We had one and half days of school this week. It was nice to only have 1.5 days of school, but it did make planning a little challenging! We really couldn't do anything we normally do because we had four days off again! I didn't want to introduce anything new because we had four days off again! So we took a time out!
I wanted to review some of the procedures and have them practice following directions...because they are terrible at listening to and following directions! I made up some games and found some good following direction activities for us to do. They loved the game! Of course, they failed the first time because no one paid attention or listened. This was one time I was actually glad they failed! We talked about why and what they needed to improve and do to make it work. The next attempt...they failed again- I was hoping they would get it, but nope, same fail. On the third try though they finally did it! And they were so proud! We played a few more times and they have already asked to play again!
The coloring activities were not really a success at all. My hope was they could read and follow the directions and do the work ALL on their OWN- instead of asking Miss Feldpausch what to do and what that word is and what to do and what to do....it's a problem in the classroom. Unfortunately, my adorable kiddos are not English speakers and I forget this sometimes. The color sheet included too many words they didn't know (like canoe, and luggage, and purse). Not complex or crazy words but words you probably wouldn't know in a second-language. I had to a lot of explaining to do for the assignment I thought would be easy. I am a little overwhelmed by the whole ESL thing. It's hard to figure out and I never really know what will trip them up.
We still serve lunch on half days and our lunch time is at 10:45...more like brunch really. So I basically only had a quarter day on Wednesday. It was Halloween but most of the Moroccan kids don't celebrate Halloween. Silly me thinking I could get away with not doing Halloween activities that day. They freaked out! I think they really just wanted candy. I printed off some Halloween crosswords quick and we did a little Halloween Spelling Bee (they Love spelling contests!). Of course, I had to explain a lot of the Halloween things- what is a werewolf, a 'silly' costume would be a clown, a witch's pet is a black cat...all the little things kids just know and pick up in the states. Not so here. They loved the activities though and since some were going to library at odd times throughout the morning it worked out to not have a real assignment. We did take a little math quiz- just to have something to show for the day! And then it was lunch, slightly longer recess, pack up, and head out! They got to go home. I had Professional Development for the rest of the afternoon.
It was odd to have such a short week, but it was a perfect 'time out' from our normal routine to address some things and have extra fun!
I wanted to review some of the procedures and have them practice following directions...because they are terrible at listening to and following directions! I made up some games and found some good following direction activities for us to do. They loved the game! Of course, they failed the first time because no one paid attention or listened. This was one time I was actually glad they failed! We talked about why and what they needed to improve and do to make it work. The next attempt...they failed again- I was hoping they would get it, but nope, same fail. On the third try though they finally did it! And they were so proud! We played a few more times and they have already asked to play again!
The coloring activities were not really a success at all. My hope was they could read and follow the directions and do the work ALL on their OWN- instead of asking Miss Feldpausch what to do and what that word is and what to do and what to do....it's a problem in the classroom. Unfortunately, my adorable kiddos are not English speakers and I forget this sometimes. The color sheet included too many words they didn't know (like canoe, and luggage, and purse). Not complex or crazy words but words you probably wouldn't know in a second-language. I had to a lot of explaining to do for the assignment I thought would be easy. I am a little overwhelmed by the whole ESL thing. It's hard to figure out and I never really know what will trip them up.
We still serve lunch on half days and our lunch time is at 10:45...more like brunch really. So I basically only had a quarter day on Wednesday. It was Halloween but most of the Moroccan kids don't celebrate Halloween. Silly me thinking I could get away with not doing Halloween activities that day. They freaked out! I think they really just wanted candy. I printed off some Halloween crosswords quick and we did a little Halloween Spelling Bee (they Love spelling contests!). Of course, I had to explain a lot of the Halloween things- what is a werewolf, a 'silly' costume would be a clown, a witch's pet is a black cat...all the little things kids just know and pick up in the states. Not so here. They loved the activities though and since some were going to library at odd times throughout the morning it worked out to not have a real assignment. We did take a little math quiz- just to have something to show for the day! And then it was lunch, slightly longer recess, pack up, and head out! They got to go home. I had Professional Development for the rest of the afternoon.
It was odd to have such a short week, but it was a perfect 'time out' from our normal routine to address some things and have extra fun!
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