February 24, 2008

還記得小學的注音符號嗎


(懷舊...國小一年級..)

會接下這個班只能說是個緣分
從來沒有帶過學生背景這麼豐富的:
最小有四或五歲 2個幼稚園可愛小鬼, 國小生,
有位被稱為"大雄"的活潑國中生,幾個高中生,
3個外國人, ㄧ些陪讀的家長-->班級陣容的組合夠特別吧!
大部分的人是在紐約出生的ABC 不太會說中文
不管如此現在他們都是中文學學校一年級的學生 剛學完注音符號!
還記得 第一次先看褚老師上課時 在底下的我 不禁內心澎湃...
看著同樣是黃皮膚 黑頭髮的亞洲人 和我有甚麼不一樣
第一次聽他們念中文 簡直就是老外在說中文 有一種怪腔(沒有嘲笑)
大家很認真在拼音 一起念著課文時
不禁讓我懷念起我們小學一年級的課本 所以才找來這個插圖

紐約學注音 學繁體中文的地方已經不多
注音符號是我們台灣的傳統
雖然有很多學生不是台灣人 但是紮實地從注音符號學起 對他們來講是有益處的
突然覺得有個偉大的使命正要去完成 ...

February 21, 2008

My First Try

Today was my first class to Eisman. I got up very early not only because of my first teaching, but also traffic jam in the city. There will be lots of uncertainties made me anxious especially being late,getting lost...

As I stepped in the classroom, Ms. Robin and her assistant unexpected my coming earlier and some children were painting.
I walked closely to Sophie who was drawing a pineapple. She told me I like pink and asked me do you like pink. I replied her very fast, "yes"; but I changed my answer for her that my favorite color is purple. She looked into my eyes for a while and then told me,"my favorite color is purple".
Sometimes I like to change my mind easily just like Sophie did. That means making a decision all depends on the moods at the moment.

Basically, I followed my lesson plan but changed some parts of it. One of the main activities, People in a Boat. I remembered Musa said proudly, “I am a captain in my boat!” Usually, many accidental events will happen or some surprising words would come out from those young learners. I think that is the most interesting thing in teaching.

In the end, I invited each child to answer “Did you have fun?” for reflection of those activities. Ms. Robin volunteered to help me write their names under the happy face column. All of their answers were positive even some of them were too shy to say yes; their facial expression was given an answer.

P.S. I want to show you their cute pictures, BUT without parents' permission I don't think it allows to upload those.
BUT it was sunny today!! I took some pictures outside the school as well, I would like to share out later on.

February 19, 2008

impressive again

I just love this class so much...
Even though there are some required readings, fieldwork, lesson plans, reflective journals...I can't wait to put those fun/intellectual ideas into practice.

Tonight a guest artist--Ashley who is Atlanta based story-teller and NYC theatre instructor (K-5) came to our class. She is an African American woman and she studied a lot about African American culture...

The story began without any notice. She told a story with gestures, facial expressions, vocal variety....I wasn't sure about the title of the story, but she said she changed the end of the story. After that two of my classmates shared out their feelings. One old lady's tear almost mist her eyes and said,"That's the history about where I was from, but I never know this story. As you told this story, I just felt emotional."....

February 15, 2008

the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur


TOGETHER they stand on the hill, telling each other STORIES and feeling the
WARMTH of the sun on their backs. And that, my FRIENDS, is how it is with
LOVE.
by Edward Monkton

Not only a daycare nursery

"This Ms. Sabrina everyone says hello to her." said Ms. Robin.
p.s. I always introduce my real name for new friends here if it's hard for them to pronounce it, I would say just call me Sabrina. Because some foreigners feel it's awkward to have two names?

"I know Sabrina starts with letter S just like me." said one little, smart girl named Sophie.

That is a cozy classroom where is divided some areas for "work time". There is a big rug with car track outline on it in Block Area which children can play with some toys. For Doll Area, I noticed that there is a toy trailer full of dolls with different "colors". That's multicultural education. In Art Area where children can draw and play with colors. At one corner of the classroom, Ms. Robin sings "Cleaning Up" song to started "Circle Time" and she invited children to sit on small square pads.

Before beginning the schedule of a day, Ms. Robin explained today's kind of special because of Valentine's Day and we were going to make sugar cookies. She arranged kids to different working areas but offered them options to decide what they want to do this morning. Only two to three kids helped her make cookies first and then others took turns to join in it. Not only teachers made the lesson organized, but one lady works in a kitchen helped out this activity like prepared all the materials that the teacher needed and gave her recipe on Post-It-Note. How sweet it is! It makes me think some educational environments in Taiwan like some schools or private language institutions are smattering or don't have enough resource for that. For me, successful education requires creative teachers and mutual assistance system in one organization.

I leaved Day Nursery while they were having lunch. On the way home, I was thinking some of interesting yoga movements during their yoga class. Moreover, I could imagine that they must have a wonderful Valentine party in the afternoon. Sitting on little chairs and eating their heart-shaped sugar cookies.

February 12, 2008

鏟雪機不開心

下午一點32 出門
六點50 到家
出門的理由 別的地方的暖氣比較暖 ?

St. Paul's Chapel 的屋頂已經變白的了
地上悄悄的鋪上一層白
這場雪下不停 不大 也很安靜
從偌大的窗外看 就像是嬰兒的呼吸
綿密的飄著....

想停下腳步觀賞 被雪覆蓋的城市...
心裡埋怨自己沒帶相機
手腳無法忍受外面的冰凍 也只能繼續往前走

公寓下的餐廳 為了生意 早就把雪弄走了
剛好我也不必擔心滑倒的危險
拍掉 外套, 帽子,不小心露出來的圍巾, 髮尾上的一點點積雪
迎面對我走來的人 給了我一個淺淺的微笑