His Handiwork

 The hands of my 18 students.  I am daily amazed at the talents and gifts each one of my students possess.  

 

 It most certainly does not feel like winter here in Cambodia with most days reaching the upper 90's, but my kids certainly used their imaginations as they pretended to live in a snow globe.  

 My favorite line of this one..."I also feel a little nervous because there are some polar bears I've never met."

The pictures below are of my students performing their projects from Drama class at our weekly assembly.
 

 I am so proud of Hyewon.  Her drawing was one of two chosen to be printed on our school t-shirts.  

My class finally finished their research about animals and presented their creative posters to the class.
 

 Komodo Dragon

 Panda Bear

 Hummingbird

 Black Mamba

 Cheetah

Wolf

I have had the opportunity to know most of my students for over a year and half now.  I remember so clearly the first few weeks of school in August 2011 wondering if I would ever hear some of my students speak.  So many of my students knew very little English and lacked the confidence to speak what little English they did know.  Now my students are reciting poems they have memorized, making presentations, and in some cases talking my ear off! :)  They have made so much progress, and I am so proud of them.  

"I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  Psalm 139:14 

More Memories

Wow!  I am not sure where the past 4 months have gone.  This year is flying!  Below you will find some snapshots of some of the memories that have been made in my classroom since my last entry.  I hope it won't take me another 4 months to give an update!  

 My students created some interesting giants to write stories about.

 Merry Christmas

It feels a bit like July when Christmas is celebrated here...wait a minute it kind of always feels like July temperature-wise anyhow.

This past week my class went on a field trip to the Phnom Tamao Zoo.  My class really enjoyed the trip.  Many of them saw animals they had never seen before.

 Monkeys like the one above roamed around freely.  While they may be cute...unfortunately one of my boys had his snack stolen right out of his hand...hence the big smiles and shocked face in the picture below.

 Isaac found the exoskeleton of a rather large python.

 Worn out bunch from all the walking in the heat...made for a welcomed quiet trip back to school...so many fell asleep!

As I reflect on the past year and half, I am so grateful for so many things.  I am grateful for this opportunity God has given me to teach some incredible students.  It has been a joy to share His love with them.  I am also grateful for the daily guidance and wisdom He has given me with access to limited resources.  There may be no textbooks, technology, or sometimes even power...but He has helped me every step of the way.  I am looking forward to seeing what He has planned for the next four months with my amazing class!  

First 30 days in Fourth Grade

I cannot believe I have already finished 6 weeks of teaching in this new school year.  The time is flying!  It has been a great 6 weeks so far.  I looped up to fourth grade with my class so I have 11 of the same students and 7 new students.  

 My Fourth Grade Class

 Getting ready to plant green bean seeds

 Looks like I have some green thumbs in my class!

 Our plants were thriving until the birds found them.  David felt that they needed a scarecrow...hence the snowman. : )

 I recently read One Thousand Gifts (excellent book by the way if you haven't read it) by Ann Voskamp and decided to apply what I learned with my class this year.  I have challenged my class to collectively make a list of 1,000 Gifts (what they are thankful for) throughout the school year.  We already have 200 on our list so far.  Below are some of the gifts mentioned.

3.  Food that we eat.
20.  God gives us wisdom.
34.  The joy in our hearts.
67.  The sun gives us light.
87.  Books to read
128.  We have a Bible to read.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing what my students are thankful for each day.  It is really an amazing way to start each day! 

6th Year Complete

My 6th year of teaching has come to an end.  Yay!  I made it!  It is so difficult for me to believe the year is over.  As I reflect on the year, I am grateful for God's faithfulness, guidance, grace, and protection during my first year in Cambodia.  This has truly been an eye opening and stretching experience.  I am so thankful God has given me the opportunity to teach here, and I am looking forward to another year with my class as I will be looping up with them to Grade 4.  

I had my students answer quite a few questions on the last day of school.  Below are a few of their responses.


Question:  What word would you use to describe Grade 3?
My favorite response came from Isaac.  "Marbles"  (translation = marvelous)


Messages to me...


Have a nice weekend and don't forget to come to school in August.  (This one made me laugh!)


Dear Miss Verdi thank you for telling us about Jesus and teaching us math, and telling us lots of things we don't know.  Love Hogi

 Yay!  We are finished with Grade 3!

 My three sweet girls playing Memory.

 Some of my boys enjoying a game of UNO.

 Vocable (It is just like Scrabble.)

 Beautiful girls with their beautiful butterflies

 Sothun and his owl

 Isaac drew some amazing insects.

 Last Day of Grade 3

 Ice Cream Party

  

 

Making Memories

  

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

My class made paper mâché globes after learning all the continents and oceans.

Deborah reading to a couple girls in Grade 1.

 

Buddy Reading during Book Week

 

  

Treat for Fun Friday - Dirt Cups

 

They loved eating "dirt".

 

  

End of the Year Production - A play about Noah's Ark

 

I love hearing these precious children sing!