Badminton

I'm very proud of our badminton kids. Despite losing decisively to two very strong Division I teams in pre-season, we're currently 3-0 in league play. We haven't played the top two teams yet, but I'm excited for the our players. After school today (a minimum day), I took a group of four players for a day trip, we ate at In-N-Out for lunch, ordered our team shirts, and had ice-cream dessert. Good times - just like when I was a high school player hanging out with my teammates and Coach Kemp Wells.

Storyboard

The final project for my latest graduate class required me to produce a storyboard for an e-learning lesson. I used PowerPoint to put together a mock site. The PPT is navigation ready; all of the buttons are active. Not all of the components are complete, however. The storyboard is only for the understanding of the overall site structure.

A close one.

Our badminton team played against Webb Schools today. I had a sub for 6th period so that I can get on the bus at 2:30 pm for our away game. It was the first time that I rode the bus to a badminton game since my senior year in high school. Webb Schools is amazing. From what the coach there tells me, it has less than 400 students. Also, boarding students pay $42,000 a year to attend that school. Class sizes are about 12 per room. Incredible.

We played an intense match and ended victoriously, 11-10. We won all five mixed matches. Good job, Gladiators!

Benchmark Assessment

For the past two years, I have been on a Geometry benchmark team. A few other geometry teachers in the district and I meet a couple times a year to create district-wide, standards-based assessments. It's a great opportunity to share with other teachers who are teaching the exact same topics. In geometry, however, it is very difficult to create the tests due to the complex figures. The past week, I was invited to do assessments for Algebra 2. In the beginning, I was a bit hesitant to join this team. I didn't have a lot of experience teaching this course, and was already overwhelmed with my own schedule. However, the meeting was very fruitful. I joined three other teachers from AHS, and two other teachers from my school. Together, we set a new pacing guide, and delivered all six assessments for the year! Along the way, I learned a lot from the five veteran math teachers. I strive to continue to develop my abilities in teaching higher level math.

*This is the first year that I'm teaching Algebra 2 since that my first year as a teacher in Pasadena.

Remembering a Student

The funeral service for my student was held on Friday Jan. 7th, at night, at West Covina's Pierce Brothers Mortuary. That morning, I purchased a large glass jar. As the day's activity, I provided my students with origami papers and instructions for making paper cranes. The students did a wonderful job with filling the jar with beautiful and colorful cranes. I delivered it to the family on Friday night. There was also a church service on Saturday morning at St. Francis of Azusa. Due to my morning CAHSEE class, I was unable to attend the Saturday service.

Here is another related story from the SGV Tribute.

Obituary

I found out about my student's passing a few days after it happened. According to the SGV Tribute report, my student passed on December 22nd (I have not used her name or her photo on my blog to protect her privacy, but both may be found on the report). The report also provides information on donation to the family. Two car wash dates were held during winter break in her memory to help the family raise fund for her services. I participated in the second date, and heard that over $2,100 was collected from the community that day alone. The family told me that her service will be held on the evening of Friday Jan. 8th, and a mass on the morning of Saturday Jan. 9th.

Report Card - Fall 2009

I've worked hard academically for many years before I became a teacher. After a few years away from taking classes, I wondered if I still had it in me to earn good grades. This past quarter, I attempted 16 units while teaching full-time (and often on Saturdays). It was a perfect opportunity for me to test myself. I did just fine.

At the same time, I'm also aware that I've often neglected my family and friends along the way to attain these grades. More recently, I've also realized that I've neglected myself for so many years. Once my degree is completed, I strive to move on to the next part of my life.

Brief Update

From the SGV Tribute, Tuesday, December 15th, 2009:

"Azusa: Student hit by truck still in critical condition.

A 16-year-old girl who was hit by a truck while walking to school last week remains in critical condition, school officials said Monday.

Police say the Gladstone High School student was crossing Gladstone Street near Enid Avenue at about 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday when a westbound bobtail truck hit her. The driver stopped to help, and the crash was believed to be an accident."

My Student

Sadly, one of my students was involved in an auto accident on her way to school. She was seriously injured. The SGV Tribute article has more information. Our school office staff collected donations and food/snacks/drinks for the family. I've been visiting the student and the family at the hospital. Our thoughts are with them.

Flash Project

I've known of the capabilities of Flash for quite some time. This quarter, I finally put together a project on Flash. It is an amazing application. I have so much more to learn...for now, please check out what I have:

Mr. Yip's Flash Site

Jump the Star Party

We ended school early today. Instead of having a staff meeting, we celebrated students who improved their scores on last year's state tests. I support efforts toward congratulating academic achievement. The kids seemed to enjoyed the food and games. I remember participating last year as well.

I do have questions though. Will kids remember a November after school celebration when they take the tests next May? Do you remember the agenda for a staff meeting six months ago? (We also went over scores with them in October, about tests that they took the previous May.)

CMC - 2009 Palm Springs

I attended the Palm Spring Math Conference on Saturday. It is my fourth time attending this annual event. Due to budget cuts, there was no funding support for this trip. Nonetheless, I find it fruitful for me to visit this conference and attend the sessions in each of the four time slots. This year, I attended: 1) Google for math teachers, 2) Digital delivery and assessment, 3) Teaching and learning with Mathematica, and 4) Singapore math system. Of the four presentations, Ms. Brown's session on Mathematica was most inspiring. She is a teacher from San Diego. Presenting with her were five advanced math students. They show cased a series of high level math topics/projects via using functions within Mathematica. While I am happy teaching lower and middle level mathematics in the high school, I strive to be like Ms. Brown and challenge advanced students in creating high level math projects.

Presenting...

Ms. Lydia Valencia and I presented to the faculty today. We are thankful for their attention and support. Check out our slides in this choppy video (I'll work on improving it):

Mike

I lost a dear friend yesterday. I've known Mike since about fourth grade, that's about 20 of my 30 years. We lived together for three years at UC Irvine. It was pure good times. We studied together, we worked out together, we ate together. Mike inspired me to teach. He was a LARC tutor before I knew anything about LARC. If it wasn't for Mike, I may have never became a LARC tutor at UCI, and may have never became a teacher. Teaching is a huge part of the present "me", I often feel that aside from family and friends, teaching is all that I have. Mike will always be a major part of what I do as "Mr. Yip".

Mike, I miss you. I know you fought with all that you've got. I am so proud of you, and as proud to have spend so much quality time with you.

New Role

This may be my important role yet as an educator: My principal and district personnel director appointed me as a site supervisor for a new student-teacher from La Verne. I got an email late last week asking if I would oversee a student who has an urgent placement need. I replied "Of course". Ms. Lydia Valencia and I met Monday. It is going to be an interesting five weeks for the both of us as we go through this new experience. Thankfully, Ms. Valencia is bright and enthusiastic about teaching. I have no doubt that she will have success in the near future. But more importantly, I feel an obligation to be at my best. I strive to be consistently positive, helpful, and encouraging. Considering my super tight schedule, this is going to be a very challenging task. Nonetheless, I am grateful for this opportunity for me to develop as an educator.