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Remember my pride and joy, Jake? Here’s an update:
Above, is the reason that I call his name 200 times a day. Jake struggles to pay attention, follow along in the book or to answer my questions because of this. This is his stats book. In this book are hundreds of baseball statistics, color coded and in Korean.
All day long, he is entering his stats, and not paying attention.
To all of my high school teachers, Karma has finally come.
Pics of my kids and I on the last day of the (first) term.
Top: The usual chaotic scene with my Elementary school kids
Bottom:Life with my sweet middle schoolers Me: Overzealous & excited. Them: Not amused .
This kid, Paul, keeps asking me to change his English name to ‘Banana’. I’ve found that it’s easier to just point at this sign, than to repeat myself 900 times.
Winter Intensives Recap
I’m back from Winter Intensives and here’s what I’ve learned:
- I have a new appreciation for ANYBODY who works a 12 hour shift doing anything. Fighting fires, sewing shirts, & especially teaching children.
- These children are strange, creative, witty, weird creatures.
- And most importantly..I work with some really great people. We dug in our heels, cursed under our breath. We did not scar any kids for life. We survived.
Here’s are a few shots from the month…
I collected these for a week. This was my starting line up to get through the day. Espresso is a friend.
My beautifully organized desk.
Group picture on our last day. FAREWELL.
Tickled
I’m teaching a speaking intensive class with four of shyest children on Earth. They’re sweet, kind, smart, but ohhhh so quiet. When I ask them introspective questions about their feelings or how to deal with conflict and loneliness they write these elaborate paragraphs, but when I ask them to share…they simply tuck their heads & giggle.
They smile at me, turn their heads away in shame, laugh at my pleas for them to speak…but they just won’t do it. It has become rather comedic. I ask for responses, they all sit in silence…and then we all bust out laughing together.
But every once in a while, during this 3 hour game show, we get a volley of conversation going. It starts with Stella, who is quietly followed by Iris and before I know it, all four of them have spoken. Maybe it’s only 6 words, maybe 2 full sentences….but when it happens. I am thankful for the opportunity I have with these children. And I’m grinning like a proud mom, just tickled.
BM What?
So, I met with my last group of kids today, my favorite class. They walked in, had the OMG shocked faces because of the hair change. And finally,
David: Teacher, you BMK!! You are BMK!!
Me: Who is BMK?
David & Alex: BIG MAMA KING!!!
(At this point my whole face is screwed up, I am nobody’s Big Mama)
Alex: Teacher she sings, She Korean-American. Look on google!
So I looked her up….Can you blame em?
Inconsistent Journal Entry #2
