I want to be a 1st grader again!

Today was my second experience at first grade and I must say that it went much better this time around. I am now known as Mr. Chen to my students. Don't ask me why? They just thought it was hysterical when a student called me Mr. Chen, instead of Mr. C, by mistake. It was actually the Asian boy in the class that pointed it out, saying, "ha ha ha Mr. Chen, that is so funny!" The students continued to call me Mr. Chen no matter how much I protested. I am hoping by next week they will no longer remember this new nick name, but I highly doubt it.

This class is a lot of fun I must admit, but I am still having severe classroom management malfunction. They all seem to have the attention span of a nat, and cannot stay quiet for longer than 30 seconds of instruction. They are intelligent kids and seem to understand what I am teaching, even with the surrounding chaos, but they make me nervous and seem really unruly in my eyes. I guess they are all used to it and I am the one who will need to adjust to the way they do things.

These kids crack me up! They do and say some outrageous things. Today, during their bag pipe lesson (yes, these kids learn about bag pipes), the guest speaker was explaining kilts to the students and he said, "Now the most important thing to remember is that this is not a dress." One of the boys from my class (who is slowly becoming my new favorite) shouted out, "But it's a man skirt!" The entire first grade (all three classrooms) erupted into an uncontrollable fit of laughter! I couldn't even keep a straight face after hearing this zinger and busted out laughing myself.

The school that I am at is amazing. Today I was shown my classes's science fair project and it is the same work I spent last semester teaching to fourth graders at a completely opposite school. My school is so far from Title One I was shocked walking into it's prestigious surroundings. It is strange how blatantly obvious it is that funding effects education so dramatically. The fourth graders I worked with had nothing, and the science project we did with them was completely over most of their heads. My first graders are reading and writing at a higher level already and we aren't even half-way through the school year yet. Their classroom is full of manipulatives, they have constant parent volunteers and support, there are tons of books for them to choose from, and that type of accessibility to learning in our school systems really pays off.

The reason I say that I want to go back to first grade is because I experienced a Friday in the life of my students. They came to school at 8:30 and spent the first 15-20 minutes learning about their art project for the day...then it was another 20 minutes of free reading and being read to...next was singing practice for their big program, followed by centers (where they actually had to work on some math), recess, bag pipe lessons, brunch (not lunch, BRUNCH, because today was their early out day), another recess, probably more art (I'm not sure as I had to leave for class) and then they get to go home at 12:45 OR they get to load up on a bus and hit the ski slopes for their school provided lessons.

Oh what a life. I guess if I can't be a first grader again I will just have to try to get a job teaching in a school with this sweet of a set up!

Fingers Crossed!

I think I'm starting to like first grade afterall. I still have a lot of work to get done though, so we'll see how it goes.

It's Official...

I'm fat!

No. Really. I must be because I met my first grade class yesterday and after spending a good 25 minutes distributing a make-up math test to a student whom I thought I was building a rapport with, he decided to shout out to the entire class, while turning in his completed test, "What are you lookin' at Chubby?" (Picture a really mean 7 year old with a Bronx accent as you read that line in your head, cause that's what he sounded like).

Yes, I know children can be brutally honest at times, and in the past their remarks about my bald head, or the occasional acne, or the fact that boys are not supposed to have earrings, have stung a little, but this was a brand new blow to my ego that I was NOT expecting! I guess it's a good thing he used the word "chubby" instead of "fatty" since fatty would obviously mean I am having a problem with Obesity, whereas Chubby infers I merely have a few pounds to lose.

Needless to say I was completely thrown off guard by this remark and had absolutely no response back to this child whom had just verbally assaulted me on my first day. Thank goodness my mentor teacher gave him a stern, "What did you just say? We do not talk like that in this classroom. He is a teacher in this class and you had better show some respect. Now go apologize." (ha ha ha Vengeance!)

So, first grade is not off to the best start. I knew it was going to be different from my last experience of having a class full of, what I now look back upon and realize were perfect third grade students, but I had no idea it was going to be this different. I'm not sure if it is the age group, or the school I'm at, or my mentor's teaching style, but these kids sort of frighten me. I have never seen such a rambunctious class before. They talk all day long, they do not stay in their seats, they are constantly leaving the classroom at whim, and they just seem to be all over the place. My mentor did warn me that they were "highly unruly" today, but I am worried my classroom management skills may not be up to par. I'm going to have to start looking into ways of keeping 24 seven year olds in check at all times. Any suggestions are highly encouraged.

Even though the kids were a bit of a shock I can tell that there are some definite good eggs in the bunch. I may have been thrown by my first day experience, but I still have hope. There are quite a few bright students whom I'm really looking forward to working with, and getting to know better. It's funny how you seem to gravitate to the two polar opposites when you first meet a class. You instantly learn the names of those students who are going to make your life difficult, and also those who are going to help you to remember why you got into teaching in the first place. But don't worry, that doesn't mean I leave out the kids in the middle. In fact, it is the kids in the middle that usually impress me the most.

My last blog said "Watch out 1st grade, here I come," but now that I've experienced my first day I'm going to have to change that motto to, "Better watch out for those crazy first graders." Wish me luck!

1st Grade Watch Out!

Well, I got my new placement for the semester and this time I am moving down. From 3rd to 1st grade that is. I am super excited for the change since 1st grade is one of the areas I am highly interested in teaching. I had such a great experience in my 3rd grade class last semester that I have been leaning towards that, but it is such a difficult curriculum. Cursive, multiplication, division, Native American studies...Holy Cow it's a lot to learn/teach. Who knows, maybe I'll end up in the middle like my friend Jessie and I'll teach the 2nd grade. Only time will tell.

500 Days of Summer

I had the pleasure of seeing another fantastic Sundance film this weekend. It was called "500 Days of Summer." I have attached the synopsis of the film and I must say that it was pure entertainment. GO SEE THIS MOVIE! It was heartwarming, funny, creative, thought provoking, well acted, and wonderful. Also, Joseph Gordon Levitt stayed for this afternoon showing to discuss the film afterwards. Pretty cool in my book. 

The freshness of Marc Webb’s love-me/love-me-not love story is epitomized by its perfectly framed tag lines…Boy meets Girl—Boy falls in love—Girl doesn’t. What else can you say about a postmodern love story? Not only is this delightfully surprising dissection of a romance structured so that it catches us continually off guard, but the classic tale of love unrequited is turned as topsy-turvy as a Shakespearian farce. Directed with verve, pace, and confidence by first-time filmmaker Webb and replete with Los Angeles settings that are distinctive and interesting, 500 Days of Summer never descends into ordinary romance. The typical premise of the love story—that we want what we can’t have—is fueled by a role reversal (it’s the woman who doesn’t want to commit) and energized by dance numbers, split screens, and two dynamic performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. That Tom, a hapless greeting-card copywriter, and the alluring Summer, his temporary office mate, fluctuate between the highs and lows of infatuation, dating, sex, and separation is the conventional aspect of an unconventional tale of self-discovery and relationships. For a new generation of storytellers, 500 Days of Summer is destined to be a template for the future of romantic inspiration.
CAST
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Photos

Hey friends, so I have pictures up on Facebook of my Mexican Riviera Cruise if any of you are interested.

FYI

Rudo Y Cursi

Casey scored some premiere tickets for a Sundance film tonight. We went to the new Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna film entitled "Rudo Y Cursi." It was actually a really fantastic film about two brothers who make it big in Mexico City as soccer players. The film was introduced and followed up with a Q&A by the directing/producing team that made such films as Babel, Pan's Labyrinth and Y Tu Mama Tambien...AND...Gael Garcia himself was there! OMG! He is super short in person. 

I highly recommend this very entertaining film when it hits regular movie theaters, especially if you are as big of a fan of GGB as I am. Here's a synopsis if you are curious.

Y Tu Mamá También costars Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna are reunited on the big screen in Rudo y Cursi, a delightful romp of a comedy drama deftly directed by Carlos Cuaron.Beto (Luna) and Tato (Bernal) are a pair of rivaling, dim-witted brothers who work on a dusty banana ranch and play soccer for their local team. Beto, a goalie whose hot temper on the field earns him the nickname of Rudo, dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, while Tato wants to be a famous singer. They both share the dream of building a big house for their mother, Elvira, but all of their desires seem completely out of reach, that is, until a talent scout, Batuta, discovers their skill on the field. To Beto’s chagrin, it is Tato, whose curlicue field play earns him the nickname of Cursi, who is chosen to become a star player. Not to be bested, Beto scores a goalie position on a rival team, further intensifying the competition between them. But success makes the brothers confront their own personal demons and sets them on a chase for more than just soccer balls.Cuaron keeps the energy high and the laughter rolling even as he crafts a moral into the story. But even if the dueling brothers do find a way out of the banana ranch, will the banana ranch ever find a way out of them?
CAST
Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Guillermo Fracella

A New Year Cruises On By

I don't know about everyone else, but I can't believe we are already into 2009. I guess having Christmas, New Year's, and then a next day departure for a 7 day cruise made the beginning of 2009 fly by. I haven't blogged since before Christmas so I have a lot to catch up on.

Christmas- Christmas was really fun this year. It seemed to go by super fast, but it was memorable. We had a very family-oriented Christmas this year, spending time with both my family and Casey's on more than one occasion. Normally this is something that drives me insane...family dinners full of screaming nieces and nephews, my moody brothers, and Casey's insanely loud siblings, but this year I was quite surprised by how nice everything was. It was really pleasant to be surrounded by both of our families and I felt grateful to have so many people in our lives who care about us. I was also spoiled with lots of great gifts, including clothes, shoes, and a laminator (thanks Mom and Dad).

New Years- We rang in the New Year with a bang as usual. We began the night with a fantastic dinner at Cafe Molise, and ended it with Fireworks, Champagne, and an annual middle-of-the-street sparkler dance by our good friend Darrell. It just wouldn't be New Year's without sparklers and dancing! Happy New Year!

The Cruise- January 2nd we took off for our 7 day Mexican cruise. We drove to Vegas where we spent the night at a friend's house after dinning at a local sports bar and watching the U of U game. GO Utes! The next morning we were up bright and early in order to make it to L.A. where we departed for the open water. This was my first cruise, and before hand I didn't realize that once you are on that ship, there ain't no where to go! You are STUCK on that ship. Everyone always talks about how much fun cruises are, and although I did have a lot of fun, I don't know that I would do another cruise. The food was not all that great, the entertainment was terrible, and being on a ship for two days straight after all of our Mexican ports were finished with, got a little old.

With that said, I'm not trying to be a complainer, the trip was still a blast. Mexico was a lot of fun and every port we went to was something new and exciting.

CABO- We first stopped in Cabo San Lucus. It was an overcast day and it wasn't super warm, which was a little disappointing, but pulling up to the port and watching the famous Arch go by definitely got me excited to leave the ship. Once we were on land we decided to take a glass bottom boat tour of Lover's Beach and the surrounding area. We had been warned not to take the glass bottom boats since you really can't see anything, and although that turned out to be true (other than some coral and a few tropical fish) it still only cost us $10 and we did get to see quite a bit of the surrounding area, including pelican perches and a colony of sea lions. We also had the option of being dropped off on Lover's Beach for an hour to frolic in the sand and sea. After exploring the caves and swimming in the ocean our hour was up. Once back on shore we decided to walk around the port area and explore Cabo a little bit. I must say that I wasn't all that impressed with Cabo. I thought the city seemed really dirty and super congested with local merchants selling crap. I'm sure there are much nicer areas to visit, but we didn't have time to find any of them.

Mazatlan- Our second stop was my favorite day of the entire trip. Mazatlan was very different from Cabo, including the much needed warmer weather. We got off the port and a large group of us (18 to be exact) decided to hire a personal chauffeur for the day. Humberto had "the biggest van in Mazatlan" and he was willing to be our private driver for a very reasonable price. We hired him and took off to see the city. After exploring the "old town" we went and watched cliff divers risk their lives for a few tips from the American tourists. We saw statues and old churches and went shopping in the markets...but the best part was the hours we spent at a resort swimming in the pool and laying on the deck that overlooked the ocean. Humberto was in cahoots with this hotel and we were able to take full advantage of the bar, pool, and facilities that lay right on the beautiful beach side.

Puerto Vallarta- Our third and final stop was Puerto Vallarta. Although Mazatlan was my favorite day of fun, Puerto Vallarta is definitely a city I would like to travel back to and stay awhile. We ended up going to the Blue Chairs section of the beach and hanging out for quite awhile playing in the ocean and being trashed by the massive waves. After we were done with the sand and surf we walked through town admiring the city and its old-world charm. Puerto Vallarta is really beautiful. We met a very sweet American from Milwaukee who lives in PV during the winters to escape the cold. After offering to take our photo he struck up a conversation about the city he loves, the best hotels and bars to visit, and why we should come back and visit again. We asked him for a recommendation on a restaurant for lunch, and instead of giving us the name of something to find, he walked us four blocks down the street and pointed it out directly. The restaurant was amazing Mexican food and the strongest Margaritas I have EVER consumed. After walking and shopping for a few more hours we headed back to the ship exhausted.

The cruise was a great experience, and I am glad I had it. It was an amazing time and we had a great group of people to hang out with; 28 is quite a large number to try to organize, but it seemed to work out really well in the end. Variety is the spice of life afterall.

What's Next- So...no more holidays, no more cruises, no more fun to look forward to. I am back to school and work and the mundane, and my memories of better times will have to suffice until I get another break away from all the stress in my life. Poor me! I do get to visit Mexico again real soon though. My school is traveling there in April on a teaching trip. We will be in Cuernavaca teaching in the local schools and staying with Spanish speaking families. I was a little nervous about this trip, but now that I have experienced more of Mexico (other than TJ) I am really looking forward to it.

Oh yeah...and my Birthday is on Saturday! Even though I'm not REALLY looking forward to turning 28...I'm sure it will be fun!