Responsibility

I now suddenly have a sense of responsibility that I didn't feel I had just a week ago. I feel a need to uphold a new level of standard, one set by the elite veteran teachers. This goes to show how amateur I still am, I should hold myself to the highest level of professionalism at all times. It's still all a learning process. After school this past Friday, I spoke separately with the Math and English department chair, both former Teachers of the Year and well-respected professionals within the district. I learned how much further and more challenging the upcoming path can be. Surviving the challenges of a new teacher is one thing, achieving longevity (with excellence) will be the next step. Approximately half of all teachers, as good as they may be, leave the profession within their first three years. Will I pass this test? 

These logos are used to engage my students - I do not profit from these designs.

Do I deserve it?

Miraculously, on the same day that I received news that I've won, my favorite blogger Seth Godin wrote this short post. He asks me to think: What am I going to do now that I've got it?

Unbelievable

The three finalists were announced for our school's Teacher of the Year. It includes two extraordinary science teachers and the ordinary me. I actually found out that I was one of the finalists on Tuesday night during the board meeting. One of my favorite teachers on campus, Mrs. Fieri, congratulated me as I made my way through the crowd. I had no clue what she was talking about until she told me. Above is the supportive note that my principal wrote me, he wrote it on a ballot that teachers used for the final voting. (I cropped the other two photos to respect the teachers' privacy.)

Save the Music

Earlier tonight, I attended a district school board meeting. It was a critical one for there were easily over a hundred attendees, most of whom came in regards to the key agenda of the evening: the potential removal of the music departments across the district due to budget crisis. Throughout the evening, students, parents, and teachers took the podium and spoke. With a three minute time limit each, they individually expressed a singular voice: Save the Music. I saw tears throughout the room as young elementary students spoke nervously on the mic, begging for the program to continue. The speakers expressed passion and shared how inspiring music has been to their lives. It was uplifting to see students being passionate about education. I only wish I could inspire such passion in my class. (Though I'm sure I can inspire tears in my students if I assign more math problems.) 

As a math teacher who missed out on music education, I wholeheartedly support our school's arts program. Our band director Mr. Murdock is amazing, the band kids are often some of my top students, and their performances are breathtaking. Go Band Go!

Entertaining An Elephant

I received a copy of this book from my wonderful BTSA support providers. It was a quick read as I finished it within the same day. While I don't usually find fictions relating to education enjoyable, there are many valuable quotes in this book.  With Valentine's Day coming, I'd like to share with you the final quote from this novel about learning and letting go:

"Everything you teach you are learning. Teach only love, and learn that love is yours and you are love."  - - A Course in Miracles

Parent University 2009

Each year, our school district puts together a variety of class offerings (all free) to encourage, support, and inform parents so they can take a more active role in their children's learning. This is my third consecutive year presenting at the Parent University. In 2007, I paired up with Ms. Kwak to present information regarding the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). I showcased my Geometry lessons during 2008's sessions titled "Geometry is Fun!" This year, I decided to boarded the topic by going with "Improve Math Grades." The turnout this year was great. Specifically, the room was full (about 30 guests) during my first of three sessions. I am so grateful for having a wonderful Spanish translator this year in our bilingual specialist - - thank you again Betsy! During my sessions, I offered parents tips on helping their students succeed. Additionally, I showcased some of the new slides from my recent lessons. In sum, I was very satisfied with my presentations. I continue to practice and learn presentation skills through such valuable experiences. I especially want to thank the parents who came out to support their children's education, and the district staff that helped made presenting at Parent-U a joy. It's now time for me to revisit my slides to refine my presentations and my lessons.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Year of the Ox. In a recent radio talk show, the hosts discuss the various stereotypes that are related to Chinese-Americans. I identified with the theme greatly. Chinese people definitely value different traits compared to the American people. Our humility or propriety (desirable traits in the Chinese culture) can be viewed as shyness or weakness (traits viewed as undesirable in the U.S.). I think as more Asians assimilate into the American culture, such misunderstanding will fade. Please check out this article on Asian stereotypes - the new generation is speaking up! Good piece, Rebecca.

Yes We Can!

Congratulations to President Obama on his new position. I want to trust that he will lead us to a brighter future. Just like other fields, public education needs a lot of help. In an ideal situation, we would have better funding to support smaller class sizes and better teacher/classroom support. Of course, with the current economy, these changes will take time. I'm excited to see if education will go higher on the new government's list of priorities. These are the changes that I hope we can believe.

Less Is Not More

This just in: the Governor of California proposes 5 fewer school days. Compared with other academically high performing countries, our students already spend fewer weeks in the classrooms. Shorter summers and more weeks in the classrooms may be contributing factors for students in India or China to be more advanced in the sciences and math. Though the task at hand is overwhelming each day, I strive to maximize the time I have with my students each year. As of this writing, I have not yet taken a sick leave. I also read that LAUSD may lay off many teachers; new teachers without tenure are especially vulnerable. My first year of teaching was most challenging, I wish these new teachers the best and hope that they can survive these difficult times and continue to educate the next generation.

These logos are used to engage my students - I do not profit from these designs.

Enjoy the Process

A year ago, my buddy Sunny and I entered the Firecracker 10K in Chinatown, Los Angeles. We're doing it again this year, along with another buddy Cong. It's a challenging course, the first mile is uphill. (Sunny swears that the 5th mile is also an uphill). This will be my first race of 2009 and I am so focus on my race day performance that I'm forgetting to enjoy my training. I'm really not unlike my students who are only concerned with the grade and often neglect the importance of the learning process. I think we ought to work on developing a culture for learners in which the focus is on the learning and not the letter-grade.

Dodecahedron

One of my many weaknesses as a teacher is the lack of hands-on projects in my lessons. On the latest issue of the CMC journal, there is a net of a dodecahedron (12-sided figure) calendar.  I printed it on card stocks and had my students try it on Friday. It was a mild success in that the students enjoyed the activity.  However, in the future, I would focus on improving the quality of the final product.

English Only

Last night, some friends and I went to a play at the New LATC in Los Angeles to support my friend Bryan's first major acting gig. The play was called English Only. It explores the theme of a Chinese-American's struggle in Alhambra, California. Scarlett, the protagonist, experiences intra-racial discrimination, inter-racial romance, and the drama that goes along with her high school senior year. The play inspired me to reconsider my role as a teacher in a high school with mostly Spanish-speaking students. Further, as a Chinese-American finding my own cultural niche between the East and the West, I was very connected to the play. Overall, the play was fantastic on many levels.

Geometry - Is it in you?

This is the second straight year that I'm doing an overload (teaching an additional sixth period). I'm enjoying the opportunity tremendously, though I wish for a period break on somedays.  I have wonderful classes and my great students make each day pleasant. This is the first year that I have all six periods of Geometry.  It's become a course that I really prefer to other math courses.  The above logo is one of my proudest designs.  My friend Tan helped me perfect it.

These logos are used to engage my students - I do not profit from these designs.

Five Day Forecast

Many excellent teachers use class calendars to help students stay on track and organized.  I haven't developed such a system in my classroom yet.  So while watching the weather report during my time on the treadmill, I thought of the idea for the slide above. For now, it only lists the date, activity, and homework number. It will need to be further developed, I'll work on it...

Look Closely

My students enjoyed this one today. Students from one period found as many as thirteen "horses" in this picture. Can you find more?