Where has the time gone?

It feels as though I just arrived in Chile yesterday, but yet I have already been here for two weeks. With only one week remaining in this trip, I want to embrace the life and culture surrounding me. The past two weeks have been filled with laughs, memories being created, some tears, and most importantly, hours in Chilean schools. There has not been one single filed placement that I haven't fallen in love with. 

On Friday, June 2nd, we went to a beautiful private school called Colegio Universitario Inglés. I was placed in a third-grade classroom that had 32 students in it. From the second I walked in, all of the students had so much energy. It was such a warm and welcoming environment, and I was ready to be a part of this classroom. Lucky enough, I was able to actually teach one of the lessons I brought with me to Chile. My research has been focused on read alouds and how (or even if) a teacher in a Chilean school uses them. On this particular day, I brought the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. This book focuses on the English Alphabet and really gets students engaged by repeating a phrase throughout the book. I taught the phrase " Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room? prior to reading the book because I wanted the students to say it with me whenever it was said in the story. To start off my lesson, I used the book to go through the alphabet. I said the letters in order and then had the students repeat them after me. To my surprise, the students did an amazing job with this and some of them already knew the alphabet. This was such a fun way to get the students hooked into the lesson and ready to go! While reading the book, I had comprehension questions that I asked on certain pages. This allowed for not only even more student engagement, but it allowed me to make sure the students were understanding what was being read to them. Right after the book, I had the students take part in a fun activity. What third grader doesn't love coloring!? I used that to my advantage and had the students color a cut out of a coconut tree and then write their names using the alphabet where ever they wanted in the tree. This connected to the book because the letters of the alphabet climbed to the very top of the tree before all of them fell out. Writing their name using the English alphabet posed for a little challenge for some  of the students. They were not shy in asking for my help though, and that I absolutely loved. It was amazing to be able to implement one of my own lessons in a Chilean classroom because I was really able to work with such a diverse group of learners. In the pictures below are some examples of student's work as well as some pictures a few children drew for me! :)
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Today was a day filled with serenity and positive energy. Myself and 5 other participants of the IPDS Chile program decided to spend our free day riding horses in the Andes. I still cannot believe that I was able to do that because it was such a freeing feeling. The ride up the mountain was a little over an hour and I enjoyed every second of it. Everywhere I turned, my eyes saw endless amounts of beauty and nature surrounding me. My horse, Tano, was the tallest of them all and I was up so high that I could see everything. When we all made it to the top of the mountain, we had our own personal BBQ and fire. Sitting at the top of the mountain where it was just as peaceful as can be, I had some time to really reflect on my time in Chile. It was then when I decided that no matter how tired I am this week, or how badly I want to sleep, I will not let myself and I will truly embrace all that is surrounding me in this beautiful city! This kind and friendly family cooked us some of the best food that I have had thus far in Chile. We had an array of veggies, steak, chicken, and some delicious vino! My free day could have not gone anymore perfect. 

With only one week left, I am excited to see how much more I can do and how much further I can push myself!

Xoxo, 
Onnika

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