Sh*t My Kids Do @smykidsdo-blog - Tumblr Blog

Clearly someone is not excited for the Mackerel Festival Parade.

I got to school early one morning last week, and I was finishing up an e-mail just hanging out in the Grade 1 English classroom. One of my students decided to come and hang out. I just recently discovered the Google paint function available on smartphones, so I asked him if he wanted to help me make a picture. He was thrilled, just like anywhere else, kids love playing with touchscreens. We took turns adding bits to it, and his final note was to make sure the recipient of the picture knew that 'The people die. they die. Ah hah hahaha!' As always accompanied by the up-down index finger motion meaning 'you die'. Even if they die, it's still pretty cute.

#Grade 1 #KS #Taiwan #ESL #Art #'YOU DIE'

At their request, the PE coach and I joined one of the Grade 5 classes for a soccer scrimmage. I got to the field just after they finished their PE warmup, and saw these two girls kicking dirt about off to the side of the field, and when I asked them why they weren't joining the teams. They looked at me like I was crazy and just said, 'Teacher....GROSS.'

Fair enough. So I took a picture for them and offered them my camera so they would have something to do while the rest of us played.

Teacher, you go to bar?

I was caught off guard when some of my fifth and sixth graders asked me this but I quickly realized that they meant the balance bar where the uni-cyclers like to hang out.

It seems quite fitting for them to call it 'the bar' though - there are often minor disputes, everyone's a bit off balance, and a little more silly than usual.

#Grade 5 #Grade 6 #Unicycle #SN #Taiwan #ESL

One of the most interesting shirts I've seen in Taiwan, or anywhere.

#Grade 5 #SN #T-Shirt #Taiwan

Interesting depiction of cultures.

Grade 4 English textbook in Taiwan.

#Grade 4 #Taiwan #ESL #KS #Textbook

Sweeping up the rainwater?

Most public schools in Taiwan do not have a janitorial staff, so each day there is an extended time between classes when each class is assigned to a tidying up task. My guess is that there task was to clean this area of the sidewalk, which they interpreted as sweep up the rainwater and put it into a bucket? Alright.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!!!!!!!

#Chinese New Year #Grade 4 #SN #Taiwan #ESL

Some of my Grade 5 students like to frame pictures, then call me over to capture it. For this one they sent a student up to my classroom during a break to have me come down and take the picture.

#Grade 5 #ESL #Taiwan #SN

Slightly alarming self-portrait by a grade 4 student.

#Taiwan #ESL #Grade 4 #KS

Hurling with Excitement

On this particular day, I set up a vocab relay while working with small groups of students I have never taught before and will likely never see again. The students were split into teams of four. The first student had to hula hoop and spell the first vocab word of the day; the second had to jump rope and spell the next vocab word; the third student had to volley the shuttlecock (badminton) while spelling the next vocab word; the last student had to use one of the vocab words spelled in that lessons sentence pattern while the rest of the team lined up behind them. To begin the activity I would ask what each athletic item was (hula hoop, etc) and would have a student demo how to use it. By the time I got to badminton, one little boy had his hand outstretched in the air and was waving it frantically. When I picked up the racket I noticed him suddenly turn around and throw up. All of the other students burst out into laughter, meanwhile I rushed over, concerned and asking if he needed to go to the nurse or the bathroom. Another student came up to me waving his hands in the air, still laughing, and shouting 'Teacher no, no teacher. He, he, he.....he excited.....go bluuuughhhh.' (motioning throw up) Yeah, that happened. A new standard has been set for level of excitement for activities.

#Taiwan #ESL #EV #Grade 5

Thanks Oscar!

#Taiwan #ESL #Grade 5 #Teacher's Day

Kindergarten class being read 'The Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly'.

#Kindergarten #KS #ESL #Taiwan

Nosebleed, pt. 2

Notice the blood on the shirt.

#Tales of Nose Picking #Grade 1 #KS #Taiwan

Every Monday, I like to start class with a little story about my weekend to get the kids engaged in some non-textbook English.

Their response to me telling them about getting stung by a bee on Sunday while riding my scooter was, "OH teacher, you buy lottery?!" I was a bit confused and just went on with my story. The next few classes had the same response. Turns out it is lucky to be stung by a bee in Taiwan, and you should go and buy a lottery ticket if/when it happens.

Note taken.

#ESL #Taiwan #Grade 4 #Grade 5 #Grade 6 #Culture #SN

When I am not busy during my breaks (or desperate for a cat nap), I like to go to PE with my students. They're amused by the lanky foreigner joining them, I get some exercise, and they are really happy when they are able to translate directions from the PE coach (who speaks very little English) to me (who speaks VERY little Chinese). Overall it's a good time. Recently, the focus was learning the high jump, something I have never tried before. They lost it when I jumped off the wrong foot the first time: 'Teacher, you so crazy. Not right. You have to boing off the other foot.' I caught on pretty quick, and they didn't hesitate to start challenging me and raising the rope.

#Grade 6 #ESL #KS #Taiwan #PE

Student: "See teacher! I can pick you up to."

Teacher: "I think I'm a little bit heavier than him."

Student: "No teacher, I can."

Teacher *Saved by the bell*: "Let's wait and try that another day, time for class."

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