Except we weren’t playing sardines. We took a bus to the
market and there must have been 50 people on there at times. Lots of fun!
Time is flying by; I think it’s Monday and it’s already
Friday!
These past two weeks have held a lot in them though. Last
week we all had our first formal observations. Dr. Lin our Supervisor is really
sweet and encouraging. I was nervous for my first observation, but I now truly
realize she is there for us, to help
and support us, to be constructively
critical.
I am personally still struggling with management. But know
it will get better as I gain even more confidence and set boundaries with the
students. According to a couple of the Kindergarten teachers I need to instill
just enough fear in them. And I can see what they mean now. Maybe this week I
can try it. ;)
Last weekend Heidi, Ellen and I helped out with a Student
Counsel overnight retreat. Jane had organized it, and she asked if we would be
willing to help chaperone. It was really great! We did some fun activities with
the kids, including the “Bubble Tea Game” and helped them get breakfast and
dinner together. Definitely an experience being a chaperone. I even taught one
kid how to flip a pancake with just the pan! A life skill right there…
Later that Saturday Heidi and Ellen and I had our first
experience with chopsticks. It is not too bad, my hand cramps up some times.
But as a tip, when you are first learning, come at things from the side, not
vertically. It didn’t take long though for Heidi and I to get to the point
where we were picking up slimey watermelons seeds. So who’s up for chopsticks
at Christmas dinner? I am perfectly serious. I will bring some for you!
This last week was full of school! I am really tired by the
end of the day, but every morning when the children come in, I do find myself
still super happy to see them! J
I don’t even want to think about having to leave them in December. I do know,
however, that I will be getting them all a pad of sticky notes. They love them!
Too much! I need to keep a close eye on the sticky notes when they are laying
around.
Anyway, this past week… Hmm… Sunday we went to Cat. Tuesday
was mandarin. Ellen and I were both there. I don’t know if anything is
sticking, by Mr. Murphy let us download some of the beginning lessons to work
on. So that will be good. Wednesday I taught full day and was observed and we
had a parent helper (we actually have parent helpers quite a bit). At first I
thought it had gone terribly, but thinking back, we all were alive by the end
of the day. That, I believe, should be the primary goal of a student teacher’s
first full day. Everyone is alive and healthy. Healthy you cannot always
control, but it is very much preferable if at all possible. And on top of that I actually think they got at
least 4 out of the 6 lessons I taught. Shoot for a 100% next time right?
Thursday after school Heidi, Ellen and I babysat a little
girl named Joy. I just had to mention this as the name of the blog is “Rejoice.”
And there is no name more perfect for this beautiful 2 month old. She is from
an organization that helps babies with disabilities have the surgeries they
need and be adopted. Joy has yet to have her surgeries, but God has already
blessed her so much by getting her to this point. She is so blessed to have
been found and taken in by this organization. I hope and pray she finds a
wonderful loving family when the time comes. (The organization makes sure to
place the babies – who are typically girls – with Christian families.) I also
learned from Joy that even though I love babies I am not used to them like
Heidi and Ellen are! For example: how exaggerated your movements have to be to quiet
them and help them sleep… Now I know. Lesson on Babies #1 learned…
And then there was Friday. And the poor children, this
Friday was so crazy with extra activities, there was really nothing of the
normal routine to help them stay focused. We had a lovely fire drill to start
our day off. Then we had a family potluck (right after our all-kindergarten
sing-along). It was the culmination of our first Social Studies Unit on “My
Family, my friends and me.” Perfect unit for Kindergarten by the way! The
potluck was a chance for the parents came and see the projects the children had
done up to that point after which everyone sat down to eat a potluck lunch. And
then all of the sudden it was the weekend! Yay! What can I say? We rejoiced. Not
that we don’t love the kids, but everyone needs a rest and time to catch up on
what needs to be done.
Then last evening and today all four of us hung out for a
bit. After Heidi and I got back from our adventure to IKEA with Jane, we went
out to eat at this cheap chinese place with Ellen and Justin. Then tonight was
Japanese. All with chopsticks!
There is so much to tell, but a lot will have to wait until
I get home! Don’t worry, whenever I think of things they go in my journal.
Let’s just say T.I.C. (I hope you can figure it out…)
I love you all! And think of you often! Really, I do. Thank
you for all the e-mails! I get super excited whenever I get one!
You are in my prayers!
Rejoice in Christ!
Have a blessed week.
Prayer Requests:
Barb – Ellen’s Mom who is battling brain cancer, as well as
Ellen and her familyThanksgiving for CISS’s 15 years of existence and the
teachers and students, it is truly an amazing school .
Everyone who is traveling this week. (It is Chinese National
Holiday.)
Baobei (the organization I was speaking of) and all children
needing a home
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