Respectfully Declined

My teaching schedule is insane during the badminton season. I teach five periods a day, coach from three to seven, and teach on Saturday mornings. I literally teach 50 hours a week. Finding time and energy to lesson plan and to organize will be a challenge for the next few months.

BTW, I was again asked to be a master teacher for a student teacher. I respectfully declined the offer.

Degree Conferred

I'm fortunate to have many good people around me along the way. I couldn't have done it without all of their support. My family and friends have been loyal and patient. I dedicate this to them.

Tangrams

In a Saturday morning math workshop, I was exposed to more interesting ways to use Tangrams in the classroom. I have had some experience playing withTangrams in the classroom, but the teacher presenters showed me more interesting and refined ways to use these puzzles. We did many creative activities, including making our own Tangrams, creating images from a story, and playing with a different variation of tangram that incorporated a circle cut-out. I was inspired by the workshop, it motivated me to try these activities in the future.

A Familiar Face

This morning, I went to a Starbucks that I rarely visit to read a bit before attending a morning math workshop. A man came in with his daughter. He looked pleasantly familiar, we made eye contact for a fraction of a second as he passed by. After he ordered and stood by the coffee bar, he looked at me again and we knew we had met before. In fact, Charles was the father of two boys (C.J. and Josh) who I used to tutor in 2005. We haven't seen each other since. I then also recognized his daughter, Cassidy. They were on their way to her basketball game. We chatted a bit. I found out that his oldest boy is now a senior in high school and is applying to colleges. I shared with him briefly that when I tutored his boys, I had just quit teaching. Tutoring his boys math in the afternoons, after my non-teaching job at that time, in part inspired me to return to teaching. I told him that he can bring his boys over anytime and I'd be happy to work with them. He told me that I still look like a kid. = )

Who Will Pass?

Occasionally, AP students study in my classroom after school. Today, a non-AP-Stats student asked me, "Mr. Yip, how many students do you think will pass the AP Stats test?" I thought for a second, and responded truthfully, "Half or more." She appreciated my optimism. Then she asked if I would do as another teacher does in putting pictures of students who passed on a Wall of Fame. I joked to her that I would take pictures of those who didn't pass and call it the Wall of Shame.

Letting Go

As I reflect on my difficulty with letting things go, I realized that it has to do with how much I've put in. If you invested much in a relationship, or a job, with all of your efforts and emotions, it'll no doubt hurt when it tanks. It'll hurt bad. You have a major stake invested in it, feeling that it'll work out. On the other hand, if you did not contribute to the relationship, or to the job, then there's really no strong attachment to its outcome. When it's going great, you don't appreciate it. And when it fails, it's no big deal because you didn't risk anything.

Looking forward to the future, I know I still have a desire to do good work and have meaningful relationships. It's easy to not contribute and be detached, but there also won't be any reward. I read a book today in which the author said that the only failure is in not taking action. At times, I feel like a battery that's been drained empty and doesn't recharge anymore. When the time and opportunity comes again, I hope I still have the drive and optimism to give it my all.

Moving Forward

Yesterday was Chinese New Year - Year of Rabbit. As I reflect on my previous year, I constantly think of the setback that I experienced. But I'm also careful that I don't let it affect me to the best of my ability. To stay positive and keep myself on track, I focus on what I've accomplish this past year despite the experiences that have affected me negatively. This is not a show-off list, but are tasks that I'm proud to have completed:

- I finished coaching a season of badminton.

- I completed a series of Link Crew training.

- I was a part of the team that led this year's Link Crew orientation.

- I taught summer school for the second time.

- I completed my fifth year as a high school teacher.

- I completed a series of AP Stats training.

- I completed a course on using the newest TI calculators.

- I wrote the AP syllabus for the school's inaugural AP Statistics class.

- I completed my master degree.

- I took advantage of many professional development opportunities.

- I completed the first half of my AP Stats program.

- I presented at the 2011 Parent University.

- I became a home owner.

I don't have everything and I don't think I'm as happy as I was a year ago, or two years ago. I might even have lost some of my passion for what I do. But I believe that I've done and said all the right things. All I can give is my best effort. Others can judge me and treat me however they want. I've care so much that I really don't care anymore.