Did I just dream December, or was it really cool?!

So, that was December...as usual a bit of a scramble at the end!

Treated to fine blue skies in Matsumoto, plummeting temperatures but perennial cheerfulness at Sasabe. See all the smiles and so much more in this final slideshow of the year.

Christmas Eve at a Kindergarten - who are you going to call?!

Does my tummy look big in this suit?

Santa gets gee'd up for his big entrance!

 Readers will excuse my bad language in the previous posting, but to be let down on the eve of such a big event for an entire kindergarten of children is unforgivable. Not a phone call or an attempt to offer up a replacement, even. Extremely poor show...and perhaps understandable that I have been a bit busy in between visits here to remedy the situation without having to don the red suit myself. Any wonder why school owners tend to have no hair?

Don't get me wrong, I love being Santa - it really is a lot of fun if you do it nicely. But, if the kids know you it is not much of a surprise treat for them and a lot of hassle for Santa - beard pulling etc.

Eternally grateful then that our Santa arrived from Singapore (he's a busy bloke!) and brought a couple of elves with him as well. A bit of hanging around, as we did not know the exact schedule, but eventually beckoned into the hall by a VERY expectant crowd!

Father Christmas makes new friends!

Then the shocked silence when The Secret Kindergarten Teacher entered the hall as well! 

Oh my word! Must be the real one then :) and with elf-help, proceeded to give away presents to all the children. The teachers needed presents too, we thought, but they are often left out when in fact they are the stars of the show. Some of the children were asked if they had been good - must have asked the right ones because they all said "Yes!", before interviewing some mums who said they mostly wanted 'cake' for Christmas. We did not have any in the sack to pass around, I'm afraid!

So here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody having fun!

Posing for class photos was jolly, but all to soon we had to escort the Big Red Man and his helpers back to their preparations for the very big night ahead of them...of course, everyone knows he has to start his deliveries in Japan!

Without the kindness & support of the Hogan family, today would have been a disaster. Thank you for bacon-saving heroics!

Merry Christmas everyone!

We've a Santa down, and other crises

Remembered to try & use Class Dojo app on my phone with the funky red class. It is useful to manage attendance (take a roll call). Unfortunately, it assigns each child an avatar (monsters) so it is impossible to look up and spot a shy responder or reinforce that name on your memory. I would like to take snapshot portraits and import those. It also alphabetises a class list by first names...the teachers take attendance in a few different ways here! By gender, by age group, by 'team'...and always family name first - and that according to hiragana order, not alphabetical. Of course students always know when their name is coming up next, but try flicking through thirty odd names in a hurry as the teacher is trying to make it fun or fast! Looking around for alternatives.

Got hit on knob for the third time already this morning, and although the snow is gone and the football clique back in action, I'm not in the mood for it.

Cleaning up detail by the looks of it today. 

Breaking news...fucking Santa just bailed out on me for the Xmas party. What is the date today? How many shopping days left for Father Christmases is that? Thanks a fucking heap Gary. You only promised, a cast iron guarantee, in September...now what do I do?

I found out that M-sensei is a big fan of (big) readers, so will try & do something to satisfy her, and in the meantime showed her group the Wheels on the Bus song - loads of actions. Would be more useful if my activities were not tagged on to filling in at home time.

Meanwhile, across the hall, I-sensei bollocked her naughty boys - strongly. Loads of tears as they really want her love. Devastating loss of favouritism for them! Meantime, I did something painful to my shoulder picking up kids = let's try not to do that anymore!? At least my stiff neck finally cleared up - spent whole of September feeling like I had a hunch!

Elsewhere, R-chan laid the smack down on A's attention deficient miscreants - various boys in tears and about time too. A-sensei forever goes walkabout for a gossip & just does not notice what her lot are up to. But, beautiful piano playing to get them singing & a personal note about her own kids recovered the feelgood factor


. Clever.

Last night of the Proms

Before big performance kick off I realised wearing a red raincoat is a very easy target for snowball gunners all around the playground - snow & sleet balls in bound from all directions! At least that earned me a very rare coffee in the protected sanctuary of the eagle's nest upstairs (a teachers' room rarely visited by teachers!).

I'm not quite sure of the logistics, but there are two shows for parents to attend - one yesterday, the second & final one today. The Dragon was patrolling corridors menacingly, and the chief smouldering gently backstage. She's very good at delivering the right message in the right key.

Who's watchin ya, baby?!

I am sure (and do not envy) the teachers feel the stress of having such a large audience; it impacts directly on the reputation of the school & recruitment next year > job security etc. Job also a large extent to deliver Kodak moments - home movies, but also for the still photographers who a regularly employed & seem to have a lively trade. I think I would enjoy that sideline myself, although my own philosophy is more towards a shared/creative commons angle.

When I asked, the Chief explained that the skits rotate annually, and that the teachers make/repair/add to the costumes (so I wouldn't be volunteering a new slot either). A lot of work to get through after hours.

Backstage there was the rustle of plastic costumes and bladders, and yet one wise soul licked my neck, another unidentified masochist bit my bum. Luvvies.

After their mega performances, teachers had to doff outfits, don aprons & serve lunch without missing a beat. No time to reflect, take stock or pose for photos. I think as a result the day fizzled out in an anti-climax as the snow gently fell; one of the odd bods engaged in serial licking & groping. I noticed, erm, but what to do with that knowledge?

Dress Rehearsals

I was asked to take on this role by an old friend, who popped into the school this morning and on his way out, gave me a slap on the shoulder & told me I was doing a grand old job. I hope he's right. I also hope he's on the board of governors! The teachers were jittery with today's dress rehearsal; the very small audience appeared to be rather important - have not seen them before, but you kind of know when powerful hitters are on the bench!

The running order seems to be:

1. Ikuko's tiddlers did their hungry caterpillar routine. Lovely. The slightly odd girl in her class went postal, as usual; seems to be Kozue's full-time job just corralling her!
2. Miwa & Ayako's mini Vegetable Patch & Viking Man ensemble
3. Kimiko's play which escapes me
4. Alysa's pirate ship - The Big Show & Yukina look very good
5. Chisato's group were flagging before lunch in togas, with a baffling number stage entries & exits
6. Satsuki's climax of boy scouts & wellington boots, I am still none the wiser.

And about that lunch. Nobody had thought to tell me today was BYO day. Well, that's actually OK with me - I just wish lawsons was further away so I could stretch the walk out & listen to Test Match Special over my sandwiches. As it was, just had time to hear King Geoffrey of Boycott taking chunks out of Matt Prior for wafting his wicket away in Perth. Meanwhile, some bloodnut called Stokes piles past a debut ton & belts the new ball out of shape in the process.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the late lunch has put everyone off their usual game. With my wandering remit, observed that Chisato was debriefing her class very nicely indeed and giving them a lovely "genki up" - whole class listening intently. She is really growing in my esteem; massively under-estimated her early on. Satsuki's class apparently not up to muster & having to have another practice, the world on her shoulders again. Guess who AWOL on her class while Kimiko corner a quiet place. Think she has been remarkable, given her father passed away last week. Wish I could communicate with this team better.

Being put on the spot

Rumi-sensei - ever vigilant & calm

Little Bo Peep!

A very cold morning with snow flurries already, and a growing relief that I am not able to listen to the dross that is England's cricket tour to Australia. The Third Test starts today in Perth, and being Friday the thirteenth, history etc combines for another dismal Ashes Day.

I was diverted into the 'not really got a plan' classroom with A sensei. She does therefor rely on me more for gap-filling, and today no exception as she threw me another hospital pass - wanting 15-20 minutes off the top of my head for her group of 30. Asking me in front of them, all in Japanese, kind of undermines me as the 'only operates in English' person. She is forever stage whispering about this or that kid to me, which I don't really get. Not a big one for gossip, and certainly not when always going to be overheard.

Managed to hustle up a way of doing B.I.N.G.O song in groups of about 15. Letters (fortunately had them in my saddle-bag) on the wall, asked to stand in a line in front of the first (B), and hop right as the letters are called out. Letters progressively disappear to be replaced with actions eg pat your head until no letters, just lots of hopping & head patting. Lots of noise, collisions and laughter, and the second half of the group super keen to have their own turn. That's about the limit of pulling an activity out of my arse this morning - A fell back on musical chairs & a piggy in the middle kind of quiz. Which meant the kids had fun. If only there was a plan...

In trying to avoid the hell-after-lunch ordeal, I hunted around and found some more cardboard (a beer carton in the end) and produced a dangly Rudolph - not my best, but given the intrusions & elbow nudging all the time, will have to do.

My little mates impressed me with their powers of memory, as each class came by the main hall to run through their skits for the big show. I was skiving off of course, making myself look busy, before the end of day routine back with A-sensei, and her speed-reading storybook finale.

Falling asleep into your lunch, poking tigers and an eternal smile.

Unusually arrived by car today and was dry & warm - however, it took much longer to get there across town than usual by bike. Added 10 minutes to my trip as well, having to got the wrong direction to go to my office to get the car in the first place. Reason being = torrential rain.

New observation at the gate = mums have to take kids' umbrellas home, & bring them back again at home-time. I am sure there is a logical reason for this. But why not apply it to shoes, hats, gloves etc as well?! With no outdoor play possible, pandemonium instead in the hall, and play dough in the classrooms, where I was lucky to be spending the day with delightful Ikuko. This lady never stops smiling, even when she's frowning. A class act. Loved the dress rehearsal with Pink class today - check out the Fotobabble:

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I think this teacher as receptive as any others (but still very analogue!) & enjoyed seeing her Hungry Caterpillar start talking! Also very giggle-worthy was watching one of the odder little girls fall asleep during lunch into her lunch. Classic stuff! Meantime, her table-mate dribbling a nose-bleed into his rice. Not quite sure where to look.

Some dress rehearsals went better than others - practicing by class, in turns, in the main hall. Two particular miscreants playing up in their teacher's absence today walk into a slow but effective barrage from the Chief, ever so carefully eviscerating them with all the good little boys & girls responding on her cues to reinforce the good behaviour message. A slow motion, quietly delivered, SMACK DOWN! A master a work.

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela - carry on Japan

Playing 'tag' in the yard

Still windy & getting more & more wintry; my bronchitis now developing nicely into a proper rasping upper chest infection. The football crowd mostly hiding indoors in the warm, and 'Steve' soon joined them as I unfortunately pinged him in the head with a lovely left-foot stunner of a shot that swerved just into where he thought he might be safe. Nearly took his eyebrows off, poor lad. For a moment I was Peter Lorimer - next, a nasty competitive old hack footballer!

Miwa-sensei loves reading books

A rather shouty dress rehearsal for the big event this month, but somehow these things come out very nicely on the day - think an audience takes the edge off the miscreants' bravery! Nobody wants a scowl from the Dragon!

Today was a day when my collection of songs was appreciated by children & teacher alike.

• Hello - everyone got very into the wild "wonderful" answer
• What do you want for Christmas - actual responses were for lots of Ampaman, Puri Club, and some Lego. Apparently the teachers want cake...me? Well, today I just want to see my son (hospital with a burst ear drum/infection), catch my wife for a chat, prepare for exams this weekend, change the car tyres, listen to the Ashes, and think about Nelson Mandela who has died
  
  
  
  
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Class Dojo - diverting myself

A flat day sitting on the floor at the back of the class - the blue class - inputting students' names into the Class Dojo app on my phone. Don't like the random avatars but stuck with them for now. I do like Seating Plan, but in turn it has limitations...probably should use both - one for facial recognition, t'other for behavioral analysis?

Class Dojo lists the names alphabetically - western concept (and one that works for my personal way of organising people!) by first name. The children are called in Japanese according to their age group (mixed classes here) and then by hiragana order of surnames. Hmm. So when the teacher takes the roll I really have to listen hard for first name (said last) and then try to remember the preceding surname IF they are absent )prefer to minimise the workload and assume all present, knocking off absentees from the default 'here'. Already noticed that with some of the teachers I have no chance, as they go too fast or are not saying things clearly
enough for me; it's a familiar order for them all.

Hilarity then when I asked if I could double check my list & also take the attendance later -  in the 'wrong' order for them, including using first names first & without age groupings. Added to that my interpretation of how their names could be pronounced - stress in the wrong place or sounding like a boxing ring announcer etc. But, at least I did get to find out who was in class. Without a picture though, that info stayed in my head for all of 3 seconds.

I also took time out on my own in the classroom to animate some of the nice art work in Chisato's blue room. I recently came across the Chatter Kids app (from Duck Duck Moose) and love it - add a talking mouth to a picture! The above were made with a minimum of fuss, and when applied to the kids' hands, socks, lunch etc - gales of laughter (and sticky fingers all trying to have a go on my precious phone!)

Related articles

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• Class Dojo Lets Teachers Communicate With Parents On Behavior Via App

It's Yamaga time - let's run around a lot!

Your Yamaga mission today, kids...

On the one day I am asked to pump up the ball, by time I get back with a valve there are 40 odd pink & yellow ones everywhere! Bloody Yamaga football coaches!

Frost melting into my shoes below the eaves I noticed too late, and my December schedule has me working Christmas Eve, which utterly buggers my plans for turkey prep.  The dentist yesterday screwed my morning plans as well, & gave me a headache instead...pointless hospital appointment today does same for this afternoon, taking my in between time out. Instead, will be sitting waiting to be patronised by a doctor so far up his rectum my eyes water. 

 

Meantime, my son is also very ill with burst eardrum > fever at 40*. All very distracting...

Satsuki playing new songs but day started again with tears & a fight. "Can u fill 10 mins?" brings me back to the classroom. Erm. iPhone left backing up last night & Xmas CD not listened to yet! Wing it necessary. Nothing to do later (my profession skills exhausted ?), amused myself with a chatter kid app, but it attracted too much grabby/pushy attention. One kid with a curry beard trying harder than any (going some) to get a hug, required complete change of clothes middle of room; glad I missed wearing that!

During the Christmas play reading, I disturbed the boss asking for student list I could read. Unfortunately, the sudden leap into action had him spill coffee all over his work in progress - oops!

I'm checking Education management apps. Class Dojo looks ok, but I want to add pictures of kids and not random avatars.

Goal-line technology required!

Rico-chan stood out today in the football practice, but I don't think the coaches are talent spotting though, as Atsushi missed again. Very nice coaching nevertheless. Short, sharp, not very competitive activities which involves everyone nicely.  Multiple, mixed teams with small goals & playing area, almost no rules, more than one ball and plenty of encouragement.