Tag Archives: teaching

Imagination Station

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“Think of the art that we haven’t seen, the jobs that haven’t been created, and the productivity that hasn’t been imagined because generations have been persuaded not to dream big.”

This is the most recent line I read from Seth Godin’s manifesto “Stop Stealing Dreams”. I blog about the book briefly on my educational blog, Two Apples A Day.

Today I gave my students ten minutes to ask me ANY question they could think of. They asked a lot of questions about North Korea, they asked me how old I was (I didn’t say I would answer all the questions!), and they asked about God. At the end of the day I ransacked my room and put a bunch of random stuff in the middle of our big classroom table (coffee filters, popsicle sticks, bingo stampers, straws, markers, crayons, glue sticks, tape, colored fuzz balls, etc). I told my children to make whatever they wanted. It was so cute, and a little sad, at how long it took them to really get into the assignment. They were excited, but also full of questions. “What do I make?” “Can I make more than one thing?” “What should I use?”

One of my students made a beautiful flower, another student made a metal detector (‘To find treasure!”), another student made a face, there was a ‘spy glass’,  fry pan (that was also a phone), and other things that I forgot! I can’t wait to do this more in the future. I want my students to create things that don’t exist yet, and to use their imagination!

face flower metal detector phonefrypanandmuchmore

I love my students.

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One should never aim to fall, especially into the street.

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And when I say I fell, I mean I fell… HARD. A total wipe out.

I was half walking/half jogging— basically I was keeping a brisk pace, as one says, when I turned the corner and saw a glimpse of a blue bus. As soon as I picked up my speed to catch said blue bus I tripped (I want to say there was a huge rock that suddenly appeared, or a dog that ran under my feet— but I try not to lie) over the un-even sidewalk that makes up the majority of this lovely city (truth), and literally FLEW face first/palms first/hips first/ legs first/every part of my body first into the street. I should go see if there are CCTVs for that intersection, as I am sure it was quite the picture.

As I am falling/flailing, and scraping the majority of my body, I hear an adjuma on the sidewalk, “Aigoo! Aigoo! Aigoo!” (which roughly translated means, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”). As I try to move my broken body I turn to gasp out a quick, “I am OK.” (though I was totally NOT OK), but when I managed to pick myself up from the road (and now that I am thinking about it, thank goodness I didn’t get hit by a car) the seemingly concerned adjuma is gone. Hmmm… No time to think about the adjuma, even as my entire body is aching and crying out my first thought is, “MY CAMERA, MY CAMERA, MY CAMERA!” Praise the Lord it was OK, my body must have cushioned its fall.

I look up to see the bus go by, and it isn’t even the bus I needed to take.

I wait for the right bus, thinking that my entire left shin is bleeding. I am literally staring at my leg waiting for the stain to appear on my jeans, and when it doesn’t I start assessing the rest of the damage. Two badly scraped palms, two bleeding knuckles, and my right hip showing a nasty mark with many popped blood vessels beneath the service of my skin. None of it came close to the pain I felt in my leg though.

And for good reason. I shall leave you with the bruises. When I showed my leg to my students on Monday, the only thing they had to say was, “Ms. Welton, what is a bruise?” Well, at least my fall turned into a “teachable moment”.

 

Day Three                                                           Day Five

Did I mention that I was still five minutes early to meet my friends that night? I need to become more event oriented for my own safety.

the boyfriend

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I was chatting with a co-worker today, he wanted an update on the boyfriend situation.

In my classroom.

You see, I was home-schooled (shocking, I know), and I had no idea that relationships started as young kindergarten. I really didn’t know!

Near the beginning of the school year, Remi (just made up that name) told me that she had two boyfriends. TWO? I asked her, shocked, then I informed her that normally, you only have one boyfriend. She didn’t seem bothered by this.

Here’s the thing, originally she had a huge crush on Jeffy (remember, names are all made up) and decided she was his girlfriend without him even knowing  it (as many of us females still tend to do). Then… enter Jack, who decides that he really wants to be Remi’s boyfriend, and so she thinks, sure I will just have two.

After about a day or so, Jeffy is completely out of the picture— and seemed unphased by the whole ordeal (I am not even sure if he knew it happened, in fact I am almost positive he had NO IDEA)— and it was Remi and Jack, boyfriend and girlfriend. I kept hearing, “I want to sit by my girlfriend.” and, “Ms. Welton I drew this for Jack, because he is my boyfriend.”

Is anyone else shocked by this? KINDERGARTEN.

It’s not over… because this week, after about a month of bliss, Remi has decided that she has had enough. Jack said something mean and Remi responded with, “Well fine, you are not my boyfriend anymore.”

Jack’s face immediately changes, “What? Why? We are fine. We are fine!” And he refuses to accept the break-up. He kept repeating the line, “We are fine” and threw in a couple of other phrases to encourage himself… I wasn’t about to be the one to break it to him. Remi was done. Then, Jack changes tactics and says, “I am going to get a new girlfriend. And she is not going to be in this class!” After about five minutes though, I hear him call Remi his girlfriend again, can’t break the habit.

During snack time later that same afternoon one of my first-grade girls, Elly, who is Remi’s best friend, tried to explain to Jack that while, “Remi still likes you, she just wants to be your friend— not your girlfriend.” I heard this conversation from my desk and couldn’t help smiling. Elly was trying to be soft, but firm. Such a little adult.

It’s been three or four days since then, and Jack is still in denial— standing by Remi whenever he can, and putting his arm around her saying, “I want to sit by my girlfriend!” Today, after hearing it all week, I was the one to tell him. “Jack, Remi has made it very clear that, while she still wants to be your friend, she does NOT want to be your girlfriend. Okay?”

It was a sad smile, the one I received. Poor Jack. I am sure he will be okay on Monday.

In other news, Jeffy managed to open up the printing ink jar within the first ten minutes of school one day last week. He smeared black ink over the entirety of his two hands. He still had charcoal palms and fingers after three washings, they were stained the whole day. Didn’t phase him. Can’t keep a girlfriend I didn’t know I had, and I have stained black hands? Another day in the life of Jeffy.

I love Kindergarten.

putting it into practice immediately

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After a crazy, Holy Spirit filled, weekend… I started my week off by putting into practice a few things I learned. As I said in my last post, there is no junior Holy Spirit. My students can hear from God, the same way I can. One of the speakers this weekend mentioned that he has heard of parents having their children practice listening to God on a daily basis, and one mother has a four-year-old daughter who is sitting quietly, listening to God for up to forty minutes a day. At FOUR.

On Monday, I explained to my students that we communicate to God through the Holy Spirit, and He talks to each of us, we just have to learn how to listen… and it might take practice. So, after read aloud, we turned the lights in the classroom off and laid on our rug. I set the timer for five minutes, and told them to think about God— and try to listen.

I will admit, five minutes after lunch in a dark room, it was hard for me to listen the whole time (and it was only five minutes!). I am so excited to get practice in this too. I heard God tell me that he loves each and every one of my students the same, and that I need to love them the same as well. He also told me to not go on facebook as much as I do (haha, got it God, I am reminded of Pastor Christian’s sermon, don’t let facebook rob you, and I am appropriately convicted).

Once the timer went off, the lights went back on, and my students sat up, I took turns asking each one if they heard from God. Several of them told me that they prayed, I told them that was good. Praying is talking to God, but after we pray, then it is important to listen. I mentioned that it was okay if they didn’t hear God right away, we would keep practicing.

Then, I got to my second to last student, “Did you hear God talk to you?” He nodded and gave a very confident, “Yes.”  I got pretty excited (obviously). “What did He say?”

“God told me that not only is preaching important, but praying and reading your Bible is also very important.”

My jaw almost hit the floor. I picked it back up and smiled, this was one of my kindergarten students, who actually can’t even read yet, telling me we need to pray and read as well as listen to the word being preached. That is definitely NO junior Holy Spirit.

Once we went around the whole room one of my first graders asked, “But, how can God speak to all of us at the same time?”

We have already talked about how God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient in chapel so I brought those words up again, and reminded them what they meant. I told them because he is God, he can speak to us all at the same time, and say different things.

And I can’t wait to hear what He speaks to us today!

There is no junior Holy Spirit

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It is going to be a good week. I am overflowing, holy cow, I am so full of joy! I feel like my job gets better and better, and not because it is changing— but because I am changing. This past weekend I went on a leadership retreat with my church. I think I am still shaking from the impact.

The key thing I am taking from that retreat and bringing into my teaching? Well… let me tell you. During one of the seminars, the active leaders (those of us leading in any way in the church, whether it be through preaching, being in charge of a ministry team, or small group, etc.) had a heart to heart with Rodney Henderson (IHOP people, IHOP!) about how to raise our children, that is— when we have children (I mean most of us are still single, holler).

He told us to remember that there is no junior holy spirit, and there are no junior Christians.

Snap, time to start looking and treating my students differently.

It is going to be a good week, a good month, a good year!

Right?!

p.s. This weekend I was also introduced to Victor Vieira, and this song. IT IS POWERFUL. I am ready to go to Brazil now! I was a blessed leader who received his CD, Uns Aos Outros for free :)

I never thought I would teach Kindergarten.

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Ever.

But… Here I am. My third year teaching (fourth if you count teaching English in Korean public schools, but I don’t–exactly— count that), and I find myself leading a group of kinders and first graders.

The start of the week was TOUGH. But the more I prayed, and the more prayer I received… well it’s the end of day four, and I still have energy! The past three days even thinking about composing a blog post was… impossible.

You can’t leave kindergarteners alone… did you know that?! Like… ever.

I have one girl who never wants school to end. “Awwww, I wish we could stay longer!” Just about the cutest freaking thing EVER.

Yesterday we had elementary chapel for the first time (well, duh— this is week one), and the vice principal was teaching the three omnis. He was on the word omnipresent when he asked all of the students, “Where is God?”

Without any hesitation one of my first grade girl’s points to her chest and calls out, “In our hearts!”

Just about the cutest thing EVER. I mean I have said that twice now… but man oh man, little kids are CUTE. And my class students are the stars of the school, everyone loves them, everyone says hi to them in the halls. I am tempted to let other teachers just have them for a little while, but no one has gone for that yet… What? They think they are so cute, why not hang out with them for seven hours (okay, I still think they are cute).

—- I wrote that blog post yesterday, and today I was able to take my camera with me on my walk home and capture my new neighborhood. The walk home from work is surprisingly green. I love it, especially the big garbage/trash dump area.—-

 I was taking a very non creepy back shot of two of my new co-workers, when the new roommie wanted in on the picture taking action. Hence, the two above photos… and then we ran into the adorbs newly engaged couple pictured below!

Nothing beats a walk home full of flowers, tires, trees, and trash. Aaaaah, Korea. 

 

I am not the biggest pet fan (we all know this), but this leeeeetle dog was pretty cute.

How is your walk home?

 

Why it’s Worth it.

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Friday was the last day of school. And as most of you know, this meant my last day of work at my first full-time teaching job. My students from last year (who now have just graduated from 3rd grade!) knew that I was leaving the school, and once they got over their HUGE disappointment (obvi) they started to ask me random odd questions as the school year was coming to an end. “Chocolate or cheese, Ms. Welton? Do you like chocolate or cheese?” “Do you like sky blue?” “Are you free after school on Friday for a little bit?” Hmmmm… I was starting to get suspicious.

Then, as soon as I waved my final farewell to my second graders (after showing them this video that I am extremely proud of, I don’t normally put anything of my students up here as far as pictures and such— but they did sign a form, and this is SO SO SO GOOD) one of  my precious student from last year grabbed me and dragged me to the bathroom, telling me she had a secret to tell me and it was so secret we had to go to the bathroom (now I know where all the girls share their secrets)… She sat me down on a toilet seat and began to ask me what my e-mail address was, then she spelled it out, very s-l-o-w-l-y, even the “dot-g-m-a-i-l-dot-c-o-m”… it was hilarious. After she ran out of things to distract me with she said, “Oh– Ms. Welton you shouldn’t go to your classroom.” “Why is that?” “Uh… because there is a bomb! Ms. S put it there… no Ms. L (my grade teaching partner)”, “Ms. L, my partner in crime, put a bomb in my classroom?”

Just then there is a gasp and a laugh as Ms. L herself comes into the bathroom, “are you guys in a stall?” “Uh…yeah. Hey, Ms. L— did you put a bomb in my classroom?” “No way, come to your classroom and see for yourself.”

Ms. L and my student lead me to my classroom. I open the door and the first thing I see is a ton of balloons taped to my smartboard.  A cheesecake is on the table and there is… no one…? All of the sudden girls are jumping out from under my desk and the corner behind the bookshelf yelling, “Surprise!”

It had been so hectic when I said goodbye to my students earlier that I had no time to shed any tears. But once three of my girls from last year handed me a book they made full of pictures and letters to me, the tears flew steadily.

This is why I teach.

Slice of Life is hosted by The Two Writing Teachers every Tuesday!

a change in attitude

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Walking back into my classroom after an emotional roller coaster that marked my Christmas break was like a breath of fresh air. As I caught the 6:43 bus to work (knowing I had to get to my room and fix the mess that construction workers made during the break- oh and maybe plan some lessons - before my students arrived) I made a huge decision… I needed to change my attitude. As Erin Samo would say, it was high time to, “shift in the Spirit”.

I may not be the biggest fan of the administration at my school right now, I may not even be the biggest fan of Korea, but man oh man do I love my job. I was made to be a teacher. I just KNOW IT. Being back with my kids, hanging out with them all day… instead of zapping all my energy (which I admit, it does at times) I felt totally rejuvenated. It is so nice to be back in a routine, going to bed at a decent time and waking up early. I love teaching. I love my co-workers (especially you Elaine, best second-grade teaching partner EVER). I love my students.

It is all about your attitude. I can’t believe tomorrow is already Wednesday!

This is a picture of one of my students. She agreed to be the t.p. mummy during spirit week last fall and when we told her she could move she started to dance! A student after my own heart (I love to dance and often have solo dance parties in my living room).

Today I am spending Thanksgiving with Brad Pitt.

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Inspired by my friend, I want to write my own Thanksgiving poem. I have so, so many things to be thankful for and lately I have been having a rough time remembering that automatically; I am in a constant state of reminding myself to thank God for everything He has given me. Because He has given me so, so much.

Using the same starting line that Ms. Kim gave her fifth-grade students. Here I go!

I’m Thankful For…

Seasons that mark change by the colors of the leaves and the crisp cool air,
Giving someone a hug and having them hug me back even tighter,
Laughter… un-containable laughter,
Showing my students how magical their thoughts are, when shared.

I’m thankful for,
Worship, the lose-your-voice-dancing-by-yourself-in-the-living-room kind,
My Family… my family, my family, my. family.
Pictures- taking them, being a part of them, sharing them, being inspired by them,
Read-alouds, the one time I can truly be my entire self with my students,

I’m thankful for,
Friendships with no expiration dates,
Those that speak truth and hope into my life,
and He who never fails, who always loves, always gives, and never goes away.

I hope everyone back home in the USA has a truly amazing Thanksgiving with your loved ones. Miss you^^

p.s. I am watching Moneyball tonight, if you have already seen it don’t tell me! I really enjoyed the book so I am excited, all those men in baseball uniforms? Another thing to be thankful for!

I can, and I will.

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I have never had more to do in my entire life. So, obviously, I am avoiding all of it. I just sat here, at my desk, for five minutes, staring at nothing. Or something, but thinking nothing. Or thinking many things and not knowing which thought to grasp and put into action, or which thought to ponder and come up with a solution, or which thought to… okay I am done with my thoughts.

This morning I heard a soft knock on my door around 7:55… school starts at 8:10 and my students last year would just burst through the door. I call, no one comes in. Another soft knock. I walk over to my classroom door and as soon as I open it I see one of my students from last year holding up a big chocolate bar (my favorite kind, he knows^^) for me. I almost cried (which would have been different from the tears I cried the morning before-YUP- those were tears of feeling overwhelmed and stressed, these would have been tears of joy) but I hugged and thanked him instead.

The hugs and excited waves from my students last year, and the warm bright hellos and hugs from my students this year are what keep me going. I can do this. I can finish grad school, I can start new programs and curriculum at my school, I can be involved with church, I can get my black belt in taekwondo, I can hang out with friends socially, I can tutor Han Wool, I can and I will.

I just need more hours in the day. Who do I talk to about that?