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.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
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.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Six Twenty Three
What makes Six Twenty Three memorable? Is it the six championship rings for #23? (I'm making a sports reference here, for those of you who love NBA trivia...)
No. No. No.
It was the day our second born, our son, Joseph Nicholas was born. Exactly 40 weeks ripe and ready, he came out of the womb a whoppin' 7 lbs 15 oz, but I like to round up to 8 lbs and 20 inches long! He was born at around 12 something pm. (Hey, it's been months since I blogged, so I am not focusing on the nitty gritty minutia that bore 10 of you MacrossKitty followers anyway.)
What's the reasoning behind naming him "Joseph Nicholas"? The whole naming thing was more complicated than I thought it would be. We didn't have this much trouble naming our daughter because there are so many pretty names to pick from. I'm biased. With boys, you really have to figure out a solid name that he will live up to. For the longest time, Erwil and I couldn't find a name that we both could agree on. Oh boy, it's a long story, but here's how it went down...
Do you have the time to read?
One rule. I had to respect Erwil's wishes. Ever since Erwil and I were seriously dating and talking about having kids, he's always wanted to name his firstborn son named after his favorite maternal grandfather Nicodemus. Erwil has nothing but good things to say about his Papang (grandpa). He has good, strong character traits as Erwil puts it. Many good memories comes to mind about his Papang.
Nicodemus? Sure, you can get away with all sorts of names in the Philippines. It's a population full of absurd names to begin with, just trust me on this one. But naming our son Nicodemus spells trouble here in America. Nothing out there flows with "Nicodemus" as a middle name. No middle name will compliment it either. I Google searched for boys names that might possibly work with it, but even Google couldn't help me. Nicodemus is one of those names that can only stand alone, by itself. It's the loner-name type of a name.
Also, I know that Nicodemus is a Pharisee who was interested in Jesus on the low key. How many mean kids at the playground know Bible trivia facts? I can already foresee our son will get his butt kicked by the preschoolers on the yard. He will be teased by all the cool kids, and not be able to find a date to his high school prom with that name. In life may encounter being teased and persecuted for all sorts of reasons, but as his mother, I want to spare the child at least one.
Why not make Nicodemus more hip sounding? Why not look for a name that resembles its derivative? How about Nicholas? I still stubbornly resisted Nicholas for two out of the three trimesters that I was pregnant. You can't blame me. All I could think of were the boys I encountered who were named Nicholas.
Nicholases are just the so-so kids. He is the one who hopelessly never memorizes his basic multiplication facts by the 5th grade, and pisses everyone off in his team whenever the kids play Math Challenge games for Laffy Taffy candy prizes. He always accidentally forgets his chicken nugget stained homework in his grandma's truck that was towed to the repair shop yesterday. He is the one who wet his pants while sitting at his desk and the teacher didn't know about it, until you happened to be the one to step in his secret pool of piss. He is the hyper-active one who picks his salty, garden slug variety of green boogers and makes a multi-layered mosaic of hardened boogers inside his pencil box.
Nicholases are "just eeewww" and do not exactly fall on the brightest section of the bell-shaped curve. He is that high schooler who sits beside you Algebra class flipping through adult magazines inside his three ring binder, drawing nothing but unabridged versions of female anatomy on his wide ruled notebook paper. He is the guy with big hairy ears who suffered from cystic acne, halitosis and obviously Bart Simpson behind his back for his major overbite. He is the one who's nacho cheese smelly gym socks are stashed in his backpack. He is the scrawny little gang banger who was caught with a gun at school and wound up in juvenile hall for being dumb enough to use it.
This is how I envision boys who are named Nicholas. Of course, let's not get carried away. This can't be true of every boy named Nicholas, but there are plenty enough living examples to traumatize me.
Eventually, the name Nicholas grew on me, the way I slowly began a liking to that medicinal aftertaste of diet soda. Erwil did some kind of psychology 101 mind trick on me. It was a brilliant scheme! He made me hear the name Nicholas or Nick enough times. Then he attached an object that draws emotion, like an ultrasound picture of a black and whitish shaped lima bean. Erwil referred to the baby's bedroom, the toys, all the baby's belongings to the unborn Nick. Eventually, I too, began calling the baby's belongings as Nick's room, Nick's clothes, Nick's baby clothes! My mind was slowly tweaked to liking "Nicholas" after being made endeared to it by my husband. So that's how our little boy ended up with Nicholas. For short, we call him Nick.
Our son's first name "Joseph" was the winner for a couple reasons. It's sentimental. Our son is named after my dad's youngest brother, Jose Pito, who tragically died in his 20's. Even though he was set to immigrate to America, he was the only Genuino sibling who never made it to New York City to live with the rest of the family. He died before I was even born. Every now and then my father and those who knew him spoke about how he looked like a Filipino moviestar, famous in the 70's. (No, they weren't talking about Joseph Estrada, who was an action moviestar turned corrupt criminal Philippine President.) Instead of being a forgotten name, it meant a lot to my dad to hear my late uncle being memorialized. Ok, enough with the weepy stuff...
I also really liked the name Joseph because in the Bible's Old Testament, Joseph (son of Jacob) was a man of integrity. You can't go wrong naming your son after someone of godly character despite living a hard life. (You'd have to read the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis before you agree with me.) Life is really difficult when you're trying to be someone different and good, but God will see you through in all circumstances. I love the life that Joseph lived--sold into slavery then rose to become the Egyptian Pharaoh's powerful right hand man. He did what's right in God's eyes, even if it was contrary to common belief. Will my son live up to his name? This will be revealed as he grows up to manhood.
For any parent, I bet it took quite some time to decide on a name most fitting for their son to live by. And, it's not the sound of the name that makes people drawn to loving or disliking our son. It's really the character that attaches to that name that will either build or break our son's reputation. What will our son be like? We're still in the process of figuring out who the little guy is and what he's going to do with his life. All things considered, I'm so blessed to have this little precious boy in my life.
Here's a photo of Nick only 2 days old. Look at the pair of dimples on his cheeks! You don't need me to go on Maury Povich's talk show to prove by DNA results that Erwil is the father.
Lastly, care to be inspired by writing a blog or two? I have some take-away questions for you readers...
No. No. No.
It was the day our second born, our son, Joseph Nicholas was born. Exactly 40 weeks ripe and ready, he came out of the womb a whoppin' 7 lbs 15 oz, but I like to round up to 8 lbs and 20 inches long! He was born at around 12 something pm. (Hey, it's been months since I blogged, so I am not focusing on the nitty gritty minutia that bore 10 of you MacrossKitty followers anyway.)
What's the reasoning behind naming him "Joseph Nicholas"? The whole naming thing was more complicated than I thought it would be. We didn't have this much trouble naming our daughter because there are so many pretty names to pick from. I'm biased. With boys, you really have to figure out a solid name that he will live up to. For the longest time, Erwil and I couldn't find a name that we both could agree on. Oh boy, it's a long story, but here's how it went down...
Do you have the time to read?
One rule. I had to respect Erwil's wishes. Ever since Erwil and I were seriously dating and talking about having kids, he's always wanted to name his firstborn son named after his favorite maternal grandfather Nicodemus. Erwil has nothing but good things to say about his Papang (grandpa). He has good, strong character traits as Erwil puts it. Many good memories comes to mind about his Papang.
Nicodemus? Sure, you can get away with all sorts of names in the Philippines. It's a population full of absurd names to begin with, just trust me on this one. But naming our son Nicodemus spells trouble here in America. Nothing out there flows with "Nicodemus" as a middle name. No middle name will compliment it either. I Google searched for boys names that might possibly work with it, but even Google couldn't help me. Nicodemus is one of those names that can only stand alone, by itself. It's the loner-name type of a name.
Also, I know that Nicodemus is a Pharisee who was interested in Jesus on the low key. How many mean kids at the playground know Bible trivia facts? I can already foresee our son will get his butt kicked by the preschoolers on the yard. He will be teased by all the cool kids, and not be able to find a date to his high school prom with that name. In life may encounter being teased and persecuted for all sorts of reasons, but as his mother, I want to spare the child at least one.
Why not make Nicodemus more hip sounding? Why not look for a name that resembles its derivative? How about Nicholas? I still stubbornly resisted Nicholas for two out of the three trimesters that I was pregnant. You can't blame me. All I could think of were the boys I encountered who were named Nicholas.
Nicholases are just the so-so kids. He is the one who hopelessly never memorizes his basic multiplication facts by the 5th grade, and pisses everyone off in his team whenever the kids play Math Challenge games for Laffy Taffy candy prizes. He always accidentally forgets his chicken nugget stained homework in his grandma's truck that was towed to the repair shop yesterday. He is the one who wet his pants while sitting at his desk and the teacher didn't know about it, until you happened to be the one to step in his secret pool of piss. He is the hyper-active one who picks his salty, garden slug variety of green boogers and makes a multi-layered mosaic of hardened boogers inside his pencil box.
Nicholases are "just eeewww" and do not exactly fall on the brightest section of the bell-shaped curve. He is that high schooler who sits beside you Algebra class flipping through adult magazines inside his three ring binder, drawing nothing but unabridged versions of female anatomy on his wide ruled notebook paper. He is the guy with big hairy ears who suffered from cystic acne, halitosis and obviously Bart Simpson behind his back for his major overbite. He is the one who's nacho cheese smelly gym socks are stashed in his backpack. He is the scrawny little gang banger who was caught with a gun at school and wound up in juvenile hall for being dumb enough to use it.
This is how I envision boys who are named Nicholas. Of course, let's not get carried away. This can't be true of every boy named Nicholas, but there are plenty enough living examples to traumatize me.
Eventually, the name Nicholas grew on me, the way I slowly began a liking to that medicinal aftertaste of diet soda. Erwil did some kind of psychology 101 mind trick on me. It was a brilliant scheme! He made me hear the name Nicholas or Nick enough times. Then he attached an object that draws emotion, like an ultrasound picture of a black and whitish shaped lima bean. Erwil referred to the baby's bedroom, the toys, all the baby's belongings to the unborn Nick. Eventually, I too, began calling the baby's belongings as Nick's room, Nick's clothes, Nick's baby clothes! My mind was slowly tweaked to liking "Nicholas" after being made endeared to it by my husband. So that's how our little boy ended up with Nicholas. For short, we call him Nick.
Our son's first name "Joseph" was the winner for a couple reasons. It's sentimental. Our son is named after my dad's youngest brother, Jose Pito, who tragically died in his 20's. Even though he was set to immigrate to America, he was the only Genuino sibling who never made it to New York City to live with the rest of the family. He died before I was even born. Every now and then my father and those who knew him spoke about how he looked like a Filipino moviestar, famous in the 70's. (No, they weren't talking about Joseph Estrada, who was an action moviestar turned corrupt criminal Philippine President.) Instead of being a forgotten name, it meant a lot to my dad to hear my late uncle being memorialized. Ok, enough with the weepy stuff...
I also really liked the name Joseph because in the Bible's Old Testament, Joseph (son of Jacob) was a man of integrity. You can't go wrong naming your son after someone of godly character despite living a hard life. (You'd have to read the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis before you agree with me.) Life is really difficult when you're trying to be someone different and good, but God will see you through in all circumstances. I love the life that Joseph lived--sold into slavery then rose to become the Egyptian Pharaoh's powerful right hand man. He did what's right in God's eyes, even if it was contrary to common belief. Will my son live up to his name? This will be revealed as he grows up to manhood.
For any parent, I bet it took quite some time to decide on a name most fitting for their son to live by. And, it's not the sound of the name that makes people drawn to loving or disliking our son. It's really the character that attaches to that name that will either build or break our son's reputation. What will our son be like? We're still in the process of figuring out who the little guy is and what he's going to do with his life. All things considered, I'm so blessed to have this little precious boy in my life.
Here's a photo of Nick only 2 days old. Look at the pair of dimples on his cheeks! You don't need me to go on Maury Povich's talk show to prove by DNA results that Erwil is the father.
Lastly, care to be inspired by writing a blog or two? I have some take-away questions for you readers...
- How did you decide what name to give your son/daughter?
- Have you thought of names to give your future kids?
- How did your parents come up with your name?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
