My Walk to School

Everyday Nancy and I catch a bus around 6:45 in the morning. We have the nicest bus driver. He always asks how we are doing and drops us off as close as he can even if it is not at a bus stop. Nancy and I take the bus for 15 min. Once we get off the bus we walk all the way down Rathgar Rd. it is such a pretty walk. We walk right past the 7th best school in Auckland which I compare to how every school in GA claims to be a school of excellence. Haha . Our walk is about 20 minutes long, which is so nice, and towards the end we cross a small jungle bridge into a park. Nancy and I crossed the bridge today and then went and played in the park. I love parks there are over 1200 great parks just in Auckland and they are NOT dinky parks. They are real parks. After spending sometime in the park, Nancy and I always sit outside the church and wait for everyone else to get there.

Classes today were pretty interesting. Dr. Jacobs told us about a bunch of great children books we can use in the classroom to get children's attention and keep it. I learned so much. The dinosaurs were killed by one meotor hitting the Earth,  The butter knife was thought of by a cardinal in the middle ages who was tired of people picking their teeth with their knives at the dinner table, a boy named Calvin was thrown out of his home at age 12,  in the 1940s lied about his age and was able to join the navy in World War II in order to have food and clothing but he was on a battleship fighting. He later started 7th grade with a medal of honor from the war. So crazy he was only 12. He taught us so much and I was intrigued the whole time. We can learn so much about the world from children's books. In literature we talked about cameo writing and giving the students boundaries when they write. It was amazing to see how first graders could become such good writers using these methods. I wished more teachers would use that type of teaching. I mean these first graders were using details and writing stories that I did not know was even possible at their age, but with the right tools and teaching they can learn and do so much.

After class, Nancy and I made homemade macaroni and cheese for a pasta pizza night we were having with all of the other girls and their families. There was so much good food and types of homemade pizza and pasta. Everything was so good, and I was so full afterwards. One of the little kids from one of the families, Alexa sang for me. She is like six and just the cutest little thing. I love how active our group of BYU Princesses as Dr. Jacobs says is. It is so nice to be doing so much in New Zealand.

Jan 14, 2011
Today was the last day of our first two classes and no finals!! It is so weird but definitely the best way to do college classes. We learned about the traditions and customs that some of the children from different cultures that we may be teaching. It was pretty interesting to learn so much about the cultures. In assessments Dr. Jacobs made my day and everyone's elses by telling us we don't have to do two big assignments and by giving us magnum bars which were pretty good. They are like our chocolate covered ice cream bars but better. What a great way to end the first week of class not only did two classes end, but no homework on the weekend, free ice cream, and not having to do two big assignments is such a treat. I love having school in New Zealand.