Weeks 33 and 34

I had a slow restart coming back from Easter break, especially since we came back at the end of the week on Thursday and Friday before heading into another weekend.

The Thursday after Easter break, the 24th, was the last day for the 12th graders.  I got to school bright an early in time to see them decorating the school yard in their costumes.  They scattered paper and bottle caps (which they cleaned up later on that day) and hung up caricatures of their class teachers, including Frau Krumrück.  They also played some pranks, such as blocking off the front door with a dumpster and attacking teachers as they walked up to the school with squirt guns.

 Later on that day, the 11th graders put on a game show-type program for everyone to watch and the 12th graders were the contestants.  The theme was the "Game of Life" or "Spiel des Lebens" and the contestants were asked to drive home from the Abiball (or prom) in tiny cars, build a chair for their first apartment, and race around to take care of a crying baby.

The 12th graders then planted a tree on school grounds as their class teachers looked on.  In the end, I am so glad I got to see this part of German school life.

That Friday I filled in for Frau Krumrück's 10th grade class as they finished up reading the novel Holes.

The next week I started doing reading tutoring again after a couple weeks off, and I can definitely notice improvements in the reading fluency of these two students since we started meeting at the beginning of the school year.  I am so glad.  We met on Monday and Tuesday that week.

I also met with my group of 7th graders on Tuesday, and we played 20 Questions.  On Tuesday I also went to an 8th grade class that Frau Krumrück was filling in for, and I talked to the students about the American school system.  I talked about schedules, required classes, and extra-curricular activities, and there was some time left over for students to ask me questions.

Then on Wednesday I had my American Culture group, and we did a sort of catch-up week, talking about Earth Day and Arbor Day, as well as recycling.  I asked students to tell me a little bit about how they recycle before talking about recycling in the United States, and I think they are starting to open up and talk a bit more.  I also introduced some fun sayings and idioms I hope to continue to use with these students, and I gave them a survey I created in hopes that I could learn more about their interest in English and see if my club makes any impact on that interest.  I'll give them the same survey at our last meeting in two months.  We'll see!

- Amy