Teaching again...

It's great to be teaching again. I got a position one evening a week teaching "English Club" for children who have are attending or have graduated from Kindis (Jacob's Kindergarten). It is a once a week program for these children to practice their English skills. I have free will with these children, and no set lesson plans. The basic idea is just for the children to hear and speak English, which makes it fun for me! It isn't much work-wise, but it is a great thing for me to ease back into the classroom setting. I have the children for an hour and a half, but was just complaining to someone that it is almost too short of time for me to plan lessons, as it is only 45 minutes of actual "teaching", the rest is snack and playtime. Those 45 minutes tend to feel like seconds for me, and makes me want to get back into a whole or half-day setting again!

I did an Apple unit with the children, and we made apple pies at the last English Club. Whew! It wasn't much work on my part, but the children were so excited that I had a hard time getting their attention on anything but pie! The pies turned out delicious though, and the kiddos were SO proud of themselves! Even so, it is such fun when you know the children love to be there.

The most difficult thing about teaching English Club is the age differences. I usually have about 12-15 students, ages 4 to 8... that makes such a difference, not only in their understanding and control of English, but mostly in their attitude and interest toward the lessons! How do you make lessons fit for such an age difference? That question goes around and around in my head while planning. I have to think of things that will get the older ones involved, and the younger ones understanding; songs that are not too childish, yet not too difficult, and games and activities that the older and younger children enjoy alike. We made an "apple pie graph" during one lesson, and I feared that it might be too advanced for the children, but they all really enjoyed it, as they could all get involved one way or another.

The crazy thing about this group is that I have met nearly every single one of these children when they were in Kindi's in 2010. I remember them well, so it was easy to learn names and such, but none of them remember me except the ones who have been there when I have come to visit over the years! I can't believe that was nearly 4 years ago already! Time goes by so quickly...