Kindergarten Graduation Extravaganza!!
Written by Bessie on Thursday, February 25, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' excited
Think spotlights and track lighting. A blow-up backdrop. Glitter and Fur. Professional Photographers. A crowd full of signs. Dozens of bouquets of flowers.Feelin' excited
Yep. It's Kindergarten Graduation in Korea.
About 50 kids graduated. The 3.5 hour graduation had every class doing plays, reciting conversations, singing songs, and oh, something about getting a diploma. For the record, the diploma was nicer than any diploma I've gotten - roughly 10x12 inches of crush velvet glory with two certificates inside. Private kindergarten in Korea is serious business.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
For nearly all of the last month we've been coordinating dance moves, stage entrances, singing songs, and imagining the bright lights on stage. Most of my class is painfully shy and hate the idea of being up in front of people. Think super meek mice. I literally had yelling classes with them to get them comfortable being loud. I had them out on the playground 50 feet apart in a big circle practicing yelling dialogue, and some nearly cried rather than be able to shout loud enough to get my bribe.
When it came to the big day today though, they pulled through. Some were still painfully quiet in a big auditorium, but they were trying hard, and they all got the pencilcases I bribed them with. "Do you think you can yell really loud like we practiced on the playground?" If a new pencilcase was at stake, of course they could!
Kids here will do anything for a new pencil case!
Well, aren't you adorable!
The costumes the kids wore were nothing short of spectacular. We're talking bare legs and cropped tops - and these were on the boys. The pictures say it all.
Ali Baba & the 5 Thieves; my class in The Frog Princes
Show me a Sign
There was also a part in the graduation where the parents help up the signs they all made to congratulate their students. A letter went home telling each mom to make one, and there was serious art involved with most of them. My student's moms, who are the, hmmm, I'll say involved types, went so far as to just have a huge banner made for the whole class. Note the photo of our class on it.
So here it is, The Video.
11 Months Down...
I spent the last 11 months imparting every bit of English knowledge possible on my class, and it's amazing how much they learned. Half of them can now write 1 page stories detailing everything you'd want to know about their weekends or a book they just read, and there will be just a handfull of mistakes. They're amazing. I'll miss them, although not the pressure.
I got a cute love note with "You are a good teacher because you teaching me very hard." Apparently the moms were happy, they got me some flowers & wine - they're so wise. They're too kind, they engraved the bottle of wine:
for your kindly teaching and leading with exciting mind all of the times.
Comments on "Kindergarten Graduation Extravaganza!!"
Agreed on the being missed! He's sort of a big kid himself. :)
what do you mean sort of... ;)
Congratulations Bess!! Lots of work and now the big celebration :)
Love the sparkly flowers!
Thanks! I'm really proud of them!
That video is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. And Bessie, I think I distinctly heard your voice belting out "Celebration!" A+.
Ha haa - I'm sure you did. :) It was a good day.
WOW! Congratulations on Everything...from The Beginning... to The very End. -- A memorable year!! :-D
Thanks thanks thanks! It certainly has been memorable!
WOW! I LIKED THE SINGING TEACHERS VERSION OF "CELEBRATION" BEST OF ALL!
KEEP SMILING ... SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER ........
Ok, I'm impressed! Who made the matching fabric costumes and obtained the big blow up stage scenery? The kids were wonderful and your hard work showed. Few people realize how much time, effort, energy, and PATIENCE go in to making any production of this magnitude with school children. Sure beats any assembly that I ever "produced" except possibly my "History of the Wild West" production with a gigantic background western scenery mural and "actors" in full cowboy, western settlers, and Indian costumes. No recorded music but the 5th grade rendition of "Home on the Range" never sounded so magnificent! An engraved bottle of wine and flowers from parents....NEVER! What a wonderful end to your school year! It is good to feel appreciated as a teacher.
wow...this graduation is so much different ...than the others....great....it seems like a performance but it is about the gradution ....so i think the students themselves didn't feel underpressure.....good concept ...ms......i like it ....
That is too cute... Brian looks about as cute as the kids.. he shall be missed, especially the hair :)
by Luis at February 25, 2010 05:34 AM