Winging it

I had a very clear plan of what I was going to do in today's 2nd grade elementary class. I even had my little slip of paper with each step, minutes proportioned accordingly, how to arrange the class, even an extra activity in case things ran too quickly. And I didn't use it; not even for a second.

As I began the lesson, I started off with a standard counting review. The kids are good with 1-10, but past that, things get haltingly...unaccustomed. The kids aren't bad - they just don't know it yet. As we reached 10, I just decided to push the limit...to 11...then to 12. And there went the plan!

But it was a great decision! The numbers 1-12 represent every number they'll need to know to at least tell time in hours, and what better in-class prop than a large clock with moving parts. We spent a good bit of time on 11 and 12, getting the pronunciation down, making sure they could remember it. We'd count, "1...2...3...~...9...10... ... ...." "E-le-ven," I'd prompt. And we'd do it over and over. Then move on to 12. We started chanting the numbers, me doing a stupid little dance to get the kids laughing and enjoying it. After that, we tackled "o'clock."

We finished up the period with a game where I called out a time and the two opposing teams had to draw hands on the face of clocks drawn on the chalkboard. By the end of the game, they were saying, 「超簡単、ボン先生！」　cho-kantan, bon-sensei "Way too easy!" Well, good!