First week of teaching and crawling oatmeal

It is the end of my first week of teaching in Kosrae, and what a week it has been – packed full with a myriad of emotions ranging from absolute terror to quiet calm.

My classroom is the room with the open door, and our
apartment is on the second floor on the left

On the first day we ate breakfast in mostly silence, each lost in her own thoughts. I for one was very nervous, going over in my mind what I would say in the first few moments of the school year; and in the background of my thoughts was a continuous prayer for a calming of my jittery nerves. What if I only have two students? What if I lose control of the class in the first week and never get it back? What if all my lesson plans only take up 15 minutes of the 45 allotted to each subject? These questions and more swam around my mind as I finished getting ready for the day and picked out the all-important first day outfit – blue shirt and a maxi skirt – and twisted my hair up into a teacher’s bun. Then after a quick staff worship in the air conditioned computer room we were all off to our classrooms to wait for the bell.

RING RING!! The jarring tone sent a hand around my stomach but I nevertheless opened the door and began to greet my students. They filed in slowly, shaking my outstretched hand and accepting my greeting but offering little to none in return. Quiet eyes met mine and they picked a seat and sat, kicking their legs. I have only five kids in my class, and even though we’re hoping/expecting more kids to come as the year progresses it will be nice to have some one-on-one time.

“Hello class, and welcome to first and second grade. I’m your teacher, Ms. Carissa.”

And that’s how it all started. I tried to lead them in a couple songs for worship, but it was just me singing a solo in a resounding room. I went over the rules, which I would just have to repeat that very afternoon, and then we started math class. I gave them a sheet with places to write their numbers up to 100, and quickly found that the average top number they knew was 15. Most of them wrote their 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, and 7’s backwards, so at least I know where I need to start. The rest of the day progressed kind of in the same fashion; my kids are a little rusty from not having to do anything during the summer so this first month is going to be mostly review.

And by review I mean starting at the very beginning.

By lunchtime my kids were starting to open up and the volume in the room started to increase, and it was time to start crowd control. One thing that we learned in Hawaii was the 3 F’s: Firm, Fair, and Friendly. This method involves being the kid’s teacher first and foremost, to make sure that they know that you are in charge and that they need to obey you. I feel harsh, but if you try to be a student’s friend during the first couple months you’ll lose your authority in the classroom it is next to impossible to get it back.

Alisha turned 21!!

I’ll go over my daily schedule more when it is set in stone, but for right now we’re all just figuring it out. This is all going to be so much harder than I ever thought possible, but I came here to teach, not for an extended vacation.

Julianne Price comes on Saturday! Right now it’s just me alone in a big dark room, and the night noises are taking a while to get used to… There are a couple pigs outside my window, and I don’t think they've figured out yet that the night was made for sleeping.

We got a couple packages in the mail from Jeanne, and with cries of enthusiasm we used our house keys to stab at the tape dividing us from a treasure chest of goodies – that most likely would include chocolate. Then we pulled out the chips, rice krispies, fruit roll ups, dried fruits, coffee, teas, pens, and yes – chocolate, and divvied them out. Pace yourself. I thought, wanting the treats to last as long as possible.

Later that evening, after I had dumped the empty wrappers of half of my share in the trash, I watched the chickens pecking in the dirt around the seesaw – looking for bugs and the crumbs.

snorkeling by the Pastor's house

The seesaw. This 2x6 plank of wood is one of the children’s favorite recess activities – and is also the most dangerous. I've witnessed around fifteen kids all piled on top and around the wood either sitting, standing, or laying too close for comfort to the board. In groups they throw themselves on the elevated part and watch as their schoolmates on the other side rush up and into the air. Then, when both sides are covered with children one side will decide to play lets-all-jump-off-and-make-the-other-side-slam-to-the-ground. Each day we stand and stare at them and ask each other if we should do something. Then we just stare some more and wince when a kid hits the ground. These kids are as tough as nails.

Here’s something that just happened. As I was enjoying a small bowl-full of dry oatmeal with sprinkles (strange, but I know some people can relate) I looked down and noticed that the oatmeal crumbs were moving. This isn't typical.

Oatmeal-eater: “Guys, I’m pretty sure I’m eating bugs.”

MaKayla looked over and gasped dramatically, “Where is it?” I pointed, and there was another gasp.

Alisha came over and peeked in. “That’s a sprinkle!”

“No, there! It just went under that oat.”

“That is disgusting!”

I took another spoonful and looked closely at it, searching for life.

“Are you going to eat that?” MaKayla asked with a look of disgust. “Respect.”

“Well, I’m thinking about it…” I carefully put the spoon into my mouth, and when I pulled it out I looked down at my spoon. A tiny brown leggy bug ran across the silver surface.

Quickly in motion I ran and spit out the mouthful of oats and dumped the offending bowlful into the trash where the little guys would be much happier than they would be in my stomach.

Currently, MaKayla is checking my head for lice. I'm not paranoid.