120/180 80 degrees and rising!

60 days to go and feeling like spring/summer already!
It was over 80 degrees today.
A great day for OUTDOOR PLAY!

So I decided that my goal for this summer is to do this: (idea from pinterest)
I sorted by themes last summer before I knew what my themes would be or what ETK would be like, but now heading down the homestretch, I feel my footing is finally more solid on the ground. So of course like any teacher nerd, I want to look towards the future. And it would make my life easier trying to find things!

Our new unit is BALLS!

So we had to make some bouncy balls today!

Little scientists got to make and take.

The best learning is always MESSY!... and memorable! #experiencesmatter

I had a great time at circle playing ball games.

We learned a new poem about... Playing Ball.

Then we played 3 ball games with different kinds of balls.

1. Hot Ball (aka hot potato)

2. Indoor-Circle Soccer (super fun and easily transfers to outdoor-circle soccer!

3. Throw and Catch to a Friend

My focus for rotation today was measurement. Ordering objects by size.

Three balls.

Draw.

Order by size in drawing, manipulative, or identifying.

Brandon was able to identify the sizes, draw the balls, and label them (beginning sound).
He didn't draw them from small to large.

Yatzil drew them from large to small and described size of each.

James ordered them from small to large, described, and labeled.

Emely was more creative in  her approach!

119/180 Literacy Night... turned Afternoon

Today was our first Family Literacy Night (actually afternoon) at my school since I have been here.
I am always hopeful that there will be a good turnout because families are our partners.
I don't think there was enough advertisement by the school this year,
only a flyer sent home yesterday.
Notes for improvement for next year!

We had 2- 30 minute sessions.
I wanted to make it meaningful, simple, and differentiated.

Here is what we come up with...

Letter Cards for Activity 1:

A-Z Picture Cards from Teacherspayteachers for Activity 2:

Chart paper and markers for Personalize Alphabet Frieze for Activity 3:

Reading Checklist and Comprehension Questions for Activity 4:

118/180 WORD PROBLEMS IN ETK

Mondays tend to be tough.
But I was able to get through a read aloud without coughing! Yay!

I wanted to share some of our recent math word problems (3-Phase Lesson).
I started to "assess" the students' work more like they would be assessed in kindergarten as we head towards our final trimester.

1: Attempted to solve problem.
2: Understood part of the problem and/or may have made an error.
3: Understood and was able to solve/show problem.
4: Explained their thinking.

 After our field trip to the Skirball:

Some kids went to the Skirball Museum.
They had fun.
Draw the kids.
How many kids went to the Skirball?
How do you know?

An example of a 3.

Another example of a 3.

So excited that Nadia was able to explain more!

Last week's problem focused on measurement and ordering.

We will be transitioning to Math Problem Solving Journals for our last trimester so the students will be familiar with them when they enter Kindergarten. Our school is implementing Problem Solving Journals. Excited to see what they can do and the progress they will make as we head towards the homestretch! They have come such a long way!

Nicolas will be in our class again next year. He was 3 when we started and just turned 4, but has grown so much! He drew the three figures in different order, but was able to show his understanding of measurement.

Ethan lined up his three figures in order. 

Emely used the correct math word to compare the three.

 

I had to share Juan's work. It wasn't about the word problem.

It was about the oral language he used to describe his picture.

At the beginning of the year, he rarely spoke a word.

Now, he can speak in phrases and complete sentences that we can understand!

#GoJuanito! #CelebrateSmallSteps #Notalwaysabouttheproduct

*BONUS... Thank you portraits to Donorschoose for the blue wobble chairs!

A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY

One October day,
nearly 15 years ago.
I was surprised with a gift.

It was a pretty incredible gift...

Not so much the gift of recognition,
there was a lot of press and media.
I was on the news all day and night.
Reporters came to my house and
followed me in the classroom for months after.
A little overwhelming for an immigrant who spoke no English
and was the first in her family to graduate from college.

And the financial award was very, very, very nice!

It's not everyday some stranger hands you a check for $25,000...

with no strings attached (other than taxes you have to save for)

I was able to buy each student in my class their very favorite hard cover book.

They are sophomores in college now!

I was able to buy 1 season ticket seat with my Dodger buddies!
It was like a dream to be a season ticket holder, even for a few years.

 

I replaced the pipes in my 1939 home with copper!

I invited my colleagues and principal to a Broadway musical after grabbing a slippery shrimp dinner at Yang Chow. I wish I could have invited more because they all inspire me and contributed to who I am as an educator.

Many gifts came that day.

One that I will always cherish and be grateful for was that I could finally share and explain (thanks to the Chinese Newspaper interview)

to my mom that teaching was important. 

I was happy and satisfied doing what I was doing 

despite that fact that I didn't make a lot of money like other family and friend's children.

Teaching was my calling. 

She was able to join me for the awards dinner.

She understood then.

The most cherished gift I received that day was the gift of a network, 

a family of sort, of other educators with the same drive, passion, and commitment to the profession.

They come from different experiences, schools, locations, and communities, 

but we are bonded by that same experience.

They inspire me everyday and I am honored to be a part of their tribe. #POP

At Jackie's Notification!
Milken Family Foundation Photo 

CA Milken Group

With Marilyn and Mindy at their dinner!
Milken Family Foundation Photo 

Jennifer Smith #2's pinning brunch selfie! 

I gained a staff of amazing cheerleaders, friends, and mentors at the Milken Foundation.

They continually nudge and push me to go further and reach higher than I thought possible,

and always with love, friendship, and support.

I have gone out of my comfort zone to live up to "their" expectations of me.

#LuckyDay2002  #MilkenEducator  #TeachersRock #LifeLongLearner

 

My journey in teaching.... Primary Colors

117/180 SUB DAY

It has been Read Across America Week.
Today was Guest Reader Day!
I missed it, but the kids were in good hands.
I had a special morning appointment and
Bryce had an important afternoon one.
Glad it's the weekend.
Still fighting this "thing" I have been fighting for over 3 weeks.
Antibiotics are ready if I decide I can't take it any longer.
Hoping the weekend will help move me in the right direction.

Our wonderful parent volunteers!

Our TA's create a Dr. Seuss bulletin for the hallway!

116/180 THE BEST TEACHING TOY EVER!

I love toys that teach.

I was so excited when I saw this toy months ago on a visit to the CSC.

When I went to the California Science Center yesterday, I had to have it.

I bought two of them!

Space Shuttle

 But wait! The parts separate!

How cool is that? 

To visual see the parts that make up a shuttle...

And kids get to put it back together again and again!

(We saw two of the real parts yesterday)

It was like the prototype of an insect I saw years ago.

Each part separated, but easily put back together again.

Love toys that teach!

Our Space Shuttles!

115/180 EXPERIENCES MATTER #2

For 11 years I taught at a school with a science center "attached" to the campus.

Can you imagine what that would be like?

And it was that and more!

Today, I got to take my ETK class back to my old stomping grounds, thanks to Google and friends that alert you to grant opportunities! I took along 7 other classes for the ride. Even though the California Science Center is less than 10 miles away from our school, most of the students have never been there before. Los Angeles is rich in resources, but you have to leave your neighborhood sometimes to experience it.

I said it before and I'll say it again and again... 

Experiences Matter!

Why?

Because it builds background knowledge through actually experiencing learning first hand.

Bryce could have read about San Antonio de Padua mission, but he will NEVER forget what it was like to go there and spend time at the mission. Things he saw and learned are now etched into his memories because he experienced it first hand.

Today my students made new memories...

Taking care of sick animals in the Discovery Rooms

Touching the tires of Endeavour

Visiting mission control!

Going to the desert in a dome!

Being introduced to your teacher's happy space!
#BESTVIEW

Touching sea stars!

Yesterday we read about shuttles and rockets.
We constructed a shuttle and it's parts.

Today we got to see the parts of the shuttle and the kids recognized some of the parts.
Y, my little engineer, examined each piece carefully.
He saw an actual external fuel tank and orbiter today.
I wonder what he will do with that information tomorrow?... and beyond!

Experience matters.