My Violin Class

So I've been teaching an afterschool activity once a week to beginner violinists.  This has been the youngest group I've taught; ages 5-7.  It would be better if I could see them twice or three times a week.  I have started teaching private lessons over here.  I have one student who is working on the Bach double.  We performed it December 3rd at a store that raises money for the local orphanage.  We had a crowd of Taiwanese families who were fans.  It was so cute, because after every Christmas song we played they would clap.  It's so nice to have people appreciate music.  Usually when I have gone to live music performances at the Chinese Yulan Theather the Chinese people are talking and answering their cell phones.

Christmas Chimney

So to decorate for Christmas I had my students create a Chimney and hang their stockings they made over the chimney.  This is at the end of the hallway and a great focal point for people.  We also made a Christmas tree and put it on the wall.  This was a spontaneous thing to do.  Sometimes the most fun in teaching comes with spontaneity and a willingness to be creativity and let kids have fun.

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein is one of my heroes.  I have his poster on my classroom door.  There is a quote that says, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."  I think this is so true and this is what I try to impress on my students--to be creative.  God is creative, he is the Creator and He made us in His image--and we have the ability to create and invent.  I believe these are God given tools for humanity to use to glorify God--the ultimate creator.  My school also teaches Success Orientations; positive behavoirs to have in life.  So each month whatever we are focusing on I add a speech bubble to Einstein.  One month was RESPONSIBILITY.  So he said,"Be Responsible."  The other month was TRUSTWORTHINESS.  So he asks, "Can I trust you?"  

My Michael Jackson Student

So as you can see this is my little 8 year old wanna be Michael Jackson student.  He is constantly singing his songs and trying to dance like him.  He is a crack up.  I have actually had to put a damper on his dancing, because it is not appropriate for school.  Sometimes it's hard not to laugh at him, but I have to put on my serious teacher face and then he will calm down.

Students at the University

I've been going to the Dongguan University Tuesday nights with a group of fellow foreigners to lead an English corner.  Over 300 students attend.  We celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with the students and were able to feed them as everyone brought something to share.  One student Rena approached me one Tuesday and asked me to come to her study class on Monday nights to teach her class about Christmas.  I've gone two times.  There are 45 students in her class.  They are so sweet and open.  The first day I came when I walked in the students clapped.  It was strange to have them clap after almost everything I said.  The next time I came I was prepared to teach them song Christmas songs when I was surprised to find out that they had made me chicken soup, sweet water and had prepared songs of their own to sing for me.  I will go one more time to share some more about Christmas.  You can see Rena and I together in the picture, some girls from her dorm room and a group of guys singing.  Monday night is a stretch for me, because I go by myself so I have to take public transportation.  On Tuesday nights the group I go with hire a private driver.  Getting around in China can be so complicated and feels like a rat race at times.