This year, my classroom is completely different than it has been the past two years. I decided I needed change and figured the kids would appreciate it too. And they have! I have a theory about classrooms...kids should enjoy coming to your class. It does not have to be their favorite class, but at least tolerable. Though there are several factors that go into whether or not a student is comfortable in your classroom or not...I do my best to make its appearance is very welcoming.
Before school started, as I was in a meeting and Alicia was chilling in my room. I laughed when Alicia told me that two students came by my room, looked in, commented that they liked it, then said something about how it would probably just be changed--or something like that. Though my room did not change a lot last year as far as the teacher desk, decorations, TV, projector, and filing cabinet go....I re-arranged my desk every few weeks last year. I had a hard time finding something that worked with my varying class sizes.
Last year my class sizes were 17, 3, 11, 4 for half the year...we lost at Christmas taking the class down to 2, and 11. I struggled to find an arrangement that worked for my class of 3 and my class of 17! It took awhile, but I finally found something that worked.
PRAISE THE LORD! The Lord has greatly increased the secondary. Last year we only had around 170 students, this year we have around 195 and kids are still enrolling and we have only lost one that I know of to Osan (school on base). The way it goes here is that every year kids will start off at our school for a week or two until Osan decides they have room for them and they leave our school. It sucks for the kids who get yanked between the two schools. Our school's enrollment is very dependent upon the contracts of contractors for the military. Some year's the contract says they will pay for Osan, then the next year they won't (so the kids come to our school because we are half the price of Osan). Anyhow, its a vicious cycle and part of life here in Korea.
Back to the praise...We just have lots of kids. We have been praying for 200. The strange thing is we have gained a lot of upper classmen. Normally, our middle school classes are pretty full, but not the others. Also, this year, my smallest class has 12 students! For the past few years I have had at least one class that was around 5 students and a few with 9. This year my class sizes are 13, 17, 13, 20, and 12.
I thank God for the students He has brought us. Our kids our great. I love them all already. We have gained some great kids this year and I look forward to the new mix of students and to seeing what God has in store for all of us this year.
In the upcoming months I will try to post some pictures of the students! Until then...here is my classroom minus students.
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