How to draw a giraffe and other life lessons

As I enter my last week of teaching, I thought I would make a list of the things I've taught my students, and the things they've taught me.

I've taught my students:

       How to make a Thanksgiving hand turkey.

•   
  
  
  The words angry, sad, happy and sleepy, along with hand motions.  I actually feel a little guilty about this one, because my students remembered this lesson best of all, and I'm worried that the new foreign teacher next year will be greeted by a room full of second graders stomping their feet and yelling "angry!" 
  
  
  An ardent adoration of Tom Pease music, especially the song "Branching Out."
  
  
  That it's okay to be wrong sometimes, and to make mistakes.  
  
  
  That I think our school's "Children should be seen and not heard" policy is arcane and an impediment to learning English and that they should ignore this rule with as much laughter and "jia you" and song as possible.
  
  
  About superheroes, and how important it is to be creative.  
  
  
  
  
  
  My students have taught me:
  
  
  How to make an origami heart.
  
  
  How to draw a giraffe and a rabbit.
  
  
  The best charades for monkey, fish and cat.
  
  
  How to not be nervous when I'm speaking or singing in front of a room full of people.
  
  
  An awesome new high five.
  
  
  A weird game that involves slapping and counting and I still don't know how to win this game.  
  
  
  How to say rice in Chinese (mi fan).
  
  
  That it's okay to be wrong sometimes, and to make mistakes.
  
  
  How to fly a kite.