Share My Alaska Experience: Wednesday, September 12, 2012

I have been so happy to be back at school. It has been so good to see the students and we have experienced so much together in these last few days. I am fortunate enough to be working with a teacher who is native during math classes. He is very excited that I am so eager to learn Yu'pik and to learn about the Yu'pik culture. I is an incredible teacher and always tries to incorporate lessons that include Yu'pik traditions (especially when I am in his classroom.) Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be in his classroom when he thought the students deserved a little break. Because we don't have a gym or play deck right now due to the remodel he tries to give them time to exercise during class. Today, he decided to show them a few "stunts" that he used to do when he was younger. I was able to see the kids carrying other kids on their backs and underneath them... I even saw the teacher holding up one of the students by his feet while he was laying on the ground! Words like LIABILITY and INAPPROPRIATE started running through my mind and then I realized that the students were respectful, safe, and appropriate with all of the "stunts" that they were doing. Just something to think about... When the teacher started telling a story about his childhood the students, very respectfully, found a seat and listened. AMAZING!

And then today... the students get a snack everyday that is mailed to us. This week we got a whole bunch of fresh fruit! Peaches and Pears!!!! Usually its bananas and those small red school apples... Yuck! We gave the students the peaches and they didn't know what to do with them. They asked me if they had to peel them in order to eat them. After I taught them how to eat a peach I showed them the pit inside and explained that it was the seed. They were amazed that they could eat everything but the pit. I think I may try to get some pomegranates shipped up here and see what they think of those! LOL!

Enjoy some pictures from my walk yesterday!