Helpful websites

http://www.semanda.com
http://chinese4kids.net
mandarin-immersion.blogspot.com
http://www.asianparent.com/index.aspx

These are some of the websites and blog I found months and months ago. This might be a great way to start searching for resources when I need it.

• Semana.com has a lot of flashcards. Because our program is an Immersion program, no English is encouraged to be used during class. That, I might need to edit.
• chinesefkids.net is a bunch of activities, stories, videos, etc. on it. It's just a good resource to go to it whenever I need something for a lesson I just cannot find anywhere else.
• mandarin-immersion.blogspot is a website that helped me find the other three websites. The teacher, 畢老师, is from Utah. The last updated blog was back in 2012. Even though that is a little outdated, it's a good place to find any activities or lessons s/he's done in the past.
• asianparent.com might be a great website for my district to take a look at. We are still looking for books the kids can read during the school day so this might be a good website for us.

Update

Just updated this post!

http://mandarinbilingual.blogspot.com/2013/12/going-to-taiwan.html

Update

Oh gosh, where do I begin?

I don't think I've mentioned this, but I'm currently student teaching right now and starting to teach more and more as the year goes on. My school has been piloting edTPA for 5 years now and I'm part of the process. It's definitely a project that I need to give my undivided attention to do my best. My lessons and reflections will all be sent to Pearson (the all-time famous publisher) for evaluation. In short: it's a bigger deal than taking finals.

I've also been trying to order furniture for my next year's classroom. Here's the list I ordered:

• 2 - kidney tables (might only get 1)
• 1 - round table 48" in diameter
• 3 - long tables 96" x 24"
• 2 - cabinets [I'm not sure the dimensions but I requested the bigger ones]
  
• 2 - 2-drawer file cabinets
• 2 - 4-shelves bookshelves
• 10 - trapezoid tables
• 3 - big chairs for stations
• 40 - medium shares
• 30 - drawers/totes for each student (I will have a lot extra)

I'm still trying to see if there is a list of things I cannot have in my classroom in case I purchase "illegal" things. Still trying to wait on that list!

Going to Taiwan!

Grandma hasn't been feeling the best recently and it's time to go for a visit. I miss her.

While being there, it's a great way to refresh my Mandarin. I haven't been speaking in my absolute best so being there will help with my fluency.. Which might also hurt my English, but we will see.

Because I am going to Taiwan, I need to start making lists. My first list is a list of lists I will make!
A list of...

• what I will eat: 奶茶、湯包、拉阿(a kind of clams in Taiwanese)、香腸、蔥麵包
• what I will buy: some children's books in simplified Chinese, 二胡清涼音樂、笛子清涼音樂、古箏音樂、焦老師的好多顏色筆、印章名「沒做完」「好棒喔」
• where I will go: 台南、盧廣仲演唱會、Visit NCCU, visit some old friends, visit my elementary school、九份

03/20/14 edit
04/19/14 edit

Cute is Not the Point

http://mattbgomez.com/i-dont-like-tpt/

So I've thought about it way before I even found the post. Why do teachers think making their classroom look "cute" will bring them the best practices in pedagogy? Why do teachers think making their worksheets look "cute" with characters drawn on them will make the worksheets more fun and authentic? I'm not sure why, but in the end, it doesn't help with anything. Sure, you can decorate, but if that's the only thing you do, are you really keeping "best practices" in mind?

Teachers are not hired to make things "cute". Teachers are hired to have the best practices and teach kids to love learning (and more... oh gosh way more).

Chinese Upbeat Music Playlist

This probably should be on excel.... Or just download onto my playlist?

1. 我相信 - 杨培安
2. 我的骄傲 - 杨培安
3. 同一片天空 - 新兵日记
4. 稻香 - 周杰伦
5. 童年 - 罗大佑
6. 明天会更好
7. 早餐，晨之美 - 卢广仲
8. 别在我睡着的时候打给我 - 卢广仲
9. Que Te Pasa - 卢广仲
10. 像白痴一样 - 卢广仲
11. 干杯 - 五月天
12. OAOA - 五月天
13. 玩乐 - 方大同
14. 因你而在 - 林俊杰
15. 阳光宅男 - 周杰伦
16. 恋爱ING - 五月天
17. 牛仔很忙 - 周杰伦
18. 水手怕水 - 周杰伦
19. 公主病 - 周杰伦
20. 自以为 - 方大同&许佳莹
21. 不要不要 - 张文宣
22. 幸福氧气 - 张文宣
23. 关在家 - 关诗敏
24. 快递甜心 - 关诗敏
25. 大艺术家 - 蔡依林
26. 舞娘 - 蔡依林
27. Mr. Q - 蔡依林
28. 特务 - 蔡依林
29. 唯舞独尊 - 蔡依林
30. 马德里不思议 - 蔡依林
31. 笑忘歌 - 五月天
32. 玩美 - 蔡依林
33. 死定了- 自由发挥
34. 欢迎光临 - 自由发挥
35. 夜猫 - 丁当
36. 唇唇欲动 - 蔡依林
37. 傷心的人別聽慢歌 - 五月天
38. 藍色巧克力 - 謝娜
39. 快乐的歌 - 謝娜
40. 最炫民族风 - 凤凰传奇
41. 快樂的歌 - 楊培安
42. Dr. Jolin - 蔡依林
43. 最新超動感舞曲 - By2 DNA 

Classroom Materials List (will be updated)

1. (40) File Folder/Plastic/Milk Crates http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-File-Crate-Set-of-6/14138976 maybe not getting milk crates anymore!
2. (10) 1' Binders
3. (10) 2' Binders
4. Fabric (for bulletin boards)
5. (10) Small Stacking Baskets http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-small-stacking-basket-pack-of-6/-/A-12981146#prodSlot=medium_1_29
6. (12) Drawers (individual that can stack on top of each other) http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Medium-Modular-Storage-Drawers-Set-of-6-White/15940599
7. (3) Mini-3-drawers http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-3-Drawer-Mini-Organizer-Set-of-6/10877957 have 1 at home. Need 2 more.
8. (20) Fabric Container Organizer http://www.target.com/p/closetmaid-cubeicals-fabric-drawers-1-pack/-/A-14469040#prodSlot=medium_1_12 have 3.
9. (1) Bean Chair
10. (1) Papasan Foldable Chair CHECK
11. (1) Floor Lamp
12. (1) Rug ~4x6
13. (6) individual paper lanterns http://www.orientaltrading.com/bright-party-lanterns-a2-3_8941.fltr?prodCatId=551273
14. (6 boxes) Hanging File Folders
15. (50) Magazine holders http://www.amazon.com/Flyt-Pack-White-Magazine-Holder/dp/B001PH3HJ8/ref=lp_3744811_1_2?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1382852577&sr=1-2
    CHEAPER HERE: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50022354/
16. (30) Backup Activities for moments where students are just sitting/standing there and not doing anything on off days (holidays, days before break, etc.)
17. (30) Wall Pocket Postits http://www.amazon.com/Post-Pockets-Closure-8-Inches-3-Pack/dp/B005DKN6OO/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_cp_2_T4CY?ie=UTF8&refRID=16CD9ZWNB2DJNYE7PH9N
18. (1) Pocket Chart Organizer http://www.amazon.com/Smethport-747-Organization-Center-Pocket/dp/B001JTQDGQ/ref=pd_sim_op_2
19. (30) pencils school offers pencils
20. (5) small caddy (Target: $1 each) http://www.amazon.com/Romanoff-Small-Utility-Caddy-Red/dp/B000HKHLEQ but mine are 3" x 4"
21. (5) letter (Target: $1 each) tray http://i.walmartimages.com/i/mp/00/79/48/09/04/0079480904348_P255062_500X500.jpg but mines are different colors and made from cardboard
22. (24) pencil basket (Target: 6 for $3) I bought blue and black
23. (6) pocket chart with 8 pockets each (Target: $1 each)
24. (3) Storage Bin (Target: $1 each) I bought black ones; self-making cardboard boxes (kinda like shoe boxes)
25. (3) Teacher's Tote (Target: $3 each) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-8nobnycL._SL500_AA300_.jpg except mine doesn't have the front pockets
26. (20) Folders (Office Depot/Max: $2 total) no prongs
27. mini prices, birthday signs, table name tags (Target and Office Depot/Max: ~$5)

07/16/14 Edit

Total amount spent: ~$65