Cookie cutter without the cookie!

Matt sent a bucket of cookie cutters along with the Jell-O mix. So without cookie, how do I use the cookie cutters?

No problem, there are plenty of things we can cut!

For a start, toasts! Easy, not-so-messy food that everyone likes. Plus, it's a chance for the kids to learn a thing or two about cookie making and Christmas related ornaments. As Billy Mays said, "But that's not all!" Cookie cutters are also great tools to make a fun meal for the kindergarteners. Aunty Xu had some ideas, so let's take a look what the cute kindergarteners end up doing!

Cookie Cutter with the Elementary school kids





Cookie cutter with the kindergarteners!

More wise words

幼稚園+一年級語錄
他們在石頭上跳。掉下來的人輸。我問：”那你們誰贏了呢？“
他們姐弟倆面面相覷，說：“沒有贏啊！”
這不就是人生嗎？在不斷的挫折中學習，體會美好的一面，而不是追求那個不存在的”贏“。那些追求“贏家身份的人，你找到了嗎？


Kindergartener and first grader's wise words.
Two sibilings were jumping between the rocks. The one who falls loses. So I asked who's the winner.
They looked at each other and said,"There's no winner!"
Isn't this what life is meant to be, learning how to appreciate the fruit of endless failures?
So corporate champions, have you found the "win" yet?

The cup/ 杯子

老師：”你放墨汁的杯子是誰的？“
學生：”阿公的。“
老師：”是阿公平常喝水用的嗎？“
學生：”不是，是喝酒用的。“

Teacher,"Whose cup did you put your ink in?"
Student,"My grandpa's."
Teacher,"Does your grandpa use it to drink water usually?"
Student,"No, he drink booze with it."

3rd grader's wise words 三年級語錄

3rd grader's wise words:

I asked if he hates the tree that gives him leaves to sweep up everyday.

He looks up at the tree, then said,"Not really. Some days it gives me fewer leaves!"





三年級語錄：我問他會不會討厭這顆每天給他樹葉掃的樹。他抬頭望著樹，說：”不會啊。它有時掉的樹葉比較少。“

When monkeys meet Icelandic candies, monkeys learn English!

I've never been a fan of candies myself, but I'm an odd ball anyways.

This session was a very successful one. How is this successful? Well, there are a few points.
1. This session is really about a revision of the many words that the students have been taught in the past, so they should already know them, which most did.
2. The students remember the words well even after the class, and seem to have the knowledge well imprinted in their memories.
3. During the class, they are already in sync with what's about to happen, even though I never release what's coming up next.


I think there wouldn't be such a success without the experiences that have built-up from all the previous sessions. The students are expecting something exotic, something beyond learning boring words. They are expecting an experience. Although they were terribly late for this class (cat fight in the first grader class!), they caught on with the program well.

Watching the video, I also noticed that I am subconsciously employing certain techniques that, since I was never professionally trained as a teacher, are quite effective in helping the students engage in the content. Introduction, going through the contents, revising and then revise again with prizes. Dealing with certain students who have either learning or communication skill problems, I set up situations to highlight their issues and then a chance for them to prove themselves, while making it a fun time for everyone.

Every kid loves candies, whether they are for the taste of it, or simply because they are candies. Except for the fact that these candies were sent from Iceland, candies are affordable teaching tools that are really effective. Of course, using candies as prizes only will be rather negative, but using them as tools for learning makes the learning experience an enjoyable one.

Photo Entry: From the coast to the mountains

This were taken between the coast (Shi Ti Pin), through Rui-Gang mountain pass to the town Rui-Shi.

Photo Entry: Nan-An

Route 30 was supposed take mountain-road lovers like me across Taiwan, through the mountain chains that separates the east and the west of the island. However, route 30 was never completed because of environmental concerns. Perhaps it's a good thing that they didn't continue with the construction. Route 30 was planned based on an ancient hiking route by the indigenous folks of Taiwan. Today, it is still a well-knowing hiking route for serious hikers and mountaineers. Route 30 ends at the trail head of this mountain pass, one that I'd love to try one day.... just for a few kilometers at least. Well, this is the first time there and I am only here to check it out.

The more interesting landmark here that I found was not the trail head, but a suspension bridge on another part of the trail. This path is not frequently visited, so it was quiet, just me, the stream below, the wind and the leaves shuffling in the air.

















My kind of road...





This region also produces some of the best rice in Taiwan, and it's the beginning of a planting cycle.





And some interesting creatures.

Salt-baked sweet potatoes!

There's always a first time for everything. My grandma, who lives her life on hear-say, tries her hear-say! Here's she attempting to bake sweet potatoes in salt on coal fire.

It's actually very simple. Get a pot or wok, lay salt on it and place the sweet potatoes on it. Cover it with a lid and let it cook on coal fire. Flip the potatoes once a while to make sure it's evenly cooked.

Taste? Good! Obviously you get the salt off before you eat it, but the occasional salt-in-the-mouth actually adds another layer of flavor, making it more interesting than the plan old sweet potato.

Photo Entry: Mt Ali tea plantations

The plan was to get to this spot for amazing sunset shots, but the clouds came and there was nothing but white... However here's the best tea in Taiwan. For some reason I think the hills and mountains look like a person's head with braids.

My new hobby!

Rock collecting is a common hobby here, but it's illegal to remove rocks and drift wood from the beach. Well I always thought I won't be interested in collecting rocks until I have retired and bored out of my mind... not until I saw these guys.

















Well, it's probably not hard to figure out what they are. I call these "designer rocks"! To me it's interesting to see what becomes of human thrash on the beach after being subjected to the natural process of weathering, and often the result is rather surprising. In this case, it's amusing!

Here's one of the rocks in various views.



And since these are technically man-made thrash, I don't suppose it's illegal to take home?

Jell-O from 'murica!!!!!!!

Preparing for this class was a lot more work than I have expected. Since the Thanksgiving class when the kids screamed at the sight of Jell-O, I've been planning a session to bring them the real thing. Of course, this is also a good chance to teach them something else, which is the first of the three "R"s - Reuse.

I started collecting food containers from the convenient stores, wash them and save them for this big day. I had ideas on how to make multiple layers to make it more fun. I was actually planning to show them how to cook it on the spot.

As the package arrived and I started working on the first batch, I realized that it's going to take a lot more time to do this. A 30min session will be too short, and probably too chaotic. The kitchen is also not a good place to have 50 kids crowding in it, would be more like a night club gone wild with fire and hot boiling water. That's a bad bad idea. So I decided to film the "making-of" video separately to save time and trouble for the class. Well, it means a lot more preparation work before hand.

Obviously, this is also time for some simple English learning! Flavors! What better time to teach them about flavors? Raspberry, strawberry, orange and cherry. I made a mistake with the first batch and was worried that the Jell-O won't be enough. After all, there are 50 monkeys to feed. So I went to the town to get more. That where the mango and chocolate flavored pudding came from.

After all these different sessions, I really feel like I have become a variety show host, or rather, a clown. I go up there with some materials to show for, but the rest of the content is made up on the spot depending on the kids reactions. For example, when the Jell-O showed up in the class, I used the different colors to let them guess what flavors they are, which became a chance to revise the words they've just learnt. That was not planned. The collapsing table was definitely not planned too, and I also didn't expect the kids to have a significantly higher preference for chocolates. Again, it's a learning experience for me as it is for them. Seeing them lick their bowls and kept telling me how delicious it taste meant a lot. On the other side.... those English words I taught them probably got swallowed down as quickly as how they consumed the Jell-O. It's hardly present in their memories now.

But they all learnt something. Raspberry! Thanks Matt!