Last night, in my adult class, an interesting question was posed. What is the dividing line between a rug and carpet.
I have always believed that a rug is pretty much anything that isn't supposed to be tacked down to the floor. If you can roll it up, it's a rug. One of my students mentioned that he was watching a TV show that used the word carpet to describe what I would call an area rug. The show was produced in England. My conclusion is that British folks have a different definition of rug. In the U.S., it's a rug.
The British nomenclature has zillions of words that differ from those used in America. Perhaps this is just another example?
To sum it up, a rug is able to be rolled up and only covers a portion of the floor. Carpet generally is wall-to-wall and tacked down on its edges.
Help me out people! Am I leading these students in the wrong direction?
p.s. The use of "interesting question" earlier in the post is obviously only applicable in the world of English teaching. I realize that this isn't the Geneva Convention but, in my world, this is big stuff!....lol
Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Goodbye & Good Luck 1424
Last week I had to say adios to class 1424, a group of exceptional kids that I had the privilege to teach for the past year. The class completed the entire program that we offer at my school. This group was great, they were fun each and every class period. I hope they continue to work on their English and have fond memories of their time with Teacher David.
Roger, Jack, Henry, Arthur, Me, Candy, Sandy and Cindy. These young people are destined for greatness.
Cindy's ear-to-ear smile was a constant in the class.
Candy & Sandy. Two very quiet and talented young ladies.
I can't express in words how much I enjoyed leading this class. If I could bottle their spirit and discipline, I would be a rich man.
Roger, Jack, Henry, Arthur, Me, Candy, Sandy and Cindy. These young people are destined for greatness.
Cindy's ear-to-ear smile was a constant in the class. 
Candy & Sandy. Two very quiet and talented young ladies.
I can't express in words how much I enjoyed leading this class. If I could bottle their spirit and discipline, I would be a rich man.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Holiday Fun With My Students
One of the advantages of having classes with just 5 or 6 kids is it allows me to work with them on fun things outside of the curriculum. I usually have 10 or 15 minutes of class each day to have silly fun. I have used that time recently making fun holiday art. The kids love the Christmas season even though it's not an official holiday here.
Hope, the newly appointed school director, is awesome. She has done a terrific job of decorating the office and making it a warmer, more friendly atmosphere. She was happy to hear that I was getting my kids to help decorate. She came up with the idea of making a Christmas case with all of the kids creations. She is great. Her efforts are inspiring to everyone in the office, I really enjoy working for her.
I had a few of my classes color a variety of Christmas-related pictures and make some personalized reindeer. The reindeer were particularly fun because they had to trace their feet and hands to make the shapes.
This is the case. It's located in the main hall for everyone to see. The kids are proud of their work.
A close-up of some of the excellent work. It's fun to let them create stuff like this. The life of a student here in Taiwan is for too rigid. It leaves very little room for creativity. The reindeer head is a cut-out of their shoe, and the ears are the tracing of their hands...I think they are cute. Notice the picture on the left, "Merry Christamas"...lol.
My kindergarten class pointing out their artwork. Little Monica in the front is adorable. The two boys are brothers who recently returned from living in the U.S. for a few years. Their English is excellent. Not sure why they are in this class but I enjoy teaching them.
Some of the kids from my conversation-based class. These kids work really hard. I challenge them every class and they have done really well. Sophia, in the front, is pointing to her Thanksgiving picture. I decided to include the turkey pages because not all of them had completed the Christmas artwork.
The office tree. It's not extravagant, but Hope does really well with limited stuff to work with.
Hope, the newly appointed school director, is awesome. She has done a terrific job of decorating the office and making it a warmer, more friendly atmosphere. She was happy to hear that I was getting my kids to help decorate. She came up with the idea of making a Christmas case with all of the kids creations. She is great. Her efforts are inspiring to everyone in the office, I really enjoy working for her.
I had a few of my classes color a variety of Christmas-related pictures and make some personalized reindeer. The reindeer were particularly fun because they had to trace their feet and hands to make the shapes.
This is the case. It's located in the main hall for everyone to see. The kids are proud of their work.
A close-up of some of the excellent work. It's fun to let them create stuff like this. The life of a student here in Taiwan is for too rigid. It leaves very little room for creativity. The reindeer head is a cut-out of their shoe, and the ears are the tracing of their hands...I think they are cute. Notice the picture on the left, "Merry Christamas"...lol.
My kindergarten class pointing out their artwork. Little Monica in the front is adorable. The two boys are brothers who recently returned from living in the U.S. for a few years. Their English is excellent. Not sure why they are in this class but I enjoy teaching them.
Some of the kids from my conversation-based class. These kids work really hard. I challenge them every class and they have done really well. Sophia, in the front, is pointing to her Thanksgiving picture. I decided to include the turkey pages because not all of them had completed the Christmas artwork.
The office tree. It's not extravagant, but Hope does really well with limited stuff to work with.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
A Shining Example
On Saturday mornings, I teach a class of 7 kids. (It's not fun teaching on Saturday mornings after teaching all week in the afternoon/evening, but that's a can of worms I am not anxious to open right now.) The kids are about 9 years old and wonderfully receptive considering it's frighteningly early on a Saturday morning to be learning. I always have fun with this group.
One aspect of this class that always warms my heart is the parents that sit in the back of the room and, essentially, get free English lessons.
My school's policy is parents are welcome to sit in on their child's class free of charge. Virtually all of them use the time to shore up their English skills and I am happy to oblige. I always make extra copies of my handouts to give to the parents. I have found that parents that come to class usually spend more time with their kids ensuring they succeed in their English lessons, good stuff.
It's not the participating in class that impresses me with this particular group, it's the fact that they are there! It's Saturday morning and these folks are actively taking part in their child's education. 7 kids in the class and never less than 5 parents in attendance. They work hard all week and, admirably, drag themselves out of bed early on Saturday morning to set an example for their kids. This just would NOT happen in the U.S. Sadly, American culture has abandoned education. I can honestly say I am not sure that I could do what these folks are doing. It's a remarkable show of dedication to education...wake up and smell the cat food America!
One aspect of this class that always warms my heart is the parents that sit in the back of the room and, essentially, get free English lessons.
My school's policy is parents are welcome to sit in on their child's class free of charge. Virtually all of them use the time to shore up their English skills and I am happy to oblige. I always make extra copies of my handouts to give to the parents. I have found that parents that come to class usually spend more time with their kids ensuring they succeed in their English lessons, good stuff.
It's not the participating in class that impresses me with this particular group, it's the fact that they are there! It's Saturday morning and these folks are actively taking part in their child's education. 7 kids in the class and never less than 5 parents in attendance. They work hard all week and, admirably, drag themselves out of bed early on Saturday morning to set an example for their kids. This just would NOT happen in the U.S. Sadly, American culture has abandoned education. I can honestly say I am not sure that I could do what these folks are doing. It's a remarkable show of dedication to education...wake up and smell the cat food America!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Teacher's Day - I Scored Big
Friday was Teacher's Day. It's sort of a holiday here, I guess. We don't get the day off but teachers usually get gifts from some of the students and the school leadership. It's nice to be recognized for your efforts. I was pleasantly surprised by the stuff I received this year. I didn't expect much because I have been at the Dunhua branch for just a few months. Apparently I have made an impact on some of the kids...I scored big!
The "vase" isn't ideal. I am a guy...I don't have spare vases lying around my apartment! The bottle of wine is from Annie; the box of truffles is from Betsy; the rose is from the office secretaries; the chopsticks and spoon/fork thingy are gifts from the school. There were some other things that were eaten before I could get them home. All-in-all, I think I did pretty good.
The "vase" isn't ideal. I am a guy...I don't have spare vases lying around my apartment! The bottle of wine is from Annie; the box of truffles is from Betsy; the rose is from the office secretaries; the chopsticks and spoon/fork thingy are gifts from the school. There were some other things that were eaten before I could get them home. All-in-all, I think I did pretty good.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Goodbye Shulin (Tons o' Pictures)
The following are pictures taken during my last few days of teaching at the Shulin branch. These kids are the greatest. It was an emotional few days for me, I will never forget them. These are the kids that have helped me become a much better teacher. They inspire me every day.
It was a privilege to teach these kids.
My desk. Gabbing with kids and being silly as they stopped by was my favorite work-time exercise.
"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." -Unknown
1093. The group that started it all. I would take any of these kids as my own. I love each and every one of them.
What a group. They stuck with me even though I pushed them really hard. All of them lead lives that many western adults wouldn't be able to handle...their work-load is daunting.
"It is not so much what is poured into the student, but what is planted that really counts." -Unknown
Of course Tiger (in the green shirt) was being silly. He is considerably younger than the rest of the kids but nonetheless did well. He is a very happy little boy who loved to tease Teacher David.
Sherry. She showed off her dancing skills as part of the entertainment during my going away party. She's got some serious moves.
Olivia was supposed to accompany Sherry in the dance routine but I think she got cold feet. Her and Olivia struggled through most of the past year, but I think they are going to be just fine.
Silly Chris getting ready to wow the crowd with his magic. He can handle the cards very well.
He has one of those smiles that's infectious. Everyone in the class was impressed with his trickery.
Milton. What a kid. A very serious student but I was able to occasionally get him to giggle. A real pleasure to teach.
1106. This group is far wackier than 1093. They are quite a bit younger than 1093, too. Every day was challenge with this group.
The standing on their chairs thing was a spur of the moment decision. I thought it would make for some fun pics. They follow so many rules every day, it was time to break one!
Everything was all well and fine until one of the boys in the back bumped the clock on the wall and it fell and shattered into a million pieces...lol.
This is Alice, Ariel, and Tammy. They pretty much set the pace for the class. These three were always near the top of the grades chart, along with Evan. They were always a good source of silliness when the lessons got intense. These girls are going to conquer the world.
Evan chowing down during our pizza party. I treated 1106 to a pizza party on my last day because they reached a really tough goal I set for them. They amassed 300 perfect quizzes in about 3 months...not an easy thing to do.
Little Doris. She is going to be a teacher some day, I think. A fun little girl who works hard. Her and her sister are students at the school, cute as can be.
David. A quiet boy with a smile that doesn't quit. He really liked the pizza.
Eddy. Not one of the top students in the class when it comes to grades, but he always works hard and has an excellent attitude.
These two, Maggie & Anna, came into the class late. They have only been my students for a couple of months. Both of them are exceptional.
"A hundred years from now it will not matter how much was in my bank account, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." -Kathy Davis
It was a privilege to teach these kids.
My desk. Gabbing with kids and being silly as they stopped by was my favorite work-time exercise.
"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." -Unknown
1093. The group that started it all. I would take any of these kids as my own. I love each and every one of them.
What a group. They stuck with me even though I pushed them really hard. All of them lead lives that many western adults wouldn't be able to handle...their work-load is daunting.
"It is not so much what is poured into the student, but what is planted that really counts." -Unknown
Of course Tiger (in the green shirt) was being silly. He is considerably younger than the rest of the kids but nonetheless did well. He is a very happy little boy who loved to tease Teacher David.
Sherry. She showed off her dancing skills as part of the entertainment during my going away party. She's got some serious moves.
Olivia was supposed to accompany Sherry in the dance routine but I think she got cold feet. Her and Olivia struggled through most of the past year, but I think they are going to be just fine.
Silly Chris getting ready to wow the crowd with his magic. He can handle the cards very well.
He has one of those smiles that's infectious. Everyone in the class was impressed with his trickery.
Milton. What a kid. A very serious student but I was able to occasionally get him to giggle. A real pleasure to teach.
1106. This group is far wackier than 1093. They are quite a bit younger than 1093, too. Every day was challenge with this group.
The standing on their chairs thing was a spur of the moment decision. I thought it would make for some fun pics. They follow so many rules every day, it was time to break one!
Everything was all well and fine until one of the boys in the back bumped the clock on the wall and it fell and shattered into a million pieces...lol.
This is Alice, Ariel, and Tammy. They pretty much set the pace for the class. These three were always near the top of the grades chart, along with Evan. They were always a good source of silliness when the lessons got intense. These girls are going to conquer the world.
Evan chowing down during our pizza party. I treated 1106 to a pizza party on my last day because they reached a really tough goal I set for them. They amassed 300 perfect quizzes in about 3 months...not an easy thing to do.
Little Doris. She is going to be a teacher some day, I think. A fun little girl who works hard. Her and her sister are students at the school, cute as can be."The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teachers demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -William Ward
David. A quiet boy with a smile that doesn't quit. He really liked the pizza.
Eddy. Not one of the top students in the class when it comes to grades, but he always works hard and has an excellent attitude.
These two, Maggie & Anna, came into the class late. They have only been my students for a couple of months. Both of them are exceptional.
"A hundred years from now it will not matter how much was in my bank account, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." -Kathy Davis
Monday, May 14, 2007
Some of My Kids (Pictures!)
The following pictures are some of the crazy kids I have the privilege to teach. They are great kids. The first group is class 1106. I have been their one-and-only English teacher for the past 5 months. They have a wonderful attitude. This is an incredibly easy group to teach.
This is most of them. The class has 21 students, it's tough to catch them all in the same frame.
Here they are hard at work. Jacky, the boy in the front, is crazy. He always has a smile on his face and loves to mess with me...great kid.
I had to include this one in this group. This is a class that I teach about once every two weeks. They are young and silly as can be. What makes this class unique is that 3 of the girls in this class are the little sisters of 3 of the students in my 1106 class (the class in the first two pics)...what are the odds?
This is most of them. The class has 21 students, it's tough to catch them all in the same frame.
Here they are hard at work. Jacky, the boy in the front, is crazy. He always has a smile on his face and loves to mess with me...great kid.
I had to include this one in this group. This is a class that I teach about once every two weeks. They are young and silly as can be. What makes this class unique is that 3 of the girls in this class are the little sisters of 3 of the students in my 1106 class (the class in the first two pics)...what are the odds?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Judy - A Profile in Silliness
This is the first installment in a series of in-depth (as in-depth as you can be with little kids) looks at some of the kids that always make me smile. All of the kids I teach are wonderful and unique, but these children seem to rise to the top...they are truly an inspiration. I hope you enjoy the little chat and pictures below.
Judy is my first subject. She is Teacher Queenie's student. I see her class once every few weeks. She sits in the front row, right in the middle. She has got a smile that's infectious and a daintiness that is adorable.
Below is a short interview that I conducted with Judy. She is a fidgety little thing, so getting her to sit still long enough to answer a few questions was a challenge.
The following answer nearly made me fall out of my seat...
Here are some pictures of Judy and her friends that I took a few days ago. All the kids go crazy when I show up with my camera.
She is sitting on the right, wearing the red shirt and blue pants. Check out her feet, too cute.
This isn't the best pic of her, but as I said before, she is tough to get a steady picture of.
Judy and her classmates mugging for the camera with that funny looking foreign teacher.
Oh no! Not a camera!
This is too good. Running from the dreaded camera's view.
Judy is my first subject. She is Teacher Queenie's student. I see her class once every few weeks. She sits in the front row, right in the middle. She has got a smile that's infectious and a daintiness that is adorable.
Below is a short interview that I conducted with Judy. She is a fidgety little thing, so getting her to sit still long enough to answer a few questions was a challenge.
Me: Hello Judy, how are you?
Judy: I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
Me: I'm great, thanks. How old are you?
Judy: I am 9 years old.
Me: How long have you been learning English?
Judy: Almost one year.
Me: Where do you live?
Judy: I live in Shulin.
Me: What's your favorite color?
Judy: My favorite color is pink.
Me: What's your favorite food?
Judy: My favorite food is fish.
Me: What's your favorite hobby?
Judy: I like to watch TV.
Me: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Judy: I have one brother. I don't have any sisters.
The following answer nearly made me fall out of my seat...
Me: Who is your favorite English teacher?This is shocking because I don't teach her that often. When I have, it's been great.
Judy: My favorite English teacher is Teacher David!!!!!
Me: Thank you for your time Judy.
Judy: You are welcome Teacher David.
(I gave her a couple lollipops for participating.)
Here are some pictures of Judy and her friends that I took a few days ago. All the kids go crazy when I show up with my camera.
She is sitting on the right, wearing the red shirt and blue pants. Check out her feet, too cute.
This isn't the best pic of her, but as I said before, she is tough to get a steady picture of.
Judy and her classmates mugging for the camera with that funny looking foreign teacher.
Oh no! Not a camera!
This is too good. Running from the dreaded camera's view.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Birthday Fun
This past week I celebrated my 37th birthday...I'm getting old!
I had many pleasant surprises at work. Some of my students remembered my big day and gave me some fun gifts. Anne, a wonderful girl, gave me a cute little stuffed animal monkey; Tim, one of my students in my 1106 class, gave me a great little toy dog; Teacher Catherine got me a Starbucks Taipei Mug. Of course the bosses Carol & Gavin bought some pizza for the office and also surprised me with a couple of neat little gifts.
1093, the group that I have been with the longest, surprised me on Saturday. During our usual break time on the hour, I had to go up and take care of a few things in the office. When I returned I found the following:
What a nice surprise. These kids are so great. I have been teaching them for about 8 months now. There have been times when I wanted to scream, but for the most part it's been a wonderful experience. They have helped me become a much better teacher. They inspire me.
Here is a shot of them on Saturday. They either love or hate to have their picture taken. Tiger & Chris, in the front, love mugging for the camera. While Lucy & Alice (hiding their faces) think the camera is a tool of evil!
I had many pleasant surprises at work. Some of my students remembered my big day and gave me some fun gifts. Anne, a wonderful girl, gave me a cute little stuffed animal monkey; Tim, one of my students in my 1106 class, gave me a great little toy dog; Teacher Catherine got me a Starbucks Taipei Mug. Of course the bosses Carol & Gavin bought some pizza for the office and also surprised me with a couple of neat little gifts.
1093, the group that I have been with the longest, surprised me on Saturday. During our usual break time on the hour, I had to go up and take care of a few things in the office. When I returned I found the following:
What a nice surprise. These kids are so great. I have been teaching them for about 8 months now. There have been times when I wanted to scream, but for the most part it's been a wonderful experience. They have helped me become a much better teacher. They inspire me.
Here is a shot of them on Saturday. They either love or hate to have their picture taken. Tiger & Chris, in the front, love mugging for the camera. While Lucy & Alice (hiding their faces) think the camera is a tool of evil!Thanks to everyone who helped make my birthday so much fun. I had a good week.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Pictures!
This is the South Bound train board that I stare at every day. I have to chose from this list each day in order to get to work. Normally I catch the 14:21 Chu-Kuang style train that is bound for Shu-lin, the town where I work.
Some of the kids from 1080, a class that I am about to take over from Teacher John. They are reaching the end of their time at Gram. They have just one more book before they finish the 12 book series that constitutes the English learning process at our school. I will be teaching them the final book, which takes about 4 months.
1060 on their final day of class. They just finished the last book. This class was especially important to me because they were the first group that I taught on my own. Over a period of about 6 months, I taught them every Saturday afternoon for 2 hours. It was not easy, they are a feisty group. In the end, I am a much better teacher because of these kids. They invited me to attend the little party they had to commemorate their graduation, it was great. We ate pizza and some cake. A healthy portion of the cake ended up smeared on my face courtesy of a few of these little devils!
This is Peter, one of the great kids from 1060. He is a sweet boy. It's kids like Peter that make my job so enjoyable. I hope that some day down the road Peter will have fond memories of his time at Gram.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
1093 is just too slick
My flagship class, 1093, has got to be the coolest bunch of kids on the planet.
They are remarkable in so many ways. It's difficult to sum up their qualities in a few paragraphs. Rarely does a class period go by without some silly/memorable event. This past Wednesday was one for the memory bank. It's been kind of cool here lately and the windows in the classrooms tend to fog up. That day they were good and foggy. Every class we have a vocabulary quiz following the break (the class is 2 hours long, with a 10 minute break on the hour). I usually use the time to think about the second hour and get something to drink in the office. Last week I announced break time and ran up stairs to my desk. The kids usually just hang out and chat or study for the quiz. 10 minutes later, I came back to the classroom and started to hand out the quizzes. After a minute or two, several of the kids began to giggle...this is nothing new, they are very clever and I have to be on guard on all times. They love to play harmless practical jokes on me like hiding my markers and eraser. I scanned the group to try to discern what what was going on. Tiger, one of the silliest of the group, finally pointed toward the window. I looked over and couldn't believe my eyes, they had scribbled the vocabulary words in the condensation on the window!!! These kids are incredible. I had to applaud their ingenious move...what a clever thing to do. The funny thing is they really don't need to do it, their grades are remarkable without the help. After some serious belly laughs, we got back to business.
This is the kind of thing that reminds me of how lucky I am to be teaching such an awesome group. Life is good.
They are remarkable in so many ways. It's difficult to sum up their qualities in a few paragraphs. Rarely does a class period go by without some silly/memorable event. This past Wednesday was one for the memory bank. It's been kind of cool here lately and the windows in the classrooms tend to fog up. That day they were good and foggy. Every class we have a vocabulary quiz following the break (the class is 2 hours long, with a 10 minute break on the hour). I usually use the time to think about the second hour and get something to drink in the office. Last week I announced break time and ran up stairs to my desk. The kids usually just hang out and chat or study for the quiz. 10 minutes later, I came back to the classroom and started to hand out the quizzes. After a minute or two, several of the kids began to giggle...this is nothing new, they are very clever and I have to be on guard on all times. They love to play harmless practical jokes on me like hiding my markers and eraser. I scanned the group to try to discern what what was going on. Tiger, one of the silliest of the group, finally pointed toward the window. I looked over and couldn't believe my eyes, they had scribbled the vocabulary words in the condensation on the window!!! These kids are incredible. I had to applaud their ingenious move...what a clever thing to do. The funny thing is they really don't need to do it, their grades are remarkable without the help. After some serious belly laughs, we got back to business.
This is the kind of thing that reminds me of how lucky I am to be teaching such an awesome group. Life is good.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
A Monster!
This little guy is easily the silliest, craziest kid I have encountered in Taiwan. I taught his class last week. I spent about an hour with him and, by the end, I thought I was going to collapse. His name escapes me...that's odd because I make it a point to remember names. He simply would not settle down. Cute as can be and incredibly bright. He is especially difficult to handle because he is an excellent student...as a teacher, he puts you in a tough spot. As much as you want to make him sit still and behave himself, you don't want to stifle his energy and contributions. His class is very quiet. Without his antics, it would be very difficult to elicit any emotions from the group. I ready to take on his class again. I am convinced I can find a middle ground with this boy and use his aptitude to boost the entire class. Look at his eyes...it's pretty obvious that he is a little devil, eh?---Update---
His name is Dean. Thanks Carrie for reminding me. I can't believe I forgot his name.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Trial and Error
My classes are generally very loose and borderline silly. Self-deprecation and a healthy dose of respect for the kids are the main ingredients when I am cooking in the classroom.
Rarely does a class period pass without a silly moment where the kids can see that Teacher David is capable of making mistakes and that is perfectly OK. We usually giggle about it and go on. By making fun of myself and not being embarrassed about my goofiness I am showing these kids that even a teacher is fallible. I don't think that enough teachers do this, especially in this country. The mood in many classrooms is far too serious and competitive. As a result, the kids become increasingly guarded and less likely to take chances. When this happens a huge part of learning is lost. Trial and error is a major part of the learning process. If the kids are afraid to give wrong answers or take a risk, many of their questions will go unanswered. My kids tend to take more chances than others and I attribute this to my history of blunders...lol.
**In Taiwan, you must score 80% or better to pass.**
Also, I do my best to show these kids that learning is fun and failure is temporary and often times perfectly normal. Nothing irks me more than seeing a kid breakdown as a result of a bad grade. The amount of pressure on students here is obscene. A 12 year old kid should never, I repeat NEVER cry because they got a bad grade. The tears are because they are embarrassed in front of their classmates and they know they are going to catch hell when they get home. To alleviate these pressures, I usually grab the kid prior to the start of class and discuss the issue with them in private. I think this is the best course of action because being a teenager is tough enough without the loss of face in the classroom due to of bad grades. There isn't much I can do about eliminating the use of corporal punishment at home...that's a whole different ball of wax that I don't care to think about, makes me too angry. I know that this sounds like I am making it too easy on these kids, but it's worked thus far.
If you were to come and watch my class Monday, you would see that I am leading a group of wonderfully bright and often times silly kids. My students, especially my 1093 class, are probably louder and more talkative than most other classes. I take that as a sign of comfort. I want them to think as a group, be friends as well as classmates. As a teacher, you are responsible for setting an example. Ten years from now I hope that these kids will look back and remember that Teacher David showed them that it's OK to make mistakes. I hope I am helping create memories of a healthy classroom environment. Learning is one of the most important things in life, and so is laughter.
p.s. My methods are working...1093 averages about 95% across the board. 1106, my newest class, is at about the same level. Since taking over these classes, I have retained 100% of my students.
Rarely does a class period pass without a silly moment where the kids can see that Teacher David is capable of making mistakes and that is perfectly OK. We usually giggle about it and go on. By making fun of myself and not being embarrassed about my goofiness I am showing these kids that even a teacher is fallible. I don't think that enough teachers do this, especially in this country. The mood in many classrooms is far too serious and competitive. As a result, the kids become increasingly guarded and less likely to take chances. When this happens a huge part of learning is lost. Trial and error is a major part of the learning process. If the kids are afraid to give wrong answers or take a risk, many of their questions will go unanswered. My kids tend to take more chances than others and I attribute this to my history of blunders...lol.
**In Taiwan, you must score 80% or better to pass.**
Also, I do my best to show these kids that learning is fun and failure is temporary and often times perfectly normal. Nothing irks me more than seeing a kid breakdown as a result of a bad grade. The amount of pressure on students here is obscene. A 12 year old kid should never, I repeat NEVER cry because they got a bad grade. The tears are because they are embarrassed in front of their classmates and they know they are going to catch hell when they get home. To alleviate these pressures, I usually grab the kid prior to the start of class and discuss the issue with them in private. I think this is the best course of action because being a teenager is tough enough without the loss of face in the classroom due to of bad grades. There isn't much I can do about eliminating the use of corporal punishment at home...that's a whole different ball of wax that I don't care to think about, makes me too angry. I know that this sounds like I am making it too easy on these kids, but it's worked thus far.
If you were to come and watch my class Monday, you would see that I am leading a group of wonderfully bright and often times silly kids. My students, especially my 1093 class, are probably louder and more talkative than most other classes. I take that as a sign of comfort. I want them to think as a group, be friends as well as classmates. As a teacher, you are responsible for setting an example. Ten years from now I hope that these kids will look back and remember that Teacher David showed them that it's OK to make mistakes. I hope I am helping create memories of a healthy classroom environment. Learning is one of the most important things in life, and so is laughter.
p.s. My methods are working...1093 averages about 95% across the board. 1106, my newest class, is at about the same level. Since taking over these classes, I have retained 100% of my students.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Pictures!
A few of my 1093 kids. From Left to Right: Sandra, Olivia, and Sherry. These girls are awesome. Always a smile on their faces and an unending supply of silliness.
Crazy Claire! One of the great teachers I have the pleasure of working with. She is a hoot. We are always giggling and having fun. Working with folks like Claire is a blast!
The Christmas party. Gavin, Queenie, Sandy, and Carol getting into the spirit. We had a gift exchange. It was a secret santa thing. Turned out great and we all had a few good laughs.
My gang, known as 1093. Saturday morning classes are rough. Most of them run from the camera. As you can see, a few of them managed to hide behind their papers. Check out Milton on the right, he is a GREAT kid. Any parent would be proud to call him their son. Always laughing but also insanely dedicated and accomplished...he works as hard as any kid I have seen here.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!! It's the giant 7-11 thingy. A shameless 7-11 promotional parade on New Year's Eve. It was pretty surreal stepping out of the subway and seeing this...
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