How to cook a turkey

We did this writing activity in my pre-K class today. I got a lot of really cute responses from my kids, but this one was my favorite.

Stoked about coins

The other day, I was teaching my 2nd graders about coins and how to add cents. Since the books they use are for English language learners in the United States, we were learning about American money. I had some coins from back home and brought them in to show them. I wasn't expecting this- but they were so excited about it! So after the lesson, I asked who wanted to take a coin home thinking that maybe one or two students would want one-- but all of them shot their hand straight up with such excitement, it was pretty cute. I had quarters, a dime, a nickle and some pennies and they were so happy to get a little coin-- even the student who got the pennies. It was so cute, I had to take a picture of each of them with their coins:

Paul

This is Paul, one of my 3-year-old students and don't tell anyone- but he's my favorite. He's such a sweetheart & full of personality.

The 3 Little Pigs

On May 5th, Koreans celebrate "Children's Day" (which is much like Mother's Day, I suppose). Since May 5th was on a Saturday this year, we celebrated at school on Friday. It was a Special Day (much like the last Special Day I talked about before.) For us foreigner teachers, we had to perform a play. We chose The 3 Little Pigs. I'd say it was pretty successful. Jason was the big bad wolf and he made his own costume- and it was a hit! Kids loved it, some didn't and he made many kids cry. We performed the play 6 times... it was exhausting but a lot of fun!

Friends' Day

On Tuesday we had a Special Day at school for the kindergarten. The whole morning was spent with the kids going from room to room doing different activities. They have Special Days once a month. This month's theme was "Friends' Day." Each of us foreign teachers 'taught' a class (with the help of other Korean teachers). One did a game, another did dancing, and Jason did candy bouquet making. In my class, we made friend's faces with a slice of bread and snacks (we didn't come up with these classes- they were assigned to us). It was actually pretty fun. And all the kids had fun and enjoyed it.

Some of the kids & their faces.

This was my face.

It was a good break from having to teach. Plus, I got to eat snacks the whole time. =)

1 week down, 50+ more to go!

I think I've never been so happy that the weekend is here! Our first week of teaching is over and it was . . . eventful?? We were busy, which I suppose is a good thing because it will make this year go by a lot quicker.

I've been sick- but I was feeling terrible on Monday and Tuesday, but still had to teach. In the mornings, I go to different kindergarten classes and sing songs, go over vocabulary, read stories and poems with them- so being sick didn't help me- but I got through it.

My Cherry class was a bit of a handful, I will admit. I get 6 at a time for half an hour each, and sometimes it feels like an eternity. I think the biggest problems are that they didn't have English names (until Friday) and there is a huge communication barrier. When I try to get them to do something or to listen- it's always a big deal because they don't understand me- even when I'm using simple language and a lot of hand gestures. And when they speak to me- they just go off in Korean. I just say "I don't know what you're saying, man..." and try to explain: "Leia teacher- English, no Korean..." lol. But they still continue. There's a few kids who just like to run around and think they're funny. And it doesn't help that I have the worst classroom- I really dislike it. It's really small and there's a huge table right in the middle, so it's hard for me to go around... all the other teachers have a big classroom and a carpet that the kids sit on. Another problem I see is that the material is way to complicated for a 3-year-old- which I don't want to get into right now.

I'm hoping and praying things will get better, and I believe they will as these kids are learning more and more each day. My Korean co-teacher is really good with them. I just wish I knew some Korean so I can handle them better (which I need to work on!! I've been so busy lately and neglecting my Korean studying).

In elementary, one class changed so now I have 2 2nd grade classes, a 1st grade class and a 4th grade class. There's a few kids in each class that like to act up- no surprise- but I can deal with it.

Anyways, this weekend Jason and I have just been home trying to get over our sickness. We were planning on doing a video of our apartment, but decided to do it when we're feeling better. So stay tuned for that.

This is the building where our school is. Who would've thought there was a school in there, right??

Jason's classroom. It's nice.

One of my Cherries.

Some of my other Cherries.

The view from my classroom.

...and on Monday- it starts!

We work at a school called KDLP (Korean Dual Language Program). It's located in a high-rise building (you would have never guessed there was a school there) on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors. The 8th floor is where the elementary school is- your regular 1st to 5th grade elementary school. The 9th floor is where the kindergarten is. The 10th floor is more classrooms.

Since we've been here, we've been observing/'teaching' the other foreign teachers' (who we're replacing) classes. Their school year here ended this last Wednesday, and this Monday starts a new school year.

The other day, we got our class assignments. For the foreign teachers, we teach both in the kindergarten and elementary (kindergarten in the morning & elementary in the afternoon). For kindergarten, I'll be teaching the "Cherries" which are the 3-4 years old (in Korea, you add a year or two to their age for their "Korean age"- so here they're considered '5 years'- but for this blog's sake- I'll stick to the "normal" age). I also teach this program called Meysen in which I have all the other classes for half an hour and basically sing songs and read poems (I'm the only one doing it-- the other foreign teachers have other programs they do). The other classes consist of Kiwis (the level up from Cherries), Oranges (a bit older students who have never had formal English instruction) and Apples (the last level in kindergarten before they get promoted into elementary-- and the class Jason will be teaching).

I've never dealt with this young of an age group before in a classroom setting, but I'm actually feeling good about it. I think it's going to be fun, but a challenge. It's these kids' first time at a school, let alone their first time being exposed to English. I kind of feel like there's a lot of pressure on me with this class- especially from their parents- but I'm staying positive about everything and everything will be fine. We'll see....

Then for elementary, I have 2 2nd grade classes, a 3rd grade class and a 4th grade class.

I got to decorate (somewhat) my class rooms and I've been looking at lesson plans (and I've been a little stressed out with everything and now I have a cold- boo!). But all-in-all, it's going to be fun. The school is good to us, the people we work with are very helpful and are also good to us (and the former foreign teachers said this is true and that they had a great year- which was really reassuring to us).

This is the calm before the storm... bring on Monday!!