Library Expansion

Books.

Reading.

Libraries.

I’m obsessed. It is a known fact and I don’t try to hide it.

The first place I visit when I return to the U.S. for summer and Christmas break? The library. Gotta pick up my 20 books that I put on hold. Last place I visit? The library, to return said twenty books.

Last summer I spent my trip to Boston searching for every library and book-related building (not to mention driving my best friend crazy in the process).

My weekly visit to the pool has nothing to do with swimming, and everything to do with reading in the sun for two hours. 

When I tell people I am busy or have plans, they usually assume it is because I have a date with my book. And they are usually right.

My suitcases are always overweight when I travel, and it is always the fault of the new books I bought for my classroom.

My classroom is centered around books and reading. My students know I am obsessed, and they willingly listen as I retell the plot line of whatever book I'm devouring. They come to me for book suggestions and trust me to put good books in their hands. Whether we are reading a short picture book or a longer novel, we cherish our daily read aloud time together. 

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here and get to the point.

Right now I have even more book excitement than usual.

The reason?

My school is looking to build a new space for our tiny library. This would mean more room for more books. This would mean more than ten students could come into the library at one time without feeling squished. The library could be transformed into something more than just a small room where the books are kept. It would be a room for learning and discovery, where good books are put into the hands of students who need them. For me, as a teacher and book lover, this idea has me buzzing with excitement for the future of our school. More books, more literacy = more learning, more growth.

The idea is there, and now it comes down to raising a lot of money in a short amount of time. I want to share this idea with all of you, and ask you to share it with anyone who you think might be interested in helping us pray or give financially. 

Check out the video to see our current library and to hear our plans for the Library Expansion Project. 

Invention Fair

I want to take you back a couple of weeks to one of my favorite days of the school year.

Some background: We spend a good month discussing inventions and inventors in class. We discuss qualities that inventors need, like persistence, imagination, and curiosity. After discussing patents and their purpose, my students turned in their own to me, complete with detailed pictures and descriptions.

When the day of our Invention Fair came, my students were a bundle of nerves. Two asked to go to the nurse. One went to the bathroom because they thought they were going to throw up. For most of them, it was their first big presentation, and they were scared.

We set up tables and taped down display boards. The students readied their stations and then in came their parents, other classes, teachers, and staff.

Need slippers that clean the floor, a fun way to feed your dog, a handy gadget that keeps your book open, or a nifty cover that keeps your water bottle cool? We have them!

How about a quadruple pencil, a fruit chopper that catches fruit as it is cut from a tree, or a shoe covering that conveniently has a pocket for your money? We have those too.

After each student presented a couple of times, their confidence grew. I saw hand motions, big smiles, and enthusiastic demonstrations. As I walked around, they told me things like: "I'm really good at this!" "People want to buy my invention!" and "I was never really nervous, Miss Eberly. I was just pretending." Not sure I believed the last statement, but I was proud of them nonetheless. 

Sarah's Adventures in Nicaragua Part Two

(Read Part One if you haven't already)

And the adventure continues:

4. School

I told my students that Sarah was coming to visit them way back at the beginning of the year, so the excitement had been building for a long time. They also knew that she was bringing new books and focus balls (exercise balls) for them to sit on in class. Basically they were dying for her to get in the country and visit them. Because their sense of time is still a little off, they have been asking me at least once a week for the past two months if that day was finally the day. "When she comes, can we hug her?" they wanted to know. The answer was yes, so Sarah got many, many hugs early in the morning when she came to school.

The rest of the day was a blast as she read them a story that she picked out especially for them, and gave them all little gifts to go with it.

It was the day before Thanksgiving, so we made Thankful Trees using our handprints.

We like to pose for pictures on holidays:

My favorite quote from that day: "I just realized there are two Miss Eberly's in our class today!"

5. Selva Negra

Up in the mountains of Matagalpa, this coffee plantation and nature reserve is by far my favorite place in Nicaragua. It is gorgeous. One adventure we had was an early morning nature tour. I took a couple of notes, and learned some fabulous information that I am sure you are dying to hear.

• Coffee started in 1797 in Nicaragua after slaves from Haiti brought it into the country. 
• Water vines are a good source of water if you find yourself lost in the jungle, however they only grow one millimeter a year.
• Many insects that don't have camouflage roll themselves in leaves for protection. 
• Hummingbirds eat mostly insects, not nectar. 
• At Selva Negra, the biggest predators are pumas, tapirs, and lemurs. 

I could go on, but I can see Sarah rolling her eyes at me. I'll just show you more pictures instead.

We heard and saw a beautiful toucan, but I couldn't get a picture of it. Instead, enjoy looking at that very large tree.

This place is perfect for reading and relaxing. It is also cold, so you must bring a sweater, which is a nice change from the Managua heat.

Other Selva Negra adventures included:

Goose attack

The goose

Emily hiding from the goose

Horseback riding

Me stalking a hummingbird for a half hour to get a good picture

Sarah and me going photo crazy

6. Last and final adventure: Sarah meeting my Nica family
I stayed with this family almost eight years ago on one of my first trips to Nicaragua. We stayed in contact while I was in the States and thankfully we get to see one another in person now. Introducing them to Sarah was something I had wanted to do for a long time.

All in all, Sarah in Nicaragua was a success. Come back soon, Sarita!