Day 2 - Thursday

Day 2 is one of my favorite days. Its the day where I don't have a class first period and then have 4 Grade 8 classes through the day. Today is also the one day in the year Bogota has a completely car free road system !!! One day a year all private cars are banned from the roads.

0650 and I get onto the bus, soon we're off on what should be a quick and easy run to school since only buses, taxis, emergency vehicles and security vehicles are allowed on the road so the question as to why it took 10 minutes longer today to get from the flat to the school baffles me!

0730 Having just walked in off the bus the fact I have a free first period is a big plus as I have time to go get a coffee check all the notice boards and once I have checked and rechecked the cover making sure I haven't sneaked in anywhere I stroll casually back to the class.

0830 Brings me my first class, only trouble is out of 22 students I have 7 it seems that on the no car day pupils can't get into school easily so they wander in between 9 and 11, which at 0830 means I can't really do a great deal so I let the kids destroy some wood after reminding them ALL their work needs to be in by Wed next week. I notice nothing productive is made but then I didn't really expect them too.

0930 Mentoria - The kids get their grades and comments and have to sign saying they have received them, the 30 minutes flies in.

1000 Break and time to refresh my coffee before checking the web for mail and some Middle Year Program Surfing on the Technology Curriculum.

1030 Second grade 8 class everyone present and all keen to get on with the work they have available its a pleasant hour walking around looking at some of their efforts but there are still areas I am not happy with.

1130 Third grade 8 class they are slow to start but soon get into the project and are producing the drawings required. I am a bit disappointed with the effort of some kids towards their presentation. I have decided I am going to grade strictly and if the presentation is poor then the mark will reflect their lack of effort which I have been stressing each lesson.

1230 My second free period of the day I sort out some paperwork, print off some details on jobs and then relax by doing a little more surfing. Just after 1 I head off for lunch.

1330 Lunch today I had Rice and Pasta with what was as close to a weiner schnitzel as I have seen. The three textures on paper sound terrible but in reality it was quite tasty.

1430 Last grade 8 class of the day I again stress presentation and see next to none except from just 1 group who are trying hard and have added some colour and design to their pages.

1530 And the day is over. On the Bus and back to the flat fairly quickly. Tomorrow is Families Day. All afternoon tents and stages have been being put up around the school. We still have no update in whats happening and when the only details we have been given is that we must keep the kids in Mentoria from 0730 to 900 so the school can organise which kids can go out because they have paid the 20.00 Pounds and who has to stay in because they haven't. Something about this doesn't sound right but I guess we will see tomorrow.