“Last Boot on the Ground” Thoughts on Being a Leader: Kingston’s Journal #32

"The Job is Done" https://youtu.be/Rz1ypj59LOA There's an old saying that goes, a manager tells people what to do and a leader shows them what to do. Break down the word "leader" and you get the word lead. Break it down further and for every leader you have followers. What does it mean to follow? It …

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Teaching English in Thailand Review: 9th Grade (M3)

https://youtu.be/4rkcIoJyhpY I wanted to take some time today to reflect on all six of my classes during my year here at Attamit (my school's name). I have taught grades 7-9, so here are my thoughts as well as survey data I compiled from students during the final class. Each grade is broken up between Groups …

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Teaching English in Thailand Review: 8th Grade (M2)

https://youtu.be/Ev9VuFv6oVE I wanted to take some time today to reflect on all six of my classes during my year here at Attamit (my school's name). I have taught grades 7-9, so here are my thoughts as well as survey data I compiled from students during the final class. Each grade is broken up between Groups …

Continue reading Teaching English in Thailand Review: 8th Grade (M2)

Teaching English in Thailand Review: 7th Grade (M1)

https://youtu.be/uB9mgHnB5ak I wanted to take some time today to reflect on all six of my classes during my year here at Attamit (my school's name). I have taught grades 7-9, so here are my thoughts as well as survey data I compiled from students during the final class. Each grade is broken up between Groups …

Continue reading Teaching English in Thailand Review: 7th Grade (M1)

“What Turns a Heart Bitter” On Love and Indifference: Kingston’s Journal #31

"Not loved? Be consciously indifferent. https://youtu.be/QdModaFumno Teaching job is over, just need to finish up the grading and that'd be a wrap for being a school teacher. I think back to all the things I did for my kids out of love, care and concern. And how so much of it was unrecipricated. I won't …

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“Rudy” Work Hard, In a Thoughtful Place: Kingston’s Journal #30

What does a moment in the spotlight cost. https://youtu.be/I_gn5VMX5JY Let's talk about Rudy, he was a young man with big dreams. He may have been small in stature, but that didn't deter him from playing college football. He spent years toiling, working harder than most to be a bench warmer on the team. Only in …

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“I Loved You, But Not No More” Thoughts on Love: Kingston’s Journal #29

What is Love? https://youtu.be/IZ4UyKeKGro So yesterday I saw some of my M3 students likely for the last time. As I walked past, one of them called after me, "Mr. Kingston!" she said. I turned around, "good bye!" they called out as they waved farewell. Me, being more a man of letters and not so quick …

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“A Man’s Burden” On Taking Responsibility for Everything: Kingston’s Journal #28

What gives life meaning is moving a weight from one place to another. https://youtu.be/m-SdVe1naF0 I started the term with high ideals for myself, I was going to emulate the best teacher I ever knew and make all my kids better students. "Great teachers inspire" I said to myself. A number of my students have improved, …

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“Who Am I, What Matters, What Am I Good At” Kingston’s Journal #26

Teaching includes teaching yourself who you really are Recently I watched an interesting Youtube video that was about the advice an older person would give to their 20 something self. He compared this life stage as akin to running a series of experiments to answer 3 questions rather then trying to get the most prestige …

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5 Things I Like About Teaching In Thailand (and 3 I Don’t): Kingston’s Journal #23

https://youtu.be/lo-xFMKBcBo As this school year winds down to the final 4 weeks, I wanted to reflect on the things I like and didn't like during my time here in Thailand. Pro: Firstly, the students are quite friendly, whenever they pass me in the hall, there'll normally be some that greet me. Con: On the flip …

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