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Going With The Dress Code

After my last post, it occurred to me that perhaps even my college students need reminders on going with the dress code. In fact, even I, on occasion, need to be reminded. Especially with footwear! It’s so much more comfortable to just go to school in flip flops rather than heels…especially now that I have discovered the joy of not squeezing my feet into those stilettos (haha). I remember that when I first started teaching, I’d wear not just heels, but formal business attire. Now I don’t. I have only one or two colleagues left who really get all formal now (complete with the tie, tie clips and steel cufflinks). Perhaps I should start going more with the dress code and I can have my students follow suit. What do you think???

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Today’s Random Snappy: This is what school shoes should look like!

Last week I went to Payless shoe store in Nuvali and got a good laugh when I tried on these shoes It reminded me of shoes I  had in the first grade! Although it made me laugh, I liked how they had this in the store because, as those who have read in this blog several times over, one of my pet peeves is really how kids now wear shoes with heels. HELLO!!! It really gets to me because it is such a dangerous option for the kids. I have had many kids in class fall over and get hurt because of their shoes. This, on the other hand, is really how school shoes for kids should look like.

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Getting Back in the Thesis Groove

Okay…I quit my preschool teaching job in order to get my priorities straight, right? I said I would finish my thesis and get the ball rolling with the rest of my professional career. Buy yeah…once again I lost my bearings and got lost in the shuffle of daily life. Since September my thesis has been sitting in a little shelf, the books I meant to read remain shut, and well, I just haven’t gotten things done.

This has to stop.

Wish me luck…

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Make or Break Term

Well, well, well…it seems like only yesterday when the second trimester ended and now I’m at the cusp of what is turning out to be a make or break term for me. I really, really have to figure things out by the end of this school year. Do I want to trade in my books and chalk for something new? As many of my friends know I have given up the preschool classroom this past year (or 2011 should I say) and now I wonder if my classroom has really gone beyond the four walls of a building. Don’t get me wrong: I am not giving up my university teaching job. I’ve just been thinking, maybe I need to teach something more creative…howsabout arts and crafts?? Maybe a class that teaches mandala making or perhaps jewelry making, such as those threaded friendship bands or perhapsmacrame shamballa bracelets? Let’s see, let’s see.

Midlife crisis much? Har.

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Teacher’s New Job

Well, well, well…it’s been six months since I have been “unemployed” (in the preschool setting that is!) and so I really have been exploring all sorts of options that interest me. This is one of my latest explorations…

Cute, right? It was made for my best friends baby shower. Her sister decided she didn’t wanna buy cakes anywhere else but from me. Mwahaha.  Short notice, though, so I couldn’t really experiment much. The icing needs work (flavor wise that is), but I’d like to think it’s pretty cute, yes? So…new project? Let’s see!!!

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Book Review: Changing You

I came across this book earlier today at a colleagues house. It was a nice take on puberty, sexuality and adolescence. It was a very matter-of-fact book that discussed the stage and it surely would be a good book to use when kids start transitioning to that stage in their lives. Very nicely written in words that kids can understand Highly recommended

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The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

This year, the Grinch who stole Christmas is not a green faced cartoon character, but the wrath of Mother Nature. It is so heartbreaking to see pictures of the devastation in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities brought about by Typhoon Sendong. I never imagined that the pictures reminiscent of Ondoy would, pardon the choice of words but I can’t think of any other one to say it, flood my Facebook wall. It is encouraging, however, to see how people are utilizing the power of social media and modern technology to once more rekindle the spirit of Bayanihan and pakikipagkapwa at this time of need.

As many list out relief centers, calls for help, and means of making donations, I’d like to make a shout out too, but this time for the children who are suffering from post-traumatic stress at this point. Besides food, water, and clothing, if you have any old stuffed toys to share, or new if you’d care to do so, please take the time to send them too. After caring for the physical selves of those who survived the disaster, let’s try and help care for the emotional and mental hurts left by Sendong. For more information, please get in touch with Ms. Cathy Babao who is working on a healing project for the children of CDO and Iligan. Quoting from her Facebook page,

Children in trauma have a lot of nightmares. The power of a hug, or something that they can hug cannot be underestimated. If you have old (or new) stuffed toys, ideally teddy bears, that you can donate to the children of CDO and Iligan, please send them to me. I’m working with the Regional Missionaries of the Philippines in Northern Mindanao on this healing project. Please feel free to message me here or send me an email at cathybabao@gmail.com if you would like to help us out. Thanks much!

It’s not much of a Christmas, and yes, we all know Christmas is more than just new things and celebrations, but maybe this time we can really make an effort to bring some sense of comfort and love to our brothers and sisters down south.

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Term End Evaluation

Well, well, well…..the term has gone by so fast. It’s hard to believe that I’m in my last week of the trimester Woot. I guess. This has been a trying one for me, more on the personal side though to be honest, but on the super rough days that came my way this term, I kinda wished I had a stay at home job, like maybe that of a freelance writer or maybe one of those Web Developer Jobs, essentially one that would let me do my work in jammies and have minimal contact with the outside world. However, though there were many days that felt that way, I must admit whenever I’d get out of my classes, I’d always feel so much better. So I guess as a whole the term hasn’t been all that bad. Let’s see how I feel in the next few days, though….grading time. Gaaaah.

Posted by Teacher Ria in Teacher's Corner | 1 Comment

My Dog Ate Your Homework

Remember that old cliché of an excuse that goes, “Teacher, I’m sorry but my dog ate my homework”? Um…what is one to do when she’s the teacher and she needs to use this excuse???

Egaaad.

Sometime ago I brought home my students projects so I could grade them at home and to my dismay, when I woke up I found that my little rascal Joe had, yes, eaten their homework. Har.  It’s a good thing most my other assignments and projects are technology based, such as the video projects for my clinical psych students and electronic books and manuals/guides for my psych measurement students.

I guess as evidence shows dogs do eat homework hehe. Now…the question is what do you think my students will say when I come to class on Wednesday and say, Kids, I’m sorry but my dog ate your homework???

I'm sorry, Mommy, I didn't mean to eat the homework....

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2012 Holidays Declared: Long Weekends Ahead!

A few days ago news on the proclamation of the 2012 holidays were all over Facebook and Twitter. In a way, I’m glad that President Aquino has done away with the whole “holiday economics” thing President Arroyo had because let’s face it: while long weekends are great and we all enjoy it, it does affect the school calendar greatly. And as a teacher, this can be somewhat of a hassle. And let’s not forget that we also miss out on days from sudden suspensions due to bad weather.

Anyway, here are the declared holidays for 2012. I am only listing those that will affect school days. For a complete list you can check out http://www.gov.ph/2011/11/24/proclamation-no-295-s-2011/

January 23 (Monday) – Chinese New Year
February 25 (Saturday) – EDSA Revolution Anniversary
June 12 (Tuesday) – Independence Day
August 21 (Tuesday) – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 27 (Last Monday of August) – National Heroes Day
November 1 (Thursday) – All Saints Day
November 2 (Friday) – Additional special (non-working) day
November 30 (Friday) – Bonifacio Day