Year 2... Let's go!

Hello there friends & family,

Thank you for the many emails, texts, and facebook messages, and as promised here is the long awaited blog post.

It does not seem like it has been a month and a half since my last post, but alas, I will try to recount the last few weeks. They seem like a blur for sure,  while remaining  way less overwhelming than last year. In fact, it’s been a blast in every way so far. Coming back to Noorvik really felt like coming home. The kids, their parents, and other people in the village have been really welcoming. The tundra and landscape in the fall is beautiful, and the blueberries, cranberries, and salmon berries are prevalent. Mocha and I have been on many walks and runs and we have had some adventures. We ran into a fox (and no, that’s not what the fox says unfortunately) who just stared us down one morning. And have seen fresh moose tracks (which really made me want ice cream. Get it? Wilcoxon’s Moose Tracks. Yum.) Mocha is loving being back to her old stomping grounds and collecting caribou bones, fish bones, and caribou skulls.

A couple of changes have occurred in regards to school and what I am actually teaching this year. The 6^th graders were moved up to the middle school, so now I am teaching 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry! It is definitely a lot of prep work, but I’m more aware of what works and what doesn’t. My expectations have shifted to fit this environment. Also, we are teaching and testing the new Alaska State Standards this year (the Common Core, just with a different name and without all of the handy labeling for each standard). That’s been a shift and it’s hard to not get discouraged reading what is expected of me to teach and for the kids to be able to learn and master by April; especially when reading levels are very low across the board. Any insight on the Common Core in math would be greatly appreciated! I am continually looki ng for ways to make learning math fun and hands lon. I will say, knowing the kids better this year, and knowing their skills, learning levels, and learning styles helps tremendously. Engaging them seems more natural, and less like pulling teeth for 6 hours everyday. We have now finished 8 days of school, and every day I have gone to bed loving my job and where God has led me, albeit very exhausted!

Everyday seems to be something new. I already have so many student quotes and stories from just a week and a half. These kids are dealing with an incredible amount of things outside of school, but everyday there are glimpses of hope. My heart is still broken everyday from seeing the effects on students of drugs and alcohol, neglect, and a general “I can’t” attitude. I work with some talented students on the daily and it’s my dream to see them succeed. I can’t wait to further the Lord’s work up here for a second year!

It has been in the 40s, and is definitely smelling like fall. I’m excited for snow and ice this year! For one, the amount of dirt and mud that gets tracked into the apartment will decrease. And more, importantly, travel gets easier by snow machine. I’m also super stoked to try skijouring with mocha. Before coming back up, I purchased all of the necessary gear, and with my skis already up here, we are set! She loves it, and the sled dog in her thrives. I also have snowshoes here too, so I’m excited to get out and play more this year!

That’s kind of the basic run down, and settling back into a routine. Three months off is nice, but I was ready to have a purpose again in July, so it’s great to be back. Thanks again for all of your support, keep on praying for this region and its people as well as the school, staff, and students!

Cheers,

Whitney