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.

Happy Birthday Granny Chris

A damp, musty, autumn-is-here morning, made better by a nice mum hanging around a bit chatting to my co-gatekeeper on welcoming duty.

Lean back!

My schedule was wrong again, and I find myself with the other teeny group, being included in activities but somewhat off the cuff - what sounds do UK animals make?! If I'd had time, and a projector off my iPod, we could have done Old McDonald for a big giggle...this double act have a number of find your seat/settle down/be quieter hand games that can be transferred to EFL classrooms, such as clapping with 5, then 4,3,2,1 fingers to reduce volume & co-operatively end up with hands behind backs & paying attention.

This class also given a little dressing down about abandonning bags on mummy, but asked to give themselves rules after deciding what kind of behaviour was not reasonable. Like!

Team work required

In the hall we were entertaining ourselves with a large silk 'parachute' & doing roly polies. My thoughts elsewhere though (Australia - The Ashes starting soon = I'll have to go to the toilet a lot more often!)

I noticed three boys sitting next to each other were all southpaws - cool! Wonder if that was accidental (teacher allocated) or personal aggregation?

Had enough of being coughed at, poked with snotty fingers, gaping mouths chewing unidentifiable foodstuffs, and the perenial hitting/kicking contest that is driving me nuts and frequently aimed AT my nuts. See how long any of the other teachers will put up with that?

Home time