Despite the trying times, I’ve had some really great classes this semester and as the end of it approaches, I figured I’d take some time to document some of the things that kept me going and had had me in stitches.

I took on a GT1 Prep class – kids who came into my class with very little English; just the basic words and a minimum of phonics knowledge. I’ve taught them almost all they know, and to hear them rattling off new vocabulary, picking out parts of speech, and reading fluently through our textbook just absolutely warms the heart. (Especially considering that I wanted to collectively strangle them at the beginning of the class.) I’ve taught many classes, but this one is the first one that I’ve guided from the ground up, so they’ll always have a special place in my heart: Alice, Kevin, Hannah, Brian, James (who is now writing GT2 book reports and correcting everyone’s grammar and pronunciation), David, Jaime (who came I knowing the least and has made incredible strides... and he’s just really adorable), Alex (a little man in voice and appearance), Grace, Chris, and Eric.

Hannah, Grace, Kevin, and Eric doing sock puppet Readers' Theatre



Adam and David with their sock puppets.

My success with GT1 Prep helps a little to get me through my newest class, at GTi Prep that knows even less, although they certainly don’t lack in individuality, personality, and energy. I'm back at the wanting-to-strangle-them phase most days, but it's only a matter of time before I’m writing fondly of their progress, especially because they’ll be in my class for the next semester.

My GT2 class has been the beating heart of this term – they’re by far the most advanced and articulate, so we are better able to relate to one another. This is also the class that has kept up an ongoing correspondence with my parents and for whom I put together the classroom community game I stole from Rafe Esquith. We’ve watched Obama speeches, thrown ice cream parties, had market days, and undertaken discussions of morality and God: Alex, Sally, Angelina, Marsha, Will, Lisa, Julie, and for a time Chris, Jessica, and Jack, before Henry, Genie, Brian, Kevin, and John replaced them after Level Test.


Enjoying the maple candy my mom and dad sent.

So two little vignettes that illustrate more perfectly than I could say the tenor of my semester with these students:

In a prep class I was attempting to explain to the kids the meaning of the word “bounce” and was searching around the classroom for something that would demonstrate the concept. Despite their attempts to offer me everything from pencils to their winter hats, I came up empty. In frustration I finally said, “Only balls bounce, and I don’t have any balls.” Whereupon I paused, considered this statement for a moment, and burst into laughter. Whereupon all of the kids looked at me like I was crazy.

In GT2, the students were discussing what kind of party they’d like to “buy” with the fake classroom money they’d earned from their jobs and from extra projects. They had three options: a pizza party, an ice cream party, and high tea, which they say quickly and with a strong emphasis on the “t”. Overhearing their discussion, I thought they had said they wanted to do a “Hite” party. Hite, it just so happens, is a Korean brand of beer. I interceded and said, “There’s no way I’m throwing you a Hite party. You’re ten.” They’ve never let me forget it, and every time I get a little silly in class they accuse me of being drunk. We all find this hilarious.

Ah, kids.