teaching stories...

I made a kid cry today!

He was not paying attention during the lesson and was being a distraction to the other kids in the small group I was working with, so I told him he had to go back to class and stay with the teacher and the other students. He started crying, saying, "No, no, no!" But I made him and another boy, who were the two distractions in the group, go back to class. I walked them out of the room and back to the classroom, where I explained to the teacher why they had to return to class. To get back to the classroom from the art room that we were in, you have to pass through another classroom, where another auxiliar was teaching. So I marched the two boys through the classroom (one crying) and I guess the other auxiliar said her kids were scared after that! She threatened them that if they didn't behave, they would have to go back to class too! I felt bad for making the poor kid cry, but when I talked to his teacher after class she said that he cries easily, so I don't feel so bad.

But discipline is definitely my least favorite part about teaching. It's necessary, though.

All the other girls I work with tell me I am going to be a teacher : ) I love it. It just comes really naturally to me, so that's my plan when I go home: look for teaching programs. I think I want to stick to elementary-age kids, but I could also see myself enjoying teaching Spanish at a middle or high-school level...so many options!

We are starting to plan for Halloween at school! The program director wants us to do something special for Halloween, so we're tossing around ideas like a "tunnel of terror" or different stations (put your hand inside the box and feel the brains/eyeballs/etc; arts and crafts; story-telling; and other games), but we're not certain yet. Either way, I want to do something the kids are going to remember! And Halloween is my favorite holiday...

Still no news about the nannying job, but I did see a flyer for free Spanish classes in my neighborhood, so I think I'm going to check that out tonight! I figure it's a good way to keep practicing and keep my grammar sharp! : ) Plus, it's free! I looked on the website, and the information was in Spanish and Arabic...so I think it's going to be me and bunch of Indians, but I don't mind! Maybe I'll make some new friends!