Mr Twisty

Obviously the mood of my posts depends on my mood that day. Yesterday's post was a little depressing...sorry.
Today we did the same sort of thing and it went well...sorta. HAHAHAH The children drew their monsters and then we chatted in small groups about the attributes. Some of the classes were respectful of each other and of the fact that I nor Courtney speak fluent French and other classes were far from respectful of their peers or myself and Courtney. But alas I suppose that would be the case in any situation.

Monsieur Tordu = Mr. Twisty

Chapeau = Hat

Chat a 3 pattes = Cat with 3 legs

Look at these photos...it's the first sign of allowing creativity and art besides pen and paper. I love the creations!
The art makes me think that children are children and when you allow them to be...they are all silly artists ....MR TWISTY

MONSTERS

Discovery ignites the passion to create

I wish I spoke French. I wish the children understood my expectations. I wish the children felt free to express themselves creatively. But things are different here. Today Courtney and I started our monster unit, which relies heavily on the fact that children love monsters and want to draw their own monsters. But alas that isn't  always the case here. At one point, we had an example of a monster on the blackboard and the children proceeded to copy it. AHHHHHH....we quickly erased it and the children were shocked that they could draw literally whatever they wanted. SIGH. Poor little ones.
Run time.

Sunday - is that a good enough title?

Picture from the bakery yesterday

Almost time to teach again! Courtney and I only have 4 more weeks of teaching together. I think that I will forgo a trip somewhere to get my extra two days in that I missed when I was gallivanting around Italy with Geoff. But that week will be good too, just spend it running and catching up on some quality silence! 4 girls in one apartment usually means someone is talking somewhere!

Courtney & I with the paper sculptures in the background

Burn baby, burn

Yesterday was carnival. A celebration of Earth and the children's commitment to taking care of it. The children dress up in costumes, march through the town, Nemourians open their shutters and watch. THEN we arrive at a square where the children have giant paper sculptures that they light on fire. Still not sure why, but they do! It was so much fun to see the children outside of school. We played silly games with the kids, like chase and cops and robbers. Some of the children's parents came and introduced themselves to us. It felt very "normal". Finally.

Life is beautiful

NEW PHOTOS - Check out the photo page

Not gonna lie, France is so warm right now. When I first arrived in Paris it was a billion degrees below zero, I had on winter bots, winter jacket, mittens, scarf and toque, much too cold. Now it's sunny and the daffodils are coming out...sigh.
Yesterday I went for a run around the gardens of Chateau Fountainebleau in a tank top and spandex, this is the good life.

Little bitty daises

Can you find the castle?

Kings and Queens strolled over the bridge behind me...WHAT

However today at lunch time, it was NOT the good life. Typically I like to pride myself on not being a picky eater, there are some things that I like more than other things, but I've never come across something that I didn't like to the point that I wouldn't eat. I found my kryptonite today. We eat with the children at a inter-school cafeteria, usually the food is to die for. Our conversations go something like this. "Oh my god, this is the greatest meal ever." Fast forward to next lunch. "OK, so yesterday was good, but this is even better." It's so good. Today we had pork intestines. First of all they smelt like s*** and they looked like s*** and then I tasted them and they tasted like s***. I actually gagged twice. Anything that is responsible for digesting food is not actually food; don't eat it.

Buzzing instead of crickets...SUCCESS

Watching two little ones play outside the Leaning Tower of Pisa

AH! Teaching is looking up! Yesterday we had an evaluation from the TAB organizers. They were not pleased to say the least. They watched our lesson on Aesop's fables...Afterwards they were dumbfounded  about why we chose that lesson. It took us a while to explain to them that we were asked and expected to teach the fables and that it was not our choice to A) teach the fables or B) to teach in the way that we were. Once we were on the same page they congratulated us on our lessons considering what was asked of us...then things got better...They told us that they would talk to administration and change our lesson expectations. Now we get to teach language basics to the little ones and quickly finish with the Aesop's with the older ones and then start on language with them! Today Courtney and I planned three different lessons and they have all gone so well. The classrooms have been buzzing, instead of crickets...