A day in photos!
Introductions! Isn't she adorable!
Cute!
Prewriting!
Sharing "Where I'm From" maps in pairs!
First draft!
Writing groups -- first attempt at revision
The strategy: Add, Subtract, and Rearrange!
Sharing their first drafts!
Aren't they the cutest kids EVER!
Evidence of adding, subtracting and rearranging!
Break time!
See how I arranged the room so that we can meet with the whole groups and then break out into small groups!
How incredibly awesome is that!
Sweet!
Red bean ice cream after 6 hours of teaching!
Delicious!
I had an awesome day!
I'm going to try and practice the examen process each night while I'm here. It is explained below.
It is about asking ourselves two questions: For what am I most grateful? For what am I least grateful? These questions help us identify moments of consolation and desolation. For centuries, prayerful people have found direction for their day and for their life by identifying these moments.
The two questions can be asked in other ways, such as: When did I feel most alive today? When did I feel life draining out of me? Or, what was today's high point? What was today's low point?
So, here goes ...
When did I feel most alive today?
I felt most alive working with the 8th graders who make up my first class, which runs from 9 am until noon. They were funny and joyful and creative. We made name tags and discussed three objects/symbols that reveal what we most wanted everyone in the room to know about us.
Then we wrote "Where I'm From" poems, worked in writing groups on revision, and read aloud what we'd written. It was delightful. There are only 10 students in the class, and the classroom is big enough for us to have a place to sit as a whole group as well as three separate tables for us to break out into writing/sharing groups.
Can I just say that it was TEACHER HEAVEN, pure and simple!
I also felt ALIVE and WELL when a kid named Steven figured out how to get my MAC to connect to the internet. Whoohoo!
(Insert "happy dance" here!)
I had thought I was going to be "suffering" using a PC with all the desktop icons labeled in Korean!
(Insert jumping for joy and clapping my hands here!)
Steven is my ROCK STAR! Making it work involved IP addresses, Pinging, Routers, and all kinds of other rigamarole that I know nothing about!
When did I feel the life draining out of me?
I don't know if it's the same thing as "the life draining out of me," but I feel utterly exhausted right now. My feet are swollen and I'm physically POOPED from the long day(s).
But it is a GOOD tired.
The second class period wasn't as fun as the first period. The students were more reluctant to participate, and it was a bit more like "pulling teeth" than it was with the first group. The class just had less energy due to the fact that it is held after lunch from 1 pm until 4 pm. (Or was it, perhaps, that I HAD LESS ENERGY?!) ;-0
So that's it for today!
Hooray! I'm so glad to see that you're alive, well, and internet-connected. Thanks for posting photos, and for teaching your students well. The schedule and class size sounds ideal. I hope you find some energy at the end of your days to get out and explore a bit the world around. Even one little discovery each day (like red bean ice cream) is precious!
Posted by: H | July 06, 2009 at 03:55 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your journey La La. THose kids are lucky to have you!
xoxo LO
Posted by: Lola | July 06, 2009 at 04:37 AM
What a dream job! Thanks for letting us be a part- fascinating! And yes, they are adorable!
Posted by: SHerri Murphy | July 06, 2009 at 05:07 AM
I'm so glad you're able to share this incredible journey with us. Love the reflection questions. You sound happy. Love you.
Posted by: deb | July 06, 2009 at 05:32 AM
Teacher heaven is one of the best types of heaven!
Posted by: Carrie Link | July 06, 2009 at 06:52 AM
Sounds awesome! And I'm so glad you got your laptop up and running, too.
Can't wait to hear more.
By the way, if this is teacher heaven, does that make you a teacher angel?
I think it does.
:) XOXO
Posted by: Blognut | July 06, 2009 at 07:12 AM
I'm sooooooo glad to hear that you've gotten off to a good start with your kiddos. Your experience with the class of 8th graders tempts me to try "Where I'm From" poems with my 7th graders next year!
Also rejoicing with you about Steven and his amazing ability to rescue you from computer hell! I'm doing a little Cousin Larry & Balkie Bartacamous (sp?) "dance of joy" for you right now [remember the t.v. show Perfect Strangers?]. :)
Love you. Get some rest when you can.
Posted by: Ashley | July 06, 2009 at 07:32 AM
That sounds like a very good first day! How far over the jetlag are you?
Posted by: oreneta | July 06, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Go Steven! I love computer geeks. Welcome to the bridge across the oceans...the internet. I am still in awe that the whole thing works.
Glad you are having fun. (NB: You might be less tired if you don't stay up all night laughing!)
Posted by: Wanda | July 06, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Thanks for sharing this with us! So fun to see.
I love this idea. The kids and I sometimes do something like this at dinner..Lows and Highs.
oxox ;)
Posted by: amber | July 06, 2009 at 10:03 AM
It does sound like teacher heaven. Fantastic.
Posted by: Jenn O | July 06, 2009 at 02:40 PM
You're connected and coming through loud and clear! It's true -- the internet's an amazing thing. Hearing about your journey while you're on it and seeing photos from your day -- well, that's just the BEST! Thanks for persisting until it worked, even if that meant enlisting someone younger but with greater wisdom!
Posted by: Wendy Edwards | July 06, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Am I going to hell if I say, "Thank God you got your Mac connected!"? Hip hip hooray!
Those students are so lucky to have you.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us!! I love it when you share your teacher moments -- and now worldwide!
Posted by: Cheri @ Blog This Mom! | July 07, 2009 at 12:08 AM
She, I'm so glad you were able, with the help of Steven, to overcome your technical difficulties. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. I hope you have a blast!
Posted by: JC | July 07, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Awesome posting. I am going to do a couple of the exercises you mentioned.
Posted by: Mary Ann | July 08, 2009 at 05:18 AM
Teaching tools are international! :)
Elevate those feet and enjoy ENJOY enjoy!!
Oh, and gotta love those computer geeks. I couldn't be online without them.
Posted by: kcinnova | July 09, 2009 at 04:29 AM
I'm so happy you are overall feeling alive with these kids and enjoying another culture. Take it all in and let God use you to the fullest right where you are, my friend. He is our master and teacher for life, so I'm sure has much to teach you there. I cannot wait to hear more about what is happening for you (& am glad Steven got your computer working). Praise God!
Posted by: Karin | July 09, 2009 at 08:17 AM