Happy New Year!!!
Well, I would would write you a camp update, but we are done with camps until next semester. We do have a short 2 1/2 day character training in a school, so more on that when it comes. These weeks in the office are filled with re-writing and re-vamping curriculum, painting new classrooms, Bible study, team time, and of course, lots of meetings. Though we are busy all the time, it's a little less exciting than school children. However, I will try to at least give you an idea of what's up:
PAINTING PROJECTS:
Next semester, we begin double camps, which means we use some classrooms that were previously not used. These "new" classrooms need decorated. Us English teachers were given the assignment. We put our heads together, and...
One room is the music room. Sanna is in-charge of the details. It already has some whimsical notes, so we kept to that theme. She added some giant sheets of music with some favorite songs, in English and Chinese.
Another room, in which Jo was given charge, is depicting character. She has worked very hard to depict in cartoon style, the story of the Red Hen. There are many scenes, and lots of work, so it will take time, but it will be great!
The last room, which ended up being mine, shows history. We had chosen the story of the Flood to put in there, so all I had to do is figure out how to display it. This room is also special, with an interactive part on the wall where the kids can play with the animals. The wall will be painted with magnetic paint, so the pieces will stick on the wall. the story is in 10 scenes, framing the interactive circle.
please pray that we are able to finish, and that the kids will see the character depicted as well as just "neat" stories.
CURRICULUM:
Since we got here, we have not had a good chance to work on curriculum. We just taught what was developed last year. However, each of us has seen a need for relating the English we are teaching to the character they are already learning in Chinese. Also, we have considered adding some emphasis on the children's unchangeables, (which we call special gifts) but that may not be doable. There are 5 qualities taught here: attention, respect, responsibility, honesty, and gratefulness; along with two concepts: self-confidence and positive thinking. The idea is to back-up the character with our English. For example, when we teach emotions, we can refer back to their class on positive thinking. When we teach about the rules in the classroom, we can back-up the ideas of attention and respect.
please pray that God will give us wisdom, creativity, LOTS OF IDEAS, and knowledge of the necessary Chinese to teach this way.
*please note, their term "positive thinking" is more equivalent to "optimism" but it all depends on who teaches it.
Today, we got a surprise visit from Mr. HT. It was good to see our boss (we call Joyce our boss, but she is really our supervisor). It was also good to have an excuse to clean the office.
We had fun making a new year's blessing poster with his help, and practicing Chinese calligraphy. Mr. HT is not a believer, but he is close. We continue to pray that he will see that Jesus is not just a good way, but the only way.
please pray for Mr. HT's salvation. (as well as the rest of our Chinese teacher team)
Thank you all for your faithfulness in prayer and for your encouraging notes. I know I do not get back to all of you individually, but I DO appreciate the notes!
A fellow-servant,
Barbara
Well, I would would write you a camp update, but we are done with camps until next semester. We do have a short 2 1/2 day character training in a school, so more on that when it comes. These weeks in the office are filled with re-writing and re-vamping curriculum, painting new classrooms, Bible study, team time, and of course, lots of meetings. Though we are busy all the time, it's a little less exciting than school children. However, I will try to at least give you an idea of what's up:
PAINTING PROJECTS:
Next semester, we begin double camps, which means we use some classrooms that were previously not used. These "new" classrooms need decorated. Us English teachers were given the assignment. We put our heads together, and...
One room is the music room. Sanna is in-charge of the details. It already has some whimsical notes, so we kept to that theme. She added some giant sheets of music with some favorite songs, in English and Chinese.
Another room, in which Jo was given charge, is depicting character. She has worked very hard to depict in cartoon style, the story of the Red Hen. There are many scenes, and lots of work, so it will take time, but it will be great!
The last room, which ended up being mine, shows history. We had chosen the story of the Flood to put in there, so all I had to do is figure out how to display it. This room is also special, with an interactive part on the wall where the kids can play with the animals. The wall will be painted with magnetic paint, so the pieces will stick on the wall. the story is in 10 scenes, framing the interactive circle.
please pray that we are able to finish, and that the kids will see the character depicted as well as just "neat" stories.
CURRICULUM:
Since we got here, we have not had a good chance to work on curriculum. We just taught what was developed last year. However, each of us has seen a need for relating the English we are teaching to the character they are already learning in Chinese. Also, we have considered adding some emphasis on the children's unchangeables, (which we call special gifts) but that may not be doable. There are 5 qualities taught here: attention, respect, responsibility, honesty, and gratefulness; along with two concepts: self-confidence and positive thinking. The idea is to back-up the character with our English. For example, when we teach emotions, we can refer back to their class on positive thinking. When we teach about the rules in the classroom, we can back-up the ideas of attention and respect.
please pray that God will give us wisdom, creativity, LOTS OF IDEAS, and knowledge of the necessary Chinese to teach this way.
*please note, their term "positive thinking" is more equivalent to "optimism" but it all depends on who teaches it.
Today, we got a surprise visit from Mr. HT. It was good to see our boss (we call Joyce our boss, but she is really our supervisor). It was also good to have an excuse to clean the office.
please pray for Mr. HT's salvation. (as well as the rest of our Chinese teacher team)
Thank you all for your faithfulness in prayer and for your encouraging notes. I know I do not get back to all of you individually, but I DO appreciate the notes!
A fellow-servant,
Barbara
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