Things That Make Benson Cry

One kindergarten student starts crying all the time.

Most kids' crying is pretty standard - time outs, a super awesome block castle getting knocked over, etc. Also, the stages are really pronounced and predictable. First, there's the incident. Next, the eyes well up and a frown develops. From there, I can start a countdown until tears and screaming of a variable magnitude.

But Benson is different. One second he's fine and the next he's crying his eyes out. The progression of tear up to full on crying is practically instantaneous. Also, his triggers are numerous and unpredictable. After a while, it became kind of entertaining, and I had to start documenting. I don't think that's cruel.*

Here is the ever-expanding list of things that make Benson cry. 

Some make sense:

•  Time outs - given; time outs will break many a three year old's spirit.
• A cockroach - I don't like them much, either.
• Stepping in spilled water - crying is better than swearing or punching other kids, I guess.

Others not so much: 

• A plastic toy lobster - it's red?
• The tiny geckos that run around everywhere - glass jar, anyone?
• His Christmas costume - sure, it wasn't a matador costume, but Uncle Sam is still awesome!
• A leaf that blew into the classroom - the other students didn't think it looked threatening.

Lastly, some things leave me scratching my head:

• When kindergartners have to use they bathroom they ask in a few different ways. Some will simply tap me and say, "May I go to the bathroom?" Others are more crude and just grab their junk and pantomime "peeing all over everything." Others still, just leave the classroom and go. I'm fine with all of those. Guess which method Benson prefers? None of the above - he just starts crying. 

• Last week, a puppy wandered into the schoolyard. It was black, about the size of a shoe and frolicking all around with big 'ol puppy dog eyes. It was adorable. All the kids ran toward the dog, and I was worried it would get trampled. Basically, the epitome of childhood curiosity. Everyone was ecstatic about the little puppy. ... Except Benson. Benson started crying. 

Addendum:
*I cried when I started kindergarten. It sucked - I missed my mom, couldn't cut my own hair, and playtime wasn't all the time. My teacher let me use the computer for a little while every day. (Ms. Grace, thank you for being so patient and understanding while I adjusted to my new environment.) And adjust I did: a few days later, I stopped crying and proceeded to be hardened by public school. ;)

Anyhow, I really can't empathize with Benson's situation. I tried the first couple times, but come on, an adorable puppy...

Documenting will continue. This may turn into a series if it continues to be fresh.

Teaching Update - The Good Ones

Previously, I wrote about the bad kids. It would be completely unfair to forget about the really good students who punctuate my job with fun and smiles.

Wayne, from my younger kindergarten class, is a good example. He's just the right mix of smart and rambunctious. My favorite Wayne moment happened during a lunch hour a few weeks ago. I was chowing down on some noodles when Wayne looked at me, pointed to himself and said, "Linbian." Then, he pointed to me, all wide-eyed.

Linbian is the town he lives in. I knew what he was asking and replied, "I live in Donggang."

Sure enough, Wayne lit up with a smile and exclaimed to the class, "Teacher Timmm ... ... ...   TeacherTimliveDONGGANG!"

Immediately after, Arthur said something to Wayne and Wayne responded. Then, Clare asked Wayne a question. Wayne said something to Clare, Clare smiled, and a conversation about something broke out amongst all the students.

My Chinese co-teacher explained the situation to me. Turns out, Arthur asked Wayne, in Taiwanese, about his conversation with teacher. Only Arthur and Wayne speak Taiwanese - Clare asked Wayne for the Mandarin translation.

Yeppo, Wayne asked me a question in English, explained the answer to Arthur in Taiwanese, and explained that answer to everyone in Mandarin. Wayne is four years old, fyi. 

About once a week, Wayne and I have a conversation about where we live: he points to me and says, "Donggang." I point to him and say, "Linbian."

Teaching Update

Previously, I explained that I like teaching at the kindergarten more than cram school. Well, I still do. I promised updates about the cram school. This is the first installment: the bad class. 

Candidly, one class kind of sucks. Mostly the boys - their behavior is a problem. I keep a journal/organizer. (It's titled Power Notebook! and I drew lightning bolts on the cover). Here is an excerpt about bad class:

 The boys are shitheads. Anything is a toy: socks, rocks, coins, pencils. [They are] constantly shuffling around, talking, falling, fighting, and spilling water. No focus or participation.

I can empathize because once upon a time I was the problem child. My mom could tell you about my preschool alter-ego whom I named Sassy. In high school, I was suspended for putting laxatives in a teacher's coffee. However, I'm a grown up now. (?) More importantly, a teacher who is being paid well by these kids' parents.

Classroom management is critical to teaching this class effectually.

My first method started with putting names on the board and adding X's. The students knew that three X's were bad. This was a poorly planned idea. Creating a threshold only encourages more dicking-off up until the threshold. Basically, I clarified precisely how much dicking-off was allowed: 2.9999999 X's. Also, fear was short lived - soon they were less scared and more curious about that third X. I thought about a few options that, ultimately, would have been too lax or, on the other extreme, gotten them beaten (seriously) by their parents. I didn't like either option.

Next, I tried a combination of publicity and physical punishment. I had the troublemakers stand up on their chairs and hold their arms straight out. This was too much a distraction (and dangerous).

Then, I singled out troublemakers with a barrage of reading and questions. Better, but singling out one kid gives the others free reign. Also, the problem is compounded when the girls get bored because they aren't engaged.

Lastly, I started constantly walking around and standing over their shoulders. To date, this has been the most effective tactic for keeping them under control. Obviously, not effective when I must be at the whiteboard. Also, it makes me feel like such a disciplinarian.

I'm not too worried, though, as I think my disciplinarian role will be short term. Eventually, they'll be conditioned. When that happens, I'll lighten up and start to have more fun with the class.

I'll be the pack leader:

Tsst
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PARKmore...

Just great, South Park - much better than advice from TEFL books. You can watch the full episode here: http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s10e07-tsst