In Murielle's class, the duel level CM1/CM2 (ages 9-11), they went through their regular morning routine of doing the attendance and lunch count in English. When they were finished they all turned to the back where we were sitting, to stare at Amy:) Murielle asked them to ask her questions to get to know her a bit... What is your name? How old are you? Where do you live? etc. She answered them slowly and in clear-as-a-bell English, but they still said... her accent is so hard to understand! I thought to myself.... hrmm, I wonder if I make my English sound French or if they have just gotten used to hearing me.... Anyway, after the interrogation, we went over some Thanksgiving vocabulary and had the kids make Thanksgiving place settings. There were given cut-outs to color and paste onto their mat, anywhere except for in the very right-hand corner, where a picture of us would be placed. The kids were like, Oh! They're going to be our Thanksgiving stamp! Murielle took our picture and said, Voila, your first stamp:)
In this class there are some very cute and thoughtful kids... a few asked us our favorite colors so that they could use them in their place setting.... a few wanted to know what we would be eating tonight. But then there is a little boy, who is new this year, and therefore doesn't quite fit in as well as the other kids who have been together since the maternelle. Although he's very smart, he often gets himself into trouble and attracts negative attention.... he decided to ask Amy if she looked at Playboy. I guess he figured he'd ask the innocent newcomer... but Amy just said no and sort of laughed it off. Had Murielle heard, he would have surely gotten in BIG trouble... but he was spared this time around.... lol. Oh kids!
In the second class, the combo CE1/CE2 (ages 7-8), we did almost the same thing, except for their table setting was smaller and they were asked to make a hand-print turkey on one side. They had very colorful turkeys... and we went around to help them figure out where to place the beak and feet. It's so amazing how exciting a hand-print turkey can be!
While the kids were working, we talked with Murielle a little bit... and she told me that she was leaving to go to the doctor after school. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance last week from school because she was having such severe back pain. Turns out she has a different infection in each kidney! So, even though she was very nice in talking with Amy and wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving, I could tell she was a little off today.
At the break, she showed Amy and I the Catherinette hat she made for the CP teacher. Apparently, today is also a holiday for the French (well, Nov. 25th specifically). It is St. Catherine day... and for all woman who are unmarried and 25, they are given a special hat, almost like a princess cone hat to wear. I guess it's kind of like a good luck tradition... hope you get hitched soon kind of thing. Interesting, non!
After the break, which was frigid, we went to the CP/CE1 class (ages 6-7) to explain Thanksgiving in French (with pictures of course) and make hand-print turkey thank you cards. They, too, enjoyed making the turkeys.... although these were the most creative. Some looked like they had fur... some had tattoos... some were spotted. They would have done well in the Cincinnati Newspaper turkey competition:) Amy brought her flip camera into the class to tape a little bit of a French classroom for her kids to see... and we got them to say Hello and Happy Thanksgiving at the end. Cute!
We booked it home because it was raining and super duper cold. Now we are resting a bit before cleaning up and cooking for our Thanksgiving feast:) So more later!
Happee Tanks-geeving as my kids say!
Happy Thanksgiving to you two! Just finished putting the last of the bowl/serving dishes away. Frig full of leftovers, yum, shouldn't have to cook for a couple of days. Looking forward to seeing/reading about your next lovely adventure.
ReplyDeleteI have leftovers too! I'm so excited to not have to cook for at least a few days:)
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