....and by that, I mean only this Monday (today). My 1st graders were MIA as they were on an excursion to some bird park or something....which left me with a whole day to get work done in complete PEACE and QUIET. The only bad thing that happened today, was that I stepped on a thumb tack without shoes on. Unfortunately, there was no one there to help me. Also unfortunately, if there was someone there to help me, they wouldn't help me. (English isn't easily understood in my work environment.) So if someone was there and heard me yelp in shock as my poor left heel was pinched...maybe they'd think I was just trying to sing, and clap for me. I actually don't know, I'm just making stuff up now.
So today I got some things done. I had my 1st graders create the letters of the alphabet with tissue paper glued onto paper plates. I had time to hang those suckers up today:
Look closely. I'm balancing on the arms of the chair so to be raised higher in order to reach. Did you know that teachers are balancing artists? Especially the short ones.
I made that up just now.
Some of the children were thrilled to return from their excursion and find their award winning works of art displayed above their lockers.
I also had time to create a "Behavior Traffic" chart for my 1st graders. This is another attempt of mine to create peace and harmony in the 1st grade. I got the idea from student teaching/my roommate, Ashley/I made stuff up.
Every child has their name on a clothespin. On Monday, everyone starts the week with a clean record on the green light...this is so they have a chance to show me (and the other teachers) good behavior.
If a child exhibits poor behavior (fighting, being obnoxiously disruptive during lessons, running away en route to dance class, smacking tea cups against the table at lunch, etc...), then their pin will move up to yellow (which is a warning):
If a child on yellow continues to misbehave, their name will be moved up to red. Red is where you do NOT want to be because it means you are destined to be sad and lonely during the all hailed time of recess.
After a child on red has served their time, their pin will be moved back down to yellow so they have a chance to improve their behavior, and join the gang for recess the following day. If a child whose pin is on red or yellow, shows major improvements in their behavior before recess...it is possible to move their pin back down (But at the teachers' discretion. You can't give child X a bloody nose, try to redeem yourself by pushing in a chair, and expect to have recess...you just can't.) And obviously, if a child's pin arrives on red after recess on a certain day..then their sentence shall be served the following day (except Friday, in which case they will lose end of the day playtime).
I started private tutoring last night. The little boy I tutor barely knows English, but I can tell he is really smart. He remembers a lot of what I say. I tutored him tonight too...by the end of our session he kept saying on repeat "GOOOD....JOB!" and putting his hand up for a high five. I think he understands what it means...or just assumes that is what you say after you answer a question...regardless of the quality of the answer.
Yesterday I caught on to the fact that he gets "How are you?", and "How old are you?" mixed up. We made paper people puppets, and my puppet asked his "How are you?" He just said "Yes". So I made him repeat "I am fine, thank you!". He got a little defensive and said "NYET! I am SIX!"
What is so wonderful is that both times I've tutored him so far, he gives me parting gifts. Gee...just what I've always wanted. Ninja lego trading cards in Russian, and lego accessories:
You may recall from a previous post the little lego man I confiscated from a 1st grader and found in my pants pocket a week later? I certainly am building quite the lego collection. I know you are so jealous.
I wish I had a cooler camera, that would capture how awesome the moon looked as I walked to the metro tonight after tutoring. Just pretend the quality of this photo is better. Anyway, I love the moon.
-Gina
P.S. Here is an attempt to get a greater moon picture from my flat (Tuesday morning):
So today I got some things done. I had my 1st graders create the letters of the alphabet with tissue paper glued onto paper plates. I had time to hang those suckers up today:
I made that up just now.
I also had time to create a "Behavior Traffic" chart for my 1st graders. This is another attempt of mine to create peace and harmony in the 1st grade. I got the idea from student teaching/my roommate, Ashley/I made stuff up.
Every child has their name on a clothespin. On Monday, everyone starts the week with a clean record on the green light...this is so they have a chance to show me (and the other teachers) good behavior.
If a child exhibits poor behavior (fighting, being obnoxiously disruptive during lessons, running away en route to dance class, smacking tea cups against the table at lunch, etc...), then their pin will move up to yellow (which is a warning):
I started private tutoring last night. The little boy I tutor barely knows English, but I can tell he is really smart. He remembers a lot of what I say. I tutored him tonight too...by the end of our session he kept saying on repeat "GOOOD....JOB!" and putting his hand up for a high five. I think he understands what it means...or just assumes that is what you say after you answer a question...regardless of the quality of the answer.
Yesterday I caught on to the fact that he gets "How are you?", and "How old are you?" mixed up. We made paper people puppets, and my puppet asked his "How are you?" He just said "Yes". So I made him repeat "I am fine, thank you!". He got a little defensive and said "NYET! I am SIX!"
What is so wonderful is that both times I've tutored him so far, he gives me parting gifts. Gee...just what I've always wanted. Ninja lego trading cards in Russian, and lego accessories:
You may recall from a previous post the little lego man I confiscated from a 1st grader and found in my pants pocket a week later? I certainly am building quite the lego collection. I know you are so jealous.
I wish I had a cooler camera, that would capture how awesome the moon looked as I walked to the metro tonight after tutoring. Just pretend the quality of this photo is better. Anyway, I love the moon.
-Gina
P.S. Here is an attempt to get a greater moon picture from my flat (Tuesday morning):
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