RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Getting camp sign-ups finalized. As expected, we had the exact number of 5th/6th graders sign up as there were spots for their camp week. And about 2.5 times as many 3rd/4th graders as there were spots for /their/ camp week. Because I'll be alone this year, my coteacher and I decided to put a pretty low limit for 3rd/4th graders especially (extremely low English, even for the highest level ones, and we're trying to limit issues and incidents that might occur), so there are only 12 spots open for 3rd/4th grade.

We figured the fairest way was to divide them into grades and and boys/girls, and have them draw popsicles sticks with O/X written on them. That way we could also keep a mix of students, rather than just having a bunch of 4th grade boys (the largest group by far who put their names in for camp). Drew the sticks. Some kids upset, but what can you do? Cue angry parents calling the school complaining that their child didn't into camp. Apparently a couple parents understood the reasoning behind the limited number of spaces, but a most are furious and think that my coteacher and I somehow rigged the drawing to exclude their child. I'm really worried that I'll be told to open up more spots, and that the camp will be a bust because there's too many students, not enough me, and a huge language barrier. The kids are generally good, but they're kids and they get wild sometimes, and I really don't want any accidents.

But nope, now parents are pissed that they have to arrange other plans for little Minsu every morning for a week.

Obviously. The had there baby sitter all lined up and now they don't.

Getting camp sign-ups finalized. As expected, we had the exact number of 5th/6th graders sign up as there were spots for their camp week. And about 2.5 times as many 3rd/4th graders as there were spots for /their/ camp week. Because I'll be alone this year, my coteacher and I decided to put a pretty low limit for 3rd/4th graders especially (extremely low English, even for the highest level ones, and we're trying to limit issues and incidents that might occur), so there are only 12 spots open for 3rd/4th grade.

We figured the fairest way was to divide them into grades and and boys/girls, and have them draw popsicles sticks with O/X written on them. That way we could also keep a mix of students, rather than just having a bunch of 4th grade boys (the largest group by far who put their names in for camp). Drew the sticks. Some kids upset, but what can you do? Cue angry parents calling the school complaining that their child didn't into camp. Apparently a couple parents understood the reasoning behind the limited number of spaces, but a most are furious and think that my coteacher and I somehow rigged the drawing to exclude their child. I'm really worried that I'll be told to open up more spots, and that the camp will be a bust because there's too many students, not enough me, and a huge language barrier. The kids are generally good, but they're kids and they get wild sometimes, and I really don't want any accidents.

But nope, now parents are pissed that they have to arrange other plans for little Minsu every morning for a week.

Oh. I was told I'm going to have the 3rd and 4th grade classes mixed for the camp at my elementary school (~25 of them altogether). In hindsight, I probably should've protested, but it wasn't really presented as a question (and I do it once a week for after school anyways). I'm supposed to have a homeroom teacher or someone helping me out (which is also true for my after school class), so hopefully I don't get overrun.

Getting camp sign-ups finalized. As expected, we had the exact number of 5th/6th graders sign up as there were spots for their camp week. And about 2.5 times as many 3rd/4th graders as there were spots for /their/ camp week. Because I'll be alone this year, my coteacher and I decided to put a pretty low limit for 3rd/4th graders especially (extremely low English, even for the highest level ones, and we're trying to limit issues and incidents that might occur), so there are only 12 spots open for 3rd/4th grade.

We figured the fairest way was to divide them into grades and and boys/girls, and have them draw popsicles sticks with O/X written on them. That way we could also keep a mix of students, rather than just having a bunch of 4th grade boys (the largest group by far who put their names in for camp). Drew the sticks. Some kids upset, but what can you do? Cue angry parents calling the school complaining that their child didn't into camp. Apparently a couple parents understood the reasoning behind the limited number of spaces, but a most are furious and think that my coteacher and I somehow rigged the drawing to exclude their child. I'm really worried that I'll be told to open up more spots, and that the camp will be a bust because there's too many students, not enough me, and a huge language barrier. The kids are generally good, but they're kids and they get wild sometimes, and I really don't want any accidents.

But nope, now parents are pissed that they have to arrange other plans for little Minsu every morning for a week.

Oh. I was told I'm going to have the 3rd and 4th grade classes mixed for the camp at my elementary school (~25 of them altogether). In hindsight, I probably should've protested, but it wasn't really presented as a question (and I do it once a week for after school anyways). I'm supposed to have a homeroom teacher or someone helping me out (which is also true for my after school class), so hopefully I don't get overrun.

If it was 40 minutes a day, or even 90 minutes a day, I'd be fine with all 29 of them. That's a normal class for me. But the kids are a little more wild during the summer because it's break, and I'll have them for 3 hours straight. That's a little more than I can comfortably handle by myself. 5th and 6th graders were limited to 16 (4 from each grade and gender). Heck, if the students were even intermediate level English, I'd be fine with that many. It's just the combination of school break, young and wild, and low level English that makes me uncomfortable with having that many for that length of time.

Thankfully, my coteacher is siding with me, and the school generally lets her do her thing when it comes to me. So fingers crossed I don't have to open up more spots.

But nope, now parents are pissed that they have to arrange other plans for little Minsu every morning for a week.

Here's a radical solution. They could go out and play!

If it was 40 minutes a day, or even 90 minutes a day, I'd be fine with all 29 of them. That's a normal class for me. But the kids are a little more wild during the summer because it's break, and I'll have them for 3 hours straight. That's a little more than I can comfortably handle by myself. 5th and 6th graders were limited to 16 (4 from each grade and gender). Heck, if the students were even intermediate level English, I'd be fine with that many. It's just the combination of school break, young and wild, and low level English that makes me uncomfortable with having that many for that length of time.

Thankfully, my coteacher is siding with me, and the school generally lets her do her thing when it comes to me. So fingers crossed I don't have to open up more spots.

I've taught camp with 3rd and 4th grade classes of 20 before. by myself. it's generally fine. One break the student numbers even went a bit over 20, like 23 or 24.

Just split them into groups and do lots of crafts and drawing/coloring etc.

Nothing that requires too much teaching or prep or clean up on the part of the teacher. Kaleidocycles, Pokemon stuff, Avengers stuff, my kids loved all of that.

If you get them to play games, do games that require only within-group competition. Don't do anything requiring between-group competition like bomb games. Games like Uno or various other simple card games are good. then just bounce between the groups to check on them.

Lovely someone in the office has a cold. Let's turn off the aircon and all suffer.

If it was 40 minutes a day, or even 90 minutes a day, I'd be fine with all 29 of them. That's a normal class for me. But the kids are a little more wild during the summer because it's break, and I'll have them for 3 hours straight. That's a little more than I can comfortably handle by myself. 5th and 6th graders were limited to 16 (4 from each grade and gender). Heck, if the students were even intermediate level English, I'd be fine with that many. It's just the combination of school break, young and wild, and low level English that makes me uncomfortable with having that many for that length of time.

Thankfully, my coteacher is siding with me, and the school generally lets her do her thing when it comes to me. So fingers crossed I don't have to open up more spots.

I've taught camp with 3rd and 4th grade classes of 20 before. by myself. it's generally fine. One break the student numbers even went a bit over 20, like 23 or 24.

Just split them into groups and do lots of crafts and drawing/coloring etc.

Nothing that requires too much teaching or prep or clean up on the part of the teacher. Kaleidocycles, Pokemon stuff, Avengers stuff, my kids loved all of that.

If you get them to play games, do games that require only within-group competition. Don't do anything requiring between-group competition like bomb games. Games like Uno or various other simple card games are good. then just bounce between the groups to check on them.

Mini Jenga is about 3000won at daiso.  Write a number on each brick, then you can create a sheet with questions/activites next to each number.  They have to do what's on the question sheet before they can place the remove brick on top.  You can create a different set of activities per grammar topic / book chapter.

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

I ordered some box tape. 26 rolls. I use a lot of tape. EVERY roll of tape was individually wrapped in a plastic bag.

Stupid.

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

I ordered some box tape. 26 rolls. I use a lot of tape. EVERY roll of tape was individually wrapped in a plastic bag.

Stupid.

Really, what kind of people do they take us for?

My Korean customs clearance code is saved on my Amazon address book... Still, I'm constantly getting e-mails from customs asking for my clearance code, it's annoying as hell when you do the bulk of your shopping online. Read the address, you freakin' wallies.

My Korean customs clearance code is saved on my Amazon address book... Still, I'm constantly getting e-mails from customs asking for my clearance code, it's annoying as hell when you do the bulk of your shopping online. Read the address, you freakin' wallies.

That's why I use my wife's code so she can get bothered by customs :)

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

I ordered some box tape. 26 rolls. I use a lot of tape. EVERY roll of tape was individually wrapped in a plastic bag.

Stupid.

Really, what kind of people do they take us for?

Individually wrapped cookies.

**** you, Lotte.

yeah, ordering stuff like cans of tuna from coupang. wrapped in bubble wrap, with the cans wrapped in plastic (in cans of 3), and then the cans of 3 are wrapped in more plastic, in sets of 9.

this is all surrounded with those air-pocket padding, and put in a box. or, in another plastic bag

What do you figure: was this the post that got Donovan muted? 

*Last Week*

Me: Is it ok if I show a movie?
CT: Vice Principal said we should continue teaching!
Me: Oh, ok.

*This week*

What else do I see but every teacher showing movies as I walk down the hall?

*Last Week*

Me: Is it ok if I show a movie?
CT: Vice Principal said we should continue teaching!
Me: Oh, ok.

*This week*

What else do I see but every teacher showing movies as I walk down the hall?

It's okay. You'll get used to being held to a completely different standard than Korean teachers.

Some kids you literally want to shake by the neck of their shirt and tell them that they're f**king awful.

Our school board decided that having 27 kids in the 3rd grade level wasn't enough to warrant two homeroom classes. So there is ONE.

Can't imagine what it's like for their homeroom teacher.

*Last Week*

Me: Is it ok if I show a movie?
CT: Vice Principal said we should continue teaching!
Me: Oh, ok.

*This week*

What else do I see but every teacher showing movies as I walk down the hall?

Just show a movie then.

*Last Week*

Me: Is it ok if I show a movie?
CT: Vice Principal said we should continue teaching!
Me: Oh, ok.

*This week*

What else do I see but every teacher showing movies as I walk down the hall?

Played charades with my kids...its English and good for conversation. I am not talking much...