Great learning has happened at the International Community School Singapore, where Jaime Thomas and I shared theories, ideas and strategies for working with English Language Learners in international school settings. We discussed topics like building empathy, second language acquisition, social vs. academic language, vocabulary development, differentiation and scaffolding. 
We got to work with a group of young and energetic teachers, who aimed to better understand and support the ELLs in their classes.
We also got to experience a snapshot of a consultant's job and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It's definitely something we consider pursuing further. ​

It's inevitable. After a holiday, everyone talks about it. The holiday!
I had already heard a lot of holiday stories from my Grade 1 students, so when Grade 4 came, I didn't want them to tell me all about their holiday as well. Instead, I asked them to write  about it. I was expecting a bunch of stories starting with, or ending in, "I had an amazing/great/fantastic/ awesome vacation.", and then a bunch of details, maybe some dialogue, some "show, not tell"... Travels, shopping, restaurants. Beaches. Maybe some feelings.
Instead, I got this. 
From a girl who is just learning English. 

​​And it went straight to my heart!

Holiday
I had the worst holiday that I never, ever had.

Monday,
I was seating on my chair, reading a book,
my body almost iron.

Tuesday,
I was looking at my brother playing a game.
The name of the game - 'Rainbow Six Maruchiplay Kajuaru",
my body almost a mummy.

Wednesday,
I ate many fruits.
Their names were apple and orange,
my body almost fruit juice.

Thursday,
I made many, many cakes.
Cheese cake, chocolate cake, strawberry cake, orange cake, and blueberry cake,
my body almost cake.

Friday,
I sent the cakes to my Japanese friends.
They said their "Thank you!"s every time.
When I wanted to say "You're welcome!",
the words that I said were "Thank you!" too,
my brain almost nothing but "Thank you!"

Saturday,
I went to ballet.
It's sometimes like gymnastics.
After gymnastics, we danced our dance for the May show.
My body was so hard!
My feet reached up to my head.

Sunday,
We went to my mom's friend's house.
He owns a jewellery shop.
He had many, many stones and many, many pearls. 
He showed us the blood stone.
The most expensive one.

I like to read a book, but I don't like to read all day.
I don't like to watch someone play games. I like to play them.
I like fruit, but not when it's too much.
I don't want to make cakes anymore.
Why does everyone just say "Thank you!", "Thank you!"?
I don't like stones and I don't want to see the blood stone.

This week was so long.
It's the worst holiday that I never, ever had. 

I felt this TED Talk by Susan Cain was very interesting and quite pertinent to us as teachers, parents and general citizens of the world. Incidentally, Bill Gates regards it as the greatest TED talk of all time. It looks at the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses and misperceptions about people on the introvert to extrovert continuum. Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts enjoyed ravishing reviews. 

"What am I being, when my students' eyes are not shining?" 
This inspiring TED Talk by Benjamin Zander made me wonder, smile, feel, desire, be.

...Because I get to meet countless inspiring people. Authors, writers, chefs. Ying Chang Compestine is all in one, and more. 
The most important lessons I learned from her today:
1. If you want to be a writer, read. Read like a writer.
2. Your words are diamonds. Think about how you can best say something while saving as many diamonds as you can. 

Another way of saying "Less is always more."