First of all while my class schedule has two more classes than I did last term, the crazyness that was these last few months has made me really appreciate this new found free time. Two weeks ago I had a whole hour with literally nothing pressing to attend to! That hasn't happened in months!!! Its nice to be able to just focus on my classes and preparing lessons for them. I do have one small side project that I plan to knock out next week, so on the time crunch front, everything is great!
Secondly, I was worried about two sets of students. The babies who would now be trying class without mommy, and the kindergarten students who are now trying a table lesson as a 1st grader for the first time. Its a really big change for these students, and a lot of them don't take it well. As far as crying babies go, I only have three classes. One student, K, is in a lesson by himself, but I've been teaching him ever since he started with Amity and we had a really good relationship. Now he looks at me like I am evil incarnate. That hurts a little. But his mom is really helpful in getting him into the classroom despite the screaming and tears. Sometimes I get help from the other teachers who talk to him in Japanese to keep him calm. Sometimes Its just me and him. One of those times he was wiping his tears and snot on the back of his hands, and since I was out of tissues, he proceeded to wipe his hands on my face. My face! Gross... your lucky I like you kid. Things aren't getting any better with him after these three weeks, but he was slow to get used to me in the fist place. So I have high hopes for little K.
Then there is a class with two students A who I've been teaching for as long as I have been with Amity, and Y. This is Y's first class with Amity and he both loves it and is terrified of being away from his mom for 45 min. A was fine in the first class, but Y's antics have put him on edge. So now I have a class of two children who just stand and scream for their mommys. I can't get them to play any games or sing any songs for the longest time. But there are rare occasions when they calm down and I try to get the meat of the lesson in.... i have a Japanese teacher helping me out in this class sometimes too. Its a rough one...
Then there is the little farter... This class also has two students, one that I've been teaching for a while (I) and one that is new (A). I thought that I was going to be an issue, but he has ended up actually being a big help. He tries to help A and calm him down. Which to see two year olds doing is heartwarmingly adorable! A prefers to sit in my lap and cry silently while I focus on teaching the lesson to the other student. But he also farts up a storm in my lap! Its insane! What is this child eating?! Is he a stress farter?! But this last week A was only in my lap for 10 min or so before he was participating well in the lesson. Yay progress!
Then there is the little farter... This class also has two students, one that I've been teaching for a while (I) and one that is new (A). I thought that I was going to be an issue, but he has ended up actually being a big help. He tries to help A and calm him down. Which to see two year olds doing is heartwarmingly adorable! A prefers to sit in my lap and cry silently while I focus on teaching the lesson to the other student. But he also farts up a storm in my lap! Its insane! What is this child eating?! Is he a stress farter?! But this last week A was only in my lap for 10 min or so before he was participating well in the lesson. Yay progress!
Now for my students who have just started Elementary school and therefore have moved from a floor lesson to a table lesson... I have quite a few of them, and I was terrified. But Manager is really good at what she does, and with the exception of one class, all my 1st graders are in classes that also have 2nd graders. So while everything is new to the 1st graders, they have experienced students to look to when they don't immediately understand what I am saying to them. This also helps the 2nd graders to be more focused in class because now they have other students looking up to them. It's been great, and I have been able to really move through the material. When I first started my 1st grade classes could barely get past the vocabulary stage. Now I am getting through the entire lesson every time! Yay!
Thirdly I was worried about teaching new students and having to figure out what makes them tick. But most of my new students are in classes with students that know me, so I have something to work off of. The others are just full of really cool kids that I enjoy teaching. I have a 7th grade and a 9th grade class that are all (except 1 student) new students to me. A lot of these students have never even taken class with a NET before and they are great classes! So much fun! Especially the 7th grade class. It's the last class of the day/week on Saturday and there are a whopping 8 students. My largest class by far. And it is SO. MUCH. FUN! So I guess I was worried for nothing, getting to know the few new students that I have has been a really rewarding experience.
Well that is all from me for now. I need to go make dinner and study some Japanese...
Thirdly I was worried about teaching new students and having to figure out what makes them tick. But most of my new students are in classes with students that know me, so I have something to work off of. The others are just full of really cool kids that I enjoy teaching. I have a 7th grade and a 9th grade class that are all (except 1 student) new students to me. A lot of these students have never even taken class with a NET before and they are great classes! So much fun! Especially the 7th grade class. It's the last class of the day/week on Saturday and there are a whopping 8 students. My largest class by far. And it is SO. MUCH. FUN! So I guess I was worried for nothing, getting to know the few new students that I have has been a really rewarding experience.
Well that is all from me for now. I need to go make dinner and study some Japanese...
まったね！
～寒
