Transfer window - gleaning ideas & games

I nearly remembered the names of the six friends I really wanted to remember from Tuesday, but I'm in a different class today and they are wearing different clothes! I'll never get it - just like I can never remember which mums at home time belong to which kids - it's easier in the morning because they arrive together (and not all at the same time)!

Beware small chairs!

I get the feeling S-sensei does not enjoy having me in her classroom - can't say I blame her as there is no structure to what I am supposed to be doing. While she is not the most cheerful of teachers she does have the children behaving & joining in nicely when she plays the piano. Children are not too shouty, and she reinforced good behaviour today by letting the goody goodies have first dibs on coloured paper. The children made a simple booklet out of a B4 size piece - craftily folded into eighths with a slit cut along one crease (which became the middle). I am not going to start a origami blog! Not seen this neat trick before but immediately robbed it and tried at the evening job!

I also admired the homemade cups, which had been left to harden in the sunshine on the windowsill; plasticene ("nendo") shaped around paper cups & painted brightly.

While this class behaves when watched, it descends into three sets after lunch in unconstructed play. There's the Errol Flynn gaggle of boys with anything they can use as swords, regularly wrestling each other in alpha male territory & occassionally taking notice of me for a hitting session. Most of the girls quietly colouring identical pictures (as each other and as the other day) in purri-cura mode. The rest individually occupying themselves/staying out of harm's way, engrossed in a picture book or still eating lunch.

I did not enjoy being dumped with "doing something" to regain their attention from this chaotic & energetic discharge...my role as last resort?

Once some order restored, S-sensei went through a checklist with the children for the big train trip - where to meet & what to do (at the station); what had to be in their bags and how they should behave. Further instructions on how to pick up a rabbit and how to approach the business end of a dairy cow!

Cubby buddies

And then I saw a new game in the yard. A spiral drawn in the gravel (why gravel, by the way?) with chalk (football pitch variety marker used). Two groups of children; one in the middle, the other at the outer end. One from each team run inward/outward along the line until they meet, whereupon they 'janken' or do rock/scissors/paper. Loser returns to base & the next member heads off, while the winner 'stays on' and tries to complete the journey. Don't know if we have an English equivalent for this one?!

Why are 18 junior high school kids picking up leaves in the park next to the kindy? They clearly are not enjoying it!