http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjdnM8GfLFY (You will have to copy and paste into your browser.)

This does a pretty accurate job of describing the growing gap between the Yup'ik culture and modern times. It is interesting being here from an outsider's perspective because their is a constant push to integrate more and more Yupik into the schools, yet kids are all consumed by their video games and the internet. They need instant gratification which is what is driving the current generation away from the culture. Just from the beginning of the year to now we have gone from having a Yup'ik instructor once a week for 20 minutes to having classroom aides teach it for a half hour everyday.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we have been studying Early Exploration and the pilgrim's voyage to the United States. I planned multiple lessons in a row but I think they gained the most when the lesson became more of a conversation. We spent 15 minutes looking up what the pilgrims and Indians ate at the First Thanksgiving on the smart board and talking about how much different the food was back then (totally unplanned.) It is not what you expect.. go take a peak for yourself. Did you know they had lobster at the First Thanksgiving? Great minds always learning!
Here is the quote of the week from one of my students in response to early exploration: "I didn't know so much happened before we were born!" Although this is a simple thought, it is something that is easy to forget because sometimes it seems like we are overly consumed by the present. It re-newed my excitement about teaching social studies and history.. or rather exploring the past with them.

It's funny.. even through I always feel mentally drained at the end of the day, their is always this ounce of sadness that I won't see my kids until the next day. Then again, my mind is oddly twisted.
Thanks for following! I will continue to keep you all posted on life in the tundra!

Time still flies in the middle of nowhere

Sometimes I forget where I am... but then I look outside my kitchen window and see miles of tundra followed by ocean. It's an adjustment to my living style.. for one thing I am constantly thinking about how I can reuse EVERYTHING. Coffee creamer containers are great for storing beans and egg cartons  provide the kids a great way to practice their addition facts. Personally, I am learning how to be more proactive... forgetting to order toilet paper is a mistake I am never going to make again. And it's quite hard to find a replacement for soap. Although if anyone has any suggestions... 

Here is the good, the bad and the ugly over the past few weeks: 

1.) Their is something to be said for flying shotgun. It was unbelievable to be able to look out the front window while taking off. Although, at first I had a hard time putting my faith in the pilot's ability to eat his apple and get us off the ground. But ya know, I'm not sure why I was so worried. He had talent..and could probably get us back and fourth to Togiak with his eyes closed.

2.) I am adjusting to the slower pace of life. Either that or I am realizing that I was always slow, but I just fit in better here. 

3.) Halloween still goes on without the leaves changing color, apple picking or carving a jack-o-lantern.  Kids pile on the back of an ATV in order to cover the most ground possible. It is also not uncommon to see middle age men trick-o-treating.. a tradition that I am not fond of in the slightest. Let's keep this holiday about the kids! 

4.) I have a new found respect for basket weaving, I spent a good 24 hours on my 'basket.' Let's just say it would make a good home for a really tiny bird... That being said, I learned a lot about the culture just from working on it. 

5.) Seeing gravel roads in Dillingham this past weekend was a bit unreal. And actually walking into a bank and talking to a bank teller? Man, life does not get much better than that! 

6.) My heart ached a little bit during all staff pickup. Wherever I go, I shall carry a disc. 

7.) Their is nothing better then the way my kids smile when we dance in the morning. They love being silly and aren't afraid to take risks. 

Walking a mob of dogs. We only started with three.. but around here they all follow... Our intention was to 'lose' a few in town. That didn't happen.. but a few days later a few of them got picked up by a truck and got taken to the dump. As annoying as some of them were, it was a little disheartening to see things end the way they did.

 Retirement struck early...

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!