Monday, February 06, 2006

Extra Grade Six'ers

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It's always nice to have a small change in the schedule to break up the day to day monotony. To the change was teaching a lot more kids than usual. I taught grades one, three, five and six in four very big classes. I'll detail the extreme end of the day to keep things interesting. The grade six English class totaled fifty-eight students. The number of students meant that the way teachers normally approach class had to be modified. (Also limited was the use of tranquilizer drugs.) Thus we planned alphabet games in the gym. Big success! Just feed off the children's natural competitiveness. The reason for the increased class size was due to visiting grade five and six students from Kamihoronai and Sasagawa schools (at which I teach). Joined classes is meant to ease the transition into Junior High School. Grades one and three are always tiring, being around thirty-five students each, and they seemed especially worked up today coming off weekend-mode. Besides today's grueling schedule, I actually feel quite good right now and would go for a run if the Sport Center was not closed today.

I found the group from Kamihoronai particularly amusing. Being from very small schools, the split five/six class at Kamihoronai lacks any boys. Thus the girls seemed especially awkward dealing with many other boys their own age today. But I only kept half an eye on them, knowing full well they would more likely be the handful for any cootie-carrying boy.

Heads up. This week is looking to become very busy (until I get back from Sapporo) and updating may become intermittent.

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