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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 27, 2005 20:35:26 GMT 7
My kindie sits in one of those compounds built for laowai business families who would rather not mix with the rabble. It's organized, well-funded and kept clean to the point of paranoia. Nonetheless, a bug tore through our students: last week half of my class were home sick. Anyway, some insights into kindies: 1. If you're a man, beware: they are rowdy, and at the worst possilbe height relative to you. I get punched, slapped or head-butted in the testicles 2 or 3 times a day. 2. They have little attention span. Lesson plans are far more demanding, requiring a new activity every 2-10 minutes. 3. If they start spontaneously singing, say, "B-I-N-G-O", just let 'em go: it will take less time than trying to shut them up. Plus it eats time. 4. Recognizing letters is one thing; writing them is quite another. Small 'a' is a bitch to render when you're at that age. 5. They are primitive: prepare to break up fights constantly. 6. If one kid gets away with something, the rest will promptly act accordingly. Nip misbehaviour in the bud. 7. They are affectionate and treacherous, and can shift within 10 seconds. 8. Sugar takes exactly 4 minutes to visibly affect them. Be ready. 9. Get plenty of sleep: every day is a war of attrition. 10. Teasing wars get started easily. Crush them immediately and prevent scars. 11. Boys are little bastards. Even the nice ones, if the bad'uns get them going. 12. They will do ANYTHING to earn a sticker. Number 12 has changed my life.
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Post by George61 on Sept 27, 2005 20:50:53 GMT 7
Sounds like you are having fun!!
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Post by Lotus Eater on Sept 27, 2005 21:16:23 GMT 7
Same thing with characters when you are my age! And you think this is news to women? They don't change as they get bigger! Want a sticker fellas?
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Post by George61 on Sept 28, 2005 7:02:53 GMT 7
Just as well you're not coming to Suzhou!!
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Decurso
Barfly
Things you own end up owning you
Posts: 581
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Post by Decurso on Sept 28, 2005 8:23:17 GMT 7
IMO teaching kids that age is some kind of cruel punishment.On the rare occasions I have to tell myself it's the fates punishing me for being such a rotten brat throughout my school years.When I look at it this way I can say,"you know....I deserve this."
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Post by Mr Nobody on Sept 28, 2005 8:40:47 GMT 7
Well, I was a little angel, so I don't deserve it. (just ask my mum - since she is an inveterate liar; just reverse everything she says and you will see the truth)
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 28, 2005 18:14:24 GMT 7
Want a sticker fellas? If that's what you call it. One GF convinced me to pierce my nipple in promise of a "sticker".
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Post by con's fly is open on Oct 16, 2005 20:09:14 GMT 7
Going away party on Friday for XXMPH, my youngest kid. He came up to me, more days than not, announcing "Mr. Con, I wa' go home", so he wasn't happy here anyway- I spent so much attention on him, and he had an annoying habit of grabbing my shirt and not letting go. He even wanted to go home the morning of his last day. Apparently a 3 year old doesn't see into the future very far at all: "Hey, after your party, you never come back here" didn't cheer him up one bit.
Now he's moved back to Singapore. The whole class made a fuss over him, we took a poopload of pictures, then stuck him on the bus.
He was prone to hitting the other, older kids, and though I'm proud of their tolerance, he was clearly pushing his luck. And he took up a lot of my attention, which I can now devote to the rest of them.
But on Thursday he said "Mister Con, you're the daddy." I'll miss the little bastard.
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Post by George61 on Oct 16, 2005 20:22:01 GMT 7
So, Isaac was one of your Finns? ;D
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Oct 17, 2005 7:23:54 GMT 7
Con, Piercing your nipple for a sticker? Yikes, hate to see what you would do for a larger offer Quit being so Canadian, NO NO NO, learn the word.
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Post by con's fly is open on Oct 17, 2005 22:07:09 GMT 7
I had a horrible weekend: no fun, socially isolated, and found out last night that a buddy of mine back home is dying. So I was glad to get back to class. They were such buggers today, though: 2 girls just got back from vacation. Suger and spice, my ass: they talked and disrupted my classes all day. And GGRXTL, the little hellion, was pretty good until 20 minutes before the end of the day: he pointed out that I'd snipped the tip off the paper airplane I'd made, him, and wanted a new one. I said no, and he fliped. Joyce, our ayi, explained to him that if it hit someone's eye, there could be damage. He attacked her. Granted, a kid that size can't do much damage, but still- Physically attacking your teacher? I'm trying so hard with this kid.
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Post by George61 on Oct 18, 2005 3:44:41 GMT 7
Now you know why they offered you a lot of money, Con. Danger money!
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Post by Mr Nobody on Oct 18, 2005 7:40:14 GMT 7
I think I am with Decurso on this.
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Post by con's fly is open on Oct 21, 2005 18:03:24 GMT 7
I'm getting a better idea of how to teach my charges, and in class anyway, the job is getting easier. Feedback from the parents has helped: some have reported progress at home, while others have pointed out weaknesses they want me to address. I'm commanding their attention for longer spurts, and they're starting to figure out my style. Rule 13: Watch out for agitators, what in hockeys they call turtles. These kids provoke others so that when the teacher looks around, the kid's victim gets into trouble. When you finally catch one of these sneaks and haul him/her out on the carpet, the rest of the class takes great satisfaction. 14. Equal justice for all. Nothing outrages a young kid like watching someone else get away with behaviour they got grief for. Prepare to prosecute endlessly. 15. Rowdiness leads to crying. Quash promptly. 16. Never playfully bop a child on the head. They'll find it hilarious, and from then on it'll take a sustained, miserable effort to make them stop. 17. Make sure you don't inadvertantly punish the good kids by denying them the attention (negative though it may be) that the naughty kids get. Vice versa: use boredom as a reaction to some bad behaviour, and the class clown will get the message. 18. Dinosaurs are cool, and their entertainment value is bottomless. 19. Put the kibosh on playfighting, for obvious reasons. 20. Throw every possible compliment you can into your written reports to the parents. Talk to them every chance you get, listen to what they say, and list to them ways you have employed their past advice. They're often dingalings, but they pay your salary (in theory ). And their anger must be prevented at all costs. Man, I need a beer.
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Post by con's fly is open on Oct 29, 2005 22:06:10 GMT 7
3 major events this past week: the field trip to Dragon Pond on Wednesday, trick-or-treating on Friday morning, and pumpkin-carving with the moms that afternoon. I've learned that these aren't as horrible as I'd feared: their moms are present, so they don't get away with anything. And when mom barks, they toe the line. Tomorrow is a Monday, which is usually a bugger, but we have a birthday party in the afternoon, so I won't have to teach Math. 21. Always schedule parties for the end of the day. Yes, they'll have a ball, but afterwards they're overstimulated and unteachable. I think I've gotten into the head of my class bastard, GGRXTL. He's a lonely boy- I don't think his father is home much, not surprising for a Japanese man. Friday night I popped into a bar on Japan street to kill time until Am was off, and the place featured a dozen pretty girls. I had walked into a hootchie bar. The bartender eventually asked/pantomimed whether I had a girlfriend, and I said yes I did, which prevented a big magilla. Over the next hour or so I watched a number of (I think- that test someone posted showed I can't tell by sight) Japanese businessmen came in; everybody made a big fuss each time, got them seated with a girl, and got the peanuts and hot towels going. Once I would have written these guys off as dirty old men... But boy, they sure looked harrassed and tired as they came in. I sympathise: Friday evening, and they've probably already put in 70+ hours of work that week- and probably aren't done. So a few drinks and a friendly gal must be water in the desert for them. GGRXTL is spoiled, but I can now see his constant demands of me aren't a sense of entitlement but rather desperation. So I'll be a little less hard on him. Taking stock, I don't think I'm doing enough teaching, though. I'm gonna start hammering the alphabet a little harder, at least the recognition part. It'll take them ages to be able to write all the letters, but I get the feeling that they're learning to read them fater than my lessons are pushing. I hate teaching poorly. My homework list is pretty long. Tomorrow... when daylight permits.
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 10, 2005 3:19:58 GMT 7
I love kindergarteners! They are so adorably naughty and annoyingly cute
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Post by George61 on Dec 10, 2005 5:10:04 GMT 7
Yeah, that sounds like Con!
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Dec 10, 2005 8:47:41 GMT 7
It takes a special person to work with little ones. More power to you, cheekygal. They are certainly cute. I just don't have the patience required for a sustained effort. I have four 5 and 6 year olds twice a week. It's enough. Munchkins learn fast, though. That part is really rewarding.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Dec 10, 2005 13:36:04 GMT 7
I AM working with kindies. They just happen to be over 18.
OK, that wasn't fair. But man, sometimes they can be so immature.
I remember what I was like when I was their age......
Never mind.
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 11, 2005 13:30:45 GMT 7
Well, I just completed 4 years in China teaching mainly kindergarteners, slowing moving into the 5th. I taught kindergartener before China for 5 years. I've taught basically all age groups but little kids are my favorite. Especially now when I am not only their Engligsh teaching but also regular kindergarten teacher in an International class (that means I get to wipe noses, help them get dressed, eat, deal with their everyday problems, teach them Arts and Social science, music - and they are all Chinese kids)
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Post by con's fly is open on Dec 11, 2005 14:49:39 GMT 7
9 years of experience and counting! This is my first year with kindies, and it's challenging. I'm definitely still on a learning curve.
ONe more week. God, I'm burned jout.
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gengrant
SuperBarfly!
Hao, Bu Hao?
Posts: 1,818
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Post by gengrant on Dec 12, 2005 10:45:13 GMT 7
well, since i didn't post this before: I got out of my kindergarten...suckers! i'm now teaching grade 7 hooligans...but they are very well behaved...just want to read, draw pictures or write notes...not talk...hmmm... my sympathies and empathies are still with ya, Conny...I KNOW from whence you come...I HAVE seen the mountain, and thankfully tunneled under it. Another round for my friend here, barkeep! and make it the strong stuff!
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 13, 2005 2:27:50 GMT 7
Con, first year and already making brilliant conclusions? You are doing just fine. Kiddies are the easiest to teach. Really. Of course there is some jumping and dancing to be done and non-stop ABC, BINGO, TEDDY BEAR singing. But hey, imagine, the dont ask you stupid questions, they dont argue your teaching methods, and when at the end of the day they rush to you kissing you, hugging you and yelling TEACHER I LOVE YOU, I personally find it very rewarding - at least someone appreciates the effort I take and things I put up with! The learning never stops though. I would never say I AM THE BOMB (well, I am ). And I always look into new interesting ideas to apply to my classes. Darn, I should start my own blog. I have 10 months worth teaching plans for English and Arts/Music/Social science classes for a Bilingual kindergarten. It could be very useful for those who just start. I have a hard time finding stuff online. For once, most of the lesson ideas are for normal kindergartens. To be honest, most of the books I've seen for teaching English as a second language in a kindergarten don't thrill me.
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gengrant
SuperBarfly!
Hao, Bu Hao?
Posts: 1,818
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Post by gengrant on Dec 13, 2005 8:34:07 GMT 7
is there really such a thing? what constitutes a "normal" kindergarten...?
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 13, 2005 11:24:54 GMT 7
ok, my bad. I meant to say for not-bilingual kindergartens, where English per se is taught as a native language. It makes a big difference - the methods and techniques are different. Though here and then I still get to steal borrow ideas
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