Oct. 20/21 – WA, Vancouver
Sunday, November 13th, 2005Day 80/81 – We spent Thursday and Friday with Shelley and Eric. We started our visit by going to Helen Baller Elementary School where Shelley teaches 3rd grade. Entering the school we signed the sign-in book at the front office. Suddenly it felt like we were 20 years in the past as we looked around and took in the school’s mellow yellow and brown 70’s color décor with children’s art work and posters lining the hallway. We made our way to Shelley’s classroom as we snuck peeks through open doors into rooms full of miniature furniture and colorful walls. We walked into classroom number 9 and almost all the children were sitting on top of their desks. I thought, now that is the way to teach a classroom, I always loved sitting on top of my desk even in high school. Sitting on top of a desk can make it easier to be able to see and think clearer 😉 Shelley was standing in front of the classroom asking questions to one kid at a time. They were playing around the world and if they gave the wrong answer then the child had to sit down. The teacher continues to ask questions until there is only one kid left on their desk. After finishing the game they had their recess and Shelley showed us around the school.
Seeing the elementary school was entertaining; flashing back to being a kid and observing what a miniature world the children live in when at school – of course when you are that age everything seems so huge. The children came back into the classroom after recess and got ready for their next activity. Squirming in their seats, all faces forward and looking up at Shelley, waiting for their next set of instructions. Their next activity was a short introduction of us and our trip, including a question and answer period. We showed them our proposed route around the world and the route that we took across the states. The class was really great and had some interesting questions, along with some requests that if we ran into a few people they knew to say hi… and we will do our best 😉
Shelley’s Class – good luck with the rest of the school year guys!!
The next day Shelley and Eric took us to Beacon Rock State Park and we hiked up to the top of the rock that overlooked the Columbia River and it’s surroundings. The trail wound it’s way around the
side of the rock with a series of switchbacks. The views were constantly gorgeous as we walked up the path along the side of the rock. At the top it was even more beautiful being able to see
all the land around us.
Some good looking kids there!!
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