REVIEW with Rock Paper Scissors Races.

An all time (and every time) favorite in my classes....Reviewing Vocab by incorporating "Rock Paper Scissors Battles.

• Two Teams
• A stack of Vocab pictures printed on flash cards (need at least 13 different cards)

Set Up

• Can attach with magnets to boards (as in video)... or
• Can set up desks in a horse shoe shape (about 13 desks) with a card on each desk...or
• If outside you can lay the flashcards in a half circle

Play

• Teams line up, one at each end of the row of flashcards
• 1 player from each team move towards each other saying aloud and pointing to the flashcard as they go.
• When they come face to face at a card, they battle rock paper scissors.
• The loser goes to the back of their teams line and the next person in the queue starts along the line again from the beginning. The winner carries on from where they stopped, in their quest to infiltrate the other teams base, heading towards their new oncoming opponent.

AIM

Each time a player successfully makes it to the oppositions base on the other side of the line of cards, play stops (amongst a heap of cheering) and they score a point for their team. 

Play resumes on equal footing with two new players at the start of each side of the line of cards.

A whole bundle of these ready to be printed cards are available for download in my store here

Love To Laminate?

Wanna compare laminators? After quickly breaking two standard ones (I have 12 classes 60 students in each) I bought this heavy duty beauty a couple of years ago. My love of stationary and art shops is not heavily catered for in China and finding a good quality machine that didn't give up the ghost after a couple of jobs really took some doing. Fast, fully heat adjustable, huge...even has reverse ...SUPER HEAVY DUTY. Actually, with such big classes I do a lot of group work and try not to do much in the way of printables (for obvious reasons) but I love this laminator. Unfortunately it weighs an absolute tonne and I don't think getting her back home when I move is at all a possibility. Love to laminate!

Life's Delights

Perfection Personified 

Ahhhh...When you've just finished all the mornings tasks and you stop...and manage to pull off a perfect cup of coffee. Somehow you add just the right amount of everything to get the perfect taste that you love and you can just sit and totally enjoy it. It's one of life's pleasures that I get totally immersed in :) That's what I'm doing now so...gotta go. It's time to give total attention to my cup :) BYEEE

Ponderings

More than 7 years in China = a lot of photos and many hours of pondering life :) I'm inspired to combine some of my photo's and some of my favorite quotes that hit home. Here's the first one I've come up with.

Also a bit over a year ago I made this short video/drum/photo compilation of my time in China.  Maybe some of you might enjoy having a little look?

Have a wonderful day!

How Do You Chill After A Tough Day In Class?

So my first "Coffee Break" post. A space to add some breathing time, time out, something to make you smile on a bad day...maybe change things around. I want to share with you my secret. It doesn't ever matter how bad my class happened to be that day nor does it matter what challenges or obstacles were put in my way. It never matters because whenever I walk in through my front door and get greeted with kisses from this adorable little girl...how can I ever stay mad or sad. 

This is Moli (it means Jasmine in Chinese but it's  Moli because it also works as Molly).

She holds no grudges, try's her absolute best to stare people out (with wagging tail) as they walk past... willing them to just smile and say hello, and with a satisfied sneeze and glance my way as if she has accomplished her task for the day, carries on enjoying every smell and exploring anything and everything along the way.

I learn a lot from her attitude to life and she definitely keeps me on a level.  It can definitely help having a pet. I also do my fare share of meditation, walking, staying away from T.V (sport being the exception) and I'm always listening and reading all things positive.

I'd love to hear of your ways or secrets to get through tough days. Tricks of the trade very welcome in comments below. Maybe you also are lucky to have a dog's unconditional love? Would love some responses.

Enjoy your coffee break!

Hope Moli bought a smile to your face as she does mine...everyday!

NEW Coffee Break Section

I need to take my own advice and break away from all business once and a while and chill. This new section called COFFEE BREAK will be general discussion or observations about anything and everything to do with life, teaching and creating.  You can access these posts in one groovy section called COFFEE BREAK

Makes It All Worth It

I found this message in my classroom after lunch break yesterday., No longer teaching my junior 3's this semester...Nice to know they miss me!