Week 1: Loud and eager as ever.

Fifth graders trying to act natural.

The fifth graders with their natural smiles...

All the boys were too shy! It's okay a photo op. with the girls.

This adorably tiny 6th grader

Grades 6-9

Grades 6-9 acting tooootally natural...bravo kids...

I've been told countless times that the kids in Sri Lanka would be easy to teach because they would be so well behaved (because schools are so strict here).

That is the an absolute lie. 

Ok. Fine. The kids are ADORABLE - but they are also little devils. I had forgotten from last year, but after two full hours nearly yelling at the top of my voice, I was reminded how hard it was to keep these kids' attention. 

It's not like I'm mad or anything, kids are kids, simple as that. However...my throat is not as forgiving as I am. After my first two days of teaching I found myself going a bit hoarse. 

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Anyway, It's been a while since I wrote.

I taught last Thursday and Friday. As per usual when I visited the school on Thursday and ended up with an extra assignment from the principal/priest. (I can never decide which one is the correct one to say -- because him being a priest is a big deal but heat that time is a principal). Any who, I need to control my tangents, I was assigned to teach some English to the fifth graders as well. I was hesitant to do this because I know they have a HUGE standardized test they have to take at that age. All their focus and energy goes into studying for that. They have no time after school - so I would be teaching at odd times when they could fit me in. That Friday I their teacher would be absent so I could take over for an hour.

I taught some vocabulary that I got out of the test-prep book the teacher showed me. I haven't gotten to look into the papers much yet because I only had one night. I'll look into it and make some plans for lessons soon so I can have them ready when needed. 

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The other classes went relatively well. I ended up somehow combining my 6th and 7th graders with the 8th and 9th graders. It's not a huge deal - I was going to teach them the same material but at different depths. I also made two slots for this big class for the kids to have some flexibility. Basically they can come at 2 or 3 o'clock. I had to do this because on Fridays the older kids have other classes at the temple. 

I also found that, unfortunately, the lesson seems to be a bit too easy for grades 6 through 9. I think I need to ramp it up somehow. But I think some of the other lessons I have planned might be better from this first one (link to the lessons are either below or to the left!). They involve things like verbs and adjectives... 
Well I think I need to take another look at what I have planned and  change and "beef-up" as needed. 

But overall I was super happy to see them and I think they were happy to have me around again. They are still so cute! I had a lot of familiar faces but a few new ones too so that was nice. Bonding with my old students was more fun than I can put to words. It was like meeting my cousins - even though they can be little pains in the butts - at the end of the day I really do love them all. 

Speaking of being pains - they were. They yelled and talked a ton but I yelled over them and got the lesson done. One boy brought his phone and started taking random pictures (I see why the school prohibits phones now). 
Also, the guys kept teasing the girls but throwing stuff at them... yeah... I wouldn't have minded much but I did because they were throwing fruit pits and I step on them when I walk around. 

Favorite Quote:
So I was trying to teach them the phrase "I need ________(something)"
Me: "Hey kids what something you need when you are outside in the rain. 
Most students: "An umbrella!"
One kid: "A piece of pineapple!!"

He didn't even give an explanation...
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The 10th and 11th grade class was good in it's own ways. 

The lesson was perfect in difficulty - and it wasn't too heavy so it was manageable for two days. (links are on this page)
​I taught tenses and focused on present and past tense. 

There are only 10 kids in this class but I don't mind because now I can go one by one and make sure they understand everything. I always prefer more personalized teaching - I'm sure they find it more useful too. 

I knew everyone in this class. I got pretty close to one of the girls last year, her name is Sithma, she's super energetic and has a lot of leadership qualities. She's super nice too. All the girls are. I have nine girls and one guy. They are all VERY  hardworking. 

Granted, they gossip like no other. I think some of the girls come just because their friends are - which I don't mind at all because it means they are coming at all. But that also means they are veeeeeeeeeery chatty. On the bright side - I love to listen to good gossip. 

The one thing I feel awkward about is that these girls and gent are potentially older than me. In Sri Lanka even if someone is a week older than you - it makes them your superior (sort of). So I can't yell at them as easily to make them pay attention - well I can - but it's a bit awkward. 
The principal keeps telling me I need to be scarier. But that's the thing, I really don't want to be scary! I'm hoping I'll find a balance as I go along. 

Another problem came along! (Geez this is getting long). On Fridays the older kids come after two other classes. So they come to my class from 4:30 to 5:30. This Friday I let them out earlier because they were so hungry! 
I felt quite sorry for them.
So from now on the plan is to take something for them to eat. You can buy fish buns (a common snack) for around 50 rupees (less than 50 cents) and there are only ten of them so I think I can manage to feed them all so they can focus. 


Aaaand that is all I have to say for now.
I am super sleepy!!
​Bye bye <3

Lesson links!

Grades 6 and 7
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ji4Kn1NUqKMjhS0vwVLknyAlYA74glpF1UacWLGLh1Q/edit?usp=sharing

Grades 8 and 9 (basically I just combined the two lessons - 6&7 and 8&9)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ismys4qMa53tk2-shyjQjLH-meNppyfkz1GxNS8HOVw/edit?usp=sharing

Grades 10 and 11
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yw8AtCLc4iK4LGgUkYVgAlK1KrfK4P9LJGLBc1RBN1o/edit?usp=sharing