Work. The past week was hard and good at the same time. Some student behavior issues at work, across multiple classes, and not just world language. It’s May, the students are unraveling. In spite of isolated incidents of student behavior, classes did some amazing things.

In level 2, we did a debate! Our current unit is “City and Countryside” so after their vocabulary assessment I wanted to see their speaking. The students prepared arguments for and against both country living and city-dwelling. I was relentless because they did not find out what they will argue for (city or country) until the beginning of THAT class. The expectation was that they are able to argue for either side. They also did not know their groups. It was entirely random. And they delivered. I was so happy to see the most timid students provide solid arguments, counter, and use what they learned this year.

It was so wonderful. Debating in English is hard, and debating in a foreign language is even harder! While I do have some characters whose study habits and behavior need to improve, I am so proud of them.

In level 3, my honors classes, we are in the middle of a novel. It’s a book by Julia Alvarez (her Tía Lola series). We are on chapter four, and will definitely finish by the end of the year.

Teaching with literature is such a delight. A novel provides pretty much everything you may need as a world language teacher: vocabulary, grammar, culture, connections, text analysis, speaking, listening, and, of course, reading. We are only on chapter four, but some great themes are coming out: family relationships, identity, conformity and rebellion, friendship, belonging, and mental health.

Family. My son has started unlimited lessons at his Brazilian jiu jitsu. When we first started BJJ last summer, it was supposed to be a “once a week/just for the summer” kind of thing, and he has been going once a week for almost a year. R seems to like it, so we signed up for a yearly membership. Classes are much cheaper this way and it’s a good reason to start going twice or three times a week. My school and kids’ school will let out soon so we could go every day if we wanted to. It’s a good hour of physical activity, camaraderie, and social emotional learning.

R is a little bit of an *orchid* child. He had a situation where a kid in aftercare punched him in the nose. According to R, he did not do anything: didn’t punch the kid back, didn’t say “stop it” or “wtf” or didn’t tell a teacher. Just cried.

I had to have a talk with him that it’s necessary to stand up for himself. I reminded him that he goes to Brazilian jiu jitsu and can defend himself. There is no punching or kicking in BJJ (it’s different from, for example, karate), rather, you get your opponent to the ground by way of grappling and submission techniques. What is interesting in BJJ is that your opponent can be taller, larger, and stronger, but if you use the techniques, you can still take them down. Which makes it a great self-defense sport. In fact, there is a quote at the studio saying “jiu jitsu is a gentle art of folding clothes: with people in them.”

Kids also told me what activities/lessons they want for the summer and my heart skipped a beat thinking about cost. So now I’m thinking how to save on *some* of these lessons.

My son (5 y.o.) wants to do soccer, BJJ, and gymnastics. His soccer itch will be scratched by way of nets and a soccer ball to see if he likes it ($40). His BJJ is already unlimited ($200 per month). Gymnastics is over in June and doesn’t start back up until September.

My daughter (7 y.o.) wants to continue piano, gymnastics, skates, swim. Piano and gymnastics is over in June. Skates don’t start till October.

For swim lessons I want do private lessons this summer. I had private lessons when I was learning as a child, and the coach taught me a variety of styles. I also feel like I learned to swim much faster than my peers who were in groups. About two months? At this moment L *thinks* she can swim. She went to lessons as a baby, but that didn’t really teach her that much. L can hold herself in the water and move her arms and legs but it that really safe swimming…?

Last week… For memories’ sake, let’s take note of last week. It was Teacher Appreciation Week. My kids wrote cards to their teachers (L- willingly, R-grumpily), and we included gift cards to Panera for the classroom teachers and before/after care staff. L also made a poster (on her own initiative) and delivered it to her classroom teacher.

L had spring concert! Oh, it was so cute. From what I learned, all grade levels had a theme (1st grade=animals, 2nd grade=countries). Then each class had a theme within a theme, for example, L’s class animal was a dog therefore both songs they performed were about dogs.

This weekend looks good. Just this morning I wrote down in my One.Focus brain dump page: read, puzzle, laundry, yoga, tidy the house, plan life, pay balances for gîtes for our France trip, treat myself to a new dress (jus’ kiddin’). I loved Tina Fey’s dress on The Four Seasons but that thing is $900!!!! Why do I want a new dress? R has a “We love you a whole brunch” event at his pre-school on Monday. Plus I don’t know, I just like dresses.

How was your week? Thoughts on kids’ activities/lessons? Thoughts on dresses? The upcoming summer? Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Mother’s day!