Specifically each child.
I've found that so often I get caught up in thinking "this child is bad so I have to look out for whatever they'll do next to defy me." But recently those "problem" children have been the ones that will humor me when I try to rationalize with them when they do something they aren't supposed to.
Yesterday one boy was using me as a shield from another, so I joined in! And it worked, they continued to play with me for the remainder of patio time (that's basically like recess, just on a large patio). Last week I had a lovely conversation with two boys about how if they continued to climb all the way over the playset, that at some point they would slip and fall and crack their heads open... and surprisingly they listened.
For me the worst part of the day is the hour and a half that I teach three different "psico" classes. Psico is basically the Spanish preschool version of PE, but in a tiny room that absorbs no noise and is blazing hot. I teach psico for 3 and 5 year olds all by myself, supposedly only in English, however if I actually spoke zero Spanish to them, nothing would be accomplished. Usually the first class goes decently and then from there it is a downward spiral. Something about four o'clock just makes children go insane. It's getting better though, yesterday they were fairly decent. And that's all I ask for. I understand they are children and they aren't going to be quiet and sit and listen to me speak in a different language of half and hour without making a peep. The thing I hate is that half the time I spend yelling at them trying to get them to be quiet, and they can't even hear me because of the roar of 20 children speaking drowns me out.
Most of them aren't doing it viciously. I guess. I just need to try to keep my calm and not freak out when they've been talking for ten minutes of the thirty minute class. Like Alice said, I don't need to be afraid of them. As long as I keep confident in what I'm doing, they don't have any power over me.
Last night we had parent meetings where basically the five year old teachers just told each of their class's parents what they do each day. And I was there for nothing more than to be like "this is Kendall from America and she does psico with your children." I stayed for three extra hours for that.
I did learn that the math they do with these kids is INSANE. You know those old Chinese math tablet things with the beads (I put a picture below)? They use those, but it's not some ancient way of doing math, its actually incredibly advanced! Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXC41DphVI4 Skip to about 40 seconds. Basically these kids will be able to do that in about three to four years. Its scary though, I don't think I want children to be that smart haha.
In other news, I have a BANK ACCOUNT! Hooray! Now I'm just waiting until my check from the US clears and for my card to come in!!! Finally something. Also, I have an appointment to get finger printed for the process of getting my TIE which is basically a foreigner identification number and lets me stay here for over 90 days. Its at the end of October, but it could be worst, one girl from Meddeas has her's in February (which is impossible because she's from the US and will be illegally here by that point).
The best news of all... TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!
Hope the rain and flooding hasn't washed anyone away, stay safe.
Hasta luego!
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