Exams & Christmas Stockings

For the last 2 weeks I have had to do listening a speaking mid-term exams with my over 400 students.  This entails taking each child out of the class one-by-one and asking them 10 speaking questions and 10 listening questions.  The speaking test goes a little like this: teacher holds up a picture/flashcard and says "What is this?" and the student gives a one word answer.  For the listening test I hold up two pictures/flashcards and ask the student "Where is the ____?" and the student has to point to the right picture.  These kids are 3 and 4 years old, I can not even believe we have to test them, but it is what it is.  As you can imagine, it has taken me a long time to make it through all of the students, especially since many of my classes have been canceled due to ceremonies and dance practice. It has been to weeks and there are still several classes that are not finished testing, and one I have not even been able to start with.  However, there are several students and whole classes in some cases that have pleasantly surprise me.  I was able to fly through the testing and so many of them got most if not all the questions right! This makes me so proud, and makes me feel like I am making a difference and getting through to these kids, despite their sometimes bad behavior, or the fact that I only see them twice a week or less in some cases.

To reward one of my classes for finishing their testing first and doing so well I made these Christmas stockings for them to color and take home.  First I made a stencil of the stocking and traced and cut out 40 paper stockings.  Then I designed pictures and English phrases on each one. I also made the picture of the stockings hung by the fireplace to create a little bit of context for the children.

 On the day they finished their testing I gave them to the students to color.  Then I collected them and attached some cotton to the top of each.  I wanted to write each of their names across the top in some kind of glitter glue or paint, but I couldn't seem to track down the materials....I looked everywhere! 

Finally I took clothes pins and attached the stocks and hearth to a string of tinsel and hung it on the wall in their classroom.  The students were very excited to see their stocking on display.  As we were hanging it they kept yelling, "Santa!"  It was all very cute and very fulfilling.