So sometimes, instead of a piano lesson, my students realize I'm a font of random knowledge (plus have a teaching degree) and instead of spending all the time on a piano lesson, they ask if I can provide homework help instead. And I'm okay with that, because I tell them that this is their choice: if they cannot focus for 30 minutes on a piano ( Read more... )

Windsor students tricked by teachers into believing in Disney World trip.

I may not be the world's best teacher, but even I know this is bad.

"So...[from that one time you've played,] I can tell that you didn't practice this all week. Or you did, maybe once on Monday or Tuesday, but then spent all your time playing Beethoven. Am I right? Close?"

"Dead...on..."

For any other student, I wouldn't do this.

( Read more... )

I took your advice on how to deal with fighting students. When two students are fighting, I go up to them and say, "你愛他/她! [you love him (her)!]" It's like cold water!

Man, it's really awkward when I ask my grade 3 students what jobs their parents have, and half of them don't/can't answer because they don't live with one (or both) of their parents or have an abusive relationship ( Read more... )

I highly recommend that every foreign teacher learn how to draw. Take an art course. Or at least develop a very good understanding of the stick figure and his loyal companion, the stick figure animal.

Because a picture really can speak a thousand words. And is hilarious.

Personal random fact: I can't draw dogs. At all. At best it resembles a ( Read more... )

To combat apatheticness in my class, I've designed a sheet to be given every class for my grades fives and sixes (maybe fours). It basically has a lot of blank boxes and lines, labeled with numbers and letters ( Read more... )

"It is hot there in winter."

"Now how do you make it a question? You have to switch..."

"It is winter there in hot?"

I literally spit up the water I was drinking at that moment.

My external mouse randomly stops working at times. Sometimes I'll plug it in and the laptop won't recognize it, either. Anyone able to give a quick diagnosis?

Well, dinner's a failure. But at least I tried, right ( Read more... )