Wishes

Teaching in the Dominican Republic may be one of the hardest things I've done.

There's so many things that I wish were different.

I wish....
     we had a one-on-one aid for my student with Asperger's, or better yet a whole Special Ed department
     math class hadn't been interrupted with maintenance men and a ladder to fix the light
     I could understand my student when they speak in Spanish
     that we didn't use A Beka math books
     we had tables rather than desks
     there was a social studies curriculum so I didn't have write my own
     my students could set their pencils down without them rolling off the desk
     the power would stay on all day
     that I could print without the copier jamming
     there was soap in the bathroom, always
     I could give my students directions in Spanish, or that they could understand my English
    my phonics lesson could have been heard over the sawing outside our window
    we had enough scissors and glue sticks for each student to have them, all at the same time
    grades weren't due every month, and that we had a computer program to average them for us
    the chalkboard worked well enough for the students to see it
 
Yet in all my wishing, there's so many things for which to be thankful.

I'm thankful for...
    a former employer who shipped 600 used tennis balls to the DR so that we don't have to hear metal screeching against
          concret every time the desks are moved
    the moment when I see a student sounding out a word, mentally considering what sound each letter makes
    the endless hugs, and yes kisses, I receive everyday for my students
    the smiles on the face of my Asperger's student when he does something independently for the first time
    a classroom aid who translates directions, instructions, and does a million other things
    Tuesday chapels were we sing worship songs with crazy motions, just like I did growing up
    an experienced co-operating teacher
    that we do in fact have math books now
    for all my Ed professors, but most especially Dr. Wright for giving me a love for Special Education and preparing me for
          teaching with Special Education students in my classroom
    the simple things, like the teacher who let me use her rubber bands and the day I found Popsicle sticks in the supply
           closet
    the moment my LD student told me 2+2=4, before counting it out on my fingers
    a bugger zapper to kill the mosquitoes in our classroom
    each time I hear one of my ELL say anything in English
    a kitty cat watch from Mickey D's that has lasted much longer than the one I bought at La Sirena
    that I'm learning new Spanish words everyday from my students
    to be living my dream after waiting so many years to be here
 
Teaching in the Dominican Republic is one of the most amazing things I've ever done.