Being in Alaska is a grand adventure... almost too grand of an adventure not to share it with a companion. I CHOSE to adopt a puppy and not just because he was found shivering outside on a cold, windy day. Although, that part certainly had a lot to do with it. But, in my defense I did take about a week to think about it. 

Anyways, Spout is a tiny, white haired dog of unknown breed. I will be sure once I show a picture to my sister... years of looking at that dog book and she should know.. no pressure. 

Here is a list of the good, the bad and the ugly as I continue to live and teach out here in bush Alaska: 

1.) It's getting darker and colder.. but walking to school at sun rise is pretty unbelievable.

2.) Whatever I write on my lesson plans at the beginning of the week is not what is on my plans at the end of the week. Post it notes are my best friend. So is being slightly dysfunctional at times. 

3.)I AM in the middle of nowhere. And when I forget, I just look out my window.

4.) I teach okay lessons. I teach lessons where I sit down afterwards and wonder if anything actually went right. It's a challenge to figure out how to engage the kids and get the content across... but when I do manage I feel like I am walking on water. 

5.) Kids have a pretty unique view of the world and I love when they include me in their curiosity. One of my boys who has trouble sitting still and has a tendency to blunt out found a caterpillar on the playground. We spent the rest of recess caring for and wondering about the caterpillar. I then followed up by reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar inside. I think that events such as this partially explain the messed up schedule and my overall dysfunction but oh well. 

6.) Theirs lots of mud out here. It's pretty fantastic. 

7.) Being in the middle of no where, at least their is lots of mud!

Walking to school:

Pure cuteness, yea?!

Teaching can be so unpredictable. I thought I knew how to be flexible  but being in the classroom brings a whole new meaning to that word. At this point, I think I am learning more from them then they are from me. During morning routine, the students are expected to find their name tag, answer the question of the day and then take a seat and pull out their writer's notebook. Last Thursday, the prompt I had written on the board was, "If you were in the middle of the ocean and your boat started to sink, what would you do?' The students took this in so many directions! One child wrote, " I would never get on the boat. I would stay at the cabin with my mommy, daddy and assorted cousins." Another said, 'I would patch it up and then go up river fishing.' The range of answers caught me by surprise and we ended up missing calendar time so everyone had a chance to share. This being said, the amount of times I have had to stop a math lesson so they could get their wiggles has been high so being flexible can also seem counter productive at times... 

Here is a video riding down the beach... 

Mountains on the left, opposite the beach. Not quite your Jersey Shore! 

Since I couldn't possibly attempt to summarize everything that has happened during this first week, here is a list of the good, the bad and the ugly that I have learned about teaching, Togiak and everything in between:

1.) Keleher easily becomes Kela- wig to first and second graders. If they can't get that? Then I am just 'teacher.'
2.) If one kid pees down the slide, prioritize making sure it gets cleaned up. Their are still kids in other classes that need to come out for recess and therefore it cannot wait until the end of the day.
3.) My kids are not used to a structured environment. For example, doing cartwheels to line up is something I couldn't possibly imagine happening... but it happened. Always expect the unexpected.
4.) Yupik is not like learning french. It is going to be challenging but something I'm willing to do to show the kids the importance of knowing their native language.
5.) I don't mind staying until 7:00 some days... and then coming back for gym night. I love coming up with creative lesson ideas, getting to know the children and working with each of them. I've thought about this quote several times this week, 'If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.'
6.) Apparently I look like I'm everybody's daughter... I don't mind it because it makes me feel good to be so young... but I'm sure this is a one sided feeling...
7.) You don't need to drink to have a fun time playing phrase 10 with a great group of people. Also, I am super competitive (well, that part is nothing new.)
8.) When you move into a non- dorm apartment with a kitchen, you need plates/ cups/ utensils etc.. and cleaning supplies!
9.) Going for runs is easy when you are surrounded by mountains, ocean and pure beauty.
10.) When berry picking, make sure you go with an expert on the subject. Ignorance is not worth death.  

Poll: Should I adopt the black lab puppy that the village nurse has up for adoption? I've been weighing the pros and cons in my mind and could really use some input!

Here are some photos of my classroom. I would include the kiddos but I would never get the permission slips back...

Blackberries are in season right now- but not the blackberries you may think. They are small, black and round. They do not have much flavor so are best used in jellies, jams or pancakes.

 It is quite possible to teach a dog to pick berries! I cannot take the credit.. which means I am also not responsible for their impact on his system.

 Picking fire weed... you wouldn't want to eat them by themselves but in jelly they are pretty darn good!

My purpose for writing this blog is to document my experiences as I live and teach in Togiak, Alaska. My greatest challenge in taking this job is that I have no experience with the native language (Yup'ik) and so my goal is going to be to learn the language right alongside my first and second graders. That being said, this is also my first teaching job and therefore I'm sure I have an abundance of other challenges ahead of me.

So far, the thing I most enjoy about being out here is the people. For being in bush Alaska, everyone is incredibly laid back and friendly. For example, last night, we were supposed to fly out to our villages but it was  too cloudy for the pilots to see and the flights got cancelled. The district willingly put us all up in hotels for one more night and the superintendent made Mickey Mouse pancakes with maple syrup in the morning. I was shocked by the lack of turmoil but everyone just seemed to go with the flow and in the end everything turned out all right.

Here are some pictures from the In Service in Dillingham, Alaska:

The Pacific Ocean! Well, very far north- it is beautiful up here.

This gas station has amazing hot chocolate and coffee- flavored drinks. Who would have thought?

 The houses are much different here- due to all the wind, rain and snow they are a lot smaller and more sturdier.

Everything-in-one store. Get your food, clothes, fishing equipment, major appliances, toys, DVD's etc, etc, etc.. here!

One of three restaurants- The Muddy Rudder. You can order your average dinner salad for $15. Dressing extra.

Learning about how to cook salmon during In Service. We got to wash, cut and eat it. If nothing else, come to Alaska for the salmon!

Yes, yes I am here. These pictures did NOT come from Google.

More about Togiak to come soon!