World Book Day was created in 1995 to celebrate reading and is always the first Thursday in March. This day focuses on books, authors, and reading. Children across the world are given the opportunity to talk about their favorite books, authors, and express why they enjoy readings.
How exciting! Take a trip to your local library and check a book out. You could even go to your local bookstore and get a new book! Maybe e-books are better for you so you can even download a new book to listen to on audio or even volunteer to do story time some this month in your community.Books are amazing! Have fun reading….
The Importance of World Book Day and Books
Reading is a vital skill that you need for your life
Being able to read allows you to do so many things
Reading for enjoyment can be very helpful students-IT can help them to: 1- Perform better on tests 2- Develop a larger vocabulary 3- Increase their knowledge on a variety of things 4- Understand and learn about other cultures 5- Have an improved well being
I absolutely love being an educator so I want to share monthly things that may be helpful in the classroom/with your student. If I am able to share more I definitely will. I will also share pictures, videos, and activities that I do in my classroom. Currently, my school is I e-teaching, but I will share things that I have done in the past and whats to come!
Happy Teaching! Happy Educating! Continue to change the world.
Here are a few questions to ask your student instead of: “How was school?”
1: Who did you play with today?
2: What was the hardest thing about class today?
3: If you could change anything about your school what would it be?
4: Did you do anything nice for anyone in your class today? Did anyone do something nice for you today?
5: What did you learn new today?
6: Does everyone in your class have someone to play with during free time?
7: What was the hardest rule to follow today?
8: What class rule would you add if you could any one rule?
9: Did anyone cry in your class today?
10: If you could switch places with your teacher tomorrow and teach the class what would you teach to the class? Why do you want to teach this thing?
I hope that these questions help you engage in conversation with your student/child. These should help them to think critically and help the conversation to move past “I had a good day” … We should push our students to want to chat with us about the good and bad of their day and other details that they may not think to share!
Being an educator is great! There is nothing like it. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. I once heard someone say “If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way a child can learn.”This really shaped the way that I teach and control my classroom. I want every child who enters my classroom to learn and to enjoy learning! Here’s to all the great teachers who put their students first.
It’s March which means I am one month in to this #CoronavirusShanghaiLife
…. and oh my gosh I’m soooooooo over it!!!
Yes, I am being productive and making the most of this time, but …. sheeeeeeesh how long is this gonna be ????
WOW – four weeks yall – 4 weeks in. Because I am four weeks in I have completed my 14 day quarantine. I am still taking all precautions when I go out to do things. More stores, businesses, and restaurants are opening and the city-Shanghai- is sloooooooooooowlygoing back to normal. SLOWLY!I was able to get out this weekend with friends. You are required to wear a mask while out in public/in stores and you have your temperature taken before entering any place. Once inside a restaurant you’re safe to take off your mask and enjoy your meal/your time.
We are living in uncertain times. It is interesting to be here (in China) for sure, but, also its affecting countries all over the world. We just don’t know when decisions will be made regarding returning to school, quarantines ending, travel bans, our lives. I know that there are others who are more weeks in to this ‘at-home quarantine’ -#CoronavirusChinaLiving than I am and some that are less weeks in than I am. Either way … #Coronavirus is affecting the entire world. It has affected personal lives, professional lives, businesses, stocks, travel, so many different things.
I know that everyone is experiencing and responding to this in different ways and that everyone doesn’t have the ability to move as freely as I do in Shanghai. I’m thankful I can move about and do things daily. I am a generally positive person who sees life from a very “Pollyana” type of way. I am over it and I am ready for life to go back to normal, but I am not in control of it all. So me panicking or freaking out will not help anything at all. I am taking life one day at a time, which is really all we can ever do and not planning too far ahead into the future because things are always changing.
Currently my school, along with many others are still e-teaching. That looks very different for different schools and different grade levels. My students are ready to go back to school and I know many of their parents are ready for them to return to school too! I miss being in the classroom for sure so life going back to normal is definitely welcomed. We (teachers -at my school) are making video calls to students/their families just to have some face to face time and to be able to talk to them. We just have conversation for a few minutes. One of my students said “I miss school lunch” and another said “You are my teacher my dad is not my teacher” and we all laughed uncontrollably on the video. The video calls are fun, they are voluntary, so students/parents are not required to do them, but they can do them if they want. We call each family that signs up once a week and we have had different students sign up each week!
I want to share a few different articles that I have read so you can see how others are responding to this virus and some helpful information.
This is an overwhelming experience for sure and I hope you are taking any and all necessary precautions where you are. As I read the news I see how the virus is making its way around the world! Be safe out there.
American woman stuck in China: ‘I can come bach home now’
You can always follow WHO on Twitter (Twitter: World Health Organization-WHO)– the World Health Organization for important updates and information regarding this virus or check their website for helpful information:https://www.who.int/
I promise I am being as safe as I possibly can. I am going outside and taking precautions when I am out. I am making the most of this unfortunate situation.
As always, thanks for following the blog and my life abroad!
HeyYallHey! There isn’t much more to say. It’s day 24 for me here in Shanghai and I have just entered week 4 of this corona virus living…. almost makes me want a corona but I don’t even like those! hahahhaha!!!! When things get tough I can always say I survived living in China during a global world health epidemic
Spent last week e-teaching! This has pushed me to learn more about technology and different apps so I am definitely learning more during this time which is great.
I have started two books so I am telling myself not to start anymore books until I finish the two that I have started.
More restaurants have opened and places around the city. You can go outside. Yes I go outside. Interactions with people is needed. You need to wear your mask when you go outside, and your temperature is taken before going inside any restaurant, store, or shop. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so while I’m taking all precautions to be as healthy as possible I am getting outside as much as I can.
Last week I did a 21km bike ride with friends. That was nice- and exhausting!
I will be honest I am ready for life to go back to normal. I really am but teaching from home isn’t the worst thing in the world! ….okay time to take my EMERGEN-C and get to work … these video calls and online lessons are waiting for me!
I promise I am being as safe as I possibly can. I am going outside and taking precautions when I am out. I am making the most of this unfortunate situation.
I am so happy to share about the work that one of my really good friends, Deatra Branston is doing. Being on quarantine will be what you make of it. It can be awful, overwhelming, depressing, and the worst time ever or it can be relaxing, calming, rejuvenating, productive and a refreshing time.
Deatra has taken this time to make a name for herself and has done it in a great way! She created – CREATIVE START PRODUCTIONS to have a space for expression where it did not previously exist. Sometimes you realize you have all the tools to make the things happen that you desire and you go for it!
Please check out the link below and stay tuned for more to come from her. I expect and look forward to nothing but amazing-greatness from her! I know that a lot of blood, sweat, hard work, and tears went into the sketch that is below. I hope you all love it as much as I did. Watch & Enjoy!!!
Rainer Maria Rilke said, “And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that never were” – – kudos to Deatra for creating what never was and what now is.
I am loving all of the great things that my friends are doing with their time with this quarantine.
Yall! What a time to be alive, in Shanghai, and living in the midst of a global-world-health epidemic!!!
I started this day, Tuesday, February 18, 2020 with speaking to American Governmentstudents at Thomas Jefferson University (Monday evening for these students) about my experience of being in Shanghai while the Coronavirus is happening. That was great and I was glad to share my experience with them. -Many Thanks to my friend Timothy Welbeck for the opportunity to speak to his students about my experience.
A little while later while preparing to make video calls to my students more than one friend posted a message in a few different WeChat groups about an article that I wrote that was published. A friend of mine told me “Don’t read the comments” – so you know what I did, right? I read the comments! I had to read them y’all. I’m good though. Folks can write what they want to write and respond/comment how they want to. I am more than okay. Always interesting to see someone’s perspective.
Thanks for telling me the link wasn’t working. I have tried the link on my end, and a few other individuals tried it. I hope its working now for you.
Many thanks to Stuart and TEFL Lemon (www.tefllemon.com) for allowing me to share on their platform. TEFL Lemon is a teaching site with loads of information for ESL teaching. It gives you so much of what you search the web for in one space. You can find information on classroom activities, flashcards games, warmers for kids and adults, information on TEFL courses and much more. Check out the site if this is something of interest to you.
With all that being said, I am healthy, safe, and well. My days are spent inside my home unless I need to leave out to get groceries or any life necessities. I am able to leave my home and walk freely, but I choose to stay inside as much as possible.
I am doing my best to make the most of an unfortunate situation. Here’s to hoping life resumes back to normal soon!
… and here we are rolling into week 3 of February and KMG closing out week 2 of at home quarantine.
14 days yall. I did it. And in my best Antwone Fischer voice-
“I’M STILL STANDING. IM STILL STRONG!”
The Chinese government has advised that everyone respects and adheres to an at-home 14 day quarantine. I will say that every city, province, district, and even apartment complex have different/stricter rules than others. I am in Shanghai and the district that I live in hasn’t been so strict. I can leave my compound (apartment complex), go the supermarket, walk outside, do what I need to do and go home freely. Other districts and cities have stricter rules for coming and going. I still have no issue with food, water, wifi, or anything like that. This is not to say that some are not having these issues, I know that smaller cities are having a harder time with having access to the things that they need. I am thankful that where I am I have access to everything that I need.
I have been back for 14 days, I don’t feel sick, when I do have to leave my home I am fully covered, I have gloves and a mask on, and my own travel size disinfectant spray. I am taking all precautions that I know to take to stay safe and healthy. I spend most of my hours inside. I have been productive in my home keeping myself busy, but mostly keeping myself safe and healthy. Even though I feel healthy and well I will still be on at home quarantine spending as little time as possible outside until instructed to do otherwise.
I am positive, yes, but I am ready for life to go back to normal. Everything about what is happening right now just, well, SUCKS. There is probably a more eloquent way to describe it, but that’s all I got right now. It really does suck. I am not rushing anything, I want everything to be under control before resuming our daily and busy lives here in Shanghai, but being by yourself and isolated, when its not voluntary isn’t all that great – at least for me. Some folks are loving this, and some are hating it. I have friends who have taken extended holiday in nearby countries, which can be expensive and eventually your travel visa may expire depending on where you are, and some friends who went back to USA to wait this out. A lot of us are still here in Shanghai. Whatever your decision, everyone had to make the BEST decision for themselves.
It has been awful all the lives that have been lost as a result of this virus. I really hope its all contained and handled very soon. Until then I am e-teaching my students and they say that they are enjoying the videos and lessons so far. I enjoy the classroom, so I miss it for sure, but I am taking life one day at a time as it comes.
I have been cooking, trying new recipes, reading, working out, and watching all the tv and movies! If you have any recommendations for recipes, books, TedTalks, TV Shows, at home workouts, and movies I should watch please reply and let me know! I’m game to try some new things out.
Hey Yall … we’re rolling into week 2 of February and week 2 of the at home quarantine …
Week 1! I survived week one of being quarantined at home
I am safe, healthy, and well rested! Every province and city is different with the rules and expectations that have been set during the quarantine. I have heard that some apartment complexes or ‘compound’ are only allowing one family member out every two days to get necessities to keep a hold on how many people are out and about in the city. Some compounds are not allowing people to have visitors. It is different for everyone. I haven’t had any issues at all.
There are stores and restaurants open, but they take your temperature before you enter to make sure you don’t have any signs of fever and you have to wear a mask before you enter. I haven’t been to eat yet at a restaurant, but once your temperature has been taken, and you’ve cleaned your hands with hand-sanitizer, you’re welcome to take off your mask and enjoy your meal with your friends.
There are doctors/therapists available for anyone who needs to cope and speak with someone as they deal with this epidemic.
KMG: I myself, I am okay. I am so thankful for every message from family members and friends checking on me. It meas so much to me. I have been reading, cleaning, cooking (trying new recipes), taking naps, working out and e-teaching. I am taking advantage of this time given to me.
E-Teaching: How does this work for kindergarten students? It is different for every school, but at my school kindergarten teachers are uploading videos and worksheets to an online drive that parents have access to for the students to complete at home. Instructions are given in English and translated in Chinese and they are encouraged to do their very best with their parents help. All work will be reviewed once we return to the classroom in a few weeks.
Netflix: If you haven’t heard of it you should check out “She Did That” on Netflix!!!
Books: I am currently reading: SULA and Fail Up … next up after these two …..
^what are yall reading??? Give me some ideas! Help my 2020 list^`
Here’s to safety and adventure! I am still thankful for this life and the experiences that living in Shanghai and being an international teacher have given me.
Being away from home isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but this is where this chapter in my life has me. #IChooseAdventure
For folks still in Shanghai/any other city in China you may be going stir-crazy. I’m not going stir-crazy yet, but I did just arrive back on Saturday. Here are some tips for surviving the virus:
1: Stay out of all these WeChat groups and online groups/sites- that are only talking about the virus. Yes, it is important to stay informed and up to date with what is happening, but you will go nuts if that is all you talk about all day everyday!
2: Start and finish a few books! Download some e-books and start reading! Start an online book club of a short book and discuss it.
3: There are some great documentaries on Netflix! Watch a documentary.
4: Any projects you have started and haven’t completed? Try finishing those now. You have nothing but time so you might as well be productive!
5: Find an at home workout challenge and stick to it! The routine of wake, eat, potty, sleep sounds great, but throw a workout or two in your day to keep your body where it needs to be.
6: Cook some new dishes. You have lots of time so try out some new recipes!
7: Take up yoga – there are some great online sites – and YouTube is great – for trying yoga. Try something new during this time.
8: Listen to a podcast- or learn how to start one! Start a blog or vlog or YouTube channel. Find something that really interests you and jump into that!
9: Meditate or Journal.
10: Keep in touch with your family and friends at home. Social media can be useful and positive during a situation like this.
I know a lot of people are having a hard time with 2020- January has been a tough year! . Yeah, you read that right. January has been a tough year. A lot of folks have decided to end their expat journey and return home. That’s fine. We must all do what is best for us. Take each day as it comes. Breathe and work towards what you want. Make this year what you want of it.
I am sure anybody who is anybody has heard of the “Coronavirus” that is happening right now in China. The virus itself isn’t new but this strain of it is. I am going to share the update that I shared on social media here.
‼️UPDATE #2 ‼️ – From Facebook/IG/Twitter
I am back in Shanghai!
WHO- declared the Coronavirus a global emergency. The virus is real and serious. I’m not going to spend time comparing stats to other viruses and other illnesses in other countries. I am not going to act as if it’s not a real things that’s not happening because it is!
This one is happening right now. It’s new and it’s making its way around the world. The Chinese government is working hard to contain it, but it did start during a busy travel season so know it can be a lot of work to handle it all.
My flight was smooth. Every flight attendant and worker had on masks 😷 and gloves the entire flight. Every person on the flight had on masks. Flight attendants took our temperature 🤒 and we filled out a health form to turn in before going through customs. It was quiet and orderly going through customs and in baggage claim (unusual for China 🇨🇳 but appreciated)。All went smooth and well.
My school sent a driver to pick me up. He had his mask and gloves and got me home safely. Our school is taking every precaution as we are on at home 14 day quarantine. Extended holiday. Everyone has been asked to avoid places where there would usually be lots of people and to always wear your mask when going outside.
Shanghai is quiet. It’s usually a very busy city and it’s quiet. Yes there’s food! Yes there’s water. Yes I have wifi. The virus is real and serious but life is still happening.
I am thankful for every message sent to me asking about my well being. I am healthy and safe. I am taking all precautions given. The news will send you into a panic that I am not in. Some people are scared and that’s fine. Everyone will handle this differently. I am not scared but I am using wisdom and discernment in my daily living now that I am back. Life is quieter and slower than usual.
This is when I live out my faith and the truth of 2 Timothy 1:17. I don’t get to just read about it – I MUST LIVE IT!
I know people have a lot of thoughts about China and so many thoughts about me living here. So when you talk about the Coronavirus and China just remember you are talking about real people who live here and are dealing with this. I am staying as safe as can be! I have gloves, sanitizer, travel size hand wash, and masks – I really am being safe- The world 🌎 is a scary place so let’s all be careful!!
That’s all I have for now! ❤️ and ☮️
-KG!
If you type it in google you will get tons of information about it. WHO – has declared it a global emergency, airlines are stopping flight in and out China, and many countries are closing its borders to individuals who are Chinese or who have traveled from China. You may be quarantined for a specific number of days when leaving China for a different country and when returning to China. The virus is serious, it has spread around the world, and it should be taken seriously.
With all of that, I do not feel afraid, but I am being cautious, safe, and careful! I am on at home 14 day quarantine, I have masks to wear when/if I have to go outside, and I wear gloves so I don’t touch anything. The virus itself isn’t airborne so I don’t feel like I will just ‘catch’ it when stepping out of my door. I am not facing death on a daily basis, but I am being smart with my actions. Yesterday, I made a quick trip to the grocery store to get food and returned home and stayed inside for the remainder of the day. There is plenty of food, water, and items you need for daily life here in Shanghai. The city itself is quiet and the streets and super empty. I have NEVER seen Shanghai this empty. NEVER, since I moved here in 2017.
Quarantine Day 1-2.01.20 I arrived here on Saturday afternoon from Seattle by way of Dallas. I stayed home the rest of the day. Ordered food and slept.
Quarantine Day 2- 2.02.20 I slept most of Sunday. Traveling is wonderful and I don’t take these opportunities for granted, but I was exhausted. I had an online work meeting and after that I slept.
Quarantine Day 3- 2.03.20 Ha! It is Monday morning at 2:45 in the morning as I am writing this blog post. I slept all day yesterday so now I’m wide awake. I plan on reading, doing some indoor workouts, and watching some fun tv!
I am doing well so far. It is safe to go outside. Always wear your mask, cover your body and be careful. Mask wearing isn’t new to people in China because China isn’t known for having the best air quality. I’ll take a short stroll at some point, but write now I am checking some things off of my to do list and being productive inside!
These Shanghai Streets are empty!These Shanghai Streets are empty!
Please know that I am being safe and taking all necessary precautions while I am living here. I am thankful for everyone’s concern and for reaching out to me. I know that this is serious so I am definitely following instructions of having an at-home quarantine.
I also know that many feel its odd that I came back to Shanghai while all of this was happening. Many flights were being canceled and the city – in comparison to life as usual- is a Ghost Town. Friends have left for extended vacations in other countries or returned to their home countries. I know of some people who have left their jobs indefinitely and do not plan on returning back to China, their work in China, or their expat lives. Everyone has to do what is best for them.
This is when I live out my faith. I believe in the trust of 2 Timothy 1:7. I live here and my life is here. So I am back and I am following protocols given. Though I don’t live from a place of fear I do live from a place of wisdom! Uprotting my life from Shanghai back to Dallas without a real plan isn’t settling well for me. I have no job in Dallas, no home of my own, the money to restart life in North America (N.America is expensive – but yall know that) and a plan for returning to USA. So I am here in Shanghai, in my right now home. Keep thinking about us! Keep praying! Keep following the news but turn it off once you’re in full blown panic or hysteria! …. lets all keep on going!
#blackteacherabroadandproud #unapologeticdopeness 
#Love
#China
#America
#ImAMelanatedTeacherAbroad
FEARLESS in SHANGHAI 