Date of Class:10/10/13
Day of Class:Thursday
PI:Brooke
SI:
Assistants:
Module:Money
How Many Learners:4
Score:36
What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific):

The class started off with 1 learner.. a Russian man who came back from last year! Then after about 5 minutes, 2 more came in- a husband/wife pair. We were already working on the alphabet at that point and got them going right away. I could tell the mrs. was very appreciative of this activity, given her lack of literacy skills in her own native language. She was so involved in it that she had a hard time paying attention to me as I was shouting the letters aloud. I had to really guide her through it (without using Spanish) so that she would follow along with the others. As we moved onto names, I realized how challenged I would be in figuring out how to include F, who couldn’t spell her name while all the other students were at least at a high beginner level (by this point the 4th learner had entered). The group was really helpful and patient with F, and we all helped her to spell her name on paper and aloud. I don’t think she’d be able to go home and do it tonight, but she will be able to soon if she keeps coming back. We then filled out loyalty cards and moved into the good stuff. Only got through half of one activity due to the dynamics of the group as well as some disruptions from the children… apparently 2 of the 3 kids there were giving the woman doing child care a real hard time so she asked that one of the parents come and talk to them. Even that didn’t work and then she brought the children in the classroom and did an activity in there with us- ultimately that was fine for me, as I’m used to it, but I think it was difficult for the abuelos to focus. Either way, we had great practice with some coins, writing and speaking…not bad for class #2 of the term.

Date of Class: 12-9-2013
Day of Class: Monday
PI: Todd
SI:
Assistants:
Module: Review
How Many Learners: 4
Score:
What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): We basically did a review of things we had talked about the last couple months. A lot of question and answer between students and a dictation. We had 3 students who have been consistent attendees, plus a fourth came for about 45 minutes-she seemed eager to come back next month. Dedicated students, as it was icy in the area.

Date of Class: 12/9/13
Day of Class: Monday
PI: Patrik
SI:
Assistants: Karen & Kathy
Module: Happy Holidays
How Many Learners: 6
Score: 3+6+5+5+5+6=30
What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): lovely group, with one new person – who was rather advanced. Nice to have Karen back and Kathy was a little nervous and taken aback.. but very open and helpful. Lots of interesting things today. One of my favorites was the explicit trying of colloquial gonna (what are you gonna do for Christmas) and bringing out the English speakers responses. There was a new version of an activity that I liked, and wnat to explore more that went like this:

Hey, Karen

Hey, Patrik

Guess What?

What?

Veteran’s Day is November 11th!

Oh really! I didn’t know that!

I think there’s a lot to explore here.

One piece that didn’t work as well is that one of the learners who is a regular, was feeling very spotlighted and reacting nervously. I don’t think it was enough to make him not come back.. in fact, he was pushing really hard. but I could just see him getting nervous. There are probably several factors here, but I hope he will continue to try, because he can clearly do learn, though he is shy and soft spoken.

Date of Class: 12/4/13
Day of Class: Wednesday
PI: Patrik
SI:
Assistants: David, Linda
Module: Happy Holidays
How Many Learners: 6
Score: 5+5+6+6+5+6=33
What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): I was very happy to see everyone come back – one of our learners with the swollen mouth looks much better.. but almost everyone today didn’t come on Monday, so we’ve got our full crew! David and Linda were also a really sweet addition – and they both celebrate Hanukkah, so they had a lot to add to the class, and spontaneously sang Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel!

Date of Class: 12/2/13
Day of Class: Monday
PI: Patrik
SI:
Assistants: Melanie, Karen
Module: Happy Holidays
How Many Learners: 3
Score: 5+6+7+6+5+6= 35
What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): I wasn’t sure how it was going to go today after taking off the holidays, and the weather getting colder, but we had 3 folks come, and it was very nice. One learner had had her wisdom teeth removed, such dedication! I had come from another meeting at Hartley elementary, and a great meeting, and we got two americorps volunteers in the room (three actually, but one couldn’t stay) – and it was really cool to kind of work one on one with them. Hoping that will turn into something ongoing and expansive!

Date of Class: Nov. 18
Day of Class: Tuesday
PI: ML
SI:
Assistants:
Module: Soccer
How Many Learners: 5
Score: 43.5
What happened: Class went generally well, despite all 5 people arriving late! After some good conversation, dialogue dictation, TPR and vocab, I made the choice to try the ‘do-go-play’ sport GO FISH game again, which, unfortunately, did not go as well as I had hoped or, frankly, as well as it did last time. Once we finally got the game going with all Ss at least understanding the rules, there was still a lack of energy. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. After talking with Brooke, I think there were maybe two main reasons for this: 1) though I did some TPR to review the verb phrases involved, it probably was not enough for those who hadn’t been at the previous class, and 2) the game inherently only engages about two people at a time. So while some Ss struggled to say the phrases correctly, the others were kind of just waiting. Were I to ever try the game again (or some variation there-of), I’ll try to incorporate some other aspect to keep all students engaged the entire time. Sigh. Should’ve done the other activity I had planned, the vocab for which we had already practiced writing and saying. Seems obvious now, but at the time. . . Ah well. Next time.

Date of Class: 11/18/13
Day of Class: Monday
PI: Patrik
SI:
Assistants:
Module: Measurement
How Many Learners: 7
Score: 3+4+4+5+6+4= 26What happened (as short or as long as you like, but be specific): It was nice to see several folks come back that hadn’t been there in a while – and a couple of new people too! One new guy saw what we were doing and joined us – and he stunk of alchohol. It was challenging to keep him focused, definitely a wild card, but he participated and did well. .I hope he comes back – sober! Also.. I marked myself down for preparation not just because I didn’t have a lesson but.. it was supposed to be At The Bank today! Wrong Module!!

Date of Class: Nov. 12
Day of Class: Tuesday
PI: ML
SI:
Assistants:
Module: Soccer
How Many Learners: 6
Score: 25
What happened: Overall, a solid class with a lot of banter and conversation- I tried to make the yell and spell more interesting with questions/conversation, since we have the same core group every time, and that went well. But then I tried to make an on-the-fly activity to follow up the “I do, I go, I play” sport dictation, and that didn’t go so well. Apparently I just wasn’t up to the task tonight. . .so there was a brief interlude of some repeat question-asking. But it was fine- most needed the practice. At the end we played some ‘Go Fish’ with some cards that were divided in the same ‘do/go/play’ manner. It was a bit slow to start (mostly due to my atrocious shuffling skills)- and much harder than I imagined to model/teach the game without an assistant (might have been impossible in the short time I allowed, but thankfully Santos helped me out!)- and we got a bit of a late start, but once we got rolling, everyone seemed to be really enjoying it and it was good practice saying the different phrases. I do hope to try it again at the next class, with a bit more time to get going.