- Sarah's Key
- The Secret Life of Bees
- The Art of Racing in the Rain
- The Glass Castle
- The Hunger Games (series)
- Unbroken
- Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
- The Color of Water
- The Year of Magical Thinking
- A Room of One's Own
- Child Thief
- The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club
- anything David Sedaris
- anything Sophie Kinsella
- anything Jane Green
- My Sister's Keeper
- The Help
- Redeeming Love
- Leota's Garden
- Choosing to SEE
- Castaway
- Hole in the Gospel
- anything Harlen Coben
- Seal Team Six
- The Execution of Mary Surratt
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Facebook Friends Book List
I made a post on Facebook, taking suggestions for books to read. Here's what my Facebook friends came up with:
Mommy Daughter Date
Maddy and I had another Mommy-Daughter Date Night. I kept it simple since she's only 19 months old. We had an early dinner at Panda Express, where she had her favorite mushroom chicken and chow mein entree. Then we headed over to Barnes and Noble's Children's section where she was most intrigued by the books on clearance. Could it be because those were the books at her eye level?
Maddy had so much fun at the bookstore. I had so much fun watching her pull books off the shelves to show me a thing or two about reading books. Of course she mostly babbled, but she squealed in excitement in between the turn of the page to see the next picture. She enjoyed the books that had all sorts of textures to feel--soft, furry, rough, bumpy. She also loved the books that played songs at a touch of a button.
I hope Maddy and Nick will continue to enjoy books as they grow older. The joy of reading is a gift I can give to my kids over and over again.
Maddy had so much fun at the bookstore. I had so much fun watching her pull books off the shelves to show me a thing or two about reading books. Of course she mostly babbled, but she squealed in excitement in between the turn of the page to see the next picture. She enjoyed the books that had all sorts of textures to feel--soft, furry, rough, bumpy. She also loved the books that played songs at a touch of a button.
I hope Maddy and Nick will continue to enjoy books as they grow older. The joy of reading is a gift I can give to my kids over and over again.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Balance, Balance, Balance
Work-Life Balance. It has only been the 3rd week of school. I'm so happy to say that I love my new work schedule. Working 3 hours a day is just enough time to get my head gears running in the classroom without burning out to the point of frustration. I have enough energy to play with my kids and have a meaningful time with my husband when I get home. It's enough time to run errands, cook a meal, go workout, read books and nurture my spirit.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Math Intervention Calling
There's been a highly specialized new twist in my calling--Math Intervention Teacher. The STAR test results are out and I have been working on analyzing test data for the past 2 weeks to prepare for a real challenge. This year I will be working with kids who are having severe problems in math in grades 3 to 5. Severe, as in failing and two or more grade levels behind the rest of his/her peers. There are millions of reasons why kids fall behind in school. My 10 plus years of teaching experience, I would say that 85% of it is a lack of consistent support for the student.
Judging from this new calling, the Lord really put into my heart that I'm most definitely not doing this for the money. It is so much work for one single person to complete, for only half the paycheck. (It is definitely the reason why I have been thanking the Good Lord when I get my paycheck directly deposited into my Chase checking account.) The Lord pressed into my heart that this job was carved out for me because I love working with kids in a classroom setting, and I have a real knack for working out the math kinks that kids get stuck on. The Lord keeps reminding me that this is an act of loving service. This the Lord calling me out to "Love your neighbor as yourself." It is indeed a high calling, and a hard one! Nobody else would take this job except me.
With all that said, I have been asking the Lord for wisdom in making multiple hard decisions. The reality is that I can't work with every single child. You bet I would, if I could! I must turn away some, given the limited time and resources. It makes me really sad to be recommended by others to transform my classroom into something like a triage medical center. I can only help those that can be helped, and leave the hopeless ones to be stranded. As a Christian teacher, does this even sound right? I just pray that God will make what looks impossible to my administrators and teacher colleagues, only possible by Him.
Here's the ultimate challenge: In each grade level alone, I have identified at least 35 who need special intervention. I can only pull out 4-6 kids from their classroom at a time, because these are the kids who really need small group time with a teacher. I don't have a teacher's assistant due to budget cuts. I only have a 3 hour work schedule. How do I provide a needed service for all those kids in 3 hours? Why don't you do the math? This is why I mean it looks impossible. I trust the Lord for a plan and I know that He'll make a way for me to make it meaningful time of learning for each child.
Looking back, I was never quite the math genius, but that's what made me an even better math student. It was the struggle that I experienced that helped me to better explain any math misconceptions or careless errors that a kid might form in his head. If I ever achieved an "A" in math, it was made from pure sweat, blood and tears. My dad was my best math tutor. He was so hard core about filling in gaps of learning before they get too wide. I was really blessed to have him guide my learning at home, even though we would fight about homework at the dinner table. Of all the subjects, I really love teaching math and it really concerns me when a child is not getting it. It's painful to watch and imagine a child grow up math illiterate. Of course, the majority of these kids are also the ones who lack parental support at home, or have parents who are math illiterate themselves. The vast majority of these kids fall in both categories. It breaks my heart.
I was thinking about posting up a "Volunteers Needed" sign at the Teacher Education department at Cal State Long Beach and CSU Dominguez Hills. Those are the two closest universities to my school. I am willing to mentor any aspiring teacher in exchange for volunteering some help in my classroom. Actually, the volunteers don't need to be an education major necessarily, just someone who loves math, loves struggling kids and love taking on opportunities for a challenges.
I also wonder if there are any of my brothers and sisters in Christ would be interested and willing to sacrifice a couple hours to provide a very important service in the classroom? I just don't have any money to offer in exchange. Again, it would purely be an act of loving service. Who in their right Christ-like mind would do such a deed?
Many people out there fundraise money to support education. We're in a recession and that's what trendy public schools do nowadays--ask for money and material donations. That's a novel idea, but I don't want to touch any money going toward the classroom. That isn't what these particular kids need right now. I'm asking the Lord to look for volunteers to give kids all the positive attention they need so that they can really make their education worthwhile. They need that real hands-on learning and real support, not money thrown at them left and right. My hope and prayer is that someone out there will be brave and compassionate enough to fill this need.
Lord, will You bless these kids with faithful classroom helpers? Please send someone soon.
Judging from this new calling, the Lord really put into my heart that I'm most definitely not doing this for the money. It is so much work for one single person to complete, for only half the paycheck. (It is definitely the reason why I have been thanking the Good Lord when I get my paycheck directly deposited into my Chase checking account.) The Lord pressed into my heart that this job was carved out for me because I love working with kids in a classroom setting, and I have a real knack for working out the math kinks that kids get stuck on. The Lord keeps reminding me that this is an act of loving service. This the Lord calling me out to "Love your neighbor as yourself." It is indeed a high calling, and a hard one! Nobody else would take this job except me.
With all that said, I have been asking the Lord for wisdom in making multiple hard decisions. The reality is that I can't work with every single child. You bet I would, if I could! I must turn away some, given the limited time and resources. It makes me really sad to be recommended by others to transform my classroom into something like a triage medical center. I can only help those that can be helped, and leave the hopeless ones to be stranded. As a Christian teacher, does this even sound right? I just pray that God will make what looks impossible to my administrators and teacher colleagues, only possible by Him.
Here's the ultimate challenge: In each grade level alone, I have identified at least 35 who need special intervention. I can only pull out 4-6 kids from their classroom at a time, because these are the kids who really need small group time with a teacher. I don't have a teacher's assistant due to budget cuts. I only have a 3 hour work schedule. How do I provide a needed service for all those kids in 3 hours? Why don't you do the math? This is why I mean it looks impossible. I trust the Lord for a plan and I know that He'll make a way for me to make it meaningful time of learning for each child.
Looking back, I was never quite the math genius, but that's what made me an even better math student. It was the struggle that I experienced that helped me to better explain any math misconceptions or careless errors that a kid might form in his head. If I ever achieved an "A" in math, it was made from pure sweat, blood and tears. My dad was my best math tutor. He was so hard core about filling in gaps of learning before they get too wide. I was really blessed to have him guide my learning at home, even though we would fight about homework at the dinner table. Of all the subjects, I really love teaching math and it really concerns me when a child is not getting it. It's painful to watch and imagine a child grow up math illiterate. Of course, the majority of these kids are also the ones who lack parental support at home, or have parents who are math illiterate themselves. The vast majority of these kids fall in both categories. It breaks my heart.
I was thinking about posting up a "Volunteers Needed" sign at the Teacher Education department at Cal State Long Beach and CSU Dominguez Hills. Those are the two closest universities to my school. I am willing to mentor any aspiring teacher in exchange for volunteering some help in my classroom. Actually, the volunteers don't need to be an education major necessarily, just someone who loves math, loves struggling kids and love taking on opportunities for a challenges.
I also wonder if there are any of my brothers and sisters in Christ would be interested and willing to sacrifice a couple hours to provide a very important service in the classroom? I just don't have any money to offer in exchange. Again, it would purely be an act of loving service. Who in their right Christ-like mind would do such a deed?
Many people out there fundraise money to support education. We're in a recession and that's what trendy public schools do nowadays--ask for money and material donations. That's a novel idea, but I don't want to touch any money going toward the classroom. That isn't what these particular kids need right now. I'm asking the Lord to look for volunteers to give kids all the positive attention they need so that they can really make their education worthwhile. They need that real hands-on learning and real support, not money thrown at them left and right. My hope and prayer is that someone out there will be brave and compassionate enough to fill this need.
Lord, will You bless these kids with faithful classroom helpers? Please send someone soon.
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Dream House
I'm very thankful and blessed to live in our tiny little home. Our place is small, but it brings out the brightest feelings. Erwil put in days upon days of handiwork creating the look and feel of our home--the wood floor, warm red and cool gray painted walls, and many other little customized things to suit our family's home living. There are loving reasons why we are brought together in this home.
I'm happy to play with Maddy by scattering all of her treasured toys and board books on the living room's soft play mat. I laugh at how Erwil coaches and yells at his Dallas Cowboys team during playoff season from his navy blue leather recliner...while giving Nick his bottle of milk. I relax beside the large living room window to read my books, browse through magazines and search weekly store ads while I sip hot earl gray tea with milk cream and honey.
I enjoy having to a walk-in my closet to try on different clothing until I settle on the outfit that I'll be seen by my students and parents on the first day of school. I gain the confidence of a celebrity moviestar just by curling my hair and blending my makeup in front of the bathroom mirror before I go out to a fancy dinner with my husband. I'm amused to see Maddy putting on my leather shoes and smelling like my favorite light, flowery perfume lotion called Amazing Grace.
I learn nurturing when I see the orchids branches blooming delicate flowers by the dozens on the kitchen windowsill while I wash the dishes and pans after every family meal. I anticipated Maddy's happy first birthday when I can smell the pink sweetness of the strawberry cake batter rising from the oven. I see my family celebrate Knott's Berry Farm's Fourth of July firework show from our back patio every summer.
I'm relieved when it's finally Friday afternoon and I turn off my car's engine after a hectic 30-mile round trip commute, and get to finally unbuckle my squirmy kids from their car seats. I don't feel overwhelmed cleaning and organizing our home because there's not much of a space anyway to make a terrible disaster.
I soothe Baby Nick in my arms while we both enjoy the shade from the trees and sunlight from our fronth porch. I realize how well-protected we are from the chilly rainstorm and howling wind outside our windows when I watch my babies sleep soundly in their cribs at night, while my husband is tucked in our warm down feather blanket .
I realize that even though I love our little home and all the daily living rituals we've done within these walls, eventually we need a place that's roomier for our two kids. Someday we have to sell our little dream house because our family is growing and the kids will be needing a little bit more room. Who knows? It may be two or three years from now, or it may be sooner. We're just hoping and praying that someone will want to love our little home the way we love it now.
I'm happy to play with Maddy by scattering all of her treasured toys and board books on the living room's soft play mat. I laugh at how Erwil coaches and yells at his Dallas Cowboys team during playoff season from his navy blue leather recliner...while giving Nick his bottle of milk. I relax beside the large living room window to read my books, browse through magazines and search weekly store ads while I sip hot earl gray tea with milk cream and honey.
I enjoy having to a walk-in my closet to try on different clothing until I settle on the outfit that I'll be seen by my students and parents on the first day of school. I gain the confidence of a celebrity moviestar just by curling my hair and blending my makeup in front of the bathroom mirror before I go out to a fancy dinner with my husband. I'm amused to see Maddy putting on my leather shoes and smelling like my favorite light, flowery perfume lotion called Amazing Grace.
I learn nurturing when I see the orchids branches blooming delicate flowers by the dozens on the kitchen windowsill while I wash the dishes and pans after every family meal. I anticipated Maddy's happy first birthday when I can smell the pink sweetness of the strawberry cake batter rising from the oven. I see my family celebrate Knott's Berry Farm's Fourth of July firework show from our back patio every summer.
I'm relieved when it's finally Friday afternoon and I turn off my car's engine after a hectic 30-mile round trip commute, and get to finally unbuckle my squirmy kids from their car seats. I don't feel overwhelmed cleaning and organizing our home because there's not much of a space anyway to make a terrible disaster.
I soothe Baby Nick in my arms while we both enjoy the shade from the trees and sunlight from our fronth porch. I realize how well-protected we are from the chilly rainstorm and howling wind outside our windows when I watch my babies sleep soundly in their cribs at night, while my husband is tucked in our warm down feather blanket .
I realize that even though I love our little home and all the daily living rituals we've done within these walls, eventually we need a place that's roomier for our two kids. Someday we have to sell our little dream house because our family is growing and the kids will be needing a little bit more room. Who knows? It may be two or three years from now, or it may be sooner. We're just hoping and praying that someone will want to love our little home the way we love it now.
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