The quiet life
I’m realizing as I sit down to write an entry that from here until the end of the term (save a week of traveling in October), I’ll be writing about the same things. I’ll be writing about my quest for the formula that equals “how to teach”. I’ll be writing about exhaustion mixed with the perfect amount of satisfaction. I’ll share my struggles and triumphs. I’ll share my fascination at watching 6 and 7 yr olds process the English language. Granted, I was doing the same thing in SH, day in and day out, but there was so much time for exploration. I’m sure once I work into a good rhythm, there will be time for exploration in Wuhan, but as it stands, I’m knackered by the time I return to the branch school.
This afternoon, in my second Grade 1 class of the day, two little imps came up and LITERALLY picked me up. Peggy (who named herself) and Lucy (who I named) ran up to me, each one securely wrapped around one of my legs and then they heaved and hoisted me up off of the ground. I was laughing, thinking they’d manage it for a second or three, but after twenty more seconds and seven other children coming to help, I was well off of the ground. I had the chalkboard for support, but the children tottered and I almost came crashing down before Season, my co-teacher, came running and pried the children off of me. These children are super-tactile. As I walked around the room looking over their shoulders at their neat lines of AaAaAaAaAaAaAa and BbBbBbBbBbBbBb, a little hand would reach out and scratch my arm, gently, or poke at my hip, or tickle the back of my knee. At the end of class, Lucy and Peggy were at it again, this time trying to get their little fingers into my armpits for a good tickle. It was hilarious. One thing I’m glad of, teachers are allowed to have contact with the children. I know that in the States, some schools discourage the teachers from touching the children at all, (and maybe for good reason), but it is so healthy to dote on these children and to show them affection. I can tell, especially after today, that they really crave contact and, of course, it is easy to give! They’re adorable! I get to take pictures in my classes tomorrow, so look for some photos to be up by this weekend.
Tonight, after the sunset, I went out to our small track and a great run. I was energized by the haphazard squawking of the boarding children and loved being able to run by the light of the full moon. The track was brightly lit by the glow of the hazy clouds, which mirrored the moon’s cool light. Usually, it must be very dark out on the track, but the school is secure and there are two guards on duty at both gates so it feels very safe. Besides, how could I possibly get creeped out with the children screaming and giggling and shouting and laughing all the while?
The week is almost over. Every day, I leave school with a different feeling about how class went for the two grades. At the beginning of the week, I doubted my abilities with the 1st graders and now I am unsure of the best way to reach the 2nd graders. Of course I was aware that teaching requires talent and experience, but I also thought that teaching something I’m supposedly well versed in would come naturally. For the most part, it has, but a couple of times today, I looked out onto a sea of bored-stiff faces. Luckily, the children love competition and it is easy to change the tides with a game pitting one half of the class against the other. I can’t really read Julia, my 2nd grade co-teacher very well either. Sometimes she seems enthused with me and other times she seems doubtful of my abilities. She’s not the kindest person, but that can be refreshing, I’ve found. She’s to the point. She’s also in charge of the English program at the school, which I’ve mentioned before, so she knows what she’s doing. Season, who I’ve been calling “Susan” since Friday, knows very little English and this is her first time teaching. I think the children can smell her lack of experience and they see me as a giant doll that speaks, but only in English. I’m hoping the novelty lasts long enough for them to learn a word or 50.
(You’ll notice all of the conjunctions. I’ve been teaching about apostrophes in Grade 2 and I’m starting to realize how much I hate conjunctions. They sound so sloppy. But, I think I’m addicted because I see them everywhere. Oy!)
