Giving credit to Kindergarten teachers everywhere

It's been almost a month since my last post.

I have loads of excuses for the delay. However, I will focus on the most pressing excuse: my job.

My work schedule has changed from teaching Elementary from 1-9pm to Kindergarten & Elementary from 9am-6pm. 

I teach 7 6-year olds for an hour and a half, and then switch with my coworker, Stella and teach 8 5-year olds for another hour and a half. We have lunch with the kids, clean up, and brush teeth. I receive about an hour break and then teach Elementary till 6pm. So, needless to say I've been exhausted these past two weeks. We are in need of more teachers, and we're looking into hiring 2 more foreigners. I actually interviewed a woman today who told me she read my blog and was interested in SLP because of what I had posted.

I love these kids. They are beyond adorable. And it's a good thing these kids are so cute because little did I know how difficult teaching Kindergartners would be. To set one thing straight, teaching English speaking Kinders would be a totally different experience than teaching Korean Kinders. Not only can these youngsters barely understand their own language, trying to control a class of 8 5-year old's with a language they only know the English alphabet is borderline impossible. I attempted "Duck Duck Goose" yesterday and it failed miserably.

My 6 year olds are well-behaved (most of the time) and can comprehend most games- although "Hot Potato" was a little tricky to master today. However, the 5 year olds are a completely different story.

Let me paint a picture for you:

If you've ever seen Toy Story 3 then you will be able to relate to my next description....

In Toy Story 3 the toys are put into a Preschool room with young toddlers who are not "age appropriate". The toddlers shove toy pieces into their nose, run around wildly, dip the toys into paint, chew on them; with death music is playing the entire time. Then in one scene Buzz looks through the window into the older toddlers play room and sees the children gently hugging their toys, sharing, carefully putting the baby to sleep; all while classical music plays in the background. The first playroom = my 5 year olds.

No, it's really not that bad. But it has been difficult trying to explain games to youngsters who only know a few numbers, colors, and letter sounds. Thankfully there is a Korean Teacher Assistant in the room with me, who understands them when they say they need to go to the bathroom, translate my directions, and give them more rice when they ask for it at lunch.

It's been a challenge. But I love this job and the children. Their smiles hugs make it worth it.

Some pictures of my 5 year olds: