Babysitter yes, ESL teacher...workin' on it...

I don't know why I think I have writer's block again. I was a little weepy earlier this week, but I've gotten better. I find funny signs (see previous blogs), but I truly think all I need to do is go visit Calvin - he takes my cares away. I'm kidding of course, this kid is very FIVE! I actually went out and found a couple of basic kid ABC/123 books in both English and Chinese (heck I thought I could learn a thing or two). I buy them and bring them home. As I flip threw them, they are not too bad and may actually be helpful - well, as long as we don't pay attention to the grammar - the books were obviously written by an ESL student as well.... at least my grammar (for the most part) is better - but in reading my blogs, not much better. I have provided one example above.

Calvin likes to draw and pretty much not sit still - at all. I have realized and therefore started to research lesson plans and "activities" for ESL 5 year olds (not bad that it only took 2 lessons for the light bulb to come on). What I think would be MOST helpful is if the family would actually spend one evening just talking to Calvin in ENGLISH! They talk to him while I'm with him - in Chinese. My other problem is actually feeling like we've accomplised something by the end of the evening versus me watching him drive around in circles in his mini-car. I finally got him interested in tracing his hands and feet and fingers and toes and then drawing with his toes. Thank you Crayola for "Washable markers." It was that - or -watch him jump off the side of the sofa and thank goodness always landing on the sofa - hey, he learned the word "Ouch" - so I say mission accomplished!