have to have a lot of throat action going on when you say these words).
ANYHOW again............. I was soooooooooooo excited at break time I went and told everyone I could find!! But I resisted the urge to then ask my HOF and Principal if I could go home at that point b/c I wanted to end on a good note. Beeeecause..... the afternoon group...is suicide.
However, being the brave (or stupid) soul that I am I plowed on. It's Saturday night, and I still regret it. But it's all good.
I wanted to show you some of the precious faces I see each day. Their deep, brown eyes will melt your heart. Maybe the reason for the delay in sharing this is because it has taken 3 months to get to this point.
Each morning, we have Morning Assembly. Every grade/class stands in straight lines and does the morning routine. Here, we are doing our morning exercises. They are wearing their traditional dress, the Kandora. All of the Arabic teachers (you can see some in the background)are wearing Abayas. 
This is one of my precious turkey-legs. This week, they are coming all decked out in National Day decorations. 
Even in other countries, boys see a camera and they wanna give you the peace sign or the bunny ears. lol The boys do not wear the traditional headress to school. This is for more formal settings or social events.
Our assemblies include morning exercises, the National anthemn, the reading and reciting of the Koran and presentations. The presentations usually include something from their history or their beliefs. Here, they are remembering their heritage and how they became a country. 
They are honoring the Sheiks of their past. (by the way, they aren't called "sheek" it's more like "shaaaayk" but again....add a throat/cough/hock-a-lugi kinda sound and ya got it!) My goal is to be able to master the throat sound when I say their names and some key words that will get my teacher point across (or make them stop running away from me!) ha! NOTICE: the twirling guns. GUNS??? why the Americans ask? just sayin........ (always an adventure, right? :))
Here are two of my munchkins all decked out hoping to win the prize for most spirited.
This little guy's name is Mubarak. It means HAPPY. He is truly the happiest kid I know. He makes me laugh alllll the time! He's the sweetest thing, but ALMOST has more energy than I can handle! (and if you know me, I have PLENTY of energy to keep up with the boys....but phew.....he can wear me out! I like to think it's not because I'm getting old or anything....it's really more so because I don't understand his Arabic chatter. Chasing him around the room is kind of tiring too. lol
This is a "new" addition to our days lately. Apparantly, the 5th graders are being picked to be the "patrols". These are the uniforms that real policemen wear in this country. Becoming a policeman is the only thing these kids want to be when they grow up. Now teachers, wouldn't you consider this to be a position EARNED by being good each week? hmmmmmmmmmmmm....... You WOULD THINK....right????? :) haha
I posted this little squirt for different reasons. NOTICE the winter coat anyone? Oh yes. The boys have been coming to school in hoodies and thicker coats for the past 2 weeks. WHY? Not so sure. It's still in the 80's here. And--IT'S NOT COLD PEOPLE! Granted.... the past week or so, I have not been standing through our 45 minute long OUTDOOR assemblies with sweat dripping down my face, back, and legs. 
And we will end on my proudest moment of the week! SUCCESS! No one died (meaning: moreso me from a panic attack or sudden high blood pressure). Everyone had fun. Some boys spoke for the very first time. Others, recognized letters for the first time. And others.... just enjoyed the touch, and probably the taste (EEK) of play-doh. :) I feel accomplished and triumphant!
Now, let's see if we can pull it off again this week!!!?!
Insha-allah.:)
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