Teacher's Notes
July 20, 2009
24 ½ working days left!! Not to say that I am not going to miss my kids, but I am pretty sure that I won’t miss working! It is inevitable that I will have to work again in the future. However, for a girl that borrows vacation days from the future, you can imagine how ecstatic I am for a break at least for a month or so. I will miss my kids terribly, so now I am going to tell you more about some of them.
Now that my last days are closing in, I have gotten a little more relaxed. I’m still teaching the little ones well, I just don’t get as upset when I can’t keep the class under control and sometimes, I actually instigate tomfoolery. I admit that I love hearing the kids discuss their day at the water fountain, proclaiming that Ann Teacher is Fun Teacher. The kids love to see you laugh and smile. I recently began the surprisingly effective kid entertainment of “cut the pickle, tickle, tickle.” They can’t get enough of it! I usually have to cut the fun short after 5 minutes or so. I have recently learned that I also love to hear my kids laugh uncontrollably.
One kid in particular, Robert, has the most hilarious laugh. He is extremely ticklish. You can’t even touch his shoulder without a wiggle. As a student, he is a huge headache. He can’t sit still. He doesn’t do his class work. He is always talking to his friends. Uncontrollable.. but when you hear this kid laugh, you can’t help but laugh. Sometimes, this causes a bit of an issue since he laughs when you are trying to be stern and disciplining. I’m sure he won’t take your strictness seriously if you break into a giggle. He is the kid who one short year ago, before he could form a sentence would always say “Ann Teacher, at home 1,562 white tigers, I have”
Robert at halloween Robert and Anna at snack time
With a day full of screaming, overexcited kids, I need a break from the noise. So I typically leave the building for lunch. When I make a break for it, the students are usually close to the elevator due to its proximity to the bathroom. The kids are sent to wash their hands before lunch. Kids curiosity leads them to ask me every day, “Teacher, where go?” I could take the time to correct the bad grammar, but instead I decide to provide a little mischief to their day. Every time they inquire about my destination, I tell them “Everland” (a Kings Island amusement park type place here in Korea). I’m amazed at how they actually believe that I have been to Everland every day for 40 minutes. Today, one of my wonderfully clever Peach class kids, Sally, had an epiphany. She said “Ann Teacher, every day you say ‘Everland’ but you don’t go Everland. It is joke, really?” Sally, I think I may miss her the most. She was also the student that one short year ago, before she could form a sentence, noticed my addiction to Nestea Peach Iced Tea and brought one in as a gift! When I told her that she was so smart and that I, in fact, go to the Mini Mart, she felt so proud of herself for solving the mystery. When she ran off, I heard her tell any student she could find that I’m not actually going to Everland.
Sally at the graduation performance Sally in the mosh pit
Nicholas is the little ladies man in class. Today, I asked Sally why all the girls love Nicholas. She said “because Nicholas, he don’t fight. Other boys fight and loud yell, but Nicholas no yell.” Nicholas is a grown up in a child’s body. He is such a well balanced kid. Whenever I try to joke with my kids about things like Everland, he looks at me with is wise, skeptical face and says “Annnn Teaaaacher!!!” Then I act out my Tae Kwon Do stance and he is distracted by showing me what he knows. This is the boy who one short year ago before he could form a sentence bought me a pen and pencil set for my birthday. He was the only student who gave me a gift and he still asks me if I use them.
Nicholas at the police museum Nicholas, the ladies man
look at that perfect posture and 10/2
So many little things I will miss about all of my students, but today, these are the students that I was thinking about and wondering they will be when they grow up. Being new to teaching, I guess I never knew what it would be like to think how these students will stick with you forever, but they may not remember you in years to come.
Lemon class behind bars at the Police museum Grape class at traditional manners school
24 ½ working days left!! Not to say that I am not going to miss my kids, but I am pretty sure that I won’t miss working! It is inevitable that I will have to work again in the future. However, for a girl that borrows vacation days from the future, you can imagine how ecstatic I am for a break at least for a month or so. I will miss my kids terribly, so now I am going to tell you more about some of them.
Now that my last days are closing in, I have gotten a little more relaxed. I’m still teaching the little ones well, I just don’t get as upset when I can’t keep the class under control and sometimes, I actually instigate tomfoolery. I admit that I love hearing the kids discuss their day at the water fountain, proclaiming that Ann Teacher is Fun Teacher. The kids love to see you laugh and smile. I recently began the surprisingly effective kid entertainment of “cut the pickle, tickle, tickle.” They can’t get enough of it! I usually have to cut the fun short after 5 minutes or so. I have recently learned that I also love to hear my kids laugh uncontrollably.
One kid in particular, Robert, has the most hilarious laugh. He is extremely ticklish. You can’t even touch his shoulder without a wiggle. As a student, he is a huge headache. He can’t sit still. He doesn’t do his class work. He is always talking to his friends. Uncontrollable.. but when you hear this kid laugh, you can’t help but laugh. Sometimes, this causes a bit of an issue since he laughs when you are trying to be stern and disciplining. I’m sure he won’t take your strictness seriously if you break into a giggle. He is the kid who one short year ago, before he could form a sentence would always say “Ann Teacher, at home 1,562 white tigers, I have”
Robert at halloween Robert and Anna at snack time
With a day full of screaming, overexcited kids, I need a break from the noise. So I typically leave the building for lunch. When I make a break for it, the students are usually close to the elevator due to its proximity to the bathroom. The kids are sent to wash their hands before lunch. Kids curiosity leads them to ask me every day, “Teacher, where go?” I could take the time to correct the bad grammar, but instead I decide to provide a little mischief to their day. Every time they inquire about my destination, I tell them “Everland” (a Kings Island amusement park type place here in Korea). I’m amazed at how they actually believe that I have been to Everland every day for 40 minutes. Today, one of my wonderfully clever Peach class kids, Sally, had an epiphany. She said “Ann Teacher, every day you say ‘Everland’ but you don’t go Everland. It is joke, really?” Sally, I think I may miss her the most. She was also the student that one short year ago, before she could form a sentence, noticed my addiction to Nestea Peach Iced Tea and brought one in as a gift! When I told her that she was so smart and that I, in fact, go to the Mini Mart, she felt so proud of herself for solving the mystery. When she ran off, I heard her tell any student she could find that I’m not actually going to Everland.
Sally at the graduation performance Sally in the mosh pit
Nicholas is the little ladies man in class. Today, I asked Sally why all the girls love Nicholas. She said “because Nicholas, he don’t fight. Other boys fight and loud yell, but Nicholas no yell.” Nicholas is a grown up in a child’s body. He is such a well balanced kid. Whenever I try to joke with my kids about things like Everland, he looks at me with is wise, skeptical face and says “Annnn Teaaaacher!!!” Then I act out my Tae Kwon Do stance and he is distracted by showing me what he knows. This is the boy who one short year ago before he could form a sentence bought me a pen and pencil set for my birthday. He was the only student who gave me a gift and he still asks me if I use them.
Nicholas at the police museum Nicholas, the ladies man
look at that perfect posture and 10/2
So many little things I will miss about all of my students, but today, these are the students that I was thinking about and wondering they will be when they grow up. Being new to teaching, I guess I never knew what it would be like to think how these students will stick with you forever, but they may not remember you in years to come.
Lemon class behind bars at the Police museum Grape class at traditional manners school