Children's Book of September: The Name Jar

Say My Name, Say My Name (my Korean name, that is... haha).

I know it's already October but for the month of September,
I wanted to recommend a book I came across this summer.

Book summary: Unhei has just come with her family from Korea and is starting school. Her name is pronounced Yoon-hye, which means grace, but she feels awkward about it after some teasing on the school bus. She decides to choose an American name, and her classmates oblige her by filling a glass jar with their suggestions. Her mother reminds her that she and her grandmother went to a name master for Unhei's name, and Unhei practices stamping her name with the beautiful name stamp her grandmother gave her. Finally, Unhei decides to keep her own name, and one of her classmates even has a stamp made for himself with the Korean characters for friend. The paintings are mostly in gold and earth tones, and the figures have both stature and simplicity--as does the story.

GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

I think the reason why this book appealed to me so much is because I can totally relate to the main character(I love it when you totally "get" what a character is going through in a story). When I immigrated to the United States and enrolled in school, I used to get embarrassed when my teachers and classmates could not pronounce my Korean name, correctly.
I've had substitute teachers attempt my first name, give up after the first syllable and simply resort to calling me "Kim."
One day in 4th grade, I cam home and told my mom that I wanted an American name,
just like all the other kids.
My cousin helped me pick out the name "Helen."

Well, she really just gave me two choices.
It was either going to be Helen Kim or Kimberly Kim.
I am so thankful that something sounded
terribly OFF with Kimberly Kim,
even to a non-English speaking child (at the time).
I've been going by "Helen" ever since but I never legally changed it on paper.

Ultimately, I am so glad that I never formally changed my name.
As an adult, I've come to appreciate my
sometimes butchered but ultimately very meaningful name.
My Korean name "Bo Reum" means full moon because I was born when it was up.

This book can be used to teach children that it's a wonderful thing to be different from the rest and that you should embrace ALL the unique traits that make you, you!

Recommended for: Primary grades(1,2,3)

Bandaid for a Teacher's Soul

As a teacher, there are days when you just want to drop dead on the floor out of frustration.
I'm sure these days exist for all kinds of jobs.

The reasons behind this desire to drop dead on to the floor can vary for all teachers. However, for me, the following reasons pretty much sum up why I would like to just drop kick teaching in the gut sometimes:

-administration (from time to time, they like to throw complete curve balls at teachers that leave us baffled, confused, and plain angered)

-the children (I love them to death but they do drain the life out of you)

-parents (as much as I've met my fair share of WONDERFUL and SUPPORTIVE parents, I've also met a couple of the EXACT opposite)

-myself (just having one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days)

Today was one of those particularly frustrating days which derived from a combination of factors mentioned above. As I was trying to go about my day with my kiddies, one of my students walks up to me and hands me a note (just to clarify: today was the first day I returned to work after taking a week off for church missions).


As soon as I received this note from my student, the frustration I've been feeling all morning simply dissipated. It was like a magical band aid to my wound. I realize that it's just a piece of paper with a simple drawing of a heart which probably took the student five minutes to make.

However, his thought, love, and motive behind the act was just what I needed to remind me of
why I deal with administration even when they want to give me a huge headache.
why I fell in love with teaching in the first place.

There is no greater band aid to a teacher's wound than that of a child's love.

How To Create & Maintain a Happy Marriage

A co-teaching marriage that is, hahaha.

Co-teaching is a lot like a marriage.
It really does take two compatible individuals, hard work, dedication, and respect
to have a successful co-teaching relationship.

I guess you can say that my principal is a great match maker because she has been pairing
up successful co-teaching marriages for about 4 years now!

Anyways, after what is ALMOST a year of being in a healthy and happy co-teaching relationship, I will share some tips and advice for those who might be co-teaching in the future.

TIPS AND ADVICE FOR A HEALTHY CO-TEACHING MARRIAGE

1) Think of Your Co-teacher as Your Equal
It's so important to think of your co-teacher(partner) as your equal. I believe if you truly believe your partner to be of an equal to you, there will come a mutual level of respect for him or her. I believe that my partner (whom I shall refer to as Ms. Phantastic) is not only an equal but someone whom I highly respect and admire. She has taught me so much in my first official year of teaching and continues to inspire me to work harder each day.

2) Be Open (Communicate)
It's also very important to openly discuss things with your co-teacher. Ms. Phantastic and I had the privilage of attending a co-teaching workshop before we embarked on this journey together. Through the workshop, we were able to openly discuss our teaching styles and classroom expectations. What I learned is that you have to be flexible and open to new ideas because in a co-teaching classroom, you are merging two different teaching styles and expectations into one. You are not gonna get everything your way and that's just the nature of sharing a space with someone and trying to merge two different lives together, which leads me into the next tip.

3) Be Flexible
Not everything will go your way. This is just the fact of being in a co-teaching relationship. You are going to want to do the bulletin board this way and he or she will want to do it another. However, you must make comprises. If your co-teacher wants to do the bulletin board a certain way, maybe you can suggest taking turns with the bulletin board or even merge your ideas together.

4) Maintain a Level of Professionalism
Although Ms. Phantastic and I spend a great deal of time together each week (more than anyone else in my life) I always maintain a certain level of professionalism. I just think it makes your co-teaching relationship better when you do. There's a reason why you fight with your family members and close friends. It's because your so comfortable and really don't hold anything back. However, in a co-teaching relationship I think it's beneficial to always keep in mind that although your co-teacher is your friend and partner, he or she is also your colleague so be professional about it.

5) Be There
There will be days when your co-teacher is not feeling well (physically,emotionally, mentally). This is when you have to pull both of your weights together. It's just part of human nature to have good days and bad. When you realize that your co-teacher isn't feeling well, you should take initiative to maybe teach longer, give him or her space. Also let him or her know that you understand what is going on and you are willing to "lead" for the day. I think this is SO important. Just like in a real marriage, if your partner was sick, you would take the initiative to maybe take out the garbage, cook dinner, and put the kids to bed... in a co-teaching marriage it's no different. Compromise, compromise, and compromise!


Although I am NO expert on co-teaching relationships by any means, these are just some of the things that I think have allowed Ms. Phantastic and I to have such a wonderful year together. I am truly SO very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented, caring, and sweet partner. I know we will have many more happy years ahead and that makes me SO excited!

Dedicated to the most wonderful co-teaching partner, Ms. Phantastic :)

Children's Book of the Month: Where the Wild Things Are

For the month of May, I decided to feature an old school book (first published in 1963) but really an all time favorite of many people including myself:



You probably already read this book and own it in your library OR used to own
it when you are younger, haha.

BUT for those who never read this book before,
it is about a boy named Max who gets in trouble for well, just being your average little boy... hahaha. Anyways, his mom sends him to bed without supper. In his room, his imagination takes over and he travels to his own little world (AKA where the wild things are). He becomes their king and goes on exploring the forest but eventually he gets lonely and homesick so he returns to his room (or comes back to reality) where he finds a warm supper waiting for him in his room.

I personally LOVE this book because I love how it portrays just how vivid and wild children's imaginations are. I also LOVE how it portrays a mother's love for her child.

Makes me think back to my own childhood and reminds me of how when I got in trouble by my mom, she NEVER failed to show me she still loved me (even when I decided to prank call the police to report a naughty little sister and had them come to our apartment.... ahahah).

Anyways!
If you're going to a baby shower or have a little child in your life, this book must be part of their book collection!!

In Summary

May's Book Recommendation: Where the Wild Things Are

Author: Maurice Sendak

Recommended for: ages 3-7 or primary grades(k,1,2,3)

A Coconut In Our Classroom

After we adopted our class pet Snowball, one of our students (I will call her Jenny) fell in LOVE and asked her parents for her own little bunny. For Christmas, Jenny's dad bought her her own little Coconut (okay, Coconut is not little by any means.... he's quite the opposite... observe below).

(I like big BUTTS and I cannot lie! Haha jk)

It was initially Jenny's idea to bring Coconut in to visit our classroom. She was very excited and could not wait. Therefore, we planned a day for Coconut to come visit our classroom and meet Snowball. Here is picture of Jenny holding her baby Coconut!
(sorry for the spooky hearts but it must be done, haha)

Anyways, we had a wonderful time meeting Coconut. Jenny got to walk around and let everybody pet him. The only problem was that our bunny Snowball isn't spayed so Coconut could only meet her behind bars... because if you know anything about bunnies... it is that they like to many lots and lots of baby bunnies.
I will end with this picture of me and my co-teacher holding Snowball & Coconut. We are a happy family. Hahaha