Monday September 30th
The last day of September... so shocked and surprised.
There was the song contest today. Not exactly sure why it is a contest.... there is no winner. So I only had once class with France today because of it. The song contest was meh to say the least, but I did record my classes singing. It was not a great recording... and some of the kids did not even sing or dance... but it is what it is. I will move it over from my phone to the internet soon. I got to watch Denmark, France, and Australia all do the songs, so that made me happy.
Australia was good. Jin cried... and that made me sad. We were doing math... She was just not understanding and able to do it. She didnt really cry... more just shed some tears. They came more as other students said "I'd done" I worked with her... I really think I could teach her how to do it if I only had the time. Me working with her, she seemed to be starting to get it. At the end of it I scolded the class. They were all talking and chitchating... but all but 2 had answers wrong. I told them that if they think they can talk, they better have the answers right. Jin wept cause these students said "I'm done" and yet they had answers wrong. She, with the help of me (not giving answers but helping) had them all correct. One thing that also really bothered me... the people sitting together had the same answers wrong. I scolded them for cheating. Most of them admitted to it.
In Denmark class we worked to catch up. We spent the entire class on reading street. I'll have to do that tomorrow too. I'd be able to get through the workbook with them in time... but we have a supplement book to do too. That is what kills me (not only me, but other teachers too). The supplement sucks... and we have to do it to send home to the parents... but it really does the student no good and is time consuming for the teachers. I am also behind on grammar. Its tough... I have 4 students that work quickly... the other 6 hold up the class and cause me to fall further and further behind.
My firstgraders were bad at the beginning of class, and calmed down at the end. I tired to take a picture of them. I did snap 2. Both were bad. They are unable to stand still at all. I have one more chance on Wednesday. I'd love to get a good picture of them... Id also love one with them. I told them today that after Wednesday I wouldnt teach them anymore... a lot of them were sad. I am still sad about giving them up.
My thirdgraders had a test. I only got done with half of it... I have to finish the second half Wednesday. What I had in the syllabus was wrong, so it is setting me behind.
I rode the bus home, and once at Bobo, had a beer with Ama. Tonight I watched Pandorum... and then am now getting ready to go to bed. I just need to attach the pictures from Japan to the post... but sorting through hundreds of pictures to find several good ones is tough... So I will get to it when I get to it.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Another weekend gone.
Friday September 27th
Field trip day! We went on a field trip to "The Pang Show" It is an interactive show... It started off with the kids making bread. Then we spent a long time taking pictures. Then there was the show. It is one of the cooking type of shows that are popular in Korea. They dance, and have food... It was fun. One of the girls can and sat in my lap... all of the kids laughed. Later I was selected to go up in front and interact with them. Just miming what the actors did. The kids all liked it. My co teachers all thought it was funny. One took a short video of it, so I'll have to see if I can get a copy to post. We left the show and went back to ECC. By the time we got there... it was already almost the end of the day. We had lunch with the kids (I had to eat with Australia). We had spaghetti with brown noodle sauce. All of the kids call it black noodles. All of the kids make a huge mess when the eat it. It is a given... Emily spilled a little on her. So she started to cry. She has a small brown stain and she cried and had to change.... some of the other kids shirts had about as much brown on them as white. They did care... Emily did. Of course the other kids saw her cry and asked why she was crying... I said it was because she spilled stuff on her shirt. Some of the kids were surprised it made her cry... like "thats all?" There are some students that I think first grade will be tough for... She is one of them. Super smart, but she can be super sensitive.
After lunch, there was one period left... so instead of getting the teaching done (like I wanted to do) I had to have a birthday party. It was for Regina. So we had cake and took pictures. After the cake and pictures there was 15 minutes left of the day. So I just let the kids play.
Davids mom observed my first grade class. I wish she would observe every day. He behaved most of the class. It made it so much easier to teach with him sitting in his chair and doing work.
My 3rd graders we had a review day, so I played concentration with them. It was pretty good, but I had way too many cards.
At night we played poker. We played poker for a long time... till about 330 am. I won the first game, and Rob won the second game. the second game
Saturday September 28th
Sleep in... Wake up. Start cleaning room. Do some laundry. We are having a going away dinner for Ama and Sarah. Ama wants Dakalbi... but the place we were going to was full. So we went and got BBQ. Delicious as always. We went to Shamrocks. There was a promotion. 3 pints of Guiness and you get a free umbrella. Well, Why not? Rob Sarah and I did it and got our umbrellas. After Shamarocks, some of us went to Monster Pizza. Then we went to B2 and did some Dancing. Ama was tired, so he and some people left. It started raining, so I was glad I drank 3 Guniesses and got an umbrella. Yufei was coming out, so we met him at Monster Pizza. We went to a lounge and bought a bottle. We sat drinking and talking for several hours. We were then going to head home. Another foreigner asked us were a bar was. We walked with him there... but we were not feeling it, so we left. We cabbed home. It was a fun night, but not as exciting as I was hoping for. We were out late... Ama leaving early kinda killed it.
Sunder September 29th.
Slept a lot. Cleaned my room a little. Cleaned my bathroom! Typed up some about Japan (maybe will post on Monday). Walked around the neighborhood. Did laundry. Ordered McDelivery. Watched Fievel Goes West. Pretty much a nothing day... and I am okay with that!
Field trip day! We went on a field trip to "The Pang Show" It is an interactive show... It started off with the kids making bread. Then we spent a long time taking pictures. Then there was the show. It is one of the cooking type of shows that are popular in Korea. They dance, and have food... It was fun. One of the girls can and sat in my lap... all of the kids laughed. Later I was selected to go up in front and interact with them. Just miming what the actors did. The kids all liked it. My co teachers all thought it was funny. One took a short video of it, so I'll have to see if I can get a copy to post. We left the show and went back to ECC. By the time we got there... it was already almost the end of the day. We had lunch with the kids (I had to eat with Australia). We had spaghetti with brown noodle sauce. All of the kids call it black noodles. All of the kids make a huge mess when the eat it. It is a given... Emily spilled a little on her. So she started to cry. She has a small brown stain and she cried and had to change.... some of the other kids shirts had about as much brown on them as white. They did care... Emily did. Of course the other kids saw her cry and asked why she was crying... I said it was because she spilled stuff on her shirt. Some of the kids were surprised it made her cry... like "thats all?" There are some students that I think first grade will be tough for... She is one of them. Super smart, but she can be super sensitive.
After lunch, there was one period left... so instead of getting the teaching done (like I wanted to do) I had to have a birthday party. It was for Regina. So we had cake and took pictures. After the cake and pictures there was 15 minutes left of the day. So I just let the kids play.
Davids mom observed my first grade class. I wish she would observe every day. He behaved most of the class. It made it so much easier to teach with him sitting in his chair and doing work.
My 3rd graders we had a review day, so I played concentration with them. It was pretty good, but I had way too many cards.
At night we played poker. We played poker for a long time... till about 330 am. I won the first game, and Rob won the second game. the second game
Saturday September 28th
Sleep in... Wake up. Start cleaning room. Do some laundry. We are having a going away dinner for Ama and Sarah. Ama wants Dakalbi... but the place we were going to was full. So we went and got BBQ. Delicious as always. We went to Shamrocks. There was a promotion. 3 pints of Guiness and you get a free umbrella. Well, Why not? Rob Sarah and I did it and got our umbrellas. After Shamarocks, some of us went to Monster Pizza. Then we went to B2 and did some Dancing. Ama was tired, so he and some people left. It started raining, so I was glad I drank 3 Guniesses and got an umbrella. Yufei was coming out, so we met him at Monster Pizza. We went to a lounge and bought a bottle. We sat drinking and talking for several hours. We were then going to head home. Another foreigner asked us were a bar was. We walked with him there... but we were not feeling it, so we left. We cabbed home. It was a fun night, but not as exciting as I was hoping for. We were out late... Ama leaving early kinda killed it.
Sunder September 29th.
Slept a lot. Cleaned my room a little. Cleaned my bathroom! Typed up some about Japan (maybe will post on Monday). Walked around the neighborhood. Did laundry. Ordered McDelivery. Watched Fievel Goes West. Pretty much a nothing day... and I am okay with that!
Friday, September 27, 2013
The week is already almost over...
Wednesday September 25th
Today went as well as Wednesdays can. Our science was difficult in France, and the reward of finishing it was small. I would love to design the sciences we use... I think I would be able to design something better, knowing the age of kids that do it.Australia we watched our cartoon after we did reading street, and that worked out pretty well. The are right were they should be. Denmark, we did our speech class then reading street. We are a little behind with reading street.
I started off the day for my firstgraders without chairs. I think they kind of liked it like that. It was something new and different. They are young, so the littlest things can keep their attention. When there is some little change like this, it seems to have a net positive effect on the class. It changes up the monotony. At the end of class, I gave them their desks back, so they could do the writing work.
Thirdgraders were okay. We did our write it right book, and most of the kids are pretty good with it. Once the student figures the pattern of the given words, the rest is easy. There are a few students that have a tough time with it, but they are the students that have a tough time in class as it is. I need to find a way to engage them more. I know I say that often. There are also several little cliques in the class and I don't like it. Some of it is by age, some is by gender, the others I am not sure of. I know cliques form... but I think not only the clique can have a negative impact on the students, but also, if the kids sit with their friends, they pay less attention. The biggest problem is that I am their second teacher... so I come in after the kids have already had one class and are set up. I might experiment with a seating chart...
I came home from work and took a nap. I spent the rest of the night working on report cards. Yes, I brought them home... It is a little easier to work on them at home, because it is a more relaxed environment... but there are also a lot of distractions. So, I finished 2/3rd of them, figuring I would be able to do the rest tomorrow during gym time. Report card time really sucks.
Thursday September 27th.
Gym Day. I finished most of the rest of the report cards during my first gym break. When I got France back from gym, we did our reading book, and we are doing pretty good with that. I then went to Australia class to do another page of reading street. It was good... Until Hayden cried. Why did he cry? Well, he lost his pencil... now when I say lost his pencil, I literally mean, the pencil was stuck in the pages of the book and he couldnt see it. So he cried. His neighbor opened the book, and the pencil rolled out. He is Korean 7 (I know he is US 6). After he got it, I asked him if he needed to cry about it, and he said no. During their gym time, I walked to Subway and got a footlong meatball sub. Not a 5 dollar footlong... but still, I was happy. I got back to ECC and ate on the roof. It was then Denmarks gym time, then their cartoon, and then the kindy day was over.
Before firstgrade, Karen, my Korean coteacher told me that Ronnie told her that I needed to let the kids use the desk. I love (insert sarcasm) that he told her, and not me. I explained to her why I did it, and she thought it was a great idea, and she wondered why they kids acted better yesterday. It was a creative punishment and it had a little effect. I would certainly do it again. I had to send David out of class. He was refusing to do our work and was being a distraction to the class. Once he was out, the rest of the class ran smoothly. Everything that I had been building up with him was torn apart when he left ECC for 2 months. It is very frustrating.
I took my 4/5th graders to the roof to do vocabulary. It was a beautiful day outside, and I did not want to waste it being inside. I also figured that being on the roof was enough of a change to where vocab would be a bit more interesting. It was, and we got through almost all of it. The kids liked it... a change to the routine is good. And I think just the kids getting to be outside for a little was beneficial.... fresh air and that jazz.
I stayed after school to grade test and diaries. I walked home then took a nap.
We sat outside the GS for a little while and I had a beer. It was not a crazy night, just a beautiful cool fall night.
We have a field trip tomorrow. No idea what it is, but I am going to go to bed.
Today went as well as Wednesdays can. Our science was difficult in France, and the reward of finishing it was small. I would love to design the sciences we use... I think I would be able to design something better, knowing the age of kids that do it.Australia we watched our cartoon after we did reading street, and that worked out pretty well. The are right were they should be. Denmark, we did our speech class then reading street. We are a little behind with reading street.
I started off the day for my firstgraders without chairs. I think they kind of liked it like that. It was something new and different. They are young, so the littlest things can keep their attention. When there is some little change like this, it seems to have a net positive effect on the class. It changes up the monotony. At the end of class, I gave them their desks back, so they could do the writing work.
Thirdgraders were okay. We did our write it right book, and most of the kids are pretty good with it. Once the student figures the pattern of the given words, the rest is easy. There are a few students that have a tough time with it, but they are the students that have a tough time in class as it is. I need to find a way to engage them more. I know I say that often. There are also several little cliques in the class and I don't like it. Some of it is by age, some is by gender, the others I am not sure of. I know cliques form... but I think not only the clique can have a negative impact on the students, but also, if the kids sit with their friends, they pay less attention. The biggest problem is that I am their second teacher... so I come in after the kids have already had one class and are set up. I might experiment with a seating chart...
I came home from work and took a nap. I spent the rest of the night working on report cards. Yes, I brought them home... It is a little easier to work on them at home, because it is a more relaxed environment... but there are also a lot of distractions. So, I finished 2/3rd of them, figuring I would be able to do the rest tomorrow during gym time. Report card time really sucks.
Thursday September 27th.
Gym Day. I finished most of the rest of the report cards during my first gym break. When I got France back from gym, we did our reading book, and we are doing pretty good with that. I then went to Australia class to do another page of reading street. It was good... Until Hayden cried. Why did he cry? Well, he lost his pencil... now when I say lost his pencil, I literally mean, the pencil was stuck in the pages of the book and he couldnt see it. So he cried. His neighbor opened the book, and the pencil rolled out. He is Korean 7 (I know he is US 6). After he got it, I asked him if he needed to cry about it, and he said no. During their gym time, I walked to Subway and got a footlong meatball sub. Not a 5 dollar footlong... but still, I was happy. I got back to ECC and ate on the roof. It was then Denmarks gym time, then their cartoon, and then the kindy day was over.
Before firstgrade, Karen, my Korean coteacher told me that Ronnie told her that I needed to let the kids use the desk. I love (insert sarcasm) that he told her, and not me. I explained to her why I did it, and she thought it was a great idea, and she wondered why they kids acted better yesterday. It was a creative punishment and it had a little effect. I would certainly do it again. I had to send David out of class. He was refusing to do our work and was being a distraction to the class. Once he was out, the rest of the class ran smoothly. Everything that I had been building up with him was torn apart when he left ECC for 2 months. It is very frustrating.
I took my 4/5th graders to the roof to do vocabulary. It was a beautiful day outside, and I did not want to waste it being inside. I also figured that being on the roof was enough of a change to where vocab would be a bit more interesting. It was, and we got through almost all of it. The kids liked it... a change to the routine is good. And I think just the kids getting to be outside for a little was beneficial.... fresh air and that jazz.
I stayed after school to grade test and diaries. I walked home then took a nap.
We sat outside the GS for a little while and I had a beer. It was not a crazy night, just a beautiful cool fall night.
We have a field trip tomorrow. No idea what it is, but I am going to go to bed.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
times are changing.
Tuesday September 24th.
I am back in the full swing of things, but not quite back in the swing of things.
I did math in France.... So we are going over 3 dimensional shapes and whether they have rounded edges or flat edges. We are using cones, cylinders, spheres, pyramids... And this is the first time the kids have seen these shapes... So trying to get the kids to know what rounded edges, flat edges, and mixed edges are in new shapes (at least in English)... I should be able to catch up... but some of these concepts are so hard to teach... I tried making the shapes out of paper so the kids could actually see them... I am not sure if it worked too well.
Australia was good. We got through all of the work we needed to. Denmark... I got about 3/4 of the time of work done. We had good manners and Reading Street.. I wish I could teach them something more fun in the afternoon... I think it would keep their attention a bit better.
My firstgraders, we did the whole no tables again today. It worked pretty well again today. We got the schedules for next month, and it looks like I am going to be losing them. I am kind of sad about that. While I have some troubles with them, I really like seeing them grow and change. They are moving me to one of the classes that either Ama or Sarah have been teaching. One of the new teachers will take over my firstgraders. I feel that these kids are still the age where they can be excited and impressionable. I am going to miss a lot of them... I will still have my one on one with Chloe which I am very happy about, but there are quite a few of the others that I will really miss too. The personalities of the first graders is incredible to watch. They are starting to learn who they are... I am sure whatever class I will take over will be good... but it is going to be bittersweet leaving them. It is like me giving up one of my Kindy classes... It would be really tough. The older kids you form relationships with.... but there is a special bond between a teacher and the young ones. I will have to take a picture of them this week if there is a day that all of them are there. I dont know what I will do with our class points. I do not want to pass it off to the new teacher, because I want to celebrate with them. But we are still 15 points shy of our goal...
My afternoon Denmark class we worked on our debates.... I am not sure how it is going to go next week.... But next month I think I will let them choose their subject. Just talking to them... I think they could have a great debate if they cared about the subject.
After work I went by Emart and bought a situp bench. I really want to get in at least a little better shape as I said yesterday. It was a little more than I wanted to spend... but if I use it like I should, it will be well worth it. I did several sets of situps tonight. I am horribly out of shape. The sight of the little bench in my room will be a constant devil on my shoulder that I cant ignore, so hopefully I will be able to get a routine going on. I also walked 3 miles this evening. I'd love to start running... but I know I am not in enough shape for that yet. I figure that if I start by walking several miles, I will be able to start running a short distance once my muscles are used to being used. I need to buy some kind of healthy food to eat at night for like diet food. I just dont know where to start with that....
I have no problem cooking... I just need to see what I can do. I also need a bigger freezer. When Ama leaves, I might try to steal his refrigerator... I'd be happy if I can get one that actually keeps things frozen. I can then go to Costco and buy frozen food, and keep it frozen.
I'm watching Wreck it Ralph tonight. I love this movie. It is so light hearted, happy, deep, emotional, serious... just a wide range of emotions. It is one movie that brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. And I am okay admitting it. No matter what is going on, this movie just makes me feel great! If I am happy, sad, tired, awake, excited, bored... this just puts a warm feeling in my heart. And still that relationship between Ralph and Vanellope makes me think of me and my students.... Ralph is 30 (I am near that) and Vanellope is 9 (near my students ages). When Ralph says "It turns out I don't need a medal to tell me I'm a good guy; cause if that little kid likes me, how bad can I be." Not that I think I am anywhere near a bad guy... but that sentence... well just makes me think... if these little kids look up to and like and love me.... what else really matters. I've got to be doing something right. So when I contemplate the future or what I am going to do... It gives me piece of mind to think that.
Until next time... goodnight!
I am back in the full swing of things, but not quite back in the swing of things.
I did math in France.... So we are going over 3 dimensional shapes and whether they have rounded edges or flat edges. We are using cones, cylinders, spheres, pyramids... And this is the first time the kids have seen these shapes... So trying to get the kids to know what rounded edges, flat edges, and mixed edges are in new shapes (at least in English)... I should be able to catch up... but some of these concepts are so hard to teach... I tried making the shapes out of paper so the kids could actually see them... I am not sure if it worked too well.
Australia was good. We got through all of the work we needed to. Denmark... I got about 3/4 of the time of work done. We had good manners and Reading Street.. I wish I could teach them something more fun in the afternoon... I think it would keep their attention a bit better.
My firstgraders, we did the whole no tables again today. It worked pretty well again today. We got the schedules for next month, and it looks like I am going to be losing them. I am kind of sad about that. While I have some troubles with them, I really like seeing them grow and change. They are moving me to one of the classes that either Ama or Sarah have been teaching. One of the new teachers will take over my firstgraders. I feel that these kids are still the age where they can be excited and impressionable. I am going to miss a lot of them... I will still have my one on one with Chloe which I am very happy about, but there are quite a few of the others that I will really miss too. The personalities of the first graders is incredible to watch. They are starting to learn who they are... I am sure whatever class I will take over will be good... but it is going to be bittersweet leaving them. It is like me giving up one of my Kindy classes... It would be really tough. The older kids you form relationships with.... but there is a special bond between a teacher and the young ones. I will have to take a picture of them this week if there is a day that all of them are there. I dont know what I will do with our class points. I do not want to pass it off to the new teacher, because I want to celebrate with them. But we are still 15 points shy of our goal...
My afternoon Denmark class we worked on our debates.... I am not sure how it is going to go next week.... But next month I think I will let them choose their subject. Just talking to them... I think they could have a great debate if they cared about the subject.
After work I went by Emart and bought a situp bench. I really want to get in at least a little better shape as I said yesterday. It was a little more than I wanted to spend... but if I use it like I should, it will be well worth it. I did several sets of situps tonight. I am horribly out of shape. The sight of the little bench in my room will be a constant devil on my shoulder that I cant ignore, so hopefully I will be able to get a routine going on. I also walked 3 miles this evening. I'd love to start running... but I know I am not in enough shape for that yet. I figure that if I start by walking several miles, I will be able to start running a short distance once my muscles are used to being used. I need to buy some kind of healthy food to eat at night for like diet food. I just dont know where to start with that....
I have no problem cooking... I just need to see what I can do. I also need a bigger freezer. When Ama leaves, I might try to steal his refrigerator... I'd be happy if I can get one that actually keeps things frozen. I can then go to Costco and buy frozen food, and keep it frozen.
I'm watching Wreck it Ralph tonight. I love this movie. It is so light hearted, happy, deep, emotional, serious... just a wide range of emotions. It is one movie that brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. And I am okay admitting it. No matter what is going on, this movie just makes me feel great! If I am happy, sad, tired, awake, excited, bored... this just puts a warm feeling in my heart. And still that relationship between Ralph and Vanellope makes me think of me and my students.... Ralph is 30 (I am near that) and Vanellope is 9 (near my students ages). When Ralph says "It turns out I don't need a medal to tell me I'm a good guy; cause if that little kid likes me, how bad can I be." Not that I think I am anywhere near a bad guy... but that sentence... well just makes me think... if these little kids look up to and like and love me.... what else really matters. I've got to be doing something right. So when I contemplate the future or what I am going to do... It gives me piece of mind to think that.
Until next time... goodnight!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Work after vacation....
Monday September 23rd
Woke up excited, albeit tired, and ready to go back to school.
France was good. Christine realized we were behind in our spelling book (by 2 weeks- the same number of weeks that I did not know that I was to be teaching spelling instead of writing) and math. Sam finished his book early and he is going to start teaching spelling, and I am going to use the extra time to catch up on math. I am happy about that (I have typed many times why math is tough to teach being only one class one day a week and that being on Friday mornings). It will still be tough because I still have a teacher mentality where I want the kids to understand the concepts.
Australia was good. They worked hard in both math and reading street. Some students always bring a smile to your face... There are several in Australia that are like that. Ella is one of them. She is tall. She may be the tallest kindergarten student at ECC. She always has such a happy attitude and is always smiling. She often times gives me things. She has given me a blue pencil, eraser, and today she gave me a green colored pencil (not like the kind they use for drawing - a plastic pencil) but a wooden pencil with green lead. The way students give things is fun. They always are so excited, no matter what it is, and say "teacher give" and offer it to you. There are a few students in that class that I tease, and she is one of them. All in fun. She smiles and laughs and says 'teach-a!' Sometimes she asks for "the water" and I respond with 'what water?" or when I fill up her cup, I only put a drop in it, or she says "I am cold" and I respond with the "Hi Cold, I'm Eric Teacher." She always has a great attitude in class, and is a fun student to teach. She is not the smartest in the class, so it is awesome to see her start to understand new concepts.
Denmark was good today too. Energetic as always. We got through a little math and a little of our reading books. The last 30 minutes with them is a bit of a battle, because they are all ready to go home.
My firstgraders were a handful. Billy and David sat next to eachother. Never a good thing. They were complaining about not having equal room on the desks. This is actually a complaint that happens often. The kids try to have both the reading book and the workbook and their pencil cases out. The desks, are actually tables maybe about 1.5 meters long. 2 students at each table. I wish we had desks. Desks seem so much more efficient and would really help out my ability to rearrange the classroom. Anyway, I made all of the kids stand up, and I took away the tables. I made each student sit in a chair, and they had to hold their books and workbooks, and work without a table. I told them I would not let anyone work on a table until they learned to appreciate what the tables did for them. The students behaved for the rest of class. I will start the class tomorrow with no tables. I need to come up with a seating chart for the class. Most kids do not want to sit with Billy or David, because both are loud, act up, and cause problems. I am afraid to put people next to them, because they are distractions, but giving these kids free seats is not working...
My 3 graders were okay today. Except I caught one of them with a cell phone being used in class. I then saw she had not been working. I made her come out into the hall. First she refused. I stood with the door open and pointed, and eventually she came. As soon as I shut the door and asked her why she was not working, she started crying (Alice, one of my second graders). She calmed down pretty quickly when she realized I was not going to yell at her (Korean teachers yell at the students when they get pulled out). I did not figure out why she was not working. Though during Cheusok she might have been in some kind of accident. She had a busted lip, and scrapes, cuts, and brusies on one side of her face. Maybe she was not able to focus because she was hurt... I dont know.
Came home from school, and took a nap. A wonderful nap. I then did laundry. I went for a walk. It was a great night! I am going to start getting in shape... well, something like that at least. I'd love to knock off some of the fat I am carrying around, and just be a bit healthier.
I am working on my Japan entry, and should have something in a few days.
Woke up excited, albeit tired, and ready to go back to school.
France was good. Christine realized we were behind in our spelling book (by 2 weeks- the same number of weeks that I did not know that I was to be teaching spelling instead of writing) and math. Sam finished his book early and he is going to start teaching spelling, and I am going to use the extra time to catch up on math. I am happy about that (I have typed many times why math is tough to teach being only one class one day a week and that being on Friday mornings). It will still be tough because I still have a teacher mentality where I want the kids to understand the concepts.
Australia was good. They worked hard in both math and reading street. Some students always bring a smile to your face... There are several in Australia that are like that. Ella is one of them. She is tall. She may be the tallest kindergarten student at ECC. She always has such a happy attitude and is always smiling. She often times gives me things. She has given me a blue pencil, eraser, and today she gave me a green colored pencil (not like the kind they use for drawing - a plastic pencil) but a wooden pencil with green lead. The way students give things is fun. They always are so excited, no matter what it is, and say "teacher give" and offer it to you. There are a few students in that class that I tease, and she is one of them. All in fun. She smiles and laughs and says 'teach-a!' Sometimes she asks for "the water" and I respond with 'what water?" or when I fill up her cup, I only put a drop in it, or she says "I am cold" and I respond with the "Hi Cold, I'm Eric Teacher." She always has a great attitude in class, and is a fun student to teach. She is not the smartest in the class, so it is awesome to see her start to understand new concepts.
Denmark was good today too. Energetic as always. We got through a little math and a little of our reading books. The last 30 minutes with them is a bit of a battle, because they are all ready to go home.
My firstgraders were a handful. Billy and David sat next to eachother. Never a good thing. They were complaining about not having equal room on the desks. This is actually a complaint that happens often. The kids try to have both the reading book and the workbook and their pencil cases out. The desks, are actually tables maybe about 1.5 meters long. 2 students at each table. I wish we had desks. Desks seem so much more efficient and would really help out my ability to rearrange the classroom. Anyway, I made all of the kids stand up, and I took away the tables. I made each student sit in a chair, and they had to hold their books and workbooks, and work without a table. I told them I would not let anyone work on a table until they learned to appreciate what the tables did for them. The students behaved for the rest of class. I will start the class tomorrow with no tables. I need to come up with a seating chart for the class. Most kids do not want to sit with Billy or David, because both are loud, act up, and cause problems. I am afraid to put people next to them, because they are distractions, but giving these kids free seats is not working...
My 3 graders were okay today. Except I caught one of them with a cell phone being used in class. I then saw she had not been working. I made her come out into the hall. First she refused. I stood with the door open and pointed, and eventually she came. As soon as I shut the door and asked her why she was not working, she started crying (Alice, one of my second graders). She calmed down pretty quickly when she realized I was not going to yell at her (Korean teachers yell at the students when they get pulled out). I did not figure out why she was not working. Though during Cheusok she might have been in some kind of accident. She had a busted lip, and scrapes, cuts, and brusies on one side of her face. Maybe she was not able to focus because she was hurt... I dont know.
Came home from school, and took a nap. A wonderful nap. I then did laundry. I went for a walk. It was a great night! I am going to start getting in shape... well, something like that at least. I'd love to knock off some of the fat I am carrying around, and just be a bit healthier.
I am working on my Japan entry, and should have something in a few days.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
A little catchup
All was typed on my phone so there is bound to be spelling and grammar and other random errors and words that make no sense... just fyi
Friday September 13
Today was an okay day for it being a friday. Before classes started Christina came to talk to me about Soo and if she has been okay in my classes. Her mom called ecc and said she had to take her to the hospital (in korea, hospitals are just like doctors offices) because she was stressed. I showed Christina the pictures that she had been drawing in class and described her acting like she always does. Soo has a brand new baby sister (I think sister) that her mom had 3 or so weeks ago. Odd course that isn't stessing her out... it is school. :)
I'm trying to push France faster in math to catch up. ... but its not going as easily as I hoped. I really want the kids to know the material, so it's hard for me to push them.
I was missing a lot of kids from Denmark. Next week is cheusok (like korean thanksgiving) so a lot already left on their trips.
We tried to do our new writing book in my firstgrade class. It went okay... but of course they got in trouble. It was a Friday and they had lots of energy. Same with my 3rd graders. They didn't get in trouble but we couldn't get through our entire lesson. I did not get to take the bus home. I had to stay late and do work (make up 7 question for a book quiz). When I got home I slept. Rob Ama Sarah Hudson Taylor were going to play poker. So I woke up every so often to see if my phone said new messages... nope.
Today was an okay day for it being a friday. Before classes started Christina came to talk to me about Soo and if she has been okay in my classes. Her mom called ecc and said she had to take her to the hospital (in korea, hospitals are just like doctors offices) because she was stressed. I showed Christina the pictures that she had been drawing in class and described her acting like she always does. Soo has a brand new baby sister (I think sister) that her mom had 3 or so weeks ago. Odd course that isn't stessing her out... it is school. :)
I'm trying to push France faster in math to catch up. ... but its not going as easily as I hoped. I really want the kids to know the material, so it's hard for me to push them.
I was missing a lot of kids from Denmark. Next week is cheusok (like korean thanksgiving) so a lot already left on their trips.
We tried to do our new writing book in my firstgrade class. It went okay... but of course they got in trouble. It was a Friday and they had lots of energy. Same with my 3rd graders. They didn't get in trouble but we couldn't get through our entire lesson. I did not get to take the bus home. I had to stay late and do work (make up 7 question for a book quiz). When I got home I slept. Rob Ama Sarah Hudson Taylor were going to play poker. So I woke up every so often to see if my phone said new messages... nope.
Saturday September 14
Woke up and was going to ask everyone what time we were getting together to go to the ECC bbq. Well... I try to open up Kakao (instant messaging) and it makes me download the new version. As soon as I do, I have 84 messages from last night... needless to say there was a poker game.
ECC bbq was good. Lots and lots of delicious food. Great meat... only problem. .. I think I ate something undercooked. My stomach started bothering me. After the bbq people were going out to HBC. I went with them. My stomach started cramping and I had chills. I felt way off. Everyone said the same. So I did not hang with them. I left and went home. I did the classic bit that happens with food poisoning. But interestingly. ..I threw up a nearly undigested sasauge. Chewed. Yes. But not digested. It had been like 10 hours. So I do not know if that is what caused a few problems.
Woke up and was going to ask everyone what time we were getting together to go to the ECC bbq. Well... I try to open up Kakao (instant messaging) and it makes me download the new version. As soon as I do, I have 84 messages from last night... needless to say there was a poker game.
ECC bbq was good. Lots and lots of delicious food. Great meat... only problem. .. I think I ate something undercooked. My stomach started bothering me. After the bbq people were going out to HBC. I went with them. My stomach started cramping and I had chills. I felt way off. Everyone said the same. So I did not hang with them. I left and went home. I did the classic bit that happens with food poisoning. But interestingly. ..I threw up a nearly undigested sasauge. Chewed. Yes. But not digested. It had been like 10 hours. So I do not know if that is what caused a few problems.
Sunday September 15
Woke up early feeling great. Got to watch the OSU game... a great way to start a Sunday morning. We all went to brunch in itaewon. We also changed some won to yen for our trip to Japan. We stayed in Itaewon against common sense and had a wonderful afternoon of day drinking and playing darts and shooting pool. We got home too late to do anything.
Woke up early feeling great. Got to watch the OSU game... a great way to start a Sunday morning. We all went to brunch in itaewon. We also changed some won to yen for our trip to Japan. We stayed in Itaewon against common sense and had a wonderful afternoon of day drinking and playing darts and shooting pool. We got home too late to do anything.
Monday September 16
Short weel this week... that means of course all of the kids are goong to have very little focus on top of that I woke up not feeling good. Not because of the day drinking. ..but my throat was sore and I was heavily congested. This is bad. Leaving for Japan in 2 days and I am showing the symptoms of getting ill. Baaa.
France class was good. Energetic but I was able to keep them pretty focused throughout the class. Same with Australia and Denmark. In Denmark though I see that I have some students really weak in math and others strong. I spent time with the weak ones... they are super weak. I need to figure out what to do with them.
First grade... 2 students made Wendy cry. I got very upset. I know I have talked about her and her attitude and how she can frustrate me. But she is a smart happy student. We were supposed to be writing short animal stories. May and Andy used Wendy's name. She heard it ran over to them and got upset and I had her go back to her seat and she was crying. I take her out to the hall. It seems like kids have been picking one her name ("taking my name") during her kindy time. I call out May first. Wendy makes sure I know that Andy did it too. I talk to May for a minute then bring Andy out and talk to both of them. I tell them botbhow smart of students they are and how I expected more from them... I asked why, how would you feel, is it nice, is it mean... I tell them both that they have to apologize to Wendy. I also tell them they both must write im sorry letters to Wendy. If they do not bring them thw next day, they will have to sit next to Louise teacher and write them with her. I told them they were not going to be allowed in my class until they had written the letters. I end up by saying "I am very disappointed in both of you" and I walk back in the class. They just stood in the hallway in shock. I let them stand there until the bell was about to ring. Then I got them.
Between classes I went to the doctor to get some medicine. I figured that I might as well battle this illness at the first sign. I definitely do not want to be sick for Japan. I went home and started a load of laundry. Went back to school to teach my 3rd graders. Came home. Finished laundry and went to bed. I did not sleep well. I slept on and off all night.
Short weel this week... that means of course all of the kids are goong to have very little focus on top of that I woke up not feeling good. Not because of the day drinking. ..but my throat was sore and I was heavily congested. This is bad. Leaving for Japan in 2 days and I am showing the symptoms of getting ill. Baaa.
France class was good. Energetic but I was able to keep them pretty focused throughout the class. Same with Australia and Denmark. In Denmark though I see that I have some students really weak in math and others strong. I spent time with the weak ones... they are super weak. I need to figure out what to do with them.
First grade... 2 students made Wendy cry. I got very upset. I know I have talked about her and her attitude and how she can frustrate me. But she is a smart happy student. We were supposed to be writing short animal stories. May and Andy used Wendy's name. She heard it ran over to them and got upset and I had her go back to her seat and she was crying. I take her out to the hall. It seems like kids have been picking one her name ("taking my name") during her kindy time. I call out May first. Wendy makes sure I know that Andy did it too. I talk to May for a minute then bring Andy out and talk to both of them. I tell them botbhow smart of students they are and how I expected more from them... I asked why, how would you feel, is it nice, is it mean... I tell them both that they have to apologize to Wendy. I also tell them they both must write im sorry letters to Wendy. If they do not bring them thw next day, they will have to sit next to Louise teacher and write them with her. I told them they were not going to be allowed in my class until they had written the letters. I end up by saying "I am very disappointed in both of you" and I walk back in the class. They just stood in the hallway in shock. I let them stand there until the bell was about to ring. Then I got them.
Between classes I went to the doctor to get some medicine. I figured that I might as well battle this illness at the first sign. I definitely do not want to be sick for Japan. I went home and started a load of laundry. Went back to school to teach my 3rd graders. Came home. Finished laundry and went to bed. I did not sleep well. I slept on and off all night.
Tuesday September 17
Last day of school for th week! All of the kids wore their hanboks today. A hanbok is the traditional korean clothing article. It was super cute. In the morning we made rice cake balls. There is some name to these. .. I will have to post later. Then it was time for games. I did archery. It was painful. The bows and arrows were impossible. The arrow did not stay on the string so I had to try to get the kids to pinch just the arrow and not the string. We were doing it in the library which is small. At times I had 3 classes (nearly 30 students) and while there were several bows the kids could not do it on their own. Oh and we only had 20 minutes for each group. I could not keep the attention of all of the kids. I was too busy helping the few shoot. The other games were throwing things in a bucket in the gym or hitting rice cake with an over sized inflatable hammer in the lobby. I would much rather had either of those. I wanted to get pictures of all the kids in their hanboks. .. but right after the games they changed. And since my game took the longest I was unable to.
The rest of the day went okay other than having a sore throat and congestion. The doctor gave me a perception. I looked it up this time. He gave me a pain killer, an antibiotic, a decongestant (only a half pill though).
No classes had any focus. My afternoon Denmark class we tried a little work. When that didn't work out we made Happy Cheusok cards. Regina is seeming to fit in a lot better. Still working on it (Christina has not made permanent seat changes yet so I still just move kids around). She seems happier most of the time now!
My firstgraders were supposed to do the writing book today. Only 4 brought it. We did reading street instead. Both Andy and May wrote apology notes to Wendy. I do nknow what they said. But I think Wendy appreciated them.
My afternoon Denmark did vocabulary today. Though to do anytime, but moreso the day before a break. We did a word search then went over the words. I got several goodies for Cheusok. Ronnie got me some alcohol. He got everyone else hair care stuff. He told me he realized I had no hair and that I would enjoy this more. Regina (mom) got me a nice bottle of wine and a cheese set. I got some expensive socks, hand cream, vitamins, soap...
I took a taxi home with my cheusok gifts and I took a nap. Yet the adventure was about to begin. I leave for Japan in serval hours.
Last day of school for th week! All of the kids wore their hanboks today. A hanbok is the traditional korean clothing article. It was super cute. In the morning we made rice cake balls. There is some name to these. .. I will have to post later. Then it was time for games. I did archery. It was painful. The bows and arrows were impossible. The arrow did not stay on the string so I had to try to get the kids to pinch just the arrow and not the string. We were doing it in the library which is small. At times I had 3 classes (nearly 30 students) and while there were several bows the kids could not do it on their own. Oh and we only had 20 minutes for each group. I could not keep the attention of all of the kids. I was too busy helping the few shoot. The other games were throwing things in a bucket in the gym or hitting rice cake with an over sized inflatable hammer in the lobby. I would much rather had either of those. I wanted to get pictures of all the kids in their hanboks. .. but right after the games they changed. And since my game took the longest I was unable to.
The rest of the day went okay other than having a sore throat and congestion. The doctor gave me a perception. I looked it up this time. He gave me a pain killer, an antibiotic, a decongestant (only a half pill though).
No classes had any focus. My afternoon Denmark class we tried a little work. When that didn't work out we made Happy Cheusok cards. Regina is seeming to fit in a lot better. Still working on it (Christina has not made permanent seat changes yet so I still just move kids around). She seems happier most of the time now!
My firstgraders were supposed to do the writing book today. Only 4 brought it. We did reading street instead. Both Andy and May wrote apology notes to Wendy. I do nknow what they said. But I think Wendy appreciated them.
My afternoon Denmark did vocabulary today. Though to do anytime, but moreso the day before a break. We did a word search then went over the words. I got several goodies for Cheusok. Ronnie got me some alcohol. He got everyone else hair care stuff. He told me he realized I had no hair and that I would enjoy this more. Regina (mom) got me a nice bottle of wine and a cheese set. I got some expensive socks, hand cream, vitamins, soap...
I took a taxi home with my cheusok gifts and I took a nap. Yet the adventure was about to begin. I leave for Japan in serval hours.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Flying by
Tuesday September 10th
Pretty standard for a Tuesday. Not a single thing really stands out. France was good. We did art and writing. Australia we did our speech and reading, and Denmark we did good manners. For good manners, I had to read a book, and this was not a short book. It took a while to read, then the students had to answer questions about it, cut out pictures and glue them and put them in order. So, instead of teaching 2 subjects, I spent the entire time on good manners.
Firstgraders were once again not well behaved... I am thinking it has a bit to do with the stories. This one the kids never seemed too interested in. Not sure why.
My afternoon Denmark kids were good. Most of them payed pretty good attention and offered up good ideas and help regarding the upcoming debate (I was doing my debate class with them)/ So much different than my old Korea class. I did not have to talk the whole time and give them answers. I was pretty happy about that.
I went by Emart after school and I picked up another wireless adaptor for the computers (I noticed one teacher move one from class to class). I wanted to use the computer in France, but could not because it was lacking its wireless adaptor. I also bought a shower head (yes, I bought a cheap one from the hardware store not too long ago. but its only function was on and off). This one has the rain, a jet, and mist. Still a cheap showerhead... but oh well. I have only one way to stay clean, so I might as well get one that works well.
I watched 2 episodes of the wire and then went to bed.
Wednesday September 11th.
Juliet cried right as class was starting. I feel kind of bad about it. She normally doesnt speak Korean in class (speaking Korean looses a star). Well Kelly was speaking Korean and was warned several times. I told her if anyone speaks Korean again, they will lose a star. Well Kelly asked Juliet a question in Korean, and Juliet responded in Korean. They both lost a star. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to get asked a question and have to respond in a different language. But... I had to stick to my guns. We did science. The project was hard. I had to go into snack time to finish it it. Same with all of the other teachers too. Part was really easy. But then we had to tie string onto a spring, and then tie the string onto the axle (we were making a fire truck that moves). Then it had to be taped to the axle (idea was that pulling back on the fire truck would stretch the spring, and letting go the fire truck would move in the opposite direction). The tape supplied is horrible. And getting kids to tie knots with small pieces of sting is darn near impossible. So a far too hard project.
Australia was good. Denmark was good. Regina seems to be fitting in a little better. I had her sitting next to Erica. The girls have a tendency to draw pictures of each other... We were supposed to be drawing pictures of sports... but all of the girls drew eachother, and the first girl Erica drew was Regina. Its funny listening to them talk. What color of hair do you want is a question that always makes me chuckle. It is always like yellow, pink, red... And they always give compliments to the pictures they dray. So, Angelina drew all of girls that were there. Each picture of each girl was different. And each one had a different compliment... Oh, shes really pretty, she is cute.... but the girls were not set. Sometimes Erica was one, Regina another, Chloe another, Soo another.... and the next minute, they were different. I dont understand the logic of it, but it is cute to watch. Regina is still a little awkward. But is getting better. The more I have her sit with the girls, the more they hold hands and dance and hug. I think the more camaraderie there is, the better she is fitting in when they are not sitting together.
In first grade I once had to pull Wendy out of class to talk to her... I warned her if I had to do it again, I would take her to Louise (not something I like doing). She kept it up, and I had took her out of class again, and took her arm and brought her to Louise. She was almost in tears promising she would be good and wouldn't misbehave any more. She did not want to go. All of the kid were shocked when I walked back into class without her. Wendy came back 15 minutes later and all of her work was done. She behaved for the rest of class. The rest of the class behaved too! While she was out of the class, David took a piece of candy she had on her desk. When she came back, I made David apologize to her and write an apology note to her.
My one on one with Chloe was good. Kids are awesome. She makes up games for us to play... its great because it is fun, and she has to explain the rules to me in English. So, it keeps her happy, me happy, and she is still practicing English. It is win win win.
I brought my 3rd graders Ramen because it was a review day. Just dry ramen. Super popular snack. Anyway, they just sprinkle the topping on it. Most of the kids chose the hot topping. Halfway through class I had to take everyone to the water machine to get water. I literally had kids sweating and turning red in class because it was sooo spicy. I tried it, and it was not at all spicy to me. When we get back, the kids all keep eating it even though I told them we would not go get more water. The started sweating again... When class was over, most ran to the water fountain to drink more water.
About the spicy thing... it is interesting. There are some foods that I think are super spicy, and the Koreans think nothing of it. Then there are foods they find super spicy, and I think nothing of it. It is really interesting how different people taste and feel spices different ways. Sometimes when we go to eat and order spicy, the Koreans take a second look, and ask us if we are sure... we think it is a little warm but not as bad as they make it out to be.... but it can be the reverse too. Just interesting.
Rode the bus home again... The weather is starting to get nice to just walk.... But I just like riding the bus...
We were going to play Settlers, but that fizzled out pretty quickly. Everyone was tired. I finished watching the wire... the last episode disappointed me quite a bit. I am not sure it was because it means it is over, or just because I did not get the closure I wanted (nor did the stories end as I wanted).
Thursday September 12th
Gym day. So I spent part of the day grading diaries and journals. So, with my kindy kids, nothing exciting happened. My firstgraders had a test today, so that was an easy class. My afternoon Denmark had vocabulary... not a great class, but not bad either. I did not try to do any vocab games. I'll have to try that maybe next week.
After work, I was going to go to Hongdae, looking for a Hanbok (Traditional Korean Clothes). But after work, I just did not feel like it, and I figured that it was probably closed anyway, so I decided to go on a little walk. My walks brought me past Costco. I had not eaten dinner yet. So I made one of the best worst decisions I could make. I bought a Costco Membership! Not for the snack bar (though I definitely did enjoy it). Ama, who has the costco card that we use, is leaving at the end of this month, so we will have no costco card. Costco is a great place for candy for students, and other supplies. Plus, buying food in bulk is not a bad thing either. I can go buy dumplings, quesadilla supplies, bacon, drinks, food, snacks, lightbulbs, and potentially even clothes (they have American sizes). Not bad for 30 bucks.
So, today was pretty much a nothing day. Tomorrow is Friday! This week has flown by.... wow.
Pretty standard for a Tuesday. Not a single thing really stands out. France was good. We did art and writing. Australia we did our speech and reading, and Denmark we did good manners. For good manners, I had to read a book, and this was not a short book. It took a while to read, then the students had to answer questions about it, cut out pictures and glue them and put them in order. So, instead of teaching 2 subjects, I spent the entire time on good manners.
Firstgraders were once again not well behaved... I am thinking it has a bit to do with the stories. This one the kids never seemed too interested in. Not sure why.
My afternoon Denmark kids were good. Most of them payed pretty good attention and offered up good ideas and help regarding the upcoming debate (I was doing my debate class with them)/ So much different than my old Korea class. I did not have to talk the whole time and give them answers. I was pretty happy about that.
I went by Emart after school and I picked up another wireless adaptor for the computers (I noticed one teacher move one from class to class). I wanted to use the computer in France, but could not because it was lacking its wireless adaptor. I also bought a shower head (yes, I bought a cheap one from the hardware store not too long ago. but its only function was on and off). This one has the rain, a jet, and mist. Still a cheap showerhead... but oh well. I have only one way to stay clean, so I might as well get one that works well.
I watched 2 episodes of the wire and then went to bed.
Wednesday September 11th.
Juliet cried right as class was starting. I feel kind of bad about it. She normally doesnt speak Korean in class (speaking Korean looses a star). Well Kelly was speaking Korean and was warned several times. I told her if anyone speaks Korean again, they will lose a star. Well Kelly asked Juliet a question in Korean, and Juliet responded in Korean. They both lost a star. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to get asked a question and have to respond in a different language. But... I had to stick to my guns. We did science. The project was hard. I had to go into snack time to finish it it. Same with all of the other teachers too. Part was really easy. But then we had to tie string onto a spring, and then tie the string onto the axle (we were making a fire truck that moves). Then it had to be taped to the axle (idea was that pulling back on the fire truck would stretch the spring, and letting go the fire truck would move in the opposite direction). The tape supplied is horrible. And getting kids to tie knots with small pieces of sting is darn near impossible. So a far too hard project.
Australia was good. Denmark was good. Regina seems to be fitting in a little better. I had her sitting next to Erica. The girls have a tendency to draw pictures of each other... We were supposed to be drawing pictures of sports... but all of the girls drew eachother, and the first girl Erica drew was Regina. Its funny listening to them talk. What color of hair do you want is a question that always makes me chuckle. It is always like yellow, pink, red... And they always give compliments to the pictures they dray. So, Angelina drew all of girls that were there. Each picture of each girl was different. And each one had a different compliment... Oh, shes really pretty, she is cute.... but the girls were not set. Sometimes Erica was one, Regina another, Chloe another, Soo another.... and the next minute, they were different. I dont understand the logic of it, but it is cute to watch. Regina is still a little awkward. But is getting better. The more I have her sit with the girls, the more they hold hands and dance and hug. I think the more camaraderie there is, the better she is fitting in when they are not sitting together.
In first grade I once had to pull Wendy out of class to talk to her... I warned her if I had to do it again, I would take her to Louise (not something I like doing). She kept it up, and I had took her out of class again, and took her arm and brought her to Louise. She was almost in tears promising she would be good and wouldn't misbehave any more. She did not want to go. All of the kid were shocked when I walked back into class without her. Wendy came back 15 minutes later and all of her work was done. She behaved for the rest of class. The rest of the class behaved too! While she was out of the class, David took a piece of candy she had on her desk. When she came back, I made David apologize to her and write an apology note to her.
My one on one with Chloe was good. Kids are awesome. She makes up games for us to play... its great because it is fun, and she has to explain the rules to me in English. So, it keeps her happy, me happy, and she is still practicing English. It is win win win.
I brought my 3rd graders Ramen because it was a review day. Just dry ramen. Super popular snack. Anyway, they just sprinkle the topping on it. Most of the kids chose the hot topping. Halfway through class I had to take everyone to the water machine to get water. I literally had kids sweating and turning red in class because it was sooo spicy. I tried it, and it was not at all spicy to me. When we get back, the kids all keep eating it even though I told them we would not go get more water. The started sweating again... When class was over, most ran to the water fountain to drink more water.
About the spicy thing... it is interesting. There are some foods that I think are super spicy, and the Koreans think nothing of it. Then there are foods they find super spicy, and I think nothing of it. It is really interesting how different people taste and feel spices different ways. Sometimes when we go to eat and order spicy, the Koreans take a second look, and ask us if we are sure... we think it is a little warm but not as bad as they make it out to be.... but it can be the reverse too. Just interesting.
Rode the bus home again... The weather is starting to get nice to just walk.... But I just like riding the bus...
We were going to play Settlers, but that fizzled out pretty quickly. Everyone was tired. I finished watching the wire... the last episode disappointed me quite a bit. I am not sure it was because it means it is over, or just because I did not get the closure I wanted (nor did the stories end as I wanted).
Thursday September 12th
Gym day. So I spent part of the day grading diaries and journals. So, with my kindy kids, nothing exciting happened. My firstgraders had a test today, so that was an easy class. My afternoon Denmark had vocabulary... not a great class, but not bad either. I did not try to do any vocab games. I'll have to try that maybe next week.
After work, I was going to go to Hongdae, looking for a Hanbok (Traditional Korean Clothes). But after work, I just did not feel like it, and I figured that it was probably closed anyway, so I decided to go on a little walk. My walks brought me past Costco. I had not eaten dinner yet. So I made one of the best worst decisions I could make. I bought a Costco Membership! Not for the snack bar (though I definitely did enjoy it). Ama, who has the costco card that we use, is leaving at the end of this month, so we will have no costco card. Costco is a great place for candy for students, and other supplies. Plus, buying food in bulk is not a bad thing either. I can go buy dumplings, quesadilla supplies, bacon, drinks, food, snacks, lightbulbs, and potentially even clothes (they have American sizes). Not bad for 30 bucks.
So, today was pretty much a nothing day. Tomorrow is Friday! This week has flown by.... wow.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Beginning of a new...
Sunday September 8th
Lazy Sunday. I slept on and off till early afternoon. I watched the 5th Element. Great movie. I am always entertained watching it. So cheesy and fun.
I had many intentions of going out and exploring later in the day. But then the temperature reached over 30 degrees (heigh 80's, low 90's). So, not horrible, but not enough to be comfortable. If it had stayed in the 20's I would have.
I did do laundry. I do laundry so much more here! In NYC I did laundry pretty rarely. I would often go buy more socks and underwear instead of laundry. Not that I was adverse to laundry, but carrying a bag outside for several blocks, then starting it, then having to leave, then to coming back to change it to the dryer, then leaving, then coming back, then dragging the bag back home was just miserable. Here, I just throw my stuff in the washer and bam... The biggest problem is not having a dryer. Clothes take a long time to dry and it makes my apartment incredibly humid as the clothes dry. Also because they take so long to dry, sometimes they do not smell the best.
I went to the hardware store today because I love seeing what they have and I am always looking for stuff either for me or my students. I know I have talked about getting a lamp for my apartment before. Well today at the hardware store, they had lamps. Not typical floor lamps. They had a drop light (like what is used in a work shop) on a clip. It was only 5,500. A light bulb was 700. So I got a complete lamp for less than 7 bucks. It works perfect for me. I was this close }{ to buying a lamp for 40 bucks, but that little stop saved me 33 dollars.
At night, I just watched 2 episodes of The Wire and drank a beer. I really do not like Korean beer, but sometimes, it is just very refreshing.
Monday September 9th
Today went pretty well for a Monday. France was pretty good for the first class. Juliet started to cry as she put away her stuff. I was counting down (it is a great motivator) and she dropped her colored pencils all over the floor. It would be very scary for any student. But, the girls all helped her pick them up, and before it was a real cry, it was gone. So much different than it used to be. The second class was a little slower with them. Monday... and no play time. We got a letter on Friday that said only 15 minutes for snack time. So we have to take the kids at 10:15 to wash their hands. There are only 5 sinks, and there are about 50 7 year olds. So it took France about 7 minutes to wash their hands. Then we have to get back to the class, and I have to prepare their snacks. Today, it was cereal. The first student finished their cereal with 3 minutes left of snack time, then they have to go wash their spoon. So, right as the 15 minutes was ending, my students were finishing up their food. So, normally I would give them an extra 5 minutes to play (they need it). But after that memo, I will try to follow it as much as I can. The second period students were getting really tired. So I played Gangnam Style again, let the kids dance for 4 minutes, and boosted their energy. The rest of the class went smoothly. Australia class was good. We got test scores back for some test they took... One student in Australia scored very low... This is bad. Christina and I talked about what to do... He is sitting in the back of the class. I have been concerned about him before... but the test results just confirmed what I was thinking. But other than moving him to the front and referring him for a mentor class, he will just get pushed along.
Denmark was okay, and energetic. I moved the kids around, and I had Regina sit next to Chloe for a while, and Erica for a while. I can see Regina trying to fit in... but she is socially awkward... as if she does not know how to properly interact with these kids. I honestly do not think she does. Its tough, but I am going to try to keep working at it, moving all of the kids around, but giving Regina a chance to interact with different kids. I still think Sweden class would be good for her... level wise and just the personality of the class. Some of Denmark kids can sometimes have a bit of a negative attitude. The two teachers that teach Sweden say those kids are never like that. Only time will tell. I think another problem she will face is that there are 5 girls. 4 established ones, and her, the new one. It adds a new dynamic.
My first graders behaved badly for the first half of class, but the second they acted okay. We were working on the new writing book for the first half of class (when they were acting up) and when we got to the reading street, they behaved much better.
My Thirdgraders... the class was interesting. We did our Write it Right book today. It is a book they could not do when we first started out, but now all of the kids can do it very well on their own. I tried playing a game with them at the end of class.... but we ran out of time... So I may try it again. Doing something to get them active is good. I like getting the students engaged in more than just the book.
I took the bus home again today. Diana and the one other little girl both got a huge kick out of me today. Both do piano, so I was trying to guess the songs, but they did not know the name of the songs they are learning, so I pretended to play the piano and made piano noises with my mouth. They were very entertained by it.
A new sandwich shop opened up by ECC. Not the best sandwiches I have ever had. But they use real white bread (most Korean white bread is sweet) and they have dill pickles (I have not had dill pickles since I moved here... all of the pickles are sweet). It is reasonably priced... so it will be a great thing for when ECC has lunches that I do not feel like eating.
Tonight, Rob Ama and I booked 1 Hostel in Japan. We are staying our first night in Nagasaki. We are not booking anything else right now (not planning on it at least). Since none of us have ever been there, we want to leave it open so we can spend time doing what we want to do. If Nagasaki is awesome, we can spend another day there, if it is not, there are tons of other towns within a few hours. We are not going to the main land where Tokyo is, we are just staying on the one big southern island. We are all super excited about it!
So, I am going to get ready for bed.
Lazy Sunday. I slept on and off till early afternoon. I watched the 5th Element. Great movie. I am always entertained watching it. So cheesy and fun.
I had many intentions of going out and exploring later in the day. But then the temperature reached over 30 degrees (heigh 80's, low 90's). So, not horrible, but not enough to be comfortable. If it had stayed in the 20's I would have.
I did do laundry. I do laundry so much more here! In NYC I did laundry pretty rarely. I would often go buy more socks and underwear instead of laundry. Not that I was adverse to laundry, but carrying a bag outside for several blocks, then starting it, then having to leave, then to coming back to change it to the dryer, then leaving, then coming back, then dragging the bag back home was just miserable. Here, I just throw my stuff in the washer and bam... The biggest problem is not having a dryer. Clothes take a long time to dry and it makes my apartment incredibly humid as the clothes dry. Also because they take so long to dry, sometimes they do not smell the best.
I went to the hardware store today because I love seeing what they have and I am always looking for stuff either for me or my students. I know I have talked about getting a lamp for my apartment before. Well today at the hardware store, they had lamps. Not typical floor lamps. They had a drop light (like what is used in a work shop) on a clip. It was only 5,500. A light bulb was 700. So I got a complete lamp for less than 7 bucks. It works perfect for me. I was this close }{ to buying a lamp for 40 bucks, but that little stop saved me 33 dollars.
At night, I just watched 2 episodes of The Wire and drank a beer. I really do not like Korean beer, but sometimes, it is just very refreshing.
Monday September 9th
Today went pretty well for a Monday. France was pretty good for the first class. Juliet started to cry as she put away her stuff. I was counting down (it is a great motivator) and she dropped her colored pencils all over the floor. It would be very scary for any student. But, the girls all helped her pick them up, and before it was a real cry, it was gone. So much different than it used to be. The second class was a little slower with them. Monday... and no play time. We got a letter on Friday that said only 15 minutes for snack time. So we have to take the kids at 10:15 to wash their hands. There are only 5 sinks, and there are about 50 7 year olds. So it took France about 7 minutes to wash their hands. Then we have to get back to the class, and I have to prepare their snacks. Today, it was cereal. The first student finished their cereal with 3 minutes left of snack time, then they have to go wash their spoon. So, right as the 15 minutes was ending, my students were finishing up their food. So, normally I would give them an extra 5 minutes to play (they need it). But after that memo, I will try to follow it as much as I can. The second period students were getting really tired. So I played Gangnam Style again, let the kids dance for 4 minutes, and boosted their energy. The rest of the class went smoothly. Australia class was good. We got test scores back for some test they took... One student in Australia scored very low... This is bad. Christina and I talked about what to do... He is sitting in the back of the class. I have been concerned about him before... but the test results just confirmed what I was thinking. But other than moving him to the front and referring him for a mentor class, he will just get pushed along.
Denmark was okay, and energetic. I moved the kids around, and I had Regina sit next to Chloe for a while, and Erica for a while. I can see Regina trying to fit in... but she is socially awkward... as if she does not know how to properly interact with these kids. I honestly do not think she does. Its tough, but I am going to try to keep working at it, moving all of the kids around, but giving Regina a chance to interact with different kids. I still think Sweden class would be good for her... level wise and just the personality of the class. Some of Denmark kids can sometimes have a bit of a negative attitude. The two teachers that teach Sweden say those kids are never like that. Only time will tell. I think another problem she will face is that there are 5 girls. 4 established ones, and her, the new one. It adds a new dynamic.
My first graders behaved badly for the first half of class, but the second they acted okay. We were working on the new writing book for the first half of class (when they were acting up) and when we got to the reading street, they behaved much better.
My Thirdgraders... the class was interesting. We did our Write it Right book today. It is a book they could not do when we first started out, but now all of the kids can do it very well on their own. I tried playing a game with them at the end of class.... but we ran out of time... So I may try it again. Doing something to get them active is good. I like getting the students engaged in more than just the book.
I took the bus home again today. Diana and the one other little girl both got a huge kick out of me today. Both do piano, so I was trying to guess the songs, but they did not know the name of the songs they are learning, so I pretended to play the piano and made piano noises with my mouth. They were very entertained by it.
A new sandwich shop opened up by ECC. Not the best sandwiches I have ever had. But they use real white bread (most Korean white bread is sweet) and they have dill pickles (I have not had dill pickles since I moved here... all of the pickles are sweet). It is reasonably priced... so it will be a great thing for when ECC has lunches that I do not feel like eating.
Tonight, Rob Ama and I booked 1 Hostel in Japan. We are staying our first night in Nagasaki. We are not booking anything else right now (not planning on it at least). Since none of us have ever been there, we want to leave it open so we can spend time doing what we want to do. If Nagasaki is awesome, we can spend another day there, if it is not, there are tons of other towns within a few hours. We are not going to the main land where Tokyo is, we are just staying on the one big southern island. We are all super excited about it!
So, I am going to get ready for bed.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Caribbean Bay
Friday September 6th.
France class... I teach math to them on Fridays. I am so far behind... Partially from the schedule. Partially because I teach math on a Friday morning first period, and partially because the kids are having a tough time with it. I try to teach... but with the schedule as tough as it is... teaching is difficult because if I have to spend 15 minutes on something, getting through the other 4 pages is hard. Then it just compounds for the next week. I know a lot of teachers just give the answers... but I try to have the kids guess, and if they cant I go over the material again.
Australia is good. I think I might have the easiest time with my Australia class. Yes, there are some different levels among the students, but teaching them is easier. They all seem to be interested in it and interested in trying.
Denmark is fun because the kids are all lighthearted and happy, but for them studying and working comes second. Today, I moved the kids around for my class.... (This morning during snack time, when I was taking France to the bathroom, Regina's mom was there in the elevator with Regina. Regina was crying. She called me over to help, she said she knows I am good at that. I did, I picked her up, hugged her and carried her to class.) I put the boys in a group and the girls in the group. Assigned seats. The boys were assigned randomly. The girls, it went Erica, Regina, Soo and across from them Chloe and Angelina (from left to right). I had Regina in the middle of it, and she looked like she was having a good time, helping out and working. She writes a little slower than the rest, but I think that may be because her handwriting in fantastic while the others... not so much. Hopefully socializing her in class will get the girls to really accept her, and if that happens, then maybe the girls will talk to their moms, and then the moms will become more welcoming to her. The girls don't dislike her... it is just getting a new person added into a social structure. The boys seem to have accepted and taken Jayden (most of the time) but it took 2 months. Girls are different (even at that age). I will keep doing what I can. It is times like these that I wish I had one class the whole day instead of 3 classes for 2 periods each. I think you can do more with more time.
My afternoon classes went okay. My first graders were not very well behaved. We are starting a new book to do on Fridays. We were doing speakers corner.... now it is a labor intensive writing book. Horrible for a Friday. The kids could not focus on it. So I took them to the seminar room to play a game. They had too much energy and I could not do anything with them. Sometimes, you just cant beat a dead horse.
My third graders were good. They are a little cliquey. Mostly because of the age differences and genders. There is one student, I know I have spoke of him before... Roy. He is quiet and does not do work (unless forced). He is also very socially awkward. He tries to play jokes on people, but they are less like jokes and more like harassment (taking kids pencils, closing their books, taking their books, taking stuff from their backpacks, putting stuff in their backpacks, poking them...). Kids dont want to sit next to him. I have tried talking to him about it. We have several new kids in the class and they have assimilated pretty well. Roy, who was a new kid several months ago still has not. He can be smart... but his classroom manner is really hard. Diana had no awkwardness. When I walked into ECC in the afternoon she stood and gave me a big wave. So, while she was probably embarrassed by her mom... she may have secretly liked it.
At night, , Ama, Sarah Hudson, Taylor, and I went to a neighborhood by Times Square Mall. We were going to go eat 보신탕 bosintang but we had 감자탕 kamjatang. Bosintang is dog soup. Yes, soup made from dog meat. Something that I do want to try. I agree the way they animals can be treated is cruel... but it would still be interesting to try. Ama said that it isnt that good, and is not very filling. So we went to the Kamjatang place. (탕-tang: means soup). We were going to go eat dog afterward. But....
this is what the soup looked like before we cooked it... Yes, it was a lot of food, and it was absolutely delicious, so we all filled up on that. We will have to get dog some other day.
We went to a few bars over there... but none really anything special. We did go to one bar that had lime. Real lime for tequila shots. We each had 1 shot, just so we could get the lime (limes are very rare here).
Saturday September 7th.
Today I woke up early. Why? Caribbean Bay! Rob, his GF, Sarah, myself, Yufei (a person I know and have been getting to know better as Callum was leaving... he used to work with Callum) and 5 other people went to spend the day there. It is at Everland (think something like Disney Land). We got half priced tickets. It was actually a pretty awesome water park! They had a lazy river, slides, a wave pool, and all sorts of other things. We did not get in the wave pool. You have to rent and wear a life vest to get in. It is packed, and it is not a constant wave... just an occasional huge one. I think though about 90% of the people at the water park had life vests on the entire time. So interesting. We of course did not have life vests. The lines at a lot of the attractions were long. The rides we did were a body board ride, tube slides, and a group raft tube slide, and of course the lazy river. The body Board ride is where there is an artificial wave, and you stay on the body board. It was awesome! Only 2 people lasted. Most people fell off instantly or were pushed to the top. Robs GF was on for a minute (maximum time before you have to get off) and I was on for 45 seconds. I did not fall off. I was bored just staying in the middle.... so I tried carving (moving) left and right. It was tough... but then I went to close to the edge, and the edges have water flowing the opposite direction and they discharge you to the lazy river. So, I discharged to the lazy river.
We end the day at Caribbean bay. We take the 2 hour bus ride back to Seoul.
For dinner we eat at a place called Mammoth. It is an all you can eat meat place. It has the BBQ at the table like Korean BBQ. You go up, you pick your meats, and you cook them. It was 12 bucks a person, and I ate so much meat. It was fantastic! Different types, different cuts, different marinades...
Rob, Sarah, Robs GF and I all took a cab back to Bobo (we did not feel like going out in Hongdae tonight). So, I am sitting listening to music and I am drinking a glass of wine. Not a bad Saturday by any measure.
France class... I teach math to them on Fridays. I am so far behind... Partially from the schedule. Partially because I teach math on a Friday morning first period, and partially because the kids are having a tough time with it. I try to teach... but with the schedule as tough as it is... teaching is difficult because if I have to spend 15 minutes on something, getting through the other 4 pages is hard. Then it just compounds for the next week. I know a lot of teachers just give the answers... but I try to have the kids guess, and if they cant I go over the material again.
Australia is good. I think I might have the easiest time with my Australia class. Yes, there are some different levels among the students, but teaching them is easier. They all seem to be interested in it and interested in trying.
Denmark is fun because the kids are all lighthearted and happy, but for them studying and working comes second. Today, I moved the kids around for my class.... (This morning during snack time, when I was taking France to the bathroom, Regina's mom was there in the elevator with Regina. Regina was crying. She called me over to help, she said she knows I am good at that. I did, I picked her up, hugged her and carried her to class.) I put the boys in a group and the girls in the group. Assigned seats. The boys were assigned randomly. The girls, it went Erica, Regina, Soo and across from them Chloe and Angelina (from left to right). I had Regina in the middle of it, and she looked like she was having a good time, helping out and working. She writes a little slower than the rest, but I think that may be because her handwriting in fantastic while the others... not so much. Hopefully socializing her in class will get the girls to really accept her, and if that happens, then maybe the girls will talk to their moms, and then the moms will become more welcoming to her. The girls don't dislike her... it is just getting a new person added into a social structure. The boys seem to have accepted and taken Jayden (most of the time) but it took 2 months. Girls are different (even at that age). I will keep doing what I can. It is times like these that I wish I had one class the whole day instead of 3 classes for 2 periods each. I think you can do more with more time.
My afternoon classes went okay. My first graders were not very well behaved. We are starting a new book to do on Fridays. We were doing speakers corner.... now it is a labor intensive writing book. Horrible for a Friday. The kids could not focus on it. So I took them to the seminar room to play a game. They had too much energy and I could not do anything with them. Sometimes, you just cant beat a dead horse.
My third graders were good. They are a little cliquey. Mostly because of the age differences and genders. There is one student, I know I have spoke of him before... Roy. He is quiet and does not do work (unless forced). He is also very socially awkward. He tries to play jokes on people, but they are less like jokes and more like harassment (taking kids pencils, closing their books, taking their books, taking stuff from their backpacks, putting stuff in their backpacks, poking them...). Kids dont want to sit next to him. I have tried talking to him about it. We have several new kids in the class and they have assimilated pretty well. Roy, who was a new kid several months ago still has not. He can be smart... but his classroom manner is really hard. Diana had no awkwardness. When I walked into ECC in the afternoon she stood and gave me a big wave. So, while she was probably embarrassed by her mom... she may have secretly liked it.
At night, , Ama, Sarah Hudson, Taylor, and I went to a neighborhood by Times Square Mall. We were going to go eat 보신탕 bosintang but we had 감자탕 kamjatang. Bosintang is dog soup. Yes, soup made from dog meat. Something that I do want to try. I agree the way they animals can be treated is cruel... but it would still be interesting to try. Ama said that it isnt that good, and is not very filling. So we went to the Kamjatang place. (탕-tang: means soup). We were going to go eat dog afterward. But....
We went to a few bars over there... but none really anything special. We did go to one bar that had lime. Real lime for tequila shots. We each had 1 shot, just so we could get the lime (limes are very rare here).
Saturday September 7th.
Today I woke up early. Why? Caribbean Bay! Rob, his GF, Sarah, myself, Yufei (a person I know and have been getting to know better as Callum was leaving... he used to work with Callum) and 5 other people went to spend the day there. It is at Everland (think something like Disney Land). We got half priced tickets. It was actually a pretty awesome water park! They had a lazy river, slides, a wave pool, and all sorts of other things. We did not get in the wave pool. You have to rent and wear a life vest to get in. It is packed, and it is not a constant wave... just an occasional huge one. I think though about 90% of the people at the water park had life vests on the entire time. So interesting. We of course did not have life vests. The lines at a lot of the attractions were long. The rides we did were a body board ride, tube slides, and a group raft tube slide, and of course the lazy river. The body Board ride is where there is an artificial wave, and you stay on the body board. It was awesome! Only 2 people lasted. Most people fell off instantly or were pushed to the top. Robs GF was on for a minute (maximum time before you have to get off) and I was on for 45 seconds. I did not fall off. I was bored just staying in the middle.... so I tried carving (moving) left and right. It was tough... but then I went to close to the edge, and the edges have water flowing the opposite direction and they discharge you to the lazy river. So, I discharged to the lazy river.
(while it looks pretty flat, it is not. I am 6'3" and the slope of the blue part I am on was probably 30 degrees)
Then there were tube rides (where you sit in an intertube and go down a slide. We did that twice. Then there was a ride where 4 people could get in a bit tube and go down a long slide. All were fun. The waiting was not... but that is part of the game. The last time when I was in line for the slide... people were really yelling down the slide. One guy several in front of us started, so each person afterward yelled. Rob and and his GF went down and yelled. Well, I am not much of a screamer. So what do I do? Bark, like a dog. Bark bark bark... and right before I came out I meowed like a cat. So, Rob and his GF told me the story. Since you scream in the tubes, it echoes. Well, I am a loud person, so it really echoed. They said the entire line of people was super quiet and everyone was watching the tube. All conversations stopped. Everyone was focused. Then I pop out. And everyone smiles and chuckles. I have a big smile when I shoot out. Robs GF said it was the funniest thing of the day.We end the day at Caribbean bay. We take the 2 hour bus ride back to Seoul.
For dinner we eat at a place called Mammoth. It is an all you can eat meat place. It has the BBQ at the table like Korean BBQ. You go up, you pick your meats, and you cook them. It was 12 bucks a person, and I ate so much meat. It was fantastic! Different types, different cuts, different marinades...
Rob, Sarah, Robs GF and I all took a cab back to Bobo (we did not feel like going out in Hongdae tonight). So, I am sitting listening to music and I am drinking a glass of wine. Not a bad Saturday by any measure.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Oh happy day
Thursday September 5th
Today was interesting. It was a gym day. So, my Kindy class schedule was easy. No problems in any of them. My First graders were super well behaved. Literally the best I think I have ever seen them. My afternoon Denmark kids were okay (even though we were doing vocabulary). Before the next class, I think I will search the internet for some ideas.
So, Chuseok (추석) is coming up in several weeks. Chuseok is about like Thanksgiving in America. Families travel back to see their families... people go to where their families originated from. So we have several days off school! Ama Rob and I are going to Japan. There is a ferry that is round trip for 220 bucks. We are going to stay in hostles and do that really cheap. We have to take the train down, and that was 50 round trip. So, for 270 bucks, I will get to see Japan. We are not going to Tokyo, but we may get to see Nagasaki. I had to go to buy the train tickets tonight.
So... that makes it a happy day, right? Yes... but the title is more meant for sarcasm.
Regina's mom came to school today after I was done with classes. She is very nice and speaks very good English. She even brought me dinner! She is worried about Regina. I spoke to her for over half an hour, then spoke to Christina for nearly the same amount of time.... I feel sorry for Regina. Not because of her mom, she is super. But partially because of living situations (just moved to Korea) but mostly because of the intraclass politics. Not among the students. I love my students... but it turns out that some parents can be bigger children than their students.
There are 5 girls. 2 are good friends and the other 2 are pretty good friends. Regina is trying to be good friends from 1 of each group (A and B). There is one student she really doesn't like much (C), and the other she is ambivalent towards (D). She really likes A, and I think that A and D would be a good match with her. A talks to her and works with her. They get along well. She likes B, and gets along fine with her in class. I think she could get to like C, but C is temperamental. But here is the problem. A and D moms are really judgmental and critical. They did not want a new student in the class, so they do not want to have that new student involved. A and D go over to each others houses. So, Reginal can't get to the same level of friendship because A and D's parents dont want it. This frustrates me greatly. Nothing is wrong with Regina. She is just new to the country (she is full blood Korean). But instead of the other parents trying to integrate her and help her... the opposite.
On top of all of this, being new in Korea means learning new sets of customs and cultures. She goes to a Christian Church with her Mom and a Buddhist Church with her grandma.... (Very confusing for the kid). The dad is being sent back to Europe on Business, and he will be gone for a very long time. Mom and Dad have different educational philosophies. She lives pretty far away from everyone she has class with. Mom is not a helicopter parent (yay) but a lot of Korean moms are, so there is that.
If I could do anything I wanted, I would probably move Regina to Sweden class. I do not teach it (I wish I did). All of the girls there are so loving and welcoming. It is the class that my Diana went to after the first several weeks in Denmark. All are a big family, and they all love getting new friends. Ama teaches it, and he says it is the best, tightest, and most loving class he has ever taught. It is what Regina needs and I think she would thrive in it. It would help her adjust. The problems.... It is a 7-1.5 class (Not a 7-2, not a 7-1). Many parents have a level set in their mind of where their student is in educational terms. 7-2 is smarter. I think Regina is definitely that level (when she tries). But I think there is more to school. I think socially, being in Sweden class would be so great. I may try to talk to Louise tomorrow about that. Maybe see if we can get Denmark and Sweden together to see if she likes those people. I know her mom really cares about her. I would hate to lose her because she is sweet and I see a lot of potential, but being with the different class... might be better for her.
It is so frustrating.... I hate there being problems like this.
Today was interesting. It was a gym day. So, my Kindy class schedule was easy. No problems in any of them. My First graders were super well behaved. Literally the best I think I have ever seen them. My afternoon Denmark kids were okay (even though we were doing vocabulary). Before the next class, I think I will search the internet for some ideas.
So, Chuseok (추석) is coming up in several weeks. Chuseok is about like Thanksgiving in America. Families travel back to see their families... people go to where their families originated from. So we have several days off school! Ama Rob and I are going to Japan. There is a ferry that is round trip for 220 bucks. We are going to stay in hostles and do that really cheap. We have to take the train down, and that was 50 round trip. So, for 270 bucks, I will get to see Japan. We are not going to Tokyo, but we may get to see Nagasaki. I had to go to buy the train tickets tonight.
So... that makes it a happy day, right? Yes... but the title is more meant for sarcasm.
Regina's mom came to school today after I was done with classes. She is very nice and speaks very good English. She even brought me dinner! She is worried about Regina. I spoke to her for over half an hour, then spoke to Christina for nearly the same amount of time.... I feel sorry for Regina. Not because of her mom, she is super. But partially because of living situations (just moved to Korea) but mostly because of the intraclass politics. Not among the students. I love my students... but it turns out that some parents can be bigger children than their students.
There are 5 girls. 2 are good friends and the other 2 are pretty good friends. Regina is trying to be good friends from 1 of each group (A and B). There is one student she really doesn't like much (C), and the other she is ambivalent towards (D). She really likes A, and I think that A and D would be a good match with her. A talks to her and works with her. They get along well. She likes B, and gets along fine with her in class. I think she could get to like C, but C is temperamental. But here is the problem. A and D moms are really judgmental and critical. They did not want a new student in the class, so they do not want to have that new student involved. A and D go over to each others houses. So, Reginal can't get to the same level of friendship because A and D's parents dont want it. This frustrates me greatly. Nothing is wrong with Regina. She is just new to the country (she is full blood Korean). But instead of the other parents trying to integrate her and help her... the opposite.
On top of all of this, being new in Korea means learning new sets of customs and cultures. She goes to a Christian Church with her Mom and a Buddhist Church with her grandma.... (Very confusing for the kid). The dad is being sent back to Europe on Business, and he will be gone for a very long time. Mom and Dad have different educational philosophies. She lives pretty far away from everyone she has class with. Mom is not a helicopter parent (yay) but a lot of Korean moms are, so there is that.
If I could do anything I wanted, I would probably move Regina to Sweden class. I do not teach it (I wish I did). All of the girls there are so loving and welcoming. It is the class that my Diana went to after the first several weeks in Denmark. All are a big family, and they all love getting new friends. Ama teaches it, and he says it is the best, tightest, and most loving class he has ever taught. It is what Regina needs and I think she would thrive in it. It would help her adjust. The problems.... It is a 7-1.5 class (Not a 7-2, not a 7-1). Many parents have a level set in their mind of where their student is in educational terms. 7-2 is smarter. I think Regina is definitely that level (when she tries). But I think there is more to school. I think socially, being in Sweden class would be so great. I may try to talk to Louise tomorrow about that. Maybe see if we can get Denmark and Sweden together to see if she likes those people. I know her mom really cares about her. I would hate to lose her because she is sweet and I see a lot of potential, but being with the different class... might be better for her.
It is so frustrating.... I hate there being problems like this.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Interesting times
Tuesday September 3rd
Seemed like an ordinary Tuesday at school, which is not a bad thing at all. Nobody cried. I hope this is becoming a trend. If it is, it is definitely a trend that I could get behind. Tuesdays are pretty easy with Australia class. I do speech with them... and we have a new speech book. It took a lot longer that I am used to, it seems like a lot more writing that it does speaking. Then we do reading street, and they are pretty quick (or at least seemingly quick) at understanding the concepts. Denmark was Denmark. We have good manners on Tuesdays, and I am still trying to fine tune how to make it work for class. It seems like we either have too much time, or not enough... no real consistency.
My firstgraders are now re-trying to get back into the swing of things. Since David is back, it is throwing off the balance. I am excited he is back... for all of the trouble he has caused, he does have charisma that the class can sometimes lack.
I met my new Denmark class. (Yes, I have 3 classes in Denmark- so it will start getting hard to tell them apart in the blog... but rule of thumb... I usually start off with Kindy, then First Grade, then the older students). It is some of the kids I had before in Spain class, and it has Angel (who was not there) and Daniel. Erica was going to be, but she dropped out. This made me sad, but it may have been the best for her, though I really wish she would have given the new class a week. The new class has a lot of energy, and even Daniel seemed to be getting lifted up by it. It was good to see. I am really going to enjoy them. They are smart and energetic. As a teacher, smart and energetic are good things. Rob will also be teaching it, and he is as optimistic as I am. So, I have high hopes.
The class I did not get, the new Spain class, it has some of the students from the Australia class I taught when Rob was gone. It also has Dylan and Danny. Sam is one of their teachers. When I was walking past, the kids called me in (I was done for the day).. They told me they wanted me to be their teacher and that I should leave Denmark class and teach them, and then Sam could go teach Denmark. It made me feel good. I was texting with Rachel later in the day, and she told me that Dylan and Danny asked if they could be moved to Denmark class so I could be their teacher. That was real shocking, but made me feel good too. If they would have shown initiative in Korea class, and would have listened and participated, then maybe I would have still been their teacher.
After work, we went to Hongdae for Callums going away dinner. He is leaving Korea on Wednesday. It was good. We had BBQ at an egg place. There is some name to it... but the egg places put egg in a ring around the fire, and it cooks right there, and then you can just eat it. It is delicious. Walking, we played a dart game and I won a stuffed animal. Later in the night, I saw a little girl (when I say later, I mean around 1, and when I say little girl, I think maybe about 3). I gave it to her, and her mom was very excited and happy. The girls eyes just lit up as she was taking it out of the package. We went to a little chill Soju bar and had a Soju Mojito. Then we ended up going to a multibang. It is pretty awesome. You pay and you get a room. There are PCbangs, Noraebangs, gamebangs, wiibangs, DVDbangs.... and Bang (방) just means room. So PC Room, Song Room, Game Room, Wii Room, DVD Room. A Multibang is all in one. You get a room, it has a computer, wii, microphones, a song machine, board games you can get at the front... and you just rent the room, and you can use it for any of those. Pretty sweet. We played Wii.
It was bitter sweet seeing Callum go. He was a pretty cool person, and was always a fun person to hang with.
Wednesday September 4th.
Since with France today was okay. I do not think the kids understood a lick of it (it was an optical illusion that was pretty low quality). I think there is some drama brewing. David is starting to cause a lot of trouble. He gets in trouble daily, and does not seem to care about getting in trouble or the consequences. It makes him pretty hard to control. He sometimes bullys people and gets physical and verbal. He is a smart happy kid... but something needs to happen, he seems to be upsetting other students.
My streak of no crying was broken. Australia....I made a girl cry. I made Valeria cry. I hated to do it too. She is smart and really reserved. I started the rule that if a kid drops their pencil, I get to keep it. It stopped so many pencils from dropping (some kids would literally drop the pencil once every 10 minutes). Well, she dropped hers, so I picked it up and brought it to my desk. The water works began. The sobbing began. It continued most of the rest of class.It started back up when I passed out the supplement for Reading Street, and she didnt have a pencil to put her name on it. I did give it back to her at the end of class (I have no intention of keeping what I take (though once the students are used to the rules, I may keep them over night of for the rest of the week). I know I could have given it back to her... but that would have undermined the process. The kids seeing her cry, and seeing me not budge I think sent a stronger message.
Denmark acted pretty well today. I took away several class points yesterday, so today, they behaved.
My firstgraders behaved... but I still took away 5 class points. 1 because people were talking... the other 4 were because I made 4 people stand up in class. 4 smart students. They were looking ahead in our book instead of listening and paying attention. Emma, Chloe, May, and Billy.
My 1 on 1 with Chloe was good. We went up to the roof and talked up there (The weather was too beautiful). We looked at the garden, and talked about ants. She asked me about the points in class, saying that it was easy for people to make mistakes and stand up and talk... I then pointed out that 4 points were taken away because 4 people (including her) were not paying attention. But she did make a good argument. So I will use that tomorrow. Its always fun with her, she always says I am the best teacher ever and the likes... just honest feelings from a 1st grader. She is not sucking up, she is just talking... they brighten my day.
My 3rd grade class went okay today. I had to separate the girls and the boys. All the girls were sitting together, and all of the boys were... I put them girl boy girl boy.... the class was much better after that.
I was going to take the bus home today, and Ama was going to take it with me.... so we walk to the bus, and what happens...... Diana's mom was there to pick up Diana. Diana is the one that lives close to us. So Ama and I ride with her.... Diana was very embarrassed, and Ama was very uncomfortable. He said that is the most uncomfortable he has felt in Korea. I didnt think it was that bad. I think the mom liked doing it (parents always seem to like showing support for teachers). Of course the girl was embarrassed. I think the mom thought it was kind of funny. Ama said he is never taking the bus again (even though he did not take it). It was an interesting experience... honestly if Ama had not been there, it might of been better... I think his uncomfortableness could be felt. I was having a blast. But then again, not often do I feel uncomfortable... I just like living life... I am guessing that Diana has probably talked about me to her mom before, so I am sure that she probably likes being able to put a face to the name... Anyway... weird, but still fun. I would do it again if offered.
I picked up a TV set tonight. It was on sale for 160 bucks (32 inch Samsung LCD TV). Do I need a TV set? No. Not at all. Why did I get one? Well, since I am still intent on buying a recliner.... I think having a TV set might be a good thing to have if I wanted to watch a movie while sitting in my recliner. A recliner and the computer monitor just would not be a good combination. It is the cheapest I have seen a TV that size for. I was worried a little at first.... but it turns out the guy selling it works for Samsung, and he is being shipped off in 6 days, so he is just trying to make a little extra money by selling things off cheaply quickly, and I was lucky because I was the first to respond (always a matter of luck).
I was trying to put the box in my closed... POP. The power goes out. Everything in my apartment is dead. Yikes. My apartment is a mess. I have no power. So I like some candles (I got 3 in the kitchen supply box I bought from Craigslist a month ago) and I clean my room a little. I go downstairs to tell the guy at the desk. He speaks no English.... He calls someone. I tell them. Building guy talks to him. We go upstairs. Another guy (the super) meets at my room. He comes in, tries the circuit breaker. No dice. Comes out. Building guy calls english speaking guy, I talk to english speaking guy, english speaking guy talks to building guy, building guy talks to super, super runs down the hall, I speak to english guy on phone, english guy then speaks to building guy, super comes back, we go in, the lights are on. Crazy ordeal... but I have power again! I think the door on the circuit breaker was loose, so when the box hit the cover, it shifted a wire and shorted (hence the pop) and the super must have gone to the main circuit breakers.
So. that has been my Wednesday. Now time for a shower then bed...! Yay
Fun side note... I started ECC on March 4th. Today is September 4th.
Edit... so, Regina (new girl in Denmark) has not had colored pencils. Any time we need them, she always had to borrow someones. I bought some at emart, wrote her name on them, and put them in her cuvby. I did this on Tuesday. I wondered if she noticed them. Today when we had to color, she went to her cubby and pulled them out. The person she sits next to had the exact same ones. I think the only reason she did not have them is that since she started late, I can just imagine ecc forgetting to tell her mom... ecc provides almost everything. Books, backpack, Pencils, erasers.... so I can imagine a parent thinking colored pencils would come with the pack. It just made me happy to see her engage in the coloring instead of doing the bare bones minimum. Just this one time I have seen her color with the new pencils, she colors in the lines andcoordinates the colors. Before it was more of just using 3 colors and not spending time on it.
Monday, September 2, 2013
September is already here...
Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st
Saturday, I woke up early and went to Itaewon to meet Ama, Christina and Louise from school. We were getting food before the awards ceremony for one of my students and one of Ama's. We went to a decent little brunch joint. I had french toast...Delicious! After we ordered, I think Louise was disappointed that we did not get hamburgers. Ama and I both got the french toast. Western breakfast food is pretty rare over here. Most breakfast food consist of rice, kimchi, and some kind of meat... breakfast is almost the exact same as lunch... unless you stop by a bakery or coffee shop and get a bagel.
We went to the awards ceremony... Henna, Ama's student actually got to compete. The winner in her group... well, in my opinion was sub par (aka the worst). Not saying she was the best (was not), but out of the 4, the winner had the least content, worst pronunciation, intonation, gestures, and charisma. All of us were stunned. We think that the judges must have judged the original video submission, and not the competition. My student, Daniel, got his award, which was good to see. I know both Hennas and Daniels parents were happy that we were there. Henna cried after she lost... But we still had a lot of pictures to take at the end. So, I made funny faces and gave the photographer, her dad, Ronnie, Ama, bunny ears etc. and it made her smile and laugh.
After the Ceremony, Ama and I went to All American Diner and got second brunch. Much better service this time. I got the hash, which was not very good. The corned beef was, but the onions and potatoes were just not right. The proportions and sizes were off. I also had the country fried potatoes... great. And the biscuits and sausage gravy. The sausage gravy was fantastic, but the biscuits left me wanting... too salty and too oily. Oh well. I was still satisfied.
I got home and pretty much turned around to head out again. That night, we were having Callums going away party. We rented a room in a boutique hotel. The Nox Hotel...
Expensive... but it was a party room. So we had 15 people there. Food and drinks. Projector, karaoke machine, pool table, Jacuzzi tubs, balcony overlooking part of Gangnam. Great night. I'll the the pictures speak for themselves.
.jpg)
Sunday September 1st.
Woke up... we cleaned the room. I got back in the Jacuzzi tub. I wish I had one. We left the hotel, and went and got lunch.
We all went our separate ways. Got back to bobo and went to sleep. I was up till after 4am. I slept on a couch that I was far to big for. I woke up too early for a night like the night before.
I almost ordered McDonalds for dinner. Then I remembered that Rob said GS has microwavable hotdogs. They do. They have microwavable chili cheese dogs. They were actually pretty decent. Not as good as grilled and with good chili (this chili had corn in it - a lot of things in Korea do). I was very happy, and I think I will get them a lot more. Sometimes GS gets trial products... I hope this is not one of them....
I watched the Wire for a little while. I did several loads of laundry.
Went to bed at a reasonable time!
Saturday, I woke up early and went to Itaewon to meet Ama, Christina and Louise from school. We were getting food before the awards ceremony for one of my students and one of Ama's. We went to a decent little brunch joint. I had french toast...Delicious! After we ordered, I think Louise was disappointed that we did not get hamburgers. Ama and I both got the french toast. Western breakfast food is pretty rare over here. Most breakfast food consist of rice, kimchi, and some kind of meat... breakfast is almost the exact same as lunch... unless you stop by a bakery or coffee shop and get a bagel.
We went to the awards ceremony... Henna, Ama's student actually got to compete. The winner in her group... well, in my opinion was sub par (aka the worst). Not saying she was the best (was not), but out of the 4, the winner had the least content, worst pronunciation, intonation, gestures, and charisma. All of us were stunned. We think that the judges must have judged the original video submission, and not the competition. My student, Daniel, got his award, which was good to see. I know both Hennas and Daniels parents were happy that we were there. Henna cried after she lost... But we still had a lot of pictures to take at the end. So, I made funny faces and gave the photographer, her dad, Ronnie, Ama, bunny ears etc. and it made her smile and laugh.
After the Ceremony, Ama and I went to All American Diner and got second brunch. Much better service this time. I got the hash, which was not very good. The corned beef was, but the onions and potatoes were just not right. The proportions and sizes were off. I also had the country fried potatoes... great. And the biscuits and sausage gravy. The sausage gravy was fantastic, but the biscuits left me wanting... too salty and too oily. Oh well. I was still satisfied.
I got home and pretty much turned around to head out again. That night, we were having Callums going away party. We rented a room in a boutique hotel. The Nox Hotel...
Expensive... but it was a party room. So we had 15 people there. Food and drinks. Projector, karaoke machine, pool table, Jacuzzi tubs, balcony overlooking part of Gangnam. Great night. I'll the the pictures speak for themselves.
.jpg)
Sunday September 1st.
Woke up... we cleaned the room. I got back in the Jacuzzi tub. I wish I had one. We left the hotel, and went and got lunch.
We all went our separate ways. Got back to bobo and went to sleep. I was up till after 4am. I slept on a couch that I was far to big for. I woke up too early for a night like the night before.
I almost ordered McDonalds for dinner. Then I remembered that Rob said GS has microwavable hotdogs. They do. They have microwavable chili cheese dogs. They were actually pretty decent. Not as good as grilled and with good chili (this chili had corn in it - a lot of things in Korea do). I was very happy, and I think I will get them a lot more. Sometimes GS gets trial products... I hope this is not one of them....
I watched the Wire for a little while. I did several loads of laundry.
Went to bed at a reasonable time!
Monday September 2nd
It is amazing that it is already September. Aye aye aye. A new month... I have some new classes too. Well one new class, and that class is tomorrow... I will write about it then. My Kindy classes were pretty good today. France was a little tired, so I played Gangnam Style and they danced and were happy. Then they acted tired so I would play it again... I didnt. I am still working to transition them into their new books. Australia class was good, as was Denmark. It is amazing how different their personalities are. It is amazing to think that they used to be combined... I wonder what those classes were like. It seems like the classes were split on personalities. There are a few that are a little out of place... But for the most part, the way the classes mesh. Just how Australia is mostly more quiet and introverted and Denmark loud and extroverted. I know some of it is herd mentality, but still interesting.
My firstgraders are starting to behave again. David came back. He was actually well behaved for most of the day... I hope his time away allowed him to mature. Min is no longer in our class. He was moved, which is good. classes are 2 periods. He almost every day missed 90% of the first period. I think I am going to get the class to 50 class points soon to have a little party. They are getting better slowly I think. There are still hiccups, but the trend seems better. But we will see if David changes the balance. Billy has behaved much better without David (except when him and Billy start butting heads).
We have a new 3rd grader, and we lost one. The one we lost moved to another more advanced class. It surprised me. The 2 most advanced girls in the class stayed. Sometimes I am not exactly sure how things happen. I am not sure yet what level the new kid is, but I have high hopes. I call them my 3rd graders, and most of them are. There are a few second graders and 1 (maybe 2) fourth graders.
I was losing my voice today. I shouted (not angry shouting, but more like reading and speaking loud to get the kids attention, and getting them to shout the answers to me- keeps them awake). I also did a bit of singing and dancing....
I rode the bus home again today. It really is fun being with the kids outside of school. The one girl that I spoke of earlier... I think she is a first grader... not exactly sure yet, but she is talking to me a little more. There is another girl too that is quite loquacious. My student sometimes is and sometimes is not. I know she is not super confident with her English. I do wish I could speak Korean, not just to talk to the kids, but also the bus driver and the woman that is in-charge of the students on the bus.
For dinner tonight, we went to On the Border. The same as the ones in the States. Expensive buy delicious. So delicious. I have Queso! I love cheese. I had enchiladas and fajita steak, rice and beans, a froze margarita, and chips and salsa. I love Korean food, but I think one of the reasons that I love eating the 'western foods' is not so much because I need the taste of home, but more because the varieties of food here (close to me) are not super incredible. In NY, within 3 blocks I could have food from Ethiopia, Korea, Brazil, Italy (traditional of pizza), US, Vietnam, Japan, Pakistan, France,China, Morocco, Jewish Deli, from different US states, Mexican, Latin.... Here it is mostly Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, or fast food. I mean that different restaurants have different food and specialties.... But most of it is rice and noodle based (maybe not based, but where a significant portion is rice or noodles).
So... that was my day, not great, not bad, but I had a fantastic dinner.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)