The First and Possible Final Breakthrough

I don't know if I've mentioned this or not but I've really struggled this year with disrespectful students. From 6-16, there were a few months when it seemed like the majority of my students were hell-bent on refusing to listen to anything I said.

If I told them to sit down, they would sit in the floor or on their friends lap.

I was hit and kicked and elbowed and stomped on. A 6/7 year old tried to choke out another kid during my class. Frankly, the children only received a quick scolding when I reported the incidents.

Everyday was a nightmare. Eventually the classes were rearranged and some of the trouble students didn't come back.

The situation improved but I never felt like I was at a place where  I felt it was good.

Anyway, this summer I had an extra class to teach during summer vacation. The class had no set books or curriculum so I was able to create everything. So much here is focused on rote memorization so I tried to stay away from that as much as possible. I picked a topic for each class and we read a story or watched a cartoon relating to the topic, sang silly songs with motions and played games that involved running around the classroom. Basically, general silliness ensued. But, it was silliness in English.

I had 2 sweet, shy little girls in this class. I'd taught them before and they were afraid to try. One little girl was too afraid of making a mistake that she wouldn't even play the telephone game.

So, I amped up the silliness. I mimed extreme facial expressions and spoke in silly voices. I made these girls my partners whenever we played loud games so I could encourage them to try.

After a month, the class ended and we went back to our regular schedule. The two shy girls went back to their regular class.

On the first day of class, we watched the movie clip and I asked a question. The two little girls were straining themselves, falling out of their seats trying to raise their hands above the others. They wanted to answer. They wanted to try. They knew they could do it. So, I chose on of them. And they blew it away and set the example for the rest of the class.

All I could say was "Wow. Thank you God!"

For a Total of 200

I've reached 200 posts! To celebrate my  frequent posting habits dedication, I've compiled a list of bloggy goals and a blog recap.

 Blogging Goals

1. Host a blog giveaway
2. Host a blog swap
3. Finish the ABC challenge
4. Keep up with Featured Follower Friday
5. Meet a bloggy friend
6. Attend a blog conference/workshop
7. Participate in a blog cooking challenge
8. Reach 300 posts.
9. Do reviews for the products I've recieved
10. Create a blog post for everything I complete on my 101/1001 list
11. Feature more recipes.
12. Have a guest poster on my blog. (Let me know if you're interested)

Last 100 Recap

1. I now have 75 followers.
2. I wrote my first guest post.
3. I wrote several book reviews
4. I've won quite a few giveaways- business cards, Kraft gift pack, cooking sauce.
5. I'm planning several reviews: soap and chocolate products.
6. I've kept up with Go Win Wednesday.
7. I've started Featured Follower Friday.
8. I pulled over an old post from a previous blog
9. I created a Cast of Characters post to help you get to know the people I write about.
10. I've blogged about my time in Changwon.
11. I've made it to letter  K in the ABC Challenge
12. I've kept blogging about my wedding plans.
13. I've kept a running wishlist and featured some products from Etsy.
14. I made a tab for my 101/1001 list.
15. I've started Saturday Smiles. Won't you link up?

Questions for My Readers:

1. What made you want to follow my blog?
2. What do you want to see more of?
3. What would you like to see less of?
4. Is there one word you'd use to describe my blog?
5. How'd you find my blog?

First Guest Post!

My first guest post went live today.

Exciting!

So go check out the Plunge Project to read my post about choosing a wedding theme!

I'm on time!

I'm on time with this weeks Thursday Five. Well it here it goes and feel free to join in on the fun.

I'm suppoused to post 5 things this week that made me:

Happy

Delighted

Grateful

Totally Stoked

or

Thankful

1. Girl Talk and a Rotti Bun. Yesterday my two new American girlfriends, M and J went to Rotti Rotti Bun, a cafe type place. We all had very yummy Rotti Buns. Rotti Buns are big brown buns that are baked with a big scoop of butter on the inside. They're absolutely amazing. And ours were the first of the day and just out of the oven. Incredible. It was also super amazing to be able to have some girl chit chat, with out having to do extra work to help get my point across. Here are some pictures I found of Rotti buns, because I'm a slacker and forgot to take my own. Next time my friends, next time.                                                      

 

2.  I won two giveaways this week- business cards from Uprinting and a personalized snack mix from my mymixednuts.com.                                 

                                                                                                                

3.  I was able to cross the first thing off of my 101/1001 list this week-buying my wedding earrings! And I inspired "my bestie" to make her own list. She's up to 40 items now.

4.   I'm up to 26 followers! Thank you! 

5.   This one is super simple but it delighted me just the same. This week I discovered that I  can get a vanilla (soft serve) ice cream cone for less than 40 cents. If I want chocolate instead its about 70 cents. I prefer scoop ice cream to soft serve but for 40 cents I'm not complaining!

                                                      

What made your week this week?

100th Post!

In honor of my 100th post I want to recap and set some goals.

I've joined 20sb.

I've posted 23 wedding planning related posts.

I've had 17 ATM Favorites- in a total of 6 posts. I want to have at least 20 more ATMs by y 200th post. (7/20)

I've posted about a few giveaways and I'm thinking about starting a "Will you Win Wednesday?"/"Go Win Wednesday!"

I've blogged about baking and tried out 7 recipes. I doubt there will be many more of these until September:(

I've participated in one blog challenge. My next goal is to try the color challenge I've seen other people do.

I've changed my layout once.

I've had one poll.

I have 9 followers. I'd like to double this by the next post. For those of you that are math challenged like me, thats 18 total....I think. (20/18)

I've done 4 book reviews. I want to have 6 more by post 200.

I've won one award. I know, I know, I didn't post it or pass it on. That'll be my goal. By post 200 I want to have posted about the award I won and passed it on.

I'm working on a guest post!
I've been blogging for around 6 months!