Day 4

day, I started my day in the deaf classroom. Teachers Allan and Lidia greeted their students with the good morning sign. The two work as a team as they teach the students. Lidia, speak Spanish and knows sign language, whereas Allan is deaf and speaks only through sign. With help from Ms. Gutmann, I got the chance to work one on one with deaf student, Yohana. This is where my first lesson plan was put to use, we worked on a division word problem that I had created and made props for. The props helped a lot and made Yohana understand the problem better. As we worked through the problem could see she was challenged but only to a certain extent where she was still able to work through the problem. the feeling I got after she had finished the problem, and my lesson plan was successful was indescribable. Definitely one of the highlights of  my day. When Yohana and I headed back to the classroom , the other students were just about to read and sign a story. Being able to see what each sign meant was a fantastic learning experience for me. Every thing in this classroom is so animated, yet its the quietest classroom I've ever been in. Sometimes the students will make sounds to get the teacher attention. Everything about the deaf classes is so new and interesting to me. The way they are all able to learn with out hearing a single world is so fascinating. My sign language has improved dramatically today, and I'm now able to have full conversations with the students.

The rest of my day was spent one on one with little Wilbur. Wilbur is second grade and is quite energetic. I attepted to use my second lesson plan with him, but every time I'd try to get him to sit and do flash cards with me, he'd push the flash cards out of my hands, pin me against the wall, and begin to kiss me. He is by far the most adorable 10 year old I know.

After the school day was over, I went on a couple of home visits with Magalee, a woman who works with Social Services, and Zach, the translator.

Our first house was a total of 30 kilometers away. Waiting on the patio of a house covered in signs for beer and other alcohol. We were greeted by an elderly woman with two children, Alisa (7) and Kenny (9), who she claims have disabilities, yet neither have been diagnosed and both do well in their normal school.  There was no prominent disability with either child and both were able to communicate, and mobilize with ease. Everything that we asked the grandmother about was answered with a vague answer.

The second house we arrived at had a huge amount of housing and property. Here, we met Rosa, a three year old with Cerebral Palsy. She and her family were dressed well and looked wealthy. She is medicated and has physical therapy twice a week. She seems to have fantastic living conditions.

Day four has been a success and I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Much love,
Gena