Classroom+update+from+K1

Classroom/Life in China Today is September 1st, 2009 and the student of K1 have started their first full day!! It was quite a whirlwind when I arrived just before 8:00am, as many children were already bawling. The morning was very long, with some brief quiet times where the children were eating or playing a circle game outside with a ball. We are easing them into a routine that seems challenging at the best of times* These three year olds are expected to eat properly (good manners -with a spoon, Western cutlery) and start to know the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colours in English by the end of the semester!! I guess I've got my work cut out for me.... but for now I'm really trying to establish some classroom rules and routines to help them focus, while also trying to be a friend. One little guy, who actually lives in my building, just wouldn't let me go but eventually I had to go on my lunch break. Thankfully I am able to eat and nap and still come back in time for them to start waking up from their nap time. We'll see how this transition goes tomorrow*