GEA's First Ever "Inspire Week"

This week, my school hosted it's first "Inspire Week," where were inspire our students through the sharing and exploring of colleges and careers.

Many students in our community lack role models who have attended college and gone on to professional careers.  We wanted to provide our students with an opportunity to meet and talk to individuals that have careers that would inspire our students.

Some of the guests we were invited to meet included:
- Dr. Merrill, a dentist
- Roxana Ramirez, an environmental engineer
- Dr. Kang, a pediatrician
- Matt Kang, a small business owner and editor
- Matt Sayles, a photographer
- Jesus Perez, an engineer
- Michael Ortega, an engineer
- Stacy Gnall, a poet
- Carmen Gutierrez, a non-profit assistant director
- Joe Choi, a bank manager
- Anna Kim, a lawyer

It was really interesting to see our students challenged to achieve great things from others, both in and out of their own communities.  Many students were surprised to hear the diversity of occupations in the world and how important their education would be in achieving their professional goals.

Hired!

After two years of searching, I finally will have a classroom to call my own.
I know that it's not what I set out to look for, but I'm sure that this is where I need to be.

I found the answer to the question I asked myself couple years ago "why in the world am I working at Korean Air?"   Now I know.

It will be my second time trying to teach non-Korean students how to speak, read, and understand Korean.  But I think this time, I may have a chance at using Korean to make my students feel confident and successful in their accomplishments in learning a new language.

I know I lack so much, but in my weakness, I hope that His power and grace is revealed.


I pray that this year, I will be a teacher that can support my students and help them realize their dreams.

Stick around to find out what unfolds this year!

Americans know it as the LA Riots, but I still remember it every year as Sa-I-Gu (4-29).  It's the date that is engraved into my psyche as a Korean-American girl, growing up in Los Angeles during the 1990s.   It's the date that has colored my skin yellow and sunken deeper into my soul.  It's a date that makes me struggle with my own racial identity and my dreams of a world where race and ethnicity doesn't matter.

It's a date that makes me remember one of the reasons I want to work in the inner cities.

I can't continue to write this post without feeling anguish and regret as I connect the events of 20 years past to the recent events of young Trayvon.  Our society is still a long ways from the dreams of many, but I pray that the future holds many more opportunities for us to show that we do not have to act on our prejudices.  We do not have to fill our hearts with hate and past wrong-doings, but to move forth with compassion and greater love.

10/4/2011

It's already the 4th week of school and I've spent most of my time with my Den 1 students.  This is the group I am supposed to know the best, yet I realized today that I still have so much to learn about my students.

Last week, James was absent Wednesday - Friday.  I was concerned, but assumed that he had gotten sick with a cold... since he always has a finger in his nose or in his mouth.  It turned out that he had broken his arm during afterschool, on campus.  Fortunately, he broke his left arm and he's right handed.

Since he broke his arm, we've tried to keep him indoors during recess to avoid any further injuries to his healing arm.  Today, during recess, we let him draw.  He drew a picture of a plane and he said his dad was in the army and flew planes.  It was in that moment that I realized I knew very little about his family other than the fact that his mother drops him off at school everyday and he occasionally goes to afterschool on days his mom works.

James is a good student for a kindergartner.  He know his alphabet pretty well and he's pretty good at his alphabet craft and writing.  He's usually able to stay on task at his desk, but seems to find ways to get distracted on the rug and in line.

I've seen his crafts, but I have yet to talk to him to find out about what his hobbies are.  I'd assume that one of them would be riding his razor-- he rides it to school everyday.

I will make it a goal to get to know my students better... away from the "teacher" position, but from a stance of love and concern.

Staying Positive

I haven't posted much in the last few months.
It wasn't only because I was getting lazy or forgot about this blog.
I was feeling really discouraged with the current employment situation in Los Angeles.
For a new teacher, the only options for full-time teaching opportunities were at charter schools.
I know that most of my cohorts will be employed at a charter school this school year, but I really didn't know if I wanted to take part in that system.
Now I know and I can only wait for an opportunity that really matches my passion.

I'm going to stay positive and keep my eyes and ears open for opportunity.

Wayside Arthimetics

Blast from my past... these Wayside Arthimetics books are great!
I loved them as a child and now I love them as a teacher.

The books have arthimetics problems that really challenge students to think about place value and number sense.

I'll have to finish this post later, since I'm still working on my Math PACT (Due in 24 hours!)

Room 11

My first student teaching assignment has ended and I've said a lot of good byes, but I feel like I'll never really leave Room 11.

These were my first class of students.
They say your first class always stays with you and I'm sure they will.

I've learned so much from these kids.