Positive Reinforcement has Positive Outcomes

My kids have been absolutely amazing this week. ABSOLUTELY amazing. It's been one of those weeks that reminds you why you like kids and chose to be a teacher. Although normally I complain about my kids, this week as astounding, and it's given me a lot of insight about classroom management and kids in general.

Last week we had our evaluations, and although mine went okay (I'm assuming), something that I heard through the grapevine that everyone could improve on is positive reinforcement, using other students as models for those ones you can't quite get to do their work or pay attention. So this week, I tried something new - I wrote the names of every kid on the white board and everytime they'd do something good (focused on work, remembered to say thank you, helped a friend, etc.) I'd put a checkmark beside their name. If they did something they shouldn't be doing (and they know it!) they'd get a checkmark taken off (I know, not quite "positive" but it has kids yelling sorries and promising to be better) and so far, it's worked wonders. It's like I have a new group of kids! I'm really not sure how long this will work, but I promised soccer at the end of the week if every kid has checkmarks. You know what the best part is? Even my worst student has checkmarks! In fact, he has more than some of my awesome kids! Today he helped kids get their backpacks and helped put their homework inside, when normally he can't even be bothered to pack up his own bag! Anyway, awesome week.

That being said, cannot wait to go home for Christmas! It's so close! 1 week! One of my parents brought me an awesome Christmas-themed present this week and wished me a Merry Christmas. It's something I hadn't expected at all, especially here since they don't celebrate Christmas.

Pre-New Year's Resolutions? Remember that kids are kids, and when it comes down to it, of course they don't want to be told to do their work when they'd rather play. I'll also try to remember to be positive and continue with this positive reinforcement business!

Christmas, the Quaran, and the Highway of Death.

I thought that living in a Muslim, desert country would mean I would see no Santas, no red green and white, no Christmas tress, and certainly no snowmen. Boy, was I wrong! While the malls aren't nearly as insane during this month as they would be back home, Christmas can definitely be seen all over Kuwait! I went shopping today to the Avenues (huge, gigantic, lovely mall) and saw many trees in various colours in Pottery Barn, the Gap, and just about every other store that we have back home. I'm happy to not be missing out on the pre-Christmas excitement! There was even wrapping paper! I love Christmas, and I'm so excited to be going home to celebrate it in only 13 days! I even went to a Christmas party last night!

It's starting to get colder here, and although it's still 10+degrees warmer here than at home, there have been some really cold mornings where it's actually been warmer in Canada! I've had to get winter clothes, including sweaters and mittens! I would have never thought that anything below 20c would feel cold! I guess that's what happens when you get used to 40+ weather!

Last weekend was Islamic New Year and they are celebrating 1342 lunar years! I wonder if there are some people who go only by that calendar and may not know that it's also the year 2011... In any case, I got an extra day off ont he weekend and was able to go to Mutla Ridge. It's the highest point in Kuwait, and there is a lot of history there. I'm not sure in what year, but not too long ago, Iraqis were leaving Kuwait and I think the American's bonbed them just before they go to the Iraq border, nicknaming the main highway the Highway of Death because so many people were killed. One thing that I find so interesting about the Middle East is that there is so much old history, but also so much new history. A friend of mine went to Jordan during Eid and she said she saw places that were important int he Bible, like where John the Babtist died etc. and I think it would be interesting to see something like that. It's also interesting though because the Middle East also has so much recent history. I want to learn more about it and visit some more places while I'm here!