Motivation

So today I finished my first week of teaching. And my students and I are still alive. Success. 

I discovered something very important today: motivation. 

And I figured out what motivates my students to behave: stickers. 

If only it was this easy to motivate everyone I know. 

In class 2, I decided to try a little experiment. 

When my students started getting out of control, I said, "One, two, three!" and then folded my arms. Two of my students followed suit and I gave them each a sticker. 

Then the rest of them caught on. The next time I did it, almost the entire class folded their arms, sat up straight, and became silent. I gave a few of them stickers. 

POWER!!!! AND IT'S MINE!!!! MY PRECIOUS!!!!!

Just kidding. But I did feel a certain amount of satisfaction in the fact that I could get my class to be quiet and listen to me. And I was also proud that I was able to take over the majority of the classroom management over from my co-teachers. 

In Class 4, my co-teacher has the class trained so that when she says "Attention!" the students sit up straight and face her and say "ONE TWO!" Although it sounds more like "WAN TO!"

Class 4 is my naughty class. And by naughty I mean they just talk all the time. Four of the boys in Class 4 totally disregard the fact that they are in class. I took toys away from them today. 

And yesterday, I met class 8. When I came into class, one of the little girls ran towards me shouting something in Chinese and literally leapt into my arms, giving me a huge hug.  And I named her Joslynn. She was my first student to give me a hug. I about cried. 

My students recognize me in the hallway now. I walk past and they say "Laoshi! Laoshi!" (Teacher! Teacher!) And they like to touch me. It's kind of funny. 

Today in Class 4, one of my girls kept saying something to me in Chinese. Of course, I couldn't understand. So I had my co-teacher translate. Apparently my student said, "You are very white." I laughed so hard. Then, my co-teacher asked if my nickname was Snow White. I told her no. 

For some reason, the internet is being difficult here so I'm having a hard time posting pictures. Hopefully it'll get better soon, so I can show you my beautiful kids