2nd grade know-it-alls

Today wasn't so terrible at school. The secretary had neglected to make my photocopies by the time I needed them. Apparently she has to have everything approved by the principal who didn't do it yesterday and is the only person with the key to the photocopier (I think this actually means code, but the secretary doesn't really speak English). She did them quickly, just as the class was starting. So that worked out.

I also had second grade for the first time. They're going to be my challenge class. One kid just got back from the states where IwenttoRosaParksElementaryinBerkleyCaliforniait'sinthebayareanearSanFrancisco(pause for air)ofcourseIknowhowtoreadI'vereadalltheHarryPotterseventhoughI'mseven.........blah blah blah blah blah. He has a partner in crime in the same class. It's going to be hell. When they left class they told me it was soooooo boring because they didn't get to write anything. They're in second grade! The problem is that half their group can't read or write and these two can do everything. There is another girl who can read and write because her parents are British. I'm going to have to come up with activities to keep the crazies busy while I bring the other kids up to speed.

Limor's solution is to ditch the slower kids and send them back to regular English classes. She's on a bit of a rampage. I'm not sure I'll have any students left by the end of the week. One of our conversations today went like this:

Limor: Who did you see from alef (1st grade).

Me: A girl named Ohr from alef 2.

Limor: Who is she?

Me: You talked to her parents in the hallway about being in native speakers. The other morning (look at Limor questioningly).

Limor: How does she compare?

Me: Well she's in class with the 2nd grade Belgian girl who went to the English school in France, so Ohr was a bit behind.

Limor: Oh, kick her out of native speakers. Why was she there anyway?

Me: I don't know. You talked to her parents.

Limor: They're Israeli? What did they say?

Me: I don't know. You talked to them the other day.

Limor: But they're not from an English-speaking country. Why is she in native speakers?

Me: I don't know. You talked to her parents and told me to take her.

Limor: Good, get her out of your class.

(The poor little girl is only five years old. She will be pretty confused.)

I also have to kick out a 6th grader, a 3rd grader and a few 2nd graders.

Limor also had me write a letter to the parents of the native speakers. She actually wrote the thing (or tried to) in English, but she's not too good with a computer. So, I polished it and printed it up. Basically it explains that I'm here to teach their kids English, they have to get their kids a binder for my classes and there will eventually be a book to purchase. It also announces my after school English club, for which I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. (The letter says I'll be doing fun and games!)