Our Year thus far!

What we have learned:

We know how to spell, add, subtract, multiply, divide, check our math problems, (3rd, 4th, 6th grades) Algebra (9th grade) reduce fractions (6th , 9th grades), write a narrative (6th), write correct sentences (3rd, 4th, 6th), tell action verbs from state of being verbs and list them (4th), we have learned story problems (3rd), how to read faster and better (all), how to sound out long words that don’t follow the rules (1st, 3rd), how to pick out fun books to read (1st), all about taking good care of our bodies; both physical and spiritual (3rd, 4th), Hebrews 11:1-22 (23-40 coming soon) (3rd, 4th, 6th), from the beginning of time to old Kingdom Egypt (9th grade), from Christopher Columbus to the war of 1812 (US History) (3rd -4th grades), all about Canada and the Eastern United States (Western Hemisphere History)(6th grade), Insects, plants, trees, invertebrates (3rd, 4th, 6th), capitalization and punctuation rules (3rd), how to write a report (4th), when to use C and K (1st grade) singular vs. plural (3rd), Proofreading marks (4th, 6th, 9th), Biology (9th), Cursive (they have learned to write so nicely) (3rd, 4th, 6th), how to get along (all), how to study (all), how to draw dogs and lizards (3rd, 4th, 6th) that singing and dancing is okay and fun (3rd, 4th), how to play Clue (a favorite) (3rd, 4th, 6th), that by thinking we cannot, means we won’t (all), that it is okay to be wrong and get corrected (all), it may take time to memorize math facts and Bible verses (all), all we can do is our best, and that is not always 100’s (all), God loves us no matter out grades (all), that Miss Naomi needs to know when something is wrong (all), Homework is not all bad (sometime we color) (all), that practice makes perfect so we keep practicing (all, esp. 1st), special sounds in reading (1st), Polish (all), to love school and learning, (all), to take care of each other (all), that we may not always agree, but we always love (all), not to laugh at Miss Naomi’s drawing (all), that the drawings, though funny, help us learn (all), not to laugh at other students (all), not to criticize (all), that Poland does not have bugs to find after a good freeze (3rd, 4th), not everybody likes the same things (all), and above all that learning is FUN (all)!

WOW! We have learned a lot this year. I cannot wait until next semester when we can learn even more. I am so proud of all my students and love seeing them daily!

My week in a "nut shell"

It has been an extremely busy but wonderful week. I began the week with a normal day of school, which we had school all five day along with all the other fun things we did. After school on Monday I went with the roomies to a friend’s house for dinner. We had a blast talking and just spending time together. On Tuesday, we hosted the first Alfa group. The first meeting we were able to sit in on and it was wonderful. There were two young ladies in attendance and they will be back again. We are praying that more will attend and want to know more about the Bible. This is an informational “Bible Study” for non-believers. Their opinions are heard and then discussed along with a 45 minute video about the topic for the evening. On Wednesday we had Team Meeting and it was just a wonderful day in all. (Days like that are wonderful!) On Thursday we had the first International Coffee House which was wonderful. We had a local artist who plays on the street play and he was great. He is going to the University and plays on the street to make a living. He was hilarious and had the audience rolling with laughter. Next week there will be a blind man playing and singing for entertainment. We hope there will be a big crowd for this. We had a wonderful turnout and only hope and pray for those to come back and for more to attend. Then on Friday, last night, I had Polish Sign Language Lessons. This was so much fun. I was able to learn some words in PSL and work on my spoken Polish too. I had a wonderful time getting to know the lady, Ula, and learning a language I love! She was able to learn some ASL from me, but mainly I was doing the learning and her teaching. It was a wonderful week even with all that was going on.

What a month...

Wow what a month it has been. We moved into our new apartment on October 1, 2009. The apartment is wonderful and has plenty of room for all three of us. We have been settling in and learning how each other works and operates. On Tuesday we begin an ALFA group in our apartment. We are just the hosting house and provide light snacks. I am extremely excited about this because in each group new believers are born. ALFA is a Bible Study for non believers. It runs for 11 weeks and will be from 6:00p until they are done. Each week there is a video on the topic of the night and discussion. There is a wide range of topics covered from: Who is Jesus?, Who is the Holy Spirit?, and What is Sin? On Thursday, we are kicking off the New International Coffee House. We were meeting in a coffee shop above a book store, but with the coffee shop closing early and having “entertainment” weekly on Thursday’s it became very hard to hold conversations. For the past month we have been meeting in a different coffee shop which is open later and has no live entertainment. This has been going great and new people have been showing up to talk. We market it as FREE English conversation. We sit for three hours and have English conversation with whoever shows up. Many want to know when they will have to pay and we continue to tell them, never. Beginning this Thursday we are moving yet again. This time we will be meeting in a conference room in a hotel. The room will be set how we want it and then cleaned up for us. This is nice because we are not confined by how the coffee shop has their space set. Also, we are able to bring in our own entertainment. We are getting local artist to come in and play, sing, show there art, etc. and then from their have topics for discussion. We do not want to preach from the microphone or from the table, but our job is to keep the conversation going and draw it to God and who He is. We then are hoping to then have contacts to meet outside of coffee house where we can then have a deeper Spiritual conversation.

Kiddos

Kid’s night was a blast! I had the kiddos over for a Kid’s Night out on Saturday. What a blast we had. The kiddos made their own pizza, had popcorn, and made and ate their own Ice Cream Sunday’s. The Sunday’s were gone very fast and I was told they were wonderful. Most of the kiddos were baffled at why they could not have any more ice cream once they were done. The best part of the evening was the Music Video we made. My new roomie, Ashley, filmed and cut the video while the kiddos were playing, making their food, and watching Charlie Brown. Go to the Northeast Poland link to view the video. Know the kiddos had a blast and we look forward to more videos soon!

Outside of my box...

I took American Sign Language (ASL) in college as a language. I love signing and watching others sign. I have wanted to learn Polish Sign Language (PSL) and then use it to reach the deaf here. I kind of gave up the idea once school started because nothing had happened and I figured I would be too busy to work with them. Well after thinking about it and talking with those here, I thought maybe I should “take a dare on God” and find the lady at church who signs in Polish. I found her this morning! (With a little help :)) Because I speak very little Polish I signed to her. She was very impressed with me and in the fact she understood everything I had said, even though it was in ASL not PSL. It turns out she speaks some English too, and want to learn ASL. We are going to try to meet this next week and begin teaching each other the Sign Language we know. I am very excited, and a little nervous, about where this can and will go. I am hoping to be a light to the deaf here, who are rarely seen but there, and who might have been turned away from the Catholic Church and open to the True God and His love!

Here we go again...YEAH!

IT’S SCHOOL TIME AGAIN!
I began my third week of school today. I currently have two girls in my classroom, both of whom are nine. I teach 3rd and 4th grades and love it. It is always said “you never stop learning” and I have to say it is true. When you teach you learn a lot more then you ever thought you would and I love every minute of learning new things. I don’t think I would be a very successful teacher if I did not love learning. I am looking forward to learning more as the year goes on.
I teach a wide range of subjects which include: Math, Reading, Language, History, Health, and Penmanship. In about 5 weeks we will be done with Health and begin working on Science. I had forgotten how much we learned in the 3rd and 4th grades. It is funny how for granted I take those things I know.
In October I will gain a 6th grader and a 9th grader and then in January my other 4th grader will be back from the States. I am looking forward to having a full class and to my continued learning.

August Newsletter!

GOD SAID, “POLAND, MK’S, AND ME”

Would you love my people group as Jesus loves them?


As the summer comes to the end, my days become more scheduled and fun. School begins on September 1, and we are all excited. I start school with three children and will gain the other three as the year continues. I am looking forward to having a full classroom. I have been diligently working on planning out the lessons and class schedule so the students are able to learn all they need to and in the best possible way. I knew teaching was a year around job, but I now understand why summers are looked forward by teachers. Please continue to pray for me as I continue to plan lessons and then begin the school year.
I had my last language lesson two weeks ago and have mixed feelings about this. Please pray that I will be able to expand my language on my own and be able to communicate with those around me.
I still have not been in contact with any deaf Polish people. I tend to see the deaf when I am riding the bus and cannot get to them. I would enjoy working with them and being a light to them. Please pray that an opportunity would come and I would be able to communicate with the deaf.
Other than lesson planning and language this past month, I had the pleasure of hosting my parents and grandfather in Poland. They came for vacation and we spent a wonderful nine days together. My parents loved seeing where and how I live here in Poland.

Thank you again for your prayers and support,
Naomi DeVault, Olsztyn Poland