Trying to make Fun with Kids > Stress of Teaching

With 4 weeks left of the school year, I foolishly thought the hectic pace might calm down a bit. You know, review and wrap things up for the end of the year.  Ha.

Rather, this week I gave my students a 1.5 hour test.  Then there's the weekly 20 word spelling test.  They have to memorize 3 pop songs and a 15 minute play for graduation in February.  Every week for homework, they read 3 books, write book reviews, and do about 3 hours of homework. I could go on and on.  And these are just my kindergartners.  They get two weeks of vacation a year, and each week, they're allowed 20 minutes of recess and 30 minutes of taekwondo.  To say the least, the bar is set really high at private schools in Korea, and the pressure is on.

Our friend Luke makes comics about teaching in Korea, and this is about spot on. 
As you might guess, the stress is mounting a bit.  I'm finding myself losing my patience with the kids and just not enjoying things as much.  I'm trying.  A lot.  I'm fighting the pressure, and making it a point to give the kids breaks.  I've gotten really generous (and also really strict) with our daily reward system to keep them motivated and on track.

I have to say though, I could easily go batty, and I'd have the company of many teachers here.  Without the little moments that shine through of a kid doing something cute, I might fall entirely into the English speaking, robot making machine. 

Luckily, my kids can be pretty sweet.  They'll sit on my lap when I grade their papers or put princess stickers on me. Sometimes I get love notes too.  Thank goodness.


I like the part where she tells me "Your very very pretty."  Forget apples for the teacher, these kids want A++.
  
Any tips about fighting the stress?