Mixed Bag

Thursday August 22nd
Today was a complete mixed bag of emotions...
It was a gym day today, which to me means not teaching much. Which is a great thing and the end of the month, because I have 29 report cards to do for my students. I use my gym breaks to do the report cards. I was able to get done with one class (of 3 during my gym breaks today). I do have a problem of getting distracted... working in the teachers room stinks. Non of my kindy kids cried today, though I did only have each one for only one class period.
My first graders were pretty good today too... They worked hard and were attentive for most of the class.
Korea class was okay... it was a vocab day... so it was a tough day, because the kids just do not work.
I stayed after to work on grading my report cards. During the last 2 hours, I was in the library (easier to work there than in the teachers room... plus I can listen to music. (I normally use the seminar room, but it was occupied). There was one student in there. Didi. Who is Didi? Ronnie Teachers daughter. First I did not know who it was... just some student in the library. Then 2 classes came in to use the computer in the library, and then I found out it was Didi. So... She waits at ECC until it is time for her to go home... normally when Ronnie leaves. What does she do? Hang out in the library and read, do home work, or draw. Well, after the classes left, the computer was still on in the library, and there is a touch screen. I never knew it was a touch screen so I am fascinated. My fascination pulls Didi's attention. Ronnie was out of ECC running errands, so I think Didi felt a little more free. So we spend the entire hour playing on the computer (I say playing, but it was more doing MS Paint, minesweeper, pinball, and then Sugar Sugar (the flash game). She seemed to be having such a good time (a change from the mundane). Well when Ronnie comes back and walks by, Didi says "Okay, In need to start reading" and grabs a book, and holds it upside down. I am still at the computer. It still has her attention. She occasionally pretends to read... I eventually tell her that she should at least have the book right side up. We eventually both go back to our seats, and I continue working. She then says I'm hungry. So, instead of just letting that pass, I start to engage her and talk to her about food. I am doing my report cards, and she is reading, and we are talking back and forth. I'm not sure, but I think she had fun. I am known to do that to any kid... Just like back in NY, I am really good at keeping kids entertained. In Didi's case, I think my teachers would not do that with her... because it is Ronnies daughter, and they do not want to get in trouble (idk if that would happen) because they distracted her. To me, a kid is a kid is a kid... and a happy kid make a happy Eric. Even though I was tired and frustrated... she gave me energy. One of the games (Sugar Sugar) is a problem solving game. It was incredible watching her try to think and solve the problem. I love watching the mind tick like that.

 So... lets go into why today was a mixed bag. I am drinking a beer right now.... I have been good and not drinking on the weeknights, cause it saves a bit of money... But tonight, I just needed one.
As I have talked about before, my class (Denmark in particular) does not have a TV/Computer in it. So today I took the kids to the seminar room so we could do out cartoon network class. It was occupied by Greece class. Greece class left. Why was Greece class in there? Well, there is a computer in the classroom and a big TV... but that computer has been broken for a month. So they cannot use it. This was the first time in a month I have gotten to take Denmark to the seminar room for our cartoon class because summer intensives were taking place in it. This was their first opportunity too. Normally one class can use the computer in the Library, but just like the seminar room, it gets filled pretty quickly. Then Canada Class and Sweden class have computers, but their classes cannot connect to the internet. We have told the administration, but as of yet, the situation has not been corrected. Today, I was going to take and reward my firstgrade class (we are in Denmark classroom) to watch a supplemental video for the story we read. It is one thing that we are supposed to do (I learned in training, and they encourage us to use videos and youtube to help the kids). So, we get done with our work really quickly. The library has people in it and the seminar room has the Kindergartners working on their musical (Kindy kids always have the seminar room as I have my firstgraders). So due to these reasons, today was the first day that I seriously contemplated not staying with ECC for another year. Yes it is little... but the problem has been ongoing, and the administration does not seem to realize how frustrating it is.
Then on the flip side.... I stayed late today to work on my report cards. So I left the same time Rachel left. Rachel told me that Erica cried a lot in her class today. Dylan was giving Erica a hard time, messing with her stuff, and Erica just broke down (it has been building for a long time). Rachel and I talked about Erica, and her situation sucks. I thought Erica's sister was a bit more normal... but the stories Rachel told me about her... she is about like Erica. Not popular and a social outcast. From what Rachel has heard and I have echoed, their home life is not good because their parents are always busy. Erica is 12 and her sister is younger, but parents aren't home when they get home, and they are just given money to go get dinner. It is a tough life... and I can see why it would be difficult to socialize. So Rachel and I talked about that, and then I found out She is super frustrated and that made me happy. Not happy that she was frustrated, but I was overjoyed at the cause of her frustration. They are splitting up my Korea class!!! This is putting Rachel under a lot of pressure and stressed, because she is in charge of splitting them up. They are going to combine Korea in with Australia and Spain (afternoon classes). They will be mixing Australia and Spain (4th grade) with Korea (5th grade). They are at the same level. I offered to help Rachel because I know a lot of the students. The problem is, that if it fails, Rachel will get blamed. Erica's mom is already not happy (why should her daughter have to be in class with 4th graders). Erica is nervous about moving to a new class. I think it will be good for her. The personalities of the other class are a lot more kind and welcoming... and there is one boy I think she will get along with. He is a big video game nerd, and she is too. I think she needs someone to socialize with about something that interests her. It might help to bring her more out of her shell. I am also happy that Angel will be in a new class of students that are not as Jaded as the Korea class kids are. She is bright and has a lot of potential, but Korea was like a cancer for her and making her stop doing her work.
So today, super frustrated because of the technology, but super happy because they are finally doing what I have been saying needs to be done. I know I probably had about nothing to do with it..., but I am sure glad it is getting done. It will probably screw my schedule up... but I am okay with that especially if it helps these kids.