New Years, Intention, Expressing Hope, Making a Difference

Handouts (A Class/ B Class)

I. Readings

1. Christmas Around the World
Festival of Lights (A )
2. New Years Eve

New Years Eve Reading: Write the Chinese meaning over the vocabulary:

New Year's Eve New Year's Eve, also called Old Year's Night, is celebrated on December 31st, the final day of the year. It is celebrated all over the world with parties and social gathering with usually a lot of fireworks and noise. In the United States of America, New York is the place where this celebration is associated with. People gather in the Times Square (時代廣場) just before midnight in the last minute of the countdown to see the "ball dropping". The celebration is also associated with parties in other parts of the world. In France, for instance, the celebration is called le Réveillon. Special food is prepared(made) accompanied with champagne. People also go to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to see fireworks display. In Japan, people traditionally clean their home. Buddhist佛教徒 temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight. In Brazil, the beach of Copacabana科帕卡瓦納 is considered by many to be the place of the most beautiful fireworks show in the world. On New Year's Eve, people commit themselves with resolutions. These are made to reform a habit and should go into effect (start) and remain (stay) until fulfillment (the habit is changed, or finished).

Write 3 questions about the reading:

1.

2.

3.

Write 3 questions that apply the reading to your life:

1.

2.

3.

Writing:  New Years Resolution

Reading 3: Prince Harry 哈利王子 Vows To Make a Difference

(A Class/ B Class)

Vocabulary: “making a difference”, royal王室的, documentary紀錄片, charity慈善機構, candid坦誠的, interview面談, confess坦白, orphans孤兒, war veterans老兵, perspective觀點, energized, community社區

	Pros好處	Cons 弊病
Giving to charity慈善事業
Opening a door for someone
Doing someone's work
Buying someone flowers
Paying a stranger a compliment恭維（話）
Doing voluntary自願的；志願的work

Reading Skills: Cause and Effect (more worksheets)

II. 你對未來有甚麼希望和夢想？What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

What is the difference between these two statements? Explain.

            >I hope I can improve my English.

            >I wish I could improve my English.

HOPE 希望，祈望，盼望	WISH 希望；想要, 願望，心願
1.     hypothetical (or imagined/unreal) situations 假設的情況 EX: I hope you can make it	1.    Express future possibility 祝願 EX: We wish you every success in the future.我們祝願你將來事事成功。
2.     Express goodwill 善意 EX: I hope you have nice day I hope you had a nice day.	]2.     Expressions of goodwill 善意 EX: I wish you a Merry Christmas! EX: I wished him well with his new venture.我祝他的新企業成功。
3.      Usually used in the future tense (but not always.) EX: I hope to see you tomorrow.	3.     Express Anger （用來表示對某人行為的厭煩）我希望… EX: I wish she'd shut up for a minute and let someone else talk. 我希望她能閉一會兒嘴，讓其他人來說。 EX: I wish you'd look at me when I'm trying to talk to you!我希望在我跟你說話時，你能看著我！
4. Specify a desired outcome EX: I hope to have a new car	To Want to do something 希望, 想要 [ + to infinitive ]  EX: I wish to make a complaint. 我想投訴。
IDIOMS: 1. Hope for the best 抱樂觀的態度，盡量往好處想 EX: I've repaired it as well as I can - we'll just have to hope for the best. 我已經盡力修理——我們只能盡量往好處想了	4.   Expresses regret about the past. Used with past perfect. （與過去完成時連用，對過去某事表示悔恨） EX: I wish I had studied more. EX: I wish (that) I hadn't eaten so much.我真希望自己沒吃那麼多。

Wishes about the past: Using the Past Perfect.

Wish + (that) + past perfect +verb: 
Wish + (that) + past perfect+ been +adj.:

EX: I wish that I had been brave enough to talk to that pretty girl.

Look at the pp of irregular verbs to finish your writing on page 5.

++ PP Games Easy/ Hard

Conversation: Expressing Hope, Wishes Conversation Questions, Exercises, Board Game

III. Setting an Intention 意圖，打算

A. Examples of Intentions:

Have less stress,  Be a more thankful person, Be A Better Listener to Everyone, Forgive Myself and Others, Make Someone Smile everyday, See God in everything, Be A Patient Person..etc

Example: 2017 Intention: Focus and Prioritize

C. Desire Map-

	Achieved 實現了   in 2016	2017: Write 1 short term goal and one long-term goal.
1. Livelihood and Lifestyle生活方式	Travel, lots of trips	1. 2.
2. Body & Wellness (HEALTH)	started jogging	1. 2.
3. Creativity創造力 & Learning	Wrote more poems, started dancing	1. 2.
4. Relationships關係 & Society 社會	spent more time with family	1. 2.
5. Spirituality 精神性；靈性	go to church	1. 2.

Make a Vision Board:

Use your Desire Map and make a vision board. Draw, color, cut and glue from magazines or newspapers to create a visual collage of your dreams, goals, hopes for 2017.

Grammar: Suffixes

 Suffixes, list

Adjective Suffixes
-able, -ible	Can, able	edible, presentable, credible
-al	pertaining to與…有關；涉及	regional,  emotional, coastal
-esque	reminiscent of使人想起…的；使人回憶起…的	picturesque, statuesque,
-ful	notable for (full of…)	resentful, doubtful
-ic, -ical	pertaining to與…有關；涉及	mythic, domestic
-ious, -ous	characterized by為…的特徵；為…所特有	nutritious, studious
-ish	having the quality品質；特性of	childish, snobbish
-ive	having the nature種類；特性；本質of	creative, divisive, decisive
-less	without	endless, ageless, lawless, effortless
-y	characterized by為…的特徵；為…所特有	greasy, nerdy, smelly

Add a suffix to make a new word exercise.

Suffix Game, More Games

The Case for Mindfulness in the ESL Classroom

 Mindfulness is the non-judgmental focus of one's attention to the present moment. It is the optimal state for learning and teaching, and cultivating happiness. When my current boss asked me to teach extra mindfulness class through art and movement, I was over the moon.

It goes without saying we live in a stressful world. Children in Taiwanese kindergartens are expected to learn a second language, with several books, extracurricular classes (math, piano, etc), perform in biannual dramatic performances, take tests,  and with less sleep and little time for free play in nature. Academic stresses accumulate for the student; endure loads of daily homework, midterms, finals, the pressure to please,  succeed have their consequences.

Under stress the brain's executive function cannot work properly, directly and negatively affecting academic performance. Fear and anxiety are biologically programmed to shut down the higher thinking process. The optimal flow and retention of information within the pre-frontal cortex happens when the mind is peaceful and calm. Peaceful teachers and parents nurture this state. We all have a social responsibility to facilitate positive brain chemistry, ie be relaxed.  Easier said than done- I know! (See Free Guided Meditations).

 Teachers and parents tell their kids to pay attention but we never teach them what paying attention means or how to pay attention. There is a place for boredom in my opinion, preferably not in the classroom (parents  just learn to deal with it without reaching for the pacifying smart phone or I-pad). Research has already demonstrated that when passively listening students start to actively exchange new concepts with their group they experience a greater level of understanding. On a kindergarten level this means education is fun, engaging, sensory fulfilling. Instinctively good teachers know this and allow for students to share their thoughts on the topic to the class and have plenty of movement and tactile oriented learning activities.

Mindfulness Quiz

Do you savor life or let everyday stresses control you? In other words, how mindful are you?

Take this quiz now to find out.

The Benefits of Mindfulness in Education:
1. Increased Attention
2. Increased Executive Function; Better decision making coupled with an enthusiasm for learning
3. Decreased ADHA behavior
4. Increased emotional regulation
5. Increased self calming and self regulation
6. Increased social skills, social compliance and less peer-to-peer conflict
7. Increased empathy, compassion, generosity and patience
8. Decreased anxiety
9. Decreased depression
10. Increased sound sleep
11. Increased sense of calmness, self acceptance
12. Facilitates healthy blood pressure

In The Classroom:
1. Teach what makes us happy and engaged, like collaborating with peers while being creative in art, drama, singing, and physically active like P.E. and dance as well as participating in acts of kindness and community service. A happy brain works better. Happy brains produce dopamine which readies our brains for peak performance. Make sure the kids engage in happy activities first and then teach them whats on your academic checklist. Flow back in forth depending on your flexibility.

2. Deep Breathing calms the brain down. It is a technique that can be learned to respond to stressful situations. Learn it, practice it and teach it.

3. Yoga is a fun way to combine deep breathing with physical play. It counteracts the negative effects of sitting in chairs for hours, massages the inner organs, cleanses the lymphatic system, regulates the endocrine system, and balances both hemispheres of the brain. It fosters self acceptance in a media driven world of cookie cutter ideal body types. Anything can become yoga from animals, insects and modes of transportation to letters of the alphabet.

4. Show and Tell on a topic related to what was learned is a great way for young kids to use new language and practice public speaking in hopefully a safe space without memorizing lines. The class can help celebrate individual accomplishments (improved foreign language acquisition and speaking confidence) as well as share something personally meaningful and connect on a relational level.

5. Foster a spirit of hope. Hope has the power to change brain chemistry and is a positive reinforcing cycle that fosters successful learning. Being hopeful has the same affect on metabolic states as physical activity. Hopeful kids work harder, don't quit, and ultimately experience success which refuels their hope. That means we teachers have to be hopeful too, embrace the belief system that edifies your wholeness and sustains your hope when life is at it's lowest.

6. Expect and reinforce respectful listening.Everyone has a voice and we need to make space for taking turns and raising hands and giving our full 100% undivided attention to whoever has the turn to speak. Parents have to mirror this at public events, school functions and give our mindful attention to whoever has the mic.

Class activities:
1.The Feelings Wheel
2. Deep Breathing Wand
3. What My Brain Looks Like
4. Eating Chocolate with mindfulness
5. Bag Self Portrait
6. Mind Jar/Calming Jar
7. Zones of Regulation Cootie Catcher
8. Self Regulation Games
9. Make a Mood Bear
10. Make a Stress Ball
11. Feelings dice
12. Worry dolls
13. Worry balloons

In The News:
Schools Rethink Health Class, Incorporate Mindfulness
Why Well-Being Is a Skill That Can Be Learned
Mindfulness As Effective As Pills


Resources:
Mindfulness Guide for Teachers
Mindfulness Teacher's Guide (PBS)
Mindfulness Case Studies
The Greater Good (University of Berkley)
EQ Quizzes
Mindfulness In Schools Project
Association for Mindfulness
How to Teach the Relaxation Response
Way of Mindful Education
The Contemplative Mind K-12 Resources
7 Ways Mindfulness Can Help Teachers
The Mind-Up Curriculum (Scholastics)