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

Assessments

Have been thinking about assessments lately. For next year, my 3rd graders need to be leveled based on their four domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).

There are several assessments I have in mind:

• STAMP
• HSK
• ACTFL
• SOPA (?)
• TOCFL

Games for Chinese Learning

Games to keep in mind to teach my kids! This can improve their speaking and listening:

• Taboo
• Pictionary
• Telephone
• MadGab

This can improve their writing:

• Boggle

Extra :: This girl is going to Taiwan this summer :)! Will be seeing if there are any games over there I can get for the kiddos~

Mandarin Guided Reading

Oh. My. Gosh.

http://www.fcrr.org/for-educators/sca.asp

Check it out! It was recommended by Dr. Cheryl Wolfel from Palatine School District who is a director for their bilingual program. I can totally use this for guided reading in Mandarin! I can check if I can start implementing some of the Chinese structure words into how they have it for English words.

We'll see.

It's on the to do list.

General Questions

This post has been in the draft for awhile...

1. Do parents have specific roles for parties?
2. What can parents do for volunteering?
3. What can students do during indoor recess?
1. I found this... but not sure if I like all of them. 85% of them are just videos you dance do.
4. Students picking out independent reading book but don't know where to put it back?
1. Leave it in a basket for the teachers to put back according to lexile or fountas and pinnel.
5. Everytime I bring in supplies for all the kids, I gotta bring in 45 of them if I teach two grade levels. This is not a question, this is just a challenge.
6. Do 3rd graders know twitter, facebook, hashtags? If they do, I might be able to incorporate this in some lessons!

Treasure Chest

I just need a chest where I can put all my extrinsic awards in there if I need it in the fly. What can I have?

1. Star stickers
2. Smiley stickers
3. Pencils
4. Erasers
5. Small Dollar-store toys?
6. Homework pass

I'm wondering if I should add more or if I want to just add an abundance of the things...

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 

Books, Wishlist, and HR Questions. A post I will have to get back to...

This site has a lot of the books I might be able to read to my students next year. My school has already ordered some of the books, but I'm wondering if I can order more. This is a great resource to have. Here's the link!

I'm starting to collect a wishlist of books on Amazon. Need to put them in Lexile order soon on excel so I can easily put them in my classroom library by levels for my students to easily pick them out during independent reading or something. So far so good. I might it on Google Doc soon.
DONE! Google Doc Text Set

I am waiting for the school district's HR to contact me to sign the contract. If I have any questions, I can ask then. Questions to ask during contract time:

1. What things will I already have for classroom?
2. How do I purchase classroom supplies?
3. Do I have to pack at the end of the year?
4. When to see classroom? Can I pick my own?
5. When can I start setting up classroom?
6. Am I allowed to use educational social media such as edmodo?
7. If I order Chinese books online, do I pay for that on my own?
8. Do I have to get a Masters to stay in the district?
9. Would Masters be paid for?

Christmas wishlist: a lot of gift cards. A lot.