BajaBlanca - 8-27-2020 at 10:18 AM
Well, yesterday Tidiana and Abraham stopped by. They needed money to buy schoolbooks but they also told me that since Tidiana cannot read and write,
and since Abraham never even finished elementary school, they were not able to help their kids during this pandemic with online classes. Which in La
Bocana means the teachers are sending the pages of work to be done via whatsapp to each parent.
I put my thinking cap on and contacted senior high school students (who were all my students in middle school) to see if they could spend an hour with
each kid - one on one - every day to make sure they were understanding the material. We will agree on payment after a couple sessions.
The first one to respond was Jesus who is brother to Julian whom we sponsored in college and who is now working full time in La Paz. Jesus is bright
and I thought he would be perfect for the challenge.!
I gave him Jireth Diana (notice I had been spelling her name Jired but it is Jireth) to tutor and they met up this morning. Jireth's teacher told me
that she has a learning disability...Jesus is really smart but also really patient, a perfect combination for her!
Photo of Jireth Diana at Jesus's house at 8 am today.
Here she is at my house afterwards telling me that she loved her class! I have told the kids that if their student teachers give me an A for their
participation, I have a big surprise for them next week. We have a nice big plastic pool that they are going to love!
Danna was the second high school student to respond to me and this is 2nd grader Isaac at her house this morning.
The third high schooler to jump on board was Hector. He is beyond bright - like rocket scientist bright and I had 1st grader Ismael go to him today
for tutoring.
Which leaves 4th grader Manuel who I paired up with my neighbor's daughter Sannia, but she is out of town for 2 weeks. He said he had already done
his assignment so I asked him to bring it over....I am not happy with it so I have asked Ivanna - another neighbor's kid, to meet up with him today.
Still waiting to hear what time.
All in all, a really good day and it was really challenging to get high schoolers on board, stagger the times so that Tidiana could drop off the kids
on time and wait for today to hear how it all went.
I am very happy!!
[Edited on 12-12-2020 by BajaBlanca]
[Edited on 12-18-2020 by BajaBlanca]
BajaBlanca - 8-28-2020 at 06:35 PM
Today's classes.
Isaac - 2nd grader studies with Danna.
This is a photo of Danna.
Ismael - !st grader studies with Hector.
This is a photo of Hector.
Jireth - 3rd grader studies with Jesus.
A photo of Jesus.
I have not gotten Manuel's photos yet. This is Ivanna, his teacher.
So, we have agreed that the kids will study Mon thru Thursday and do reading and hand in the worksheets to the school on Fridays.
My student teachers are really enjoying being tutors and each has come up with activities that we will include...Danna suggested doing some PE and I
loved that idea. She sent me a video of Isaac jumping. Ivanna suggested reading and at the end of every day I will have them do some reading and the
whole class on Friday will be reading as well as them taking home literature for the weekends. Hector thinks it might be a good idea to take all the
kids to the beach one day. I think he swims so maybe he can teach them how to swim.
The best part is that the little ones are loving their classes - boy - nothing makes me smile bigger!
They all brought me their worksheets before they handed them in, they are really doing a good job. Listen to this: the first day that Isaac, the
2nd grader came over (Wed before they started class Thursday) , I looked at his papers which he said were ready to be turned in and noticed the lack
of capital letter at the front of the sentence and no period at the end. So, I said, this is what I see and you need to redo these with a student
teacher. Jump forward to today and as I am looking over his pages he says " I now know that I need capitals in front, commas in between and a period
at the end!" OMGosh!!!! Bingo!
BajaBlanca - 8-28-2020 at 06:43 PM
Here is Manuel, reading away! Ivanna went to the library and got 3 books for him to read today.
Those of you who have been to our hotel will notice that this is the back garden! Ivanna has a mean dog so she will do these classes for the time
being and then we have to change teachers....Sannia will take over. She is out of town right now.
advrider - 8-28-2020 at 07:06 PM
Very cool, that was a big task! Awesome team work and good to see your old students paying it back. Makes me glad to help out when it's needed.
TMW - 8-28-2020 at 07:15 PM
Ditto to that.
mjs - 8-28-2020 at 07:34 PM
Good for you. What you do is awesome.
BajaBlanca - 8-30-2020 at 04:05 AM
Hi everyone!
It really was a big task to get everyone dialed in. I am thrilled that it worked out. Tidiana has to do a lot of dropping off and picking up but all
Moms do that!
These student teachers are seniors in high school. All of them were my students when I was teaching middle school. I have enjoyed reconnecting with
them. Ivanna is the only one who I believe decided not to go to college. She is happy to have an activity to occupy her mind. It seems she is
benefitting as much as Manuel. The universe works in mysterious ways.
pauldavidmena - 8-30-2020 at 07:30 AM
The desire to read is a priceless gift - particularly for a child. And as you can probably attest, teaching a child to read might be an even greater
reward.
BajaBlanca - 8-31-2020 at 11:07 AM
I got a copy of the 4th grade material last night and my eyes went crosseyed trying to decipher it. I am a teacher but have concentrated my years on
teenagers and adults, so I take MY HAT OFF to elementary school teachers. WOW, so much to teach at that age.
My student teachers are all busy this morning! Here are the 3 photos I have gotten so far.
Ivanna and Manuel
Danna and Isaac
Jesus and Jireth Diana
BajaBlanca - 9-6-2020 at 10:55 AM
Last Thursday was the one week marker for the student teaching and as promised, I had a surprise gift ready for the hard working students.
The deal was, if their student teacher gave them an A for effort for the first week, then they would get the surprise. I did not forewarn the
teachers but all of them said their students deserved an A!
Here are the brownies I made for them to share.
Here is the pool they got as a reward and I hear they use it all day long now!
After asking around town, I found out that the going rate for tutoring is $100 pesos a class. Originally, I thought the student teachers would spend
about one hour with each child. Dream on, Blanca! They are spending 2 almost 3 hours per class so they definitely deserve the $100. What I did ask
is that they do class 4 times a week and take Fridays off.
I put together little decorated envolopes for each student teacher.
Here is the group and we agreed that we will not meet again as a group due to the danger of spreading the virus but I am so happy that we did get
together this one time.
So, a little while later I am on the front porch talking with my air force son who is stationed in Germany and two younguns come for a visit. I don't
even remember the last time I had visitors! We sat and talked, one is a local child and the other is from Punta Prieta. When I asked how they had
met, one looked at the other and said We are BEST FRIENDS. We have been best friends since we were little.
Ahhhhhh, aren't best friends the best thing in the world?
Here they are with frisbees I gave them.
BajaBlanca - 9-22-2020 at 05:52 AM
The classes are going on and the students are blossoming. It is so rewarding to see their progress day by day. Each student teacher is in direct
contact with the elementary school teacher.
I am not sure how long this will go on with the crazy Virus and kids not being able to go to school, I was wondering if 4 of you might be interested
in "adopting" Tidiana's kids' education? I pay the student teachers every Thursday so for this week it will be $20 each one.
STUDENT 1 ISMAEL 1ST GRADE is being taught by Aymara
STUDENT 2 ISAAC 2ND GRADE is being taught by Danna
STUDENT 3 JIRETH DIANA 3RD GRADE is being taught by Jesus
STUDENT 4 MANUEL 4TH GRADE is being taught by Ivanna
I have actually added another student who is being brought up by his grandmother. She says her daughter simply dropped him off to her with all his
clothes when he was 1, but that she loves him to no end. He is in 5th grade. His name is Alejandro and according to Sannia, the student teacher
working with him, he is super smart and in 3 days she was able to get him caught up. The school principal told me that she thinks the family can pay
so I will visit them today. Stay tuned!
Jesus is teaching Jireth how to read. He is a natural born teacher - he made individual letter cards with a pic on each one to help trigger her
memory. Jireth has a learning disability and Jesus is the absolute embodiment of patience. What a Godsend he is!
A arbole tree
B barco boat ...
BajaBlanca - 9-22-2020 at 10:44 AM
ISAAC has a sponsor! Bendiciones as they say here. Great is God.
windgrrl - 9-25-2020 at 11:37 AM
Hi, Blanca,
Please check your U2U.
BajaBlanca - 9-25-2020 at 08:50 PM
Wowza (as my granddaughter says) !!!
Jireth now has a sponsor too!
Here is a pic of Ismael, who has a new teacher, Aymara. Hector did not think he could student teach and keep up his grades in high school - Aymara is
taking a break from college. Perfect fit.
Check out Ismael's little tongue!!! Oh my gosh, could he be any cuter? Also, notice the notebook and pencils and crayons we gave him.
Thanks windgrrl
BajaBlanca - 9-27-2020 at 07:41 PM
Last week on Thursday (payday for the student teachers), I saw Alejandro and his grandmother returning home after his tutoring.
He is the kid whose Mom dropped him off to grandma (pictured) at age 1 along with all his clothes and diapers. Grandma Chencha loves him with all her
heart and came over a week ago to say there was no one to help him with his studies.
I have paired him up with our neighbor, Sannia, who is one of my best friend's daughter. Sannia has been dealing with depression for about a year...I
think this might give her a reason to get up in the mornings.
So far, she seems thrilled with the whole process. She says Alejandro is very smart. He told me he enjoys her class and is learning a lot. He is a
5th grader. Preparing for the classes is no piece of cake but Sannia is a smart cookie/
win win!
BajaBlanca - 9-29-2020 at 04:33 PM
This is the first photo we have of Ivanna's sister Aymara and her student Ismael. If you have been to our hotel, you will recognize the picnic table
that is under our back palapa.
Great news: I have found her sponsor for October!
The only one missing is Ivanna because I think the members of Sannia's student, Alejandro, can come up with the cost of the tutoring.
BajaBlanca - 9-29-2020 at 05:41 PM
We have a third sponsor! So, Aymara and Ismael are covered for October.
BajaBlanca - 10-1-2020 at 01:02 PM
PAYDAY!!!
Easy to find Aymara and sister Ivanna since they are behind the hotel.
Great to have an assistant who can take the photos (aka Mom)!
Aymara
Ivanna
Sannia
Jesus
Danna
Payday is the most fun day of all! Thanks everyone for your super support!
BajaBlanca - 10-5-2020 at 02:49 AM
I didn't know that! I will let her know. It is such a pretty name.
BajaBlanca - 10-7-2020 at 09:13 PM
It was so busy today with the tutoring class behind our hotel! Aymara with Ismael, Ivanna with Manuel, two little ones hanging out so that Tidiana
could help me clean the hotel (that covers her gas for shuttling the kids back and forth) and Jireth was there too since her student teacher Jesus had
a final himself today.
Great news! My friend and longtime college scholarship sponsor (on his second student!!) pitched in to Tidiana's kids' tutoring fund. A one time
investment so whohoooooooooo I have every child covered for 2 weeks and 3 of them covered all of October and one even partial Nov.
We all met up for margaritas by chance 2 days ago at the beach restaurant.
and today we put together a meal for them. Les made fish a la Veracruz (with veggies), a Mexican salsa, beans. I made rice and homemade applesauce
for dessert and Mom made a fruit salad.
All in all, a great day!
BajaBlanca - 10-8-2020 at 08:35 PM
Today was PayDay! The best day of the week for me, and surely for the student teachers as well.
Danna
Jesus
Sannia
Ivanna and Aymara
Pictures of the kids over the week. The teachers have to send me a pic every day so I know that the sts showed up.
So, someone mentioned to me that sometimes the students seem to be too close to the book or paper - The kids told us that they had had their eyes
tested at school and all was OK!
Thanks so much amigos! Our students are way ahead of the game this year. God works in mysterious ways because this is way better than being bullied.
Or being one in a class of over 30!
BajaBlanca - 10-12-2020 at 05:28 PM
Great point! Going to leave cushions tomorrow. The table is too high!
Thanks thanks thanks for bringing my attention to that!
surabi - 10-12-2020 at 10:46 PM
Young children often seem to put their faces quite close to their work. I think it has more to do with them being intent and focused on what they're
doing than there being anything wrong with their vision.
But I once read a book on vision which was fascinating. A regular eye exam doesn't test for many vision problems, only if you are near or far sighted
or have astigmatism. But there are other vision problems which affect learning. One is called tracking- the ability of your eyes to travel across a
page smoothly to read easily (and it's what is also important in sports, to follow the trajectory of the ball, or by animals or hunters in following
the movement of prey). Some kids who are labelled as having learning disabilities have this vision problem. My friend's daughter had a hard time
reading- she said the words jumped around on the page. So when she read, she would just focus on one word at a time, so her reading was very slow and
stilted, although she was quite bright.
If you're playing with a kitten and piece of string, the kitten will keep trying to catch the string as long as you move it back and forth, side to
side. But if you start moving it up and down, the kitten will quickly lose interest. This is because most mammalian carnivores' eyes track
horizontally, because that is how their prey moves. They can't really track vertically. And it's why the advice if you are ever faced with a big cat,
like a cougar, when out in the wild, is to raise your arms up straight and jump up and down- you hopefully cease to look like something they would
consider to be prey.
That book also explained what causes astigmatism, which is a misshaping of the cornea. It can be caused by forcing your eyes to look at something not
straight in front of you for long periods of time, like lying on your stomach with your chin propped in your hands with your book on the bed or couch
and reading like that.
[Edited on 10-13-2020 by surabi]
BajaBlanca - 10-13-2020 at 04:41 AM
Your last paragraph would surely explain my astigmatism.
Really interesting information.
When I was in first grade, we got tested for vision. I got glasses and says my Mom that as soon as we got outside I said "Look at all the leaves on
the tree!" I guess it had been a big blur before that.
That being said, I am a super fast reader. My high school classmates used to watch me read and were incredulous. They would ask comprehension
questions to see if I had really read the passage in such a short time.
surabi - 10-13-2020 at 10:12 PM
Yeah, I was a kid who always had my nose buried in a book and I'm astigmatic as well. They put glasses on me when I was 10.
Too late for us, but if you see your kids reading like that, get them to prop the book up in front of them, so they're looking straight on at the
page.
CaboMagic - 10-14-2020 at 07:19 AM
Ten thumbs up surabi for that input!!
BajaBlanca - 10-14-2020 at 05:03 PM
And so the world turns. I got a call from Ramiro, the architecture student in La Paz, saying that he was getting headaches, went to get his eyes
checked and needed glasses.
I sent him $980 and the arrive in 10 days.
He was diagnosed with astigmatism too!
Here is a photo of us in 2019
He will send a shot wearing his new glasses when he gets them!!
BajaBlanca - 10-15-2020 at 01:12 PM
October 15th update
The students are doing well!
The student teachers are doing well too!
Aymara getting her pay.
A cutie studying away! Notice that all the kids' postures have improved. This one is on 2 pillows and boy, what a difference.
Ivanna getting paid.
The board today - learning how to read!
Teacher Hayzooz getting paid. (Jesus)
Sannia as happy as can be!
and lastly Teacher Danna!
How much you all want to bet these kids go on to be teachers? They are loving the experience.
Thanks all for supporting this project.
BajaBlanca - 10-19-2020 at 09:03 PM
Sharing the kids in class today!
Isaac
Jireth looking so pretty! Jesus has been working on her self esteem and I told Tidiana to make sure the kids were wearing clean clothes without
rips.
Ismael
and Manuel!
Missing is Alejandro, his student teacher's internet has not been working so well.
I am very happy with the boys' postures! Straight backs are the name of the day.
BajaBlanca - 10-23-2020 at 08:58 PM
This week was so busy that I had the student teachers come up to the house and collect their money!
It waited for them under the BOO sign.
Here is Alejandro studying away. His tutor Sannia says he is very bright and she loves teaching him all the 5th grade subjects. Not Tidiana's kid
but Chencha's grandson.
We have our regular weather back, as is the norm, on the cooler side. Parents immediately wrap kids up just like Eskimo's and Tidiana is no
exception LOL
Here is Isaac, is he the CUTEST or what!
BajaBlanca - 10-24-2020 at 08:03 PM
No talk yet of going back to physical classroom. What a year, what a year.
BajaBlanca - 10-29-2020 at 09:38 PM
Payday!!!!
Visited our cat's kitten named TROUBLE between one tutor and the others.
All the students are doing well according to the student teachers. I am going to ask their public school teachers to give us a report on each one.
Stay tuned.
BajaBlanca - 11-5-2020 at 10:20 PM
I talked to the director and asked her to get me the kids; GPAs.
Had a shock, not a good one either.
First the good news: Four of the five students, 2nd 3rd 4th 5th graders all have a B average. This is so great
The bad news is that Aymara's student, the 1st grader had not turned in any work for 2 weeks. I am floored and he is flunking this moment.
I fired Aymara and paid her for last week today...I think there is something wrong with her. She never said anything, but this is the oddest
behaviour ever. She could not give me a good reason for Ismael's not turning in his work. Her sister Ivanna's student has a B average. Both teach
(taught) behind the hotel. She sent me a photo of her student studying every day.
Good news is that I found 2 other student teachers to take over - one is in her last semester and is in the college scholarship project - they have
taken over as of today. They already met with the kid's real teacher and are getting a jump on his work. They agree that Ismael is really smart.
They will teach this weekend to make up time/work.
Boy, thank goodness I asked the principal to get me the average.
Ismael is one of the happiest student's, I made sure the new student teachers understood that his low GPA was surely NOT his fault. After I have
digested Aymara's actions, I might sit down and have a talk with her. She was my student in high school eons ago...like I say, something in her
behaviour is really off.
I feel sad but mostly, I feel duped and frustrated and angry and sure wish I had known sooner.
Today was payday and I have some nice photos. A friend made me champurrado and I shared with the kids.
Pics when our internet gets better, it is very slow today.
BajaBlanca - 11-10-2020 at 08:44 PM
Update soon! Everything is looking great and real progress being made.
BajaBlanca - 11-20-2020 at 09:17 PM
Life happened and we got soooooooo busy! The kids have been studying so much, the student teachers are happy and at the end of the month we should be
getting their report cards.
I get updates and photos every day, these are the most recent photos of Tidiana's kids.
And this is Alejandro
Today was payday.
Here is Sannia
Here is Danna! As you can see, Tidiana did the rounds to pay everyone today!!
Here is Elizabeth. Missing is Jesus who came to the house to get his cash and I forgot to take his photo. He comes again tomorrow, lets hope I
remember. Alondra is traveling, Elizabeth's brother helped Ismael this past week since he is in the same class. I like this idea a lot and will
see if we can get them involved in other activities as friends.
And that is the report for the week! Les's daughter and husband were here for 10 days and we were so busy having fun with them. Cooked and went to
Loreto, Santa Rosalia, San Ignacio, Campo Rene (closed but we went anyways) and Punta Abreojos. Whew!!!
BajaBlanca - 12-5-2020 at 05:25 PM
Tahdahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh REPORT CARDS!
I do not have the old report cards to compare but I am so happy that these kiddoes really did well!
Add a zero to the number to get our equivalent % in the U.S.
Here are Alejandro's grades
Emanuel's grades
Isaac's grades
and Jireth's. At 9, she is just learning how to recognize letters. She has a learning disability, so I am pretty impressed!
Ismael's teacher gave him horrible grades because his work was handed in so late due to the lack of help from Aymara. Hector, his very first teacher
and Elizabeth, this current one, both say he is super smart and the hardest worker they have seen. I take their word for it and told him I am very,
very proud of all his effort.
And I am.
The principal told me that next trimester his grades will reflect his new reality. He is 6 years old, I think we can move on! I think we can safely
say that he loves the arts.
I never got the report card per se, but here is the message the school principal sent with his grades:
All that being said, I told the students and tutors that we will have a safe gathering behind the hotel next Friday at noon.
I have commissioned 3 pinatas, one for the kids, one for Tidiana and one for Abraham. Both told me they NEVER had a birthday party in their lives.
Each child will get $100 pesos for themselves.
Bajanomad L. will donate bonus cash for the tutors!
I have asked the tutors to get their friends and neighbors and family to donate children's clothes and shoes, the elementary school principal will
also ask for donations.
I will make a cake and will see what else I can cook up.
Just want to add this photo of Tidiana, it is one of my favorites.
Here are some of the student photos - every day the tutors send one of their kiddo studying.
Alejandro
On this day, Ismael came over to show me what he had learned the past week. In the first photo, he had drawn a map of Mexico, mainland and Baja. I
asked him to show me where we lived and he went right to the spot!
In this second picture he had drawn, he had two menu's with junk food on one side and healthy food on the other. I asked him to explain and he
clearly said: If you eat junk food, you get no vitamins and gain weight. Smart cookie!
The main objective is for the kids to enjoy learning, and that they are! I also find it interesting that all of them love the arts.
Are they too young for me to ask about future jobs they might want HAHAHAHA
[Edited on 12-6-2020 by BajaBlanca]
Whale-ista - 12-5-2020 at 05:35 PM
This is so inspiring- thank you for doing this and sharing the results!
TMW - 12-6-2020 at 10:17 AM
X2
windgrrl - 12-6-2020 at 10:54 AM
Thanks for the wonderful update, Blanca and congratulations to all for the hard work and great results!
BajaBlanca - 12-6-2020 at 03:47 PM
BajaBlanca - 12-11-2020 at 08:24 PM
Yesterday was PAYDAY!
Student teacher DANNA
Student teacher JESUS
Student teacher Sannia
and student teachers Elizabeth and her brother Alberto
They have all been working really hard, Sannia'a parents say that she wakes up at 5 am in order to prepare the class for the day. Unfortunately, the
teachers give the work late in the afternoon, every day. I had asked if it was possible to give it all in one fell swoop on Mondays, but they did not
take me up on that idea.
Payday is a good day!
BajaBlanca - 12-17-2020 at 08:50 PM
Thursday payday and tomorrow is the last day of classes until 2021!
Monday is the end of the year get together to show how proud I am of the little ones and their tutors!
Alondra and Elizabeth
Danna
Jesus
and Sannia!
Life is good. Thanks to each and every one of you for helping me with this huge undertaking! Have a Merry Christmas !!
BajaBlanca - 12-17-2020 at 08:55 PM
I forgot I wanted to share this photo of an art project that Alejandro and Sannia put together, it is a crazy Christmas hat. So creative!
BajaBlanca - 12-19-2020 at 06:17 PM
Lots of preparation for the party, the most important being a seating arrangement at 3 different tables that keeps everyone safe!
Neighbor Linda making natural fresh juice.
Hotel guest POK from Hong Kong making Chinese fried rice!
I already made Brazilian black beans and will make a chocolate cake tomorrow. Kids love jello, so I may make some.
My friend in Abreojos is gathering used clothes, shoes and food.
My friend Cindy also has some food to give the family.
Each tutor is to bring a gift for their student.
I have some xmas lights that we will decorate with.
Ready, set and almost a GO!
windgrrl - 12-20-2020 at 04:15 PM
Looks to be a wonderful and well-earned celebration!
BajaBlanca - 12-20-2020 at 08:50 PM
I am so happy that everything is ready!
Decorations (too bad the party isn't at night)
All the gifts for the teachers and I also have a neat gift package with their bonus that two bajanomaders so generously offered!
My great friend Xochi from Abreojos talked to her friends and they donated lots of clothes which I picked up this afternoon.
The pinatas are ready to be hung up in the morning...I have the special present I got for each child and each tutor will bring a gift for their
student.
Looking forward to the Chinese Fried rice with yellowtail.
Stay tuned for more pictures tomorrow. Thanks everyone!