http://www.chris-ballard.blogspot.com

I Have moved this site!!

Just a reminder ;)

Eiken...GO!!!

I Have moved this site!!

The new lighter site is here >>> here






The 4th/3rd graders got their first taste of Eiken 5...and it was good!! Of course they didn't think so but ....they'll get a taste of success very soon!!


also I'm migrating my site to another place since this site is a bit heavy on old systems :)

Hanami Party Sunday April 5th!!

The School will be holding a "Hanami BBQ Party" at Furepaku in Yu on Sunday April 5th. This will be at the peak of the Hanami season and the mountain top location has spectacular views of the ocean and surrounding mountains. More information will be included in February's School newsletter.


Here is a link ...CLICK ME

Saturday = All girls

Saturday saves me!! It's just kids and they are all advanced. T.G.I.S ;)
Chinami and Chiharu (another class which is not pictured) are my Schools new #1's) They have to live up to that with their continued effort. Did I say....I love Saturdays??? ;)

Friday night J.H/Elem -1

I played a game seeing how many things they could observe/describe from a picture. It worked really good so I think it's a keeper.


**This blog is crashing in IE but not Firefox...I'm workin' on it!!

1st/3rd graders reading like 8th graders

I'll admit it,
I don't like grammar...never did. But, I do remember when I first learned to read. I would read street signs, cereal boxes, supermarket advertisers and anything else I could. I wanted to read everything. So I want my students to get that feeling as soon as possible. A lot of schools are dancing and playing games with 7-9 year olds. Not me, I'm teaching the joys of reading and what must feel like their first real achievment on their path towards mastering the English language.

Back to School!!

This is my smartest Elementary group. (Their diaries are below...sorry Chikako!! I forgot to take a picture of yours :( )
These girls are doing great and the studying is going to get more intense.

On another note....

I found 2 sites "ESL Tower" and "ESL Galaxy" that are kind enough to offer some teaching materials for free. Very good stuff over there and I recommend ESL teachers to give em" a peek.