RAINBOW OF A TIME

This picture was taken at Kasigluk, AK on the Akiuk side of town. I really like it, because they have a nice school and the people are so friendly. My sister married someone from there, and now they have been living there for almost 22 yrs. We visit often and go shopping to their store because they offer a better variety than our store. This rainbow was taken when we were butchering moose my brother in law caught when he went Takllirlak to hunt for moose. Our school year is going well so far, and the staff have been so quiet so far. I am so pleased because they have adapted to our school environment, and are so friendly instead of trying to be judgemental to our conditions. I AM SO EXCITED, YET IT'S ALMOST OCTOBER. The student's are so into playing basketball. Right now, while I'm writing this, they are playing with one another and this is the major reason they come into our after school program. Our target subject this year has been Math. In our SBA's the majority of our students scored at or below the criteria for math. We have been using the ALEK's program which is a math tutoring program that is online. I needed to make a presentation to our staff, but our DO needed to make a list of usernames and passwords for our teachers. So far, I haven't recieved any from them at all. Despite that fact, I think we will be succesful this year. I have no doubt that our staff will make an effort to concentrate on math especially 'cause we succeeded in reading and writing last year. Also our staff morale is more stronger and more positive than it has ever been since the past five years I have been working here. Gotta Think Positive to get Positive feedback from students. I had to realize and notice that myself this year. It's going goot!!

Moose Hunting

This is Aaron N. He is 14 yrs old and he just recently came back from moose hunting for two weeks. I called his school and told the home/school coordinator that he is going out hunting with his uncle-in-law and will come home after they catch a moose. Aaron was excused for two weeks at our school, because he went subsistence hunting. I was wondering if I should allow him to go or not because he would miss so much instruction. I was ignoring the fact he would get subsistence instruction from my brother-in-law and instruction in survival skills out in the woods. Although they didn't catch a moose I was happy to see him home. Back to noise in my little house with the sound of electric guitar and music which he likes to play. He mentioned he learned how to cook soup with rice and salt. I was so happy to hear that because this is another skill needed in life, regardless if he's a boy. Navigation is another key factor, because I want him to take me upriver when he's of age to go on his own. This weekend they are planning to go for just the weekend for punking, and I hope they get lucky getting a moose. Aaron loves to hunt, and I am so happy he does hunt because he is carrying on our tradition and lifestyle of subsisting from our land.

Weekly Bog #3

Here's some of my afterschool students in Atmautluak, AK. We have been working on our math skills since school started and we use the ALEKS program that is geared towards math tutoring. We have tutoring for an hour, 15 min. of snack/email, and an hour of gym time. Gym time usually gets students motivated to come to the afterschool program, but they have to have tutoring for at least 45 min. The students are excited because they get to check their email for 5-10 min. before we head into the gym.

WEEKLY BLOG #2

HELLO EVERYONE:
I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend. Seems like everyone is picking berries and fishing. There's a new powerpoint program I came across that the students are working on and it's called Keynote. I really like the options that the program offers and of course the students are picking up on it VERY FAST. Kids these days, they know what's behind the keypad! Very TECH nerdy..... Work is busy as well as home life. I'm trying to work on my projects but I'm quite slow. If there was more time in the day! God Bless our time given though. Okay everyone! Enjoy the rest of the week!