A friendly suggestion.....

So, I must seem like I have no idea what I'm doing..
I have students suggesting me how to manage my class.

You should do this...
You should have done this...
Why didn't you say this...
Why do you always give in like that....
Why this?
What that?

Well, "I beg your pardon, who are you to tell me how to manage my class."
Yes, I am no super teacher. I am absolutely not perfect. I am surely not all knowing.
I will take and consider any and all constructive criticism.
I will reevaluate my teaching and my daily habits to better assist and guide as a teacher
 ( at least, I will try to...)

But I am well aware of my flaws and I wish they understand that I look past/over many things for their good. I purposefully take the "lenient route" on varying aspects of my classroom for the better good of my class. Well, if not, these folks with their big mouths will be flunking my class as well.

Only if they knew.
Keep Calm and Carry On.........

New Year (march...)

I can't believe it has already been nearly five months since my previous post. I guess I decided to take a long break through the year-end festivities; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and galore. Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, Valentine's Day, President Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and our President's Day has all passed in one accord and I find myself at the beginning of March finally posting for the first time this year.
The first semester has passed and surprisingly, we are already at the fourth week mark of the second semester. "A" high school is already preparing for the California High School Exit Exam and test chats have already been embedded in our daily curriculums as we prepare for the CSTs in May. School always rushes by the ladder half of the year. I don't have much to talk about concerning teaching but I do have a lot going on up stairs which at times have been taking away from planning and grading.
It is definitely my year to learn what efficiency is all about.

What will they think........?

I was rummaging through Google in search of entertaining, culturally applicable current events from Japan
and there I found this:

Behold Japan's Monstrous Five-Patty Lotteria Burgers

Lotteria (A national fast food chain in Japan) is celebrating their 40th birthday with a discounted quintuple cheeseburgers and fried shrimp burgers. Wow. 

As the blog suggests, they are sold at discounted price of 500 yen (about $6.35). The 'Super Cheesy" cheeseburger deal is available on the 16th and the 23rd of October and the "Super Fry-day" fried shrimp burger deal is available on Friday October 19th and the 26th. Both of deals from from 2-8pm (14th-18th hours). 

I'm planning on having my students look and decode the advertisement in Japanese (use of authentic material). And synthesize (critically think) why this is a great deal and should be acclaimed. With "health" being such priority in both countries of US and Japan, why this may be "eye-catching".
Will this be accepted in United States? What kind of issues may this rise if Mc Donald's decided to do this in United States. Why do you think it is okay in Japan?
Now, what do you think about the fried shrimp burger? Does it sound appetizing to you? Why will it not be the best choice in US but popular in Japan? 

What do you think they will say? I'm interested to see what kind of answers I will receive tomorrow. 

LOL 

Back to Phase One....

As I sit in my classroom at "A" High School on a hectic Monday. 

I felt an inclination to reflect on the past month and-a-half of my life as a teacher.
Though teaching, learning, and grading, did happen, 

"Lack of Focus" was probably what took place the most. 

I had allowed my personal issues get the best of my professional life.

I had told myself time and time again to FOCUS and GET YOUR S#$% TOGETHER 

but, it has been more than difficult. 

So, today, as I always do with my cute kids. I shared a little bit of my personal life
( in hopes of redeeming some of my ...lack)
It was my boy drama. LOL (yes, I do have plenty) 

Kids, being kids were all ears. Some thought it was ridiculous that I shared but some were ready to give the best advice ever. I always only share just enough to get them to spark some interest in staying in my class. 

While the story was being told, I had shared about betrayal and dishonesty (lying and cheating to be exact)

I explained to the students, 

I somehow survived through my mini-depression 

Regained some of my confidence and stability 

and am able to laugh about it, finally. 

I didn't really know why I felt a tug in my heart to mention it in class until one of my favorite girls in class had blurt out that the exact situation just had happened to her last night. 

In high school, this is the moment where you say, "OMG. No kidding!"

She shared her story. It hurts. and I know it hurts. 

I know how deteriorating it is to a girl's self worth, esteem, and value.
It takes a part of our dignity away. It really sucks. 

I wrote her a post-it note that said, "Remember, you are a beautiful girl. It is always his loss. You know yourself that you had put in your all towards the relationship. He did not have the capacity to take it all. He is not worth your time. He is not enough for you. You are beautiful and you deserve a man that will bring out all and every hidden gems in you. I know you still care and love for this gentleman. It is okay to still care and love just do yourself a favor and let go. Close your eyes, breathe, and let go."

My mistake. My experience. My problems. My emotions. My past. 

all allows me to understand

Their (students') mistakes. Their experience. Their problems. Their emotions. and Their now.  

I can only be thankful. 

 

My Every Day...

7:00 a.m.      Waken up by my meowing ("feed me") cat.
7:15 a.m.      Go back to bed for fifteen minutes.
7:30 a.m.      Help my mother wake up and get ready for breakfast
8:00 a.m.      Finally look at my daily curriculum and semi-prepare the days teaching materials
9:00 a.m.      Head to the kitchen for breakfast
9:30 a.m.      Hit the shower and brush my teeth
10:00 a.m.    Get ready to go to work
10:15 a.m.    Driving down the street towards the 91 freeway
10:35 a.m.    sometimes stop by Starbucks for my Vanilla Latte.
                     or arrive at my destination and park my car in the normal spot by the fence
10:45 a.m.    Greet the secretaries in the office as I start my day at "A" high school
10:50 a.m.    I usually make loads of copies for my three wonderful classes
11:12 a.m.    the bell rings. Walk over to the favorite place on Earth, the classroom.
11:17 a.m.    4th period begins
2:45 p.m.     You can assume everything that happens in between. School ends
3:00 p.m.     Hit the 605-91 towards Torrance public library to tutor for an hour
5:00 p.m.     run errands (bank, shopping, prepare dinner...)
7:00 p.m.     Another tutoring
9:00 p.m.     Home sweet home. (sometimes out and about with friends)
                                        work. eat. play. work. eat. play. work. work. play. play. play.
Who knows when I sleep.

This is my usual Mondays through Thursdays.
Translating, studying, researching, stationary designing all falls after 9:00 p.m. or Friday nights, Saturdays, or Sundays.

But this schedule may change for the better. Crazier!
I was just offered a position to teach Japanese and English
at a pretty well known lingual institute in Beverly Hills.
Should I take it or not... It is a big question.
If I do take it, the classes will start at 6:00 p.m. M-Th. I may need to teach  two classes per  day (each 80 minutes). So I will be done teaching around 9 p.m.
The pay is better than private tutoring.
It is a great opportunity.
But I love my tutees. But it is a great opportunity as a language educator.
The facility also offers translation and interpretation services that they had asked me to help with.
All a great resume builder.
UGH... I don't know what to do. Someone help me. oh please.
So I may need to invest in a white board to display my pros and cons.
I really don't know what to do. It is a a drive. It is beverly hills.
The school is very close to my fav restaurants, Mastro's and Buchon (oh boy, I miss Vegas)!
I will meet new people. I will be teaching adults. Will that next student end up my husband?
Who knows what will happen? Will I be okay juggling the schedule? My schedule is crazy enough.
It will get crazier. Will I be able to handle it?
I still need to finish my Master's eventually. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. lol
It's a great way to waste time. Contemplating back and forth on "what ifs."

But I think I know what I should do. It is unfortunate to have to decline a few great positions but it will be an opportunity for other people. I can still be apart of their lives.
Life throws lemons at you, like I said before, I make myself a nice cold...
Arnold Palmer!

We shall see what happens. 

New work, new people, new relationships. Life only gets better!

LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE.

the mystery of two halves.....

As I was tutoring couple days ago, I came across a math question that read as follows:

Please rewrite all written statements in to numeric fractions and identify its numerator and denominator.

6.) Two halves

Um. I think I understand English. I've been around this language for a while now.
Two halves really doesn't exist.
Its a whole number: 1.

Well technically the answer is 2/2. Numerator:2 Denominator:2
But 2/2 is not essentially a fraction, it is equated to a whole number, 1.

So, what is the correct answer?

I googled the *#$% out of it and apparently, I am correct. It's not a fraction, the answer is 1.
well, to be sure, I had texted my dear friend for his help.

I asked, how will you read, 2/2?
He responded, it's not two halves. it's 1.

Ugh. What is this stupid trick question. Do teachers entertain themselves by tricking students?
(Oh yeah, can't forget, I am also a teacher.)

What do you think? Is there a correct answer to this?

I asked my tutee to state the following as her answer:
The numerator is 2 and the denominator is also 2 which equals to a whole number of 1.

Well, I made sure to explain the situation to her parents to cover my ass.
Well, I'm sure they had also thought the question was confusing as hell.

Edumacation, oh please, treat us with respect.

On a side note:
It's nice to know that I have friends who will text back with the right answers when I'm in:
MATH CRISIS

Rock Anthem of the Week....

"I knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift 

It's a different kind of Taylor Swift.  Poppy with a little bit of rock and a touch of dubstep. I like.

Trouble trouble trouble.......I knew you were trouble when you walked in.

"Never take someone for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize you've lost a diamond while you were  busy collecting stones."