Small Group

As stated in an earlier entry, I have started a small group with some of my students from last year. We get together once a week to discuss a novel we have been reading outside of class. As many as 15 have shown up, and this last week I still had 9, with a handful who came to apologize that they would be unable to make, but assured me they would still come in the future.

We have been reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt, outside of small group. Each day when we get together we discuss what happened in the previous week's reading and do some sort of activity. 2 weeks ago they wrote a little about what would be the perfect age at which one could live forever. We then shared these ideas, with answers ranging from 5 years old to 35 years old, but most were smack in the middle of 20's (I said 24, so I guess I have passed my prime, ha!).

This week we acted out vocabulary words. I gave the students 10 vocab words for the novel. They worked in pairs and had to find a way to act out the word for the rest of the class. The class then had to guess what their vocab word was. Our words included elated, melancholy, searing, perilous, gallows, oppressive, and others. The kids loved it, and were laughing and having a good time as they watched each other.

I have really loved this group, and know that God is blessing it and the relationships that are being built with the students. I am so thankful to be able to spend time with some of these kids again this year.

New Link

I just wanted to let you all know about an exciting new link that has been added to my blog. Under links you will see one titled "Friday Night Bible Study". This will take you to the brand new Friday Night Bible Study Blog. This will be updated weekly (unlike my blog, ha!) and provide pictures and information about Friday Night Bible Study here in Chia Yi, Taiwan. Feel free to check it out.

First Week of School

Well...one week down. The first week can be a little long, going over the rules multiple times, establishing routines, and just getting used to the full work day again. So I was definitely ready for the weekend.

At the same time I am was so excited to have the chance to meet my new students and get to see some of my old ones around school. A couple of things that I am especially excited about this year are my Junior 1 Conversation Class, my literature small group and the American football club.

The Junior One (7th grade) Conversation class is new at Concordia this year. For this class, we take one class of 50 and divide it into 4 small groups. This groups of 10-12 students then practice conversation and vocabulary from their English book. It is nice to have such a small group of students and to get to know them.

The literature small group is a group of 17 students who meet with me on Tuesdays during the nap time. These are Senior 2 (11th grade) students who I had in my Advanced English Class last year. We are going to read books outside of class and then discuss and do activities during the nap time. I am really excited that 17 students are willing to do this extra work, outside of class and that I will still be able teach and learn with my former students.

Finally the football club is something Kevin and I are going to do during Saturday morning clubs at Concordia. Students come to school every other Saturday and have 1 hour and a half of club time and then 1 hour and a half of meeting time or study time. We have 18 kids who have signed up for it. We plan on teaching and discussing rules and basics about football, watching some games, and playing games. Of course it will not be tackle, but rather 2 hand touch or flag football.

Tomorrow starts week 2 of school, and the pray is that God will keep the energy and pasison going throughout the semester, as I serve Him here in Taiwan.