Robin Egg Candy Virgins

Last Wednesday was just one of those days when the kids are super-hyper for some reason. I don't know if it was the phase of the moon, the earth relation to its other cosmic neighbors or what. I did not care, all I knew was I was having a really hard time asking my first class to not talk. It was exhausting and I had a headache. So, against my better judgment I told them if they were good the team that won the game could have a piece of candy next week.

Uggggghhhh! Did I really just do that? I am usually against candy (or anything physical) as a reward. I try not to go for extrinsic motivation and instead go for the deeper, more meaningful Intrinsic  motivation (i.e I want to learn English not for candy or a prize but because I want to learn it). Still, I had a head ache and was loosing my sanity so I promised them candy. "At least I wont have this problem with the other classes" I thought.

HA! how could I be so naive? Once word got around from that class that I promised them candy it was a de facto promise to all classes that if they were quiet and their group won the class game that they too would get a sugary reward. Oh well, it was not so bad. At least I'd have my sanity.

Id been thinking and looking for cheap candy for the rest of the week with no good prospects. Because I am a cheapskate, I wanted quantity with out the price tag that comes with a large amount of candy. I found it at COSTCO. I bought a 42 oz bag of Whoppers "Robin Eggs" candy left over from Easter and newly discounted to 3,500 Won (about $3). Perfect I thought!

When it came time to give them out the student were perplexed. Some thought I was gum. Many asked "its candy?" not knowing what to do with the oddly colored cavity causers. Only one kid in 5 classes knew what it was. Pretty shocking. They turned out to be a big hit and that makes me happy.