Hello from Bluff!
We've been having a great week so far at Bluff Elementary School in Bluff, Utah.
We survived 20 hours of driving over two days, a strange northern Texas snowstorm and had some awesome pizza in Albuquerque at a place Guy Fieri went to (our standard of what restaurants are worthy of our patronage). On Sunday we ventured to the Grand Canyon. Tears were definitely shed.
On Monday we started our service at the Elementary School. There are some of us in every classroom ranging from preschool to the 5th grade, helping teachers out in any way we can. Some of us are leading educational activities, most of us are wearing ourselves out with tons of tag during recess, and we're all reliving our days of cafeteria food. Today's the first (and perhaps) only time we have wifi access, so here's a little bit of what everyone is up to.
Meagan and Taylor
This week we've been hanging out with some of the cool third graders at Bluff Elementary School. The first day we were nervous about joining the class, but they welcomed us immediately. We knew we were officially in when we were invited to play kickball at recess (we may have lost - but it was fun to be a kid again). Their class is currently learning about topics ranging from light and sound to more complicated word problems in math. We have enjoyed being able to help them better understand these topics alongside their amazing teacher. Currently, we're looking forward to teaching the kids a lesson on how the light from the Sun can cause shadows that move throughout the day...if the cloudy weather ever clears up!
We've also enjoyed learning about the unique culture of Bluff, Utah. Everyday the students attend a class where they learn about the Navajo language and heritage. This Friday, we're also attending the town's annual balloon festival. We can't wait to see all of our students and the school's faculty there and experience something that's so important to their town!
Gaby and Tony
I've spent my week in Mrs. Noyes fourth grade class. I'm so impressed with the community in this school. During free time I asked the students what they could teach me about Bluff Elementary. Their immediate response was, "Bluff Elementary is fun!" This week we're tackling benchmark, equivalent, and simplest fractions in math. We're also working on a unit in language arts on the Byzantine, Arabian, and Persian empires. I've heard many creative sentences about camels! In science we completed a great experiment on what makes up different types of soils.
When not in structured class time, the students have recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Navajo, kicked my behind in dodge ball, and given me not one, but two Minion Valentine's cards. I can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the week!
As Gaby mentioned above, we have spent the last week in the fourth grade class here at Bluff Elementary. I loved working with the fourth graders because they're old enough to understand the responsibility of being an older kid, but don't quite have the confidence of the oldest fifth graders. The thing that has surprised me the most about the kids here at Bluff is the fact that they all stand together so strongly. I have never met a group of children who have been so in tune with each other's needs and environments. When someone needs a pencil, their own favorite pencil goes up for grabs, when someone needs a tennis racket, there is always someone willing to pass one over, and when recess ends, there are always kids who run to grab all the extra equipment to bring it in, even if they didn't use it at all.
The kids are beyond exciting to work with. They are all super bright and love to read. What they really lack is individual attention. Even in the best schools with the best teachers, a student will not flourish unless they have all their needs attended to. The overworked teachers at this school do their best and they do an amazing job, but there is only so much that they can do when the staff is outnumbered 15 to 1 day in and day out. The kids look forward to us coming back day after day, year after year, and it's amazing to see the difference that we make even though we aren't here for that long. My faith in serving in something much larger than myself is restored.
Rebekah and Mikko
This week has been super fun!! 
We've been hanging out with Mrs. Hart's second grade class. So far this week we have been assisting the teacher with multiple tasks like sorting lesson plans, testing students in reading, and teaching about shapes and and reading about seasonal cycles. Besides helping out throughout the class, we have grown closer to the kids at Bluff and learned more about where they came from and how they experience the area they come from. We also attended Navajo classes with the kids and learned part of their language and their culture. This entire experience so far has been extremely rewarding. Even though we are in a hurting community we feel and have been told that our service has benefited Bluff Elementary and its students. Peace, love, Bluff. Signing off from the bluffs of Southeastern Utah, the greatest volunteers ever, Mikko and Rebekah.
Rachel and Laura
What a time to be alive!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Laura and I are pooped, but extremely fulfilled...and it's only Wednesday! We've spent the last few days in Miss B.'s or "teacher"'s kindergarten class. These kids are some of the most vibrant, inspirational, and heartwrenchingly beautiful humans we've ever met. Each day we help Miss B with different tasks she needs done- from organization to one-on-one activities with the kids. Time goes so quickly when working with kids who find such joy in life and the little things. We've been cuddle buddies, teachers, hair models, jewelry models, and lego/paper plane makers. Each kid is unique and hearing all their individual stories has been extremely eye-opening. Even at the meek age of 5 and 6, most know the Navajo language, and have taught us how to say hello- "Ya'at'eeh". Currently, we're learning about Kings and Queens, hoping one day we all can live in the same kingdom and "have a bunch of crowns and ponies". Sincerely, your fave college-kids-turned-kindergartners, Rach and Laura. Live it, love it, and lego it. #BluffEagles4eva
Jessica and Spencer
Hey from Pre-K! We've been spending our week with the most energetic and loving group of preschoolers. We've learned that you can't give one kid a piggy back ride without giving everyone at least three of them, but they're just so cute that you can't say no. There are two groups of preschoolers every day, and we start off with free play before getting into some structured education. These kids are so smart! They know their numbers and letters and we're working on writing our letters. Almost all of them can legibly write their own names and a few other letters of the alphabet. Outside time is always fun and they love to be pushed on the swings.
All of the kids are so precious. There's one girl, Taylor, who is the shiest of the whole group but has really latched on to both of us. There's another kid Lawrence (but don't call him that - his real name is LJ), who will talk your ear off if you let him. Today at lunch another kid told us not to let LJ boss us around because he's not the boss of us, and so naturally all the other kids chimed in and agreed. We've done some cool crafts - Monday we made rainsticks and yesterday we painted giant self portraits (they were pretty abstract). Today we helped them create balloons in honor of the balloon festival coming up this weekend. It's been so humbling to be around these children. They have the biggest hearts and it's going to break ours to leave on Friday.
Jenny
I've been helping out in the first grade classroom this week and have been loving every minute of it! I've been focusing on helping the kids with working on and testing their reading, and I've already seen some improvement in their words per minute. The kids are all so sweet and I've really been enjoying getting to know them. It's also been awesome to learn more about their families and culture, and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the week and for the Balloon Festival this weekend!
Megan
Hey y'all! I am so beyond excited to e back at Bluff. This year I'm in the 5th grade classroom with some of my students from last year teaching science. I have no words to describe how completely amazing this week has been so far. I love these kids and I love every second that we spend together!
The Bluffs when facing west from the front door of the school
For the last two days of service we will be hanging out with our kiddos all of Thursday and half of Friday. Bluff's annual Balloon Festival is this Friday and Saturday, so the school has a 1pm release Friday. We'll get to watch hot air balloons launch on Friday and Saturday mornings and on Friday evening we'll be volunteering at a fundraiser dinner and enjoying some Navajo tacos! We might not get wifi again this week, but we just wanted to update our friends and families on our adventures! Thanks so much for all of your love and support. Peace, love and MAB,
#MABluff Crew
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