It is common in United States history books to talk about what a new president did in the first 100 days of his term. I guess that is a lot cooler than talking about the first 3 months, 100 days has a much better ring to it. Anyway, I have been teaching at SSBS now since last Wednesday and trust me when I tell you that working with posh first graders, first graders that have never really attended school and are usually the only child at home, the first week (almost) might as well be 100 days.
Before I left the States, my grandma gave me an early birthday card. She told me that she wanted to give it to me before my "triumphant entry into China". Buah! I don't know if I would call this first week triumphant.
Now, before you think that this is completely miserable sounding and wondering why I am writing this in the first place, please bear with me for a moment.
This is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. It is exhausting mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is basically glorified babysitting in these first few weeks, as other teachers have told me. These kids haven't had a lot of experience of hearing "no" or having strict routines or rules. Some of them are under huge amounts of pressure from home (seriously, these first graders have more textbooks and folders than I did my first year of university!). It is an interesting dynamic to deal with. And mix that with the fact that they are 5-7 years old and some of their English abilities are very low. Oh, and add a Chinese co-teacher to that mix. And two snack times (which the school provides). And lunch time in the classroom (that the school also provides, complete with soup) because there isn't enough room in the cafeteria for the first grade classes.
Whew. That is the situation.
We have a joke in the primary school about "no smiles until Christmas". Right now I feel like I am one of the meanest teachers alive! For example, I have shown my kids and have had them practice how to come into the classroom (because the students switch up teachers for different courses, which also makes it difficult) and prepare for class. Today, my English class happened to be right after lunch and activity time. To say that my class was a total failure doesn't quite cover it. They were wound up and nuts! I made them line back up and do the routine again, as well as telling them their behavior was disrespectful and some of the parents would hear about it (which they did....that is a story for another time...).
So yeah, the whole mentality is to start mean and get nice. I remember that some of my favorite teachers in school were the ones that had rules and knew how to maintain control in the classroom. Now this is first grade, I can't expect utter silence at all times. They are busybodies, they wiggle and jiggle all over the place. At the moment I am trying to find my grove. The last few days have consisted of in-poor-taste lectures and my loud voice, which actually made my throat hurt today (which is saying a lot considering I have a naturally loud voice). Yeah, it isn't so great.
This year will be interesting. I find myself hoping that it goes by quickly so that I am better at my job and the students aren't so crazy. Is that a terrible thing to think right now? Maybe. But it is the reality of underestimating my opponent.
Before I left the States, my grandma gave me an early birthday card. She told me that she wanted to give it to me before my "triumphant entry into China". Buah! I don't know if I would call this first week triumphant.
Now, before you think that this is completely miserable sounding and wondering why I am writing this in the first place, please bear with me for a moment.
This is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. It is exhausting mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is basically glorified babysitting in these first few weeks, as other teachers have told me. These kids haven't had a lot of experience of hearing "no" or having strict routines or rules. Some of them are under huge amounts of pressure from home (seriously, these first graders have more textbooks and folders than I did my first year of university!). It is an interesting dynamic to deal with. And mix that with the fact that they are 5-7 years old and some of their English abilities are very low. Oh, and add a Chinese co-teacher to that mix. And two snack times (which the school provides). And lunch time in the classroom (that the school also provides, complete with soup) because there isn't enough room in the cafeteria for the first grade classes.
Whew. That is the situation.
We have a joke in the primary school about "no smiles until Christmas". Right now I feel like I am one of the meanest teachers alive! For example, I have shown my kids and have had them practice how to come into the classroom (because the students switch up teachers for different courses, which also makes it difficult) and prepare for class. Today, my English class happened to be right after lunch and activity time. To say that my class was a total failure doesn't quite cover it. They were wound up and nuts! I made them line back up and do the routine again, as well as telling them their behavior was disrespectful and some of the parents would hear about it (which they did....that is a story for another time...).
So yeah, the whole mentality is to start mean and get nice. I remember that some of my favorite teachers in school were the ones that had rules and knew how to maintain control in the classroom. Now this is first grade, I can't expect utter silence at all times. They are busybodies, they wiggle and jiggle all over the place. At the moment I am trying to find my grove. The last few days have consisted of in-poor-taste lectures and my loud voice, which actually made my throat hurt today (which is saying a lot considering I have a naturally loud voice). Yeah, it isn't so great.
This year will be interesting. I find myself hoping that it goes by quickly so that I am better at my job and the students aren't so crazy. Is that a terrible thing to think right now? Maybe. But it is the reality of underestimating my opponent.
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