Levelock, Alaska Adventure: March 2011

Well not much new has been happening here in my little slice of Alaska. I am busy working with my students for their state tests that are now 2 weeks away. I work daily with students in grades 3-11 on reading, writing and math skills. I also focus on general test taking skills. Some of my students don't really care about taking a state exam but I am still plugging away with them to show them that these tests are important. All of my students will do well if they just take their time and apply themselves and I'm hoping that in the next 2 weeks they will realize they can really do this!

On another note I received my order from the air flight company that flys food into the village. This included fresh produce so I can make SALADS! Also the first ice cream I have had since leaving home!! I was so stoked for cookie dough ice cream that I dug right in with a spoon! Below is a picture of what I ordered plus a close up of the ice cream right before I dug in with a spoon =)

I cant believe in exactly 3 weeks I will be getting ready to fly home to Pennsylvania and my adventure here will be over. It is something I have learned a lot from about myself and others and something I will never forget!

Wow! What a week! This past week was Spring Break for Lake and Pennisula School District or LPSD, where I work. Last Saturday I flew back to Anchorage and then took a bus to Aleyska Ski Resort for a 3 day conference on Literacy. Of course how can you be at a ski resort and not enjoy the experience. I did not go skiing but I did take an afternoon to go on a hike through the mountain with friends. We also took a tram ride to the top of the mountain and experience the view and watched the skiers and snowboarders. The conference was over on Tuesday night but the district graciously paid for our rooms for one more night. On Wednesday Katie and I headed to Anchorage. Instead of flying straight back to our villages we took advantage of time to shop and just hang out. We rented a hotel room at the local Days Inn, nothing like the resort we were in before =) and rented a car so we could drive to the stores. We only had a day and a half but we managed to get all our shopping in and make it the airport on time Friday morning for our flight out at 730am. When I arrived home in Levelock yesterday it was about 1115am. I had not been feeling well all morning and went straight home and took a nap after unpacking my cold tote. I still didnt feel well and ended up laying around all evening and going to bed early. I then slept from 9pm until 8am! After waking up I still lounged around until 1030am before I finally got a shower. I think it was just a bug and sheer exhaustion from a week that was supposed to be a 'break'. Oh well, I'm feeling much better now and I am ready to kick SBA testing prep into fulll gear, since we only have 4 weeks until testing. Enjoy some pictures from my break and I'll write more soon!