Please forgive me....

I have been a terrible bloggert!! I know, it has been over a month!!! So, all of my camps ended and the school year FINALLY has begun. I am extremely busy with school. The schedule is random and varied and I am working overtime, so it makes it very difficult for Skyping, as well as finding free time for things like blog posts. So what is it like??
I actually much preferred to teach camps. Although I had to do all of the planning and prep for camps, the lessons were my own and there was a lot more freedom...I also liked not having a Korean co-teacher. Now, don't get me wrong, I have wonderful co-teachers, but I found that when the children can't rely on someone to tell them in Korean what to do or what is being said, they tend to listen more carefully and are overall more engaged. I am teaching from 3rd-6th grade during normal school hours. I work on a rotating schedule. So...one week I teach with one co-teacher in grades 3 & 4, the next week, I teach with another co-teacher in 5th grade and one 3rd grade class and then the next week, I teach with my 3rd co-teacher in 6th grade with another 3rd grade class. Each class is seen twice per week, so I only see most kids 2 or maybe 4 times per month. Then after school, I am teaching overtime at the welfare program. I figure as long as I am at school I might as well be doing something...right?? Plus I am getting paid about $100/week in OT, so that will definitely be my travel money for the summer. In the welfare program, I get to make my own lesson plans, which is fun!  I teach 1st grade twice per week and 2nd grade twice per week. The little kids are so freaking cute. I love them!! And now they are planning on giving me an additional welfare class of 3rd-6th, which will meet twice per week, but will be more focused on "fun learning" since there will be such a gap in age and ability. It is definitely going to be a lot...in all, I only have about an hour and a half of "free time" per day, but I think it is worth it.
The other great thing about the school year starting...I finally get the calendar for the year. Which means...I can figure out when I have days off and can take some vacations!! Our next significant break falls in May and of course I am taking a trip. I am actually going with a fellow CofC-er to Boracay in the Philippines!! I am so excited to get on a beach and get a tan!!
http://www.boracayonline.com/

5th grade spring campers

6th grade spring campers

6th grade girls

one of my favorite students, Ha Eun("Rachel")