Sticker Charts

So if you didn't already know that I'm an elementary school teacher through and through... I started a sticker chart. Yes, like the ones you see in Kindergarten classrooms. They are also popular for potty training small children. My roommate, Andrea, and I are using a sticker chart on a daily basis now. 

It all started when Andrea was telling me about how she wanted to change her routine so she can be a more productive person. But I heard that she was starting a sticker chart. So I immediately became as excited as a puppy and freaked out, 

"OH MY GOSH YES!!! WE CAN HAVE A STICKER CHART! YOU'RE GENIUS!!!" 

Andrea became very confused at my mention of a sticker chart, because she actually said nothing about a sticker chart. However, one of my favorite things about Andrea is that she goes along with some of my weird ideas and gets just as excited about them as I do. So we have sticker charts. 

Each of us chose 7 things we wanted to do more of, to make into habits and all that jazz. Then if we do that thing, we get a sticker for that day. Each sticker equals a point, and we have a small point system set up for us. It works beautifully for us, even if we are adults. This just supports my theory that adults aren't really that much different from children. 

We have been told by our friends a couple of things regarding the sticker chart. One being that if anyone else tried it, it would not work as well. That our personalities and everything are just right for this to work. Also, we've been told that we cannot pronounce sticker chart like an adult, we are required to call it a "Stickoh chwart" (just imagine a two year old pronouncing it). 

And that, my friends, is how I've been a more productive member of society this past week. My mom would be proud at the amount of dishes/cleaning/etc I've done this week. She would also probably make a comment about why I didn't do that when I was a kid, to which I say: Some lessons just take longer to learn than others, and also sticker charts work. 

1st Year of Teaching Reflection

When teaching English in South Korea, especially in public schools, you hear the phrase "desk warming" a lot. Desk warming is a week, or sometimes weeks, where there are no students and therefore no classes. There may or may not even be anyone in the school. I find though, that desk warming has some value to it. I personally have done a lot of things in just 3 days. The reason I'm here today though is to reflect.

I graduated with a B.S of Elementary Education. During classes we were constantly taught to after a lesson reflect on what happened, what was good, what was bad, what worked, what should you change. So I would like to reflect on my first year of officially teaching.

I say officially because this is my first year teaching elementary aged students in a classroom as the official teacher. I've actually been teaching since I was in elementary school. I was that kid that set up all of their stuffed animals in a row and taught them from my old school workbooks and things. Sometimes I even made my younger sister sit there and listen to me teach. I even sometimes made my sisters friends join her in my lessons. Looking back now, I'm sure it was annoying, but whatever. I've also taught preschool for a few years and I've been voluntarily working with children in my previous churches and things for years. I've worked a few different summer camps and things as well.

Then in University we have to make all of these lesson plans with our future classes in our heads. For years, you look forward to this future class, they are officially your class. Never did I imagine my class would be teaching English in South Korea, however, I couldn't have picked something better.

I started off last year feeling slightly lost and clueless. I was trying to figure out how to do simple things like buy groceries, use the stove, or find the grocery store. Everything was brand new, ultra confusing, and very exciting! In school, I was teaching all of the 3rd and 4th grade classes and 2 5th grade classes and 2 6th grade classes. There was a huge language barrier with the younger grades, but they were cute. 6th graders were especially helpful as they would occasionally teach me how to say things properly. I'm pretty sure we spent the beginning of class for a good 4 classes trying to teach me how to pronounce the name of our local lake correctly. I also learned how to use English in a more understandable way for my students. Overall I feel like the first semester was trying to find my own footing and rhythm.

Starting second semester I taught only 5th and 6th grade which was perhaps the most fun thing on the planet. At the very least they found me amusing and fun. Which works for me because obviously my purpose was to brainwash them into thinking English was fun. We shared stories and danced a lot. I've got a lot of stories, but they won't translate very well without acting it out. Second semester I felt more secure in my everyday life. As in, I know where the grocery store is now, and I know how to ask for honey and oyster sauce but that's another story. As a result, my teaching became more like me and therefore better.

Then February comes and my 6th graders graduate. If I'm honest, I'm both really proud and really sad. This is the end of my first group of students. My first class that I have thought so much about for years. Maybe that's why I'm sad to see them go. I'll miss our secret high fives and weird class jokes. However, I love my students, all of them; and as a teacher I want to see them become smart, kind, and really cool people. So I proudly say "BYE!!! GOODLUCK!!" as they go to middle school, even though I want to say "hey, just stay in 6th grade forever and I'll just keep teaching you English." I did make them promise to say hello if they ever come back to visit here next year.

I'm also really excited about the new school year and the new students I'll meet. 3rd graders are going to be freaking adorable. Also, I'm planning a lesson that involves the "chika chicka slim shady" song.

So in my reflection I think I've decided that I'm really good at getting students to feel comfortable using English, and I'll continue to try and find new and interesting ways to teach students.

Sorry this one is a little boring... but it's an update. :)

NOT New Year's Resolutions

Growing up I always made New Year's Resolutions every New Year. The thing is that I decided my resolution minutes or even seconds before the New Year, therefore they didn't really hold any weight. They were just a cool thing to do. I don't remember any of them, except one. One year, my New Year's resolution was to not make New Year's resolutions, and I've kept that one. However, I do feel like it is a good thing to every once in awhile take a look at where you've been and ways you can reflect and better yourself. So now that it is February I have a few things I've thought about and want to incorporate into my lifestyle. Call them New Year's Resolutions if you want. I'm stubborn enough to keep to my last official New Year's resolution that I'm refusing to call them that. Anyways here is my list of things I want to do this year in no particular order.

1. Bake

I want to challenge myself to make more. I'm not bad, I make stuff that I'm proud to bring to gatherings of people; but living in Asia makes some things that I'm used to finding easily a little bit harder, or just really expensive. Therefore, I want to challenge myself to learn to make those things myself. Think old days. 

2. Read more, write more, create more. 

Basically develop an artsy side to myself. I've gotten out of the habit of reading books and gotten into the habit of watching tv, this year I'll find a nice balance. Also, in about a month I'll be moving to a new place with a new roommate who is a real life artist with a real art degree and has all the know how, I will take advantage of this opportunity. Also, I'll write more on here, because that is also a type of art and expression, and well, because I want to. 

3. Study Korean and Afrikaans

In America there tends to be a philosophy of *cue manly AMURICAH voice* "If you're livin' in this country you should speak English." So, since I'm living in Korea, I should learn Korean. That's a no-brainer. As for Afrikaans, my future roommate is from South Africa and is Afrikaans, so why not? Plus we kind of want to use it to talk without people knowing what we're talking about (other than other Afrikaans speakers, obviously). 

4. Develop a healthy lifestyle

You know eat the right food and exercise and all that fun stuff... it is a bit self explanatory. 

5. Travel and Explore More

The World is so big, I feel the need to see as much as possible! Also, I want to know my area of the world a little more. Everyday is a bit of an adventure, and I like it that way. 

6. Focus More on Putting Others First

I can be a bit selfish sometimes, I want to focus on not being selfish. 

So anyways, I'll try and keep this blog updated this year on how my Not New Year's Resolution's work out.