EPIK 365 Day 279: Latest Dongdaemun Haul

I really do love going to Dongdaemun…probably more than I should. I could spend all day and all my paycheck there easily.  It tests my self-control to the limit.  Anyway, my latest haul for my latest project(s).

EPIK 365 Day 239: Artistic Re-Working 2

Another talented student re-worked her picture from a mother changing a diaper to a  mother and child on a picnic.  Too cute!

EPIK 365 Day 238: Artistic Re-working

Finishing up some Mothers Day activities with some classes that missed them…I noticed one of the students had re-worked her picture.  Instead of a swan swimming, she changed it to a chicken laying eggs.  Very creative!

EPIK 365 Day 229: My Award Winning Cake

Ok, so it is kinda, sorta cheating because at one time I was a professional…

But I went to a cake decorating event and my cake was one of the ones chosen as the best at the event.  Simple and elegant.

EPIK 365 Day 208: Art Work

 Generally, I don't lock my classroom door while I am at school.  For one, I think it is a bad sign for a student to come see me and the door be locked.  For another, I leave my room a good bit so it is a lot of effort to lock and unlock the door every time.  And it's a good thing I don't…because sometimes I will come in and a student will have left me a little drawing.

EPIK 365 Day 194: Dongdaemun Market

An impromptu trip to Seoul saw me at the Dongdaemun market…or better known as heaven on earth!  Literally, anything and everything that you could want for handcrafts is there.  Buttons, zippers, lace, materials, yarn, bedding, handcrafts….it is all here.

Take Blue Line 4 to Dongdaemun station (NOT Dongdaemun Culture and History Park) or Dark Blue Line 1, take exit 9 to the street.  You will cross a little crosswalk for a parking garage and the building is immediately on the left.  Four floors of crafting heaven!

Apples to Apples

So, if I were going to be 100% honest…and I try to be…after my wild weekend I was not entirely up to teaching Monday morning.  Thankfully, I had order some games and things for my class that had come in before I left for vacation.  I decided that Apples to Apples required the least amount of prep work, so that was what I would do in class last week.

If you don't know, Apples to Apples has "red apple" cards that are nouns and verbs and "green apple" cards that are adjectives and adverbs.  The game is to pick a red apple that goes best with the green apple that was picked.  So, if my green apple was "happy" you find the red card that you feel is the most happy and be able to explain it.  Pretty simple…and I have a lot of faith in my students.  So, we play.

Some highlights:

"Courageous"
     -We chose The Avengers because in the movie they save the Earth from aliens by fighting *points to word written on the board* courageously.

     -We chose "having a baby" because it is hard and lots of things can go wrong.

"Honest"
     -Recycling, because honest people recycle *mimes sorting trash* honestly and bad people do not.

"Lucky"
     -The Middle East is lucky because they have all the oil.

     -We choose Daniel Craig because in the zero zero seven movies he survives many impossible situation, so he is very lucky.

"Rich"
     -The Royal Wedding because they have the important guests, flowers, food, the dress, ring, the media.

     -Foie Gras because it is one of 3 perfect food.  (So the best part of this one is that they then act out   
      foie gras with one boy being the goose, one cutting out his liver and the feeding it to another.)

     -Cholesterol because you get it from eating too much rich food.

"Sweet"
     -Vomiting because if it is because you have eaten all the sweet foods then maybe it tastes a little sweet.

"Inspirational"
     -Global Warming because it is taking away the polar bears' home and polar bear tears make me want to do something.

And maybe the best one was "Exciting"
     -Honeymoon.
     -Why is a Honeymoon exciting?
     -The kid starts grinning and his friend bursts out laughing…
     -Never mind.  Don't answer that.  I don't want to know.


It was so much fun…I really enjoyed seeing the way my students think and letting them be creative and clever.  We will play again during the year…and not just because they beg for the green card (uh, they get the green card if their answer is best) or tell me "Oh, Teacher, I love you" or "Teacher, you are beautiful" when I give them the green card.  But because these students are so smart and clever and they work so hard and it is wonderful to be able to let them be creative and have fun.


Edited to Add:
"Scenic"
     -Student 1: Teacher, this word.  What is meaning?
     -Me: When we say something is scenic we are usually referring to nature.  It means something is nice to look at.
     -Student 1: Oh, like Teacher.
     -Me: Laughs
     -Student 1: Kidding…kidding.
     -Student 2: No, really.

Topsy-Turvey Poems

I am pretty sure that my students hate that I like poetry.  And more that that I like making them write poetry because I think it is good for them to think creatively and individually.  More than that, it shows that there is more to English than rules and grammar.  I feel like it helps them use the language in a realistic way.

So I had my winter camp girls write sentences using a magnetic poetry-like exercise.  Then I made them use their sentences to make poems as a team.  Here they are:

Doctor
Doctor sees gold
Doctor is angel
Angel is gold
So gold is doctor.


Love
If love finish
We act without purpose
with desperation
but
we overcome sadness


Topsy-Turvy Poem
Learning is success
Success is freedom
Freedom saved the war

Books make good man
The man is wise more than other human

Privilege make others think
The violent privileges never change others.


And the last one played a little fast and loose with the guidelines of the activity, but the result is astounding!

Untitled
You can't forgive the man isn't you?
Someday, sometime
You had opportunity of happiness

Angel has eternity
But not the peoples.
Poor angel
Your love is eternal, but
his love is joy

Yes, I know you can't forgive the man
Ii know what will you say
"I wish you keep sorrow all the time."
What a poor, stupid angel.

Creative Poetry 8 (2013)

I am white snow
I wonder what the people do
I hear Family's laughter
I see Family's smile
I want happy Christmas

I am Father
I pretend Santa Claus
I feel expectation
I touch my son
I worry my son doesn't like these presents
I cry with small voice "Merry Christmas"

I am Jincheon High School student
I understand why teacher say "You should do night study"
I say "I want to go home"
I dream I want to go home
I try to escape school
I hope happy day

I am Happy Christmas