American Football without Borders

American Football without Borders

We went into the city (Botafogo) to watch an event put on by the non profit organization American Football Without Borders. We went to go donate some food and check out the organization, and did not expect to spend the day with some pro-football players! Football players from the Seahawks, Chargers, Browns, and others were there working with kids running drills and teaching techniques. We met the blogger/photographer for the organization (really nice guy!), and he got us access to the field and time with the players. It was a fun day where we got to see a great organization and meet some really cool people.

Nature at its finest

Our home in Rio de Janeiro. Here are some pictures of the beautiful scenery that surround our apartment. The nature that surrounds us still catches me off guard sometimes. 

View from our apartment balcony.

Love the city and beach combination.

Evening walks on the beach are the best.

On our way to work.

Beautiful Sunset

Fourth Grade Classroom: What's Cooking?!

Fourth grade with Mrs. Nelson.

Here are some pictures of my fourth grade classroom. I chose a cooking theme for my class this year. My bulletin boards, writing assignments, behavior plan, and objective board coincide with the theme. The kids have had fun with it this year. 

"Cooking Up Great Writing" and "Stirring Up Success"

Behavior Plan: Pull a CAKE ticket. 

Our class library: Reading Cafe

Weekly Menu for objectives.

Living in Rio, we have learned...

I cannot believe we have already lived here for eight months! Time has flown by. One of my New Years resolutions is to keep up with the blog and post things more frequently!

Thought it would be fun to post some observations we have had after living and working here:

• Soccer is a big deal here...a big deal.
• Always have an umbrella on you if you can...even if it's 90 degrees and sunny. Rain is unexpected.

• When it rains, it pours.
• Acai here is an amazing and popular snack.
• English is not a common second language here.
• You can freely bring as much outside food you want into the movie theater.
• Teachers get half off at the movie theater.
• Protests are a somewhat regular occurrence.
• The rules of the road are very loose.

We love this city and still have so much to learn and see.  Over the last few months we have used the bus, metro, taxi, and foot to get to the places we need to go. Although a change from our usual means of transportation, our own car, we have grown accustomed to it and it is our new normal.

Semester two has begun. We just had a six week vacation for Christmas, and now are back in full swing. I have loved my first semester as a 4th grade teacher and look forward to next semester. I have loved getting to know my students whose families are from all over the world: Denmark, Finland, Mexico, India, Columbia, Brazil, and America. Working at an international school has a lot of unique/amazing aspects and Daniel and I are learning so much everyday.