Belated post...

Has it been 4 months already? The end of the year is coming... I sometimes still can't believe I have been teaching in my own classroom for the last four months. I have been fortunate and blessed to have a class where the kids are still innocent and sweet. While they are a chatty bunch, they have been a blessing to work with so far.

 Last week, I had a new injury that was related to my old back injury from last year. I had not taken a day off from work since I started subbing and teaching this year even when I was extremely sick. However, this newest injury was out of my control as I couldn't move very freely and was in immense pain. I was fortunate however, to have colleagues that care and healthcare.

Last Thursday, we had the first storm related day off in a long time for our district. On Friday morning, I went in to prep lesson plans for my sub so it wouldn't be so hectic. I have been out of the classroom for about a week now, and while its nice to stay home and rest, I really miss working with my kids. I just hope I don't stretch myself thin tomorrow and Friday before the two week holiday.

Class rules

Playing with cubes

Exploring math things

PE outside with a giant parachute

Halloween writing

Two of my boys as Ninja Turtles during Halloween

First day in own classroom!

Oh my holy goodness.... I finally have my own classroom! It was a hectic day to begin with as parents started flooding my classroom with goods the kids were asked to bring in the beginning of school year that includes: printer paper, notebooks, Clorox wipes, tissue, etc. I never had to bring any of that stuff to school, but the school district probably not as poor as it is right now. AND teachers are underpaid.. I forked over a couple of hundred of my own money to decorate and start the classroom, but luckily my principal is willing to give me a small budget to start my classroom so I will be reimbursed for some materials.

When school started, there were so many kids I couldn't find my spot to stand. Parents and kid were everywhere and some kept asking me questions I couldn't answer. Kids got one recess and they had an assembly and longer to make up for the time. I STILL didn't any prep time with the extra time and only had a few mins to run and use bathroom. By the end of the school day, my feet were cramping and I had to change from my flats to my Nike tennis shoes. My classroom is still not complete in decorations, but I have about 2 weeks to primp it up for Back to School Night. Might need some reinforcements from friends.... if they are willing to help. Who knows.

Pics will come later. I need to lay down.

End of school year...

Yesterday was the last day of the 2013-14 school year. I had taken over a TK classroom in February and been working with a group of 5 1/2 year olds. It was tough in the beginning because the kids would keep asking about their teacher who was on maternity leave. I would often also be compared to the other teacher and that just made me annoyed. I'm a different person and I know I am a newbie-but I was hired so let me do my effin job!

Fast forward three months later, and my kids have grown accustomed to me and grown to love me. I have also grown to love them and go to work every day anticipating their lovely smiles and funny moments. It's been less than half a day and I still can't believe I will no longer get to see them.

One of my students' pet turtle-Zippy

Nap time (only once in a while)

Creative thinking

Artwork/presents from kids

SF Zoo Field Trip

Math Project measuring foot

More presents

Beautiful artwork from a student

More artwork

And more presents!

I received a lot of love from the students and parents of this classroom and it has been a wonderful few months working with the students; I don't think I will ever forget the faces and memories from this classroom.

Last two weeks....

So the end of January is just around the corner... Tomorrow is MLK Day. We have been teaching about Dr. King for the entire week. While some admire and some do not like him, he has done a lot to get rid of legal racial segregation and racism. Even though racism is never really going to entirely disappear, if it wasn't for people like him who stood up to injustice and unfairness, we would still live in a legal racially segregated society. I would probably never be able to attend university or pursue higher education, or even vote.

I subbed for a third grade class the other day, and I showed a video about MLK and Freedom Train. Afterwards, I had a small discussion with the kids about segregation and social inequality. When I told the kids how just how 50, 60 years ago we all wouldn't have been in a classroom, they were shocked and outraged. It is crazy to think how a person's sense of self-worth is based on their skin color or gender.

After working with kindergarten, first, second and third graders in a classroom, everyday is still a new experience for me. I love working with kinders because they are so small, they show how they feel through hugs and with words, and they are so eager to learn new things everyday. The older kids are also good bunch to work with because they are more mature and can work more independently.

I'm applying for a transitional K position and I really hope I get it. Even though it's only a long term subbing position, it's a great opportunity for me to have my own classroom. If I do get the position, I will be working from mid Feb through May. *cross fingers*

Back to Student Teaching!

After about 3.5 weeks of resting and doctor visits, I finally returned to student teaching last week. I sat on the teacher's chair while the kids slowly piled in and they each gave me a card they drew of me. I was very touched! I missed them a lot and it was great to finally work with them again. It has been such a long and painful journey to recover, and I still have a long way to go before I have full control and normal strength in my left again. In the meantime, I have to functioning and continue living my life. I've been attending my own classes at night at my university, but it's a lot of work for me to take buses/trains so I have been cabbing it to school and it's gotten quite expensive. Luckily, I don't have to go class this week so I will only be student teaching part time. However, I am doing my PACT lesson filming this coming week so I am bit nervous. Hopefully my lesson will go smoothly and nothing big will happen.

Cards my students made me :)

Still out of student teaching....

Crap. My leg and nerves have not healed so I am still limping. Tomorrow is my 10th day I am missing for student teaching. I think it's ridiculous I still can't walk properly but I guess my injury was more serious than I thought. I will be going in for my second physical therapy session tomorrow. Hope the therapist notices some improvement in my condition. Cross fingers!

Health Update

I went to my first session of physical therapy today. My therapist, A is a very fit and handsome gentlemen who was very thorough and helpful (well, I did pay over a hundred bucks out of my own pocket for it...). He diagnosed where the problem area was and broke down what was going on with my back and leg. Basically, I have a herniated disk (L4 and L5?) in my spine and that has affected my nerves on my left side of my lower body that stems from my buttocks (yes my bum) all the way down to my left leg. Basically, my left leg is a heavy log I lug around. I have a major muscle spasm on the lower left side of my back (a 4 out of a 5 scale) and so I couldn't do much of the exercises needed to aid in a speedy recovery. He did teach me some exercises to help strengthen my core (stomach area) so I can protect my spine. He does not recommend me to go back to teaching yet, but I asked if next week would be doable and he said it should be ok. I made an appointment next Monday afternoon so if I do student teach I will leave right after to go to my appointment.


Earlier on in the summer I had saw a postcard from a site a friend recommended me (Postsecret.com) where people anonymously send in secrets written on postcards. There was one from a teacher and it made me scared and nervous about my future profession as a teacher. But after experiencing this medical situation, I think its even scarier for me to think what would I be doing if I could no longer teach. Yes, I am extremely nervous about graduating and anxious about finding a job and having my own classroom. But from my own experience being idle and bored, I love working with children even if there are some unpleasant situation/remarks that sometimes happens. I'm sure there will be bad/slow/hell/exhausting days, but everyone one of those negative ones, I will have many more positive ones to "overwrite" them. Sure there might be some traces of the negative ones, but I will never forget the nice ones. I will never forget the moment the third graders from last semester who piled around me to hug me and say farewell. And the little kinders from this semester who come up to me randomly to give me a hug. Those moments and memories and priceless. Even the kid who asked me why am the size that I am, he randomly threw out another remark how he loved I was his teacher. Teaching is one of those professions where you give a lot, but you also get back a lot. It's not gonna be the big bucks (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA) that reel people into teaching as a lifelong career. But it's definitely one of those jobs where you will make a difference in many peoples' lives forever that will trickle down like water down a neverending drain. My own experience with teachers, good and bad have shaped what I am today. I was fortunate enough to have many wonderful folks who cared enough to care about what they were doing and take an extra step to help me out when I needed a little push or encouragement.