April 2011
1 post
January 2011
6 posts
Hard Week
This week has been a hard week. I can’t pinpoint one big reason why it was hard, but the small obstacles of teaching this week seem to keep piling against my mental capacity to keep my cool.
For those who are thinking of teaching, here’s a small reminder of the things to look out for. For those who don’t, here’s a a small morsel of all the things I think about on a daily...
Blackflips
M.C: I used to do a lot of backflips. M.C: I even backflipped with my ex-girlfriend. F.A: Hahaha. That sounds stupid. M.C: I was better than her. J.B: How many blackflips can you do? Class: Hahaha. BLACKflips? D.G: Can only black people do those? What are blackflips? Teacher: Quiet down. I am sure she made a mistake. Teacher: But really, compared to backflips, are blackflips harder? LOL!! Yes,...
“Can’t be a thug without a hug.”
– Repeated by my roommate
Dear Ms. Chu
Thank you for teaching us this year and helping us with the Juniors recycling. You are a great teacher and good at what you do.
Love,
Your “okay” students
Attached to a Christmas gift and signed with the names of my students. I initially laughed at the “okay” part. This means they knew they are passing with acceptable grades or might be aware of their satisfactory...
Oops
I haven’t posted in a while. I apologize for the neglect. I’m not even sure if anyone noticed!
Despite my absence, my life has not stopped (as proven by the post) nor has the many crazy incidences that have occurred during the time lapse.
So here’s a recap of some highlights:
1. My seniors are about to graduate in 6 more months!
2. 4 seniors have honored me by asking for a...
December 2010
1 post
November 2010
4 posts
Ice-Skating Tonight
I wanted to act relaxed and cool to work the Tuesday after the engagement. Didn’t talk to the students and walked to my class to set up. One or two students came in to congratulate me because they had heard on Monday from another teacher and I said “Thank you” and went back to work.
During Homeroom I could see the students turning their heads and whispering to one another about...
Pleasantly Surprised
Teacher: I will be calling students to my desk. Listen up!
Teacher: E.A, S.C, A.U, E.R, S.J, and K.D, please come here.
S.C: Miss, did you call my name?
Teacher: Yes, please come up.
S.C: You know, I'm beginning to think this is for a reward, not a punishment.
Teacher: It is! You got a high grade on your test!
S.C: My name has never been called with these group of people before!
S.C: I thought I was in trouble, but then you said those other names...
Teacher: [standing ovation]
Class: [standing ovation]
S.C: I feel so proud! [stands and bows as he walks to the front]
October 2010
6 posts
I can't even ENJOY IT!
My students are WORKING ON THEIR OWN in my most hated class, SAA. SAA stands for… Studying A-something A-something. It’s pretty pointless that I don’t care to remember the acronym. The teachers are supposed to teach the students studying skills and hold tutoring/studying hours. It’s a great concept except without a roll sheet, the ability to give out grades and a direction...
It was Amazing
I had a good teaching day yesterday 10/12/10. I don’t often get to share this type of excitement so I wanted to record it. I was frustrated on Monday because I learned from another teacher that the 10th graders were not understanding Chemistry. Even after I had gone over the topic multiple times, stopped to ask questions and practiced it with them over and over again. To hear they were still...
My Brother's Link →
This has nothing to do with teaching. I am only posting this because my brother would like for me to post his link to win a competition. If you vote for his picture he’ll earn more points.
My brain is fried...
I have forgotten my keys 4 times this month. Though none have exceeded the stupidity of the time I locked myself and Jeff in the garage of my K-town garage. This month I have locked my keys in my apartment. To retrieve them I broke in through my bedroom window. I was used to it. We used to do this for my best friend’s house but it was through the side fence and through their study room...
September 2010
23 posts
1 tag
HELLOOOOO???
Teacher: Take out your homework because I need to clarify something.
Teacher: Stop what you are doing and take out the homework assignment.
Teacher: I still see some people not listening.
Teacher: Listen carefully because I know that even after this explanation I will have students asking me the same question again.
Teacher: Listening?
Teacher: DO NOT DO # 4.
Teacher: What did I say?
Students: Do not do #4.
Teacher: Correct, because I did not teach you #4.
Teacher: Ok, pack up and get out of here.
Student: I have a question!
Teacher: Yes?
Student: Do we do #4? I don't think we learned this yet.
Teacher: Yes you do. Figure it out.
“Mold with moisture causes the bread to mold.”
– - Student who doesn’t understand that
mold + moisture= mold + (moisture/moisture)= mold + irrelevent
Movie Option? →
I usually stay away from feel-good teacher movies. It’s my personal preference to not fill my head with the exception but stick with reality. This is a movie that I DO WANT to see though. I am not sure if I agree with it yet, but I am curious to follow a child’s life through the lottery of entering a good school and see what this Canada (last name) education consultant has to say. Any...
Papers
The bad thing about giving your kids work and practice over the weekend, is the work and practice of grading on Monday. I have a stack of papers literally 5 inches high. I leave the apartment at 6:50am and I left the school at 5:50pm. I just ate dinner and I’m sitting with these papers at home.
I am tired.
There’s rest for the dead.
Hammers
Kid: I don’t like this class. It’s too much work. Teacher: I’m just asking for a goal you might have for the year. Kid: To get on the Honor roll. Teacher: What is keeping you from that? Kid: My laziness. Teacher: So, you don’t like work. You want to get on the Honor roll. But you are lazy… [silence] Teacher: Critical thinking skills are lacking a bit. Kid: What?...
Bad day
Sometimes the problem is not the students… You get what I mean?
Funny Kids
My students are, at this moment, right now… playing SIMON SAYS!
The hilarious thing is they are 11th graders! They thought of these games on their own! We had a wonderful discussion about helping homeless people and when they got the chance to have some free time, they decided to play hangman and now simon says.
They are SO INTO THIS! They’re bagging on each other, pointing fingers...
My Thursday Night
It’s been a good two days of school so far. The kids are great, except for maybe 4 that are coming to my mind, otherwise it’s been pretty nice seeing my kids again. Many of them came to my room that first morning to give me hugs and ask about my Summer.
It’s a little sad realizing that some of my favorite students aren’t coming back this school year, but comforting to know...
Oliver Twisted
“Sir, can I have more groaning, please?”
Why give students less to complain about when we can just stop the complaining overall?
There will always be something to complain about. There are 28+ kids in 1 classroom. Each child has 3+ preferences or requirements to feel comfortable. Each child has 2+ ridiculous request that contradicts the point of learning such as: no homework, no...
College ≠ Buzz
It was shared with me and a couple of other teachers that “College” was no longer the buzz word because it no longer held the same weight as it did before. Before it was hard to get into colleges. It was for the intellectual or social elite. Now it’s less than a privilege and the, dare I say, mediocre get in. Students who were never college material to begin with are accepted and...
Collegiates!
This is dedicated to all the collegians who graduated high school last year. Be mindful of others and yourself.
Wounded and Tired Before Battle
It’s the week before school starts for the kids but the teachers are back in the classroom preparing. Meetings, planning, eating and discussing like old times. 2months didn’t seem like enough time. Yet the paycheck didn’t seem enough for the 2 months of hard, effortless unemployment.
At first I dreaded going back to work. After two days back on campus I am pretty excited!...
Where do I stand? p.II
Illegal immigration is another tough subject. And I want to preface this again by asking for your understanding if agreement is beyond your capacity. I am writing this because it’s my blog, my feelings, my thoughts and I am pretty sure I have not discussed this issue with many people unless they sincerely asked because I understand it is very sensitive.
Also to preface this topic I would...
August 2010
6 posts
Where do I stand?
There’s been a couple of real issues that have been storming around in my head all summer long. Even now I haven’t gotten it all figured out.
I really only want to address these topics as it pertains to my career and students. I will always treat my students the same because I believe it’s what I’m called to do as a Christian and that’s to love each of them equally....
Immanuel is writing a message?
My youngest brother is now a homegroup leader. As is/was my other brother. One is 21, the other is 13. Below is Immanuel’s (youngest) message to his homegroup, as blogged by Irving (middle child with middle child syndrome).
—-After some thought—-
He’s got the right idea, but is it safe to let him teach on the Bible when he doesn’t understand historical context and...
Words of Wisdom Teeth
Condensed Version: :
Me: At camp they told us if a tooth were to fall out due to injury we're supposed to jam it back into the hole.
Me: Is that right?
Clark: Depends on which tooth.
Me: Oh, like a molar?
Clark: You don't want to put a baby tooth back in.
Me: Well, yea.
July 2010
13 posts
Moving Away
I have moved to a new apartment every year for the past 6 years. This year is no different. I WAS sleeping, but was rudely awakened by screaming. Sigh… it’s so hot I have to keep the windows open. Last night it was helicopters. Two of them I believe around 2am. Tonight it’s a Korean woman screaming. I think she is arguing with someone and threatening to leave. She keeps opening...