Today was my first day back with my Grade 5s (Now grade 6s) since November of last year. They are kings and queens of the school now, but for some reason the majority of these students think that I'm cooler than them. Thus, their undivided attention is mine. I still feel like a tape recorder at points, but I've just accepted this role. As a reward for my cooperation my co-teacher allows me to ask questions to students to end the class.
Here's the spin, she'll open with, "everyone with glasses/ white socks/ a blue pencil case stand-up." Students look around and help the weaker English students with the unfortunate garb into the line of fire. "Now Garp will ask you a question. If you are too quiet, or too slow you will stay standing. He will then ask another question and if you are too quiet or too slow you will stand forever."
So here I am all smiley and happy ready to ask some simple questions: "What's your name?" "What day is it today?" "How's the weather?" "What's your favourite sport?" while she is panning the classroom with a menacing glare. Some handle the pressure well, others do not. Some look up at me with sad eyes, whispering, "sunny" and then turning only to stare into a very disappointed Korean Judy Dench shaking her head like she was watching them pick their nose and eat. Utter disgust. When she nods there's no trace of emotion. It's lots of fun too because I get to learn things about all these kids; except for their names, cool people don't need to remember those things (this could be a sign I've been hanging out with too many Cali-natives). But I'm having lots of fun being the good cop, and half the fun is seeing how mean the bad cop gets.
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