School begins in Almaty...

Another week has flown by. Terry has his class learning like crazy, writing using personification, and rounding 10s, 100s, 1000s. His room looks inviting and has a lot of learning going on. All our G.L.A.D. gotta be proud!

 

 

 

 

I've told some of you about the daily routine of changing shoes at school. The custom here is to take off your outside shoes when you enter a building. However, at school the students need to wear shoes so they bring an extra pair to wear in the classroom and another pair for PE. It takes a lot of time with 6 year olds to get of this accomplished. Here is a picture of some of the shoes boxes my students have outside in the hall.

 

Lunch time is also an event. The students are served a beautiful, well-rounded lunch. They even have a dietary selection. I know I've shown pictures before but I wanted to show some of the buffet offered.

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the students have to wait around until 4:00 each day until the secondary students are released from school. So on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the elementary school teachers host an activity after school for the elementary students. Terry and I have been teaching watercolor painting techniques. Each year during the first week of school I like to read a book about Van Gogh and then have the students recreate his Sunflower painting. With 6 year olds that was likely but when activity time started I took the opportunity to teach that lesson. We have some talented students in our group. Thursday is open house so I hope to display them for the families to view.

 

 

 

Last Saturday the 1st of September, was the first day of school for the public school children. The children go to school six days a week and finish in May. The first day is a major event, sort of like Open House in the states. I couldn't get the pictures I wanted because it would seem rude snapping pictures of the families with their children. They aren't real fond of picture taking so I have to be sneaky. I captured a few from a far with my zoom. All the boys had three piece navy blue suits on. The girls had navy blue skirts, white blouses, and these enormous white bows in their hair. Most were carrying flowers to their teacher. I received a beautiful bouquet on our first day of school. This definitely needs to become a tradition in the U.S. By the way, all students K-12 were dressed in the same manner.

 

 

This boy does not have a bow on his head...it's the girl's behind him!

 

 

I have some wonderful pictures of the President's Park. Time permitting I'll get to them soon.