Coming Home

I know the lyrics to this song do not describe my situation, but I think the title is quite fitting because I am coming home after almost a year!  This song brings back some great memories with some great family and friends.  I am very excited to be flying back to Michigan on the 14th.  This probably means another grand blogging hiatus...

I will probably post this song again in another three months when I've had enough of home and will be ready to get back to my home in Doha! :)  

So that was my first year as a teacher...

It still hasn't quite hit me yet that school is finished...

However, I must say with all the ups and downs, it was a successful and great first year teaching.  I had some amazing students that I will be very happy to see again in September.  Nevertheless, in the mean time, I hope to enjoy a wonderful summer at home in Michigan with my friends and family! 

I am so grateful to so many people for helping me throughout this school year.  I have learned so much, not only from other teachers, but my students as well.  I know that I will only keep learning from them as time goes on...

The last few days of school we had some fun in class while having a few treats and watching a movie.  I was lucky enough to remember to get some great pictures of most of my classes...

A fantastic 5th grade class.  I will miss them next year!  Best of luck in middle school!

An awesome class of 2nd graders! 

We of course had to take one "serious" picture and one "silly" picture.  It was so hard to chose which ones to post.  So here are some "silly" 3rd graders!

Here is a great "silly" group of 1st graders!

I really enjoyed this group of 4th graders.

I could only post the "silly" picture for this group of 4th graders because that is how we passed most of our time... :)

My other class of 2nd graders.  It was amazing to see how much they grew throughout the year.

My other group of 3rd graders! 

My last group of 1st graders.

This guy is destined to be on the big screen some day...

Enjoying the last day of school with my great 5th graders!

What a wonderful group of girls!  I will miss them! 

More last day of school pictures with some of my 5th graders!

I will miss this one!  What a great student! 

This was the creation of the three girls in the picture above...

They covered the entirety of one of my white boards...

With a wonderful summer scene...

Culture Fair

The third graders here at ASD had a very busy third trimester.  They started a unit all about culture and spent the majority of their time studying about the cultures of different countries in order to prepare for the Annual Culture Fair.  The third graders had their Culture Fair about two weeks ago and it was fantastic!  It was great to be able to walk through the third grade hallway (which is where my classroom is) and listen to the students talk all about their countries and their cultures!  The hallway was divided up according to the different continents.  Here is a quick peak at the third grade Culture Fair for 2011!

One of my students talking all about Peru!

Some more of my students talking all about Colombia, I think.

Check out that guy!

Japan!

Of course the Canadian table was a bit out of control...

Three of my students at their Greece table.

Each student had to create a culture box about their country.  Here is one that a student of mine made for Poland!

Here is  another culture box that another student of mine made about Germany!

Road Trip!

Alex and I the night he returned from Afghanistan.

My brothers are currently driving across the United States.  Alex has finished his time with the Marines and it is time to go back to Michigan.  I could not be more happy for him!  Congratulations Brother!  My other brother, Mackenzie flew out to California to hang out with Alex and now is "helping" (I use this term loosely) his brother drive across the country.  They are making a stop in Florida to visit some friends and family before finally heading back up to Michigan where I will get to see them both when I fly home June 14!

Here are a few pictures of their apparently very exciting road trip...

That is a very nice double chin you have going on there Mackenzie!  Don't worry...Alex has everything under control!  No need to wake up...

As you can see, the baby brother is a big "help."  Good thing Alex is good at driving for long hours! ;)

Safe travels to my brothers and I can't wait to see you both! 

Don't get into too much shenanigans! ;)

Well they've made it safely to Florida and this is how I got to spend my Thursday morning... :)

What would I do without you both?!?!

What a great way to start my Thursday!

5 de mayo

In Spanish class, we got to learn about and celebrate 5 de mayo!

What is 5 de mayo you might ask?  It is NOT Mexico's Independence Day, which is a common misconception!  Many of my students told me that they had to set their parents straight and inform them all about the true reasons behind celebrating 5 de mayo!

Cinco de mayo is Spanish for the fifth of May. The fifth of May is a significant day for Mexicans because it is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla.  The Battle of Puebla was fought between Mexican and French forces and it has become symbolic of the Mexican spirit and determination to thwart foreign aggression.

The Mexican army was outnumbered, ill-equipped, and poorly armed, yet, they won this particular battle against incredible odds. It was a battle won through courage and spirit!

Some U.S. states celebrate the day also, especially in the Southwestern states and areas with a large Hispanic population. In particular Goliad, Texas holds a major celebration of cinco de mayo, as it is the birthplace of General Ingnacio Zaragoza.  General Zaragoza led the Mexican army against the French forces.

I was so impressed by how well they listened and retained the information that was given to them.  I received some great feedback about the information my students were sharing with others about 5 de mayo!  After our small presentation on the history of 5 de mayo, we played Pin the Tail on the Burro!  It was a big hit with all the grades!

5th graders enjoying the game!

More 5th grade action!

They also had the option of completing a word search about 5 de mayo.

2nd graders rocking it out at Pin the Tail on the Donkey!

This guy might need some help.  He passed the donkey a long time ago...

Some great 3rd grade smiles!

4th graders getting their turn to play!

1st graders attempting to pin the tail...

I loved how they had to get so close to the person who was trying to pin the tail...

Did he get it ?

I just love their smiling faces...

A picture says a thousand words...

¡Bienvenida Mahe Maria!

So finally to round off the month of April...

I would like to congratulate my Spanish counterpart here at ASD, Nelis Green.  On April 19, 2011, she gave birth to her first child, a baby girl!  Welcome to this world Mahe Maria.  She was born at 10:36 PM and was 2.8kg/6 lbs. 3 oz.  A tiny bundle of joy!

I've had the pleasure of visiting Nelis and Mahe twice.  I finally got to hold her the second time around because she was sleeping so soundly the first time I visited! 

She truly is a beautiful little girl and as her dad states she has had quite the start:  half British, half Cuban, made in the Seychelles, born in Qatar, and delivered by an Iraqi.

Mahe and Tia Katie!

Mahe with her mom and some of our foreign language colleagues and their children!