School Stuff

Up til now I haven't posted any pictures of my kids. I finally remembered to take a picture in class.

This is a great group representing Italy, South Korea, Turkey, Spain, Iran, Canada, and America. 

I have several of these kids multiple times for high school ESL, and then a pseudo-ESL math course. "Pseudo" meaning that it was not intended as an ESL math course, but the scheduling worked out that most everyone in it was a kid necessitating high school ESL and so it actually works out well because we can address those needs more head on. It has worked out great so far. I will try to get pictures of my other classes up soon so that you can see more of their beautiful faces. 

    Something I like about the school here is the family atmosphere. It is does not have the feeling of suburbia as is the case at times in the US. Here it is more familial out of necessity, where our kids don't all have opportunities to hang out and just chill in the same way a usual kid growing up does. Most of their friends (and most of the people that the non-turks know) come through the school itself. So, school is a happenin' place. The other day we had school wide volleyball games for our teams, and we played ourselves since the other international school is not fielding a team this year. It was a good time, getting to hang out with teachers, parents, and students after school and watching the kids play. 

One of the funniest parts of my job is grading. It's a huge pain, but at least mine are humorous. The ESL writing is great, but there are occasional gems - misused or misunderstood idioms, things that don't translate well into English, wordings that are literally correct but completely blunt or inappropriate.... all good stuff. I teach the high school ESL courses, the one math course, and then character. Character is a Bible alternative for kids who wish to opt out. We go over secular character building by taking universally accepted qualities and applying them to our lives. I have an awesome class of 7th and 8th graders that is more like another English class because we are studying character by reading novels with protagonists who demonstrate quality character. Then there is my Upper Elementary Specials class. Yes, Elementary. I have students in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. (Listing them was for effect if you didn't get it). Third through sixth I have one period a week. They get a weekly character lesson with ol' Mr. Knox. This class is  an intense study of the inner self super bananas.

           The kids are great, but it is nonstop bonkers. My kids in high school are amazing and mature beyond their years. My middle schoolers are transitioning out of being hyper-hormonal oversized children into real life people. But these little ones...they are insane. I love them; they keep you on your toes. One day I made the mistake of using the restroom during class. I came back and a 4th grader was missing. Poof. Disappeared. I kept thinking: "How have a lost this loudmouthed Gambian child in a room with no escape?" She was hiding behind my curtains, standing on the windowsill. Another time I had them working on an worksheet and one of my kids asked to use the restroom. "Of course," I said. Three minutes later I hear a knock on the window from outside, and open the curtains to see that same Turkish boy exclaim "THERE'S A CAT OUT HERE!" He did not mention how he had come to be outside. I dragged him in through the window. One of my other third grade boys turned in something that was absolutely golden today. It is worth sharing. (a copy of the text is typed below - with some translation).

It took me a little bit to figure out that he was talking about Steve Jobs, founder of Apple. 

Full Text as written: There was a guy who invented an apple and 10 days ago iullumanaty killed the guy who invented an apple. And the people who is ulumenaty they are Pitbull, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and Rhianna. And the people who is ulumenaty sell there soil to the devill. And even the ulumenaty killed Michael Jackson. And the guy who invented the fruit apple named something john. 


Translation: There was a man named (something) John. (speaking of Steve JOBS). He invented the fruit apple. (started the company apple). He is dead now because of the Illuminati. (A secret group of the most powerful people on the planet who control every major world decision)

Said Illuminati members are:

Pitbull (some rapper / Illuminati member)

Ke$ha ("singer" / Illuminati member)

Lady Gaga ( fashionista / Illuminati member)

Rihanna (helmet designer / Illuminati member)

All these people have sold their soil (ed: soul) to the devil and also killed Michael Jackson. 

Now, the whole banking crisis / world debt thing makes a little bit more sense knowing that these are the people calling the shots. Lady Gaga, what is with the bad loans? Pitbull, whats the deal with eurozone man? I digress - my kid is some sort of a Illuminati savant, and also draws radical pictures. Here are some that were drawn in class today. Please note that I am Superman / Rumpelstiltskin. 

Hope all is well in the states or wherever you are reading from! 

Much Love to all! - B + K