Tuesday 20.7.2010

Tuesday for teaching..


Had a lovely full on day today, kids coming back is hectic, I never realised how hectic it actually is. I did however sit through a 1 hour and 15 minute formal K-12 assembly. I have never been so in awe of kindergarten kids, they sat there so patient so well behaved, didnt show the slightest hint of boredom, it was so long for them.. I didnt teach today it was a bit of a everything everywhere day..

I mapped out where all the children sit, in my best efforts to speed learn there names. Im going to try my luck at morning welcome giving them nicknames and such to help me learn better.. I.e cool conner, wacky william, super sally, lovely liam... etc. I've nicknamed myself Miss Smiley Stevenson.. hopefully it will catch on.

If I picked up anything today just by watching its that kids eat your words, they are such sponges soaking up every single thing you say and all the things you dont say. It frightens me a little. Im going to have to be very aware of what im saying. One student became very distressed that he wasent going to be able to remember how to do his homework when he got home. The teacher explained that Mums would be able to explain it to them. He took that very literally and became even more distressed " But I dont have 2 mums I only have one." It took the next 5 minutes for the teacher to reassure him that she was referrring to all the mums in the classroom not just his..

another student was talking about his holidays and how he watched a movie where he saw " The boys fight each other".. The teacher corrected him saying 'fought'.. he argued for a few minutes and concluded " thats a different language to mine."

I think the biggest challenge for me is going to be developing kids writing, rather then just tellign them how to do it. Letting them show you, so much harder in practice, especially with kindergarteners..

I implimented the ' Kings and the Queens of the day' The kids went balistic.. asking me every five seconds if they were the kings or queens, the boys liked calling themselves queens and they all tried to have a sneaky sit on the throne.. I love how the smallest things excite kindergarten..

Big discussion about book week coming up. Im definately dressing up as Max from Where the Wild thigns Are. sooooo excited.