Children learn what they live

A beautiful and true quote on raising kids. Again we are the first teachers for our children.

Proud Mama

Dear Wes,

While I was cleaning up dinner routine, I saw that you were playing nicely with your baby sister in the backyard.  I noticed that while Ari was using your bike as an walker, you gently rode your bike and check behind you often so you could see she was okay.  Mama is so proud of you!

Riverview Mall Event

Good Reminders

Strategies of successful people (Randy, Vic...)

1. They don't make big decisions or try to make significant progress on a big project.

2. They don't start or assign new projects.

3. They don't get sucked into someone else's crisis. 

4. They don't leave people hanging.

5. They don't leave their desk messy.

6. They don't leave without saying goodbye.  

7. They don't leave without checking their calendar for the next day.  

8. They don't send hasty emails.

9. They don't beat themselves up for not accomplishing everything on their to-do list.

10. They don't feed the rumor mill.

11. They don't hang around.

Red and Blue Day

Today I got to sub in Julie P's class, she really is a master teacher. Her kids were calm and cooperative.  I think even though these kids were not my students,  it helped that many of them knew of me through older siblings. Again, perks of guest teaching in old school.

Smart things I learned:

In sub plans, knowing names are important as well as little transition breaks.  Such as carpet to desk, walking to different centers. I also like the traveling backpack idea, and students write about what they did with the class doll.

Don't recognize them enough but classroom helpers such as para-educators and volunteers are critical to the whole learning process.  She had a aide plus volunteers during centers.

Her schedule is quite simple really but meaningful

Calendar
Backpack story
Read
Writing
Author's chair
Science
Clean up

Month 5 Going on 6 Months SAHM

Can you believe its almost been nearly half a year since I took a leave of absence?! We are now into our routine. It is also true that I have made new friends. This next year and a half will go by fast, and the kids grow up quickly as well.  Am planning to go back before my license ends in March 2017. By then Wes will be 5 and Ari will be 3.  If I can have it my way, a half-time job again would be terrific!

SAHM has its perks, I can go to places before it gets busy, for example doctor's office and such. The kids like it when I am around, the know what to expect. We go to the park and meet other moms and their children.

Schedule

6:30 Wake up
6:45  Eat breakfast
7:00 Technology time
8:30 Park
9:00 Activity

11:30 Lunch
12:00 Recess
12:45 Naptime

3:00 Outdoor Fun

4:30 Daddy

5:00 Dinner

6:30 BathTime

7:30 Baby Lights Out

8:30 Wes Out

Desparate Mom?

Since I've been a stay at home mom, I've passed out maybe 5-6 cards to random asian mom/ family that the kids and I run across whether at Rec Centre, library, pool, and outings.  Anyways, I always make sure that they know we can have a playdate or something. But none has ever responded. I'm thinking it took me 5 months to learn this fact, that asians are very private and reserved people, its not like them to just go to a random strangers house and have a play date.

Class Under Second Time Around

Today I sub in the same class, I did last week.  This time we knew each other and honestly, they were a lot better for me. Yes, I had to pull out my super sub tool called " The I am Good Jar". So the strategy is whenever kids are good, I ask them to put their name in a jar, and during the class, I will choose a few kids to come and pick prizes from our prize bag (pencils, stickers, toys, no candies since they get that a lot.) Again, the kids felt motivated to cooperate. Sure this is good for short-term teaching but who don't want to be recognized for good work?!

One Year Ari

Today Ms.Ari went for her one year well care check. Everything is good. The doctor just said that because of my genes she is below average in height, weight, but head circumference is 25% tile.

15 pounds and 11ounces

The important thing is that she is growing as she should be and even if she is on the smaller side. She also received 3 shots today.

Things that she loves:

-Eating what we are eating
-Bath time
-Bottle
-Walking (she tries 4-5 steps)
-Juice in a sippy cup
-Listening to storytime in the library
-Music
-Exploring the backyard
-Cho Cho (loves to grab his fur)
-Screaming loud, so you tend to her needs!

My little girl, she will always be my baby.

Raising Resilent Children

1. Connection- Provide oppurtunities and pro-social skills for healthy development

2. Competence- When successful in a specific area of life, they feel hopeful and in control.

3.Contribution- Contribute to others will provide them perspective, gratitude and an understanding that they can make an impact. 

4.  Coping Skills- Model talk, “I'm upset and I’m going to take a few deep breaths to calm down.” pointing out that your child has managed difficult situations in the past helps to build competence.

Curious George Teaching Money

An idea I got from watching cartoons today was using carnival games to teach kids money. The idea is to have variety of carnival games and have students pay an amount such as 29 cents to play.  Just right for third grade, can be adjusted for 1-4th grade.

Observation Daycare

I also got to watched W while his at daycare.  The last two times he got called for bad behavior (see my previous posts). Even though the facility only had 6 kids including my own and 4-5 care takers, I was able to see first hand what triggers his misbehaviors.  While I was there,  I noticed he playing at area and a child about his age came and wanted to play but was rather aggressive then to defend himself, he threw a ball at him, and pushed him then knock the whole toy over.  The other boy walked away and play with something else.  This is the conflict resolution skill he needs, knowing when to step away and communicate.

Mortified

Today while the kids were in daycare I had a few more minutes before I had to pick them up and I went for a walk in the gym.  Accidently, walked into the men's locker room. Saw two naked men, I thought geez those women are big, plus my mind was occupied because I was looking for a bathroom, anyhoo, mortified.

Class from down under

Today I went to sub in a Chinese third class. The teacher being a first year teacher, wow what a difference in management and procedures and lesson planning.

First, the class it self has boys who dominate the class, 5 or 6 kingpins very loud and disruptive.
Second, the lessons are good but fails in lack of variety and transitions.  For two hours students either working at the carpet or at their desks.
Third, they don't follow directions the first time.  Reteach this procedure.
Fourth, I had to speak a lot of English to deal with the management issues.

Fifth, the teacher wants me back, I told the class I don't know if I want to come back.

Fire Station Field Trip

Coming Home

Today was my third time as a guest teacher at my old school.  I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy all the hugs and love notes of my previous students.  It is nice to work when I want to and to be appreciated and valued in a classroom.  Going to other schools is also a good experience. Because there is no background, I can be whatever I wish to be.

Hello & Good bye Oregon

What a beautiful place Oregon is...Reasons why I love this trip

1. Take a break from the kids

2.Socially aware culture, good to animals, good to people
For instance, in supermarkets there are daycare free for shoppers/ in gas stations people pump your gas so they can have more jobs.  They love animals, voted #1 pet friendly town.

3. Belives in marriage equality and right to assisted death. Case in point women in her late twenties move to oregon so she can choose to die they way she wants to go.  They also want to legalize pot.

4. Blue state very liberal people.  Cost of living slightly higher then Utah.

Wes did what?!

Little Wes again pushed kids at daycare again, except this time the supervisior didn't page me until it was 45 minutes to my workout (last time 30 minutes).  I know this is making excuses for my boy but this is what happend.  Both times he acted out it was when capacity of kids was over 25 kids and it was during the work week.  Judy said I need to make less excuse for him and catch his behavior while he is little.  He needs to learn 3 social skill strategies Empathy, self control, and communication.

What we can all do to help:

Tell him cause and effect, "When you pushed him, how did you think it made him feel?"

Model warm and positive interaction

Miss Ari Pre Walk

Ari is waddling now. Yesterday while grandparents was around with b she walked for about 4 steps! My little girl will walk soon! I need to get her some shoes that fit.  So proud of my little girl.

Secondary First

LC is a prep college school.  Today I am subbing in a computer science prep class. 17 teenage boys, self motivated.   Doing C plus plus, photoshop, video games and entering different codes. Even see one filling out an application for GameStop. From the sound of it, for them it is just a catch up day.

Students are just doing their own thing. I just am here.  I don’t feel like I can contribute anything to the class because my background is not here.  Good thing is for being here from 12:00-2:20 I get  $28 towards my play money.  Glad I am doing it.  Don’t have to do too many management issues, because all have something to do on the computer.

I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something such as subbing in a high school classroom.

Pumpkins, Pumkins

B and I took the kids to Pumpkin land in Orem.  There was hardly anyone there so the event was enjoyable for all of us.  I had wanted to take the kids to another pumpkin farm but B was not motivated saying that this place was just right.  It had inflatable jump houses, farm animals, and a decent corn maze. Perfect for little kids.

When life gives you lemons...

Some days I miss working outside of home so badly, I check for temp jobs more then 4 times a day. And it don't make me feel good, looking for jobs that I can't take because I don't want to burden my father with child care or the children out of their routines.   Other times, I get to see my children having fun, growing right before my eyes. For instance, today at the library, W and A sat down quietly for story time.  I could see in their cute little faces that they enjoyed being a part of something greater then themselves.

Kicked Out

Today at rec centre I was called in to checked on the boy, usually, it is because of wet pants and such. But today was different. Wes had push and hit others. The care professional said not just a little bit but a lot. I looked at the whole situation and wondered why this does not occur on saturdays when we go, because there is less kids. He must have been overwhelmed with more kids and not knowing how to share he got a warning from the daycare.  Next time, he will be suspended from day care for a few days.  Wow! My three year old can be a real pill.

What is my take away from this? he needs more oppurtunities with kids his own age and not always have his way.