Last Day with the Eighth Grade! Hallelujah!

Today was my last day pushing into the 8th grade classrooms. All eighth-graders had to take their end of the year QRI assessment. I administer this test three times a year to all middle-school students to determine their comprehension reading levels in May.
Now I am left wondering; what is it about those eighth-graders? In general, I find that age to be a very challenging one to teach. It seems that even though they are on the cusp of becoming high-schoolers, they still don't have that maturity yet. And, at the same time, they hold grudges, become more belligerent, and are just "too cool" for 99% of what you what to do with them in class. I think I am just missing that sweetness and innocence that they once had back in 6th or 7th grade.
Another part of my "annoyance" (and this isn't even their fault) is there are too many of them crammed into a tiny classroom. When I first came to Kuwait, there were 15 or 16 in a class. That number was very workable and there was extra room in class to isolate troublemakers or do some re-arranging. Also, the classrooms were originally built for that many I believe. Over the years we continue to go up in class sizes and are now pushing 22 or 23 in a room. Normally, that isn't too bad but it is when your classroom cannot support those numbers. So sad. As I was walking around the room today giving out the test, I noticed how students are tripping over desks, their backpacks and their feet just to go to the bathroom.
When you push into a classroom, you feel a bit like a substitute. It does take a while to build relationships with the kids. Luckily, I have known this bunch of 8th graders since 6th grade so I have that going for me. There are even many 8th graders that I adore on an individual basis. But when they are together as a group, 8th grade is just not my favorite grade-sorry to say.

Congratulations Dave!

This past Friday Dave graduated with his Master's Degree from SUNY Buffalo. He was one of 13 in his graduating class that included his friend Fasial. This was the third group of graduates since the program's start in Kuwait about six years ago. Dave's degree is in Curriculum and Special Education. Bravo!

American International School of Kuwait -Science Fair

AIS had its sixth grade science fair on Thursday, April 29th 2010. The topics of their science projects included: testing for the best battery, which stain remover was most effective, different soils for different plants, fingerprinting, to the strongest type of bridges. Here are a few pictures from that day.

Research Skills at AIS

Well, this year's research skills class for 6th graders is almost finished. I had the privilege of working with four sections of sixth graders and they have been wonderful. I'll certainly miss them next year.
About four years ago my principal had asked me to create a research-skills program for the students in our middle school. At the time, students were lacking in many of the skills needed to conduct research projects accurately and independently. I created a curriculum based on "The Big 6" program by Micheal Eisenberg and Robert Berkowitz. Students are learning how to paraphrase information, write a works cited, how to use note cards as well as an outline. From the outline we have written essays, created power points, posters and speeches. Here are some pictures of my students' posters that they recently created. What a terrific bunch they are.

Frost - Amygdala

I just heard this group in a rooftop bar in Istanbul. I find the song to be dreamy, sexy, and irresistible. One of my new favs...

Why I am so Thankful of Kuwait and AIS

1.Spending two years with Missy and the trips that we took together when we were both single… Turkey, Thailand and Cambodia
2.Leaving behind a nine-year relationship in New York that was going nowhere. Being on my own for a year helped me gain my confidence & self-esteem back again. I didn’t know that I lost them until I came here.
3.Meeting the love of my life, David. He is one of the grand surprises that I experienced throughout my time here. Thank you Alex for bringing him over. I will always be in indebted to you for that.
4.Being a part of the PEAK and NESA workshops, both as a participant and presenter. I am sure that my involvement in these helped me to become the kind of teacher I am today.
5.Getting training in the MYP Advanced Language A program in Amsterdam. This workshop helped to solidify many things for me as a teacher at a MYP school. Once again, it helped to make me a stronger, more confident teacher.
6.Having extra money to pay off debt from home. If I was still home, I would be paying off my student loan until the day I die. Credit cards would also be a part of my life style back home too-along with paying off the bill of course!
7.Getting the chance to travel around the world to many wonderful and exotic places. Looking back at my time in Kuwait I realized those trips really helped to define each year I was here and helped to shape who I am today.
8.My apartment! It will be difficult to pack up my lovely place and maybe that is why I keep putting it off. June will be a very bittersweet time when I have to say goodbye to it! I really enjoyed not only the doubles building but even my single girl’s apartment! Also, walking to school every day has been an added bonus that has eliminated much stress from my life.
9.Speaking of stress, my anxiety levels have certainly gone down since coming to Kuwait for many reasons:
• not as many bills to pay as back home
• walk to work
• having a maid
• less family issues to deal with (crazy grandmother, etc)
• no snow or cold weather
• sun always shines
• get to work with people with common interest
• still have many of the conveniences of home
• more prep time at school than back at home
10.Some remarkable memories have occurred over here during my eight years which include:
• getting engaged in Cambodia
• being evacuated in 2003 –sent back home to the states for 6 weeks
• having amazing mentors as principals: Denise and Chris
• survived tsunami in Asia 2004 (Raleigh Beach)
• going on a local TV show to talk about our tsunami experiences
• finally getting to see the Giza pyramids and Nile River
• went on first hot air balloon ride
• rented house in Lombok with a salt-water in-ground pool
• snorkeling in the Maldives
• riding over sand dunes in the Dubai desert and watching belly dancing
• Running in a 10K race in Dubai; Dave running a marathon
• Dave winning the KSAA basketball championship in Kuwait twice; once for U-14
Boys and the other for JV Boys (JV Boys-1st banner ever in 1st place!)
• Going on a tandem paraglide in Southern Turkey at 7,500 feet
11. Meeting some wonderful and special people who will remain a part of my life always. I have learned so much through them and in turn, I have learned more about myself.

I am sure there are many other memories and I may continue to add to this list. Basically, Kuwait has been very good to me and I am so thankful for making the decision to come here in 2002. Taking that leap of faith really worked for me.

Something's Gotta Give

I was watching my favorite movie again tonight. I've seen it now about 10 times but it never gets old for me. My favorite character of course is "Eric Berry" played by Diane Keaton. She is just marvelous. Her independence, strength, and honesty-just remarkable.She makes getting older inspiring and I thank her for it.