Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Rana- Los Animales y su Ciclo Vital
¿Cómo se parecen el animal adulto y su crio?
¿A qué grupo de animales pertenece tu animal?
¿Cuál es el hábitat de tu animal?
¿Cómo ayudan los rasgos de tu animal para protegerse de su ambiente?
Monday, November 11, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Dr. Rod Paige
Dr. Pagie visited Home Gardens Academy on Saturday, November 2, 2013. He was the 7th Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush.
We were honored to have met him. We were able to ask him a few questions and hear his ideas on many topics. What an incredible man.
Srta. Gonzalez with Kinder Students
For the visit with Dr. Lin (Superintendent) and Dr. Paige (Former Secretary of Education)
Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education—Biography
Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education—Biography
On January 21, 2001, the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Rod Paige as the 7th U.S. Secretary of Education. For Paige, the son of a principal and a librarian in public schools, that day was the crowning achievement of a long career in education. Born in 1933 in segregated Monticello, Mississippi, Paige's accomplishments speak of his commitment to education. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University in his home state. He then earned both a master's and a doctoral degree from Indiana University. Paige began working with students early in his career as a teacher and a coach. He then served for a decade as dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University (TSU). In this position, Paige worked to ensure that future educators would receive the training and expertise necessary to succeed in the classroom. He also established the university's Center for Excellence in Urban Education, a research facility that concentrates on issues related to instruction and management in urban school systems. Elected in 1989, Paige was sworn in as a trustee and an officer of the Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in January 1990, in which capacities he served until 1994. In 1994, Paige left TSU to become superintendent of HISD, the nation's seventh largest school district. Inside Houston Magazine named Paige one of "Houston's 25 most powerful people" in guiding the city's growth and prosperity. In 2001, he was named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Paige is the first school superintendent ever to serve as Secretary of Education. His vast experience as a practitioner—from the blackboard to the boardroom—paid off during the long hours of work needed to pass President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Now he is leading the charge—in partnership with states and districts—to implement these historic reforms. The law will give local districts the tools and resources they need to help every child learn, regardless of the color of their skin or the accent of their speech. States and districts have moved forward, working to improve student achievement, empowering parents with options and information, providing supplemental services such as free tutoring to students in danger of being left behind, and tapping new sources of talented teachers to help students excel in our nation's classrooms. By June 2003—a watershed moment in education—every single state had an approved accountability plan in place to ensure that every single student was learning. The driving force behind his work as Secretary is his shared belief with President Bush that education is a civil right, just like the right to vote or to be treated equally. Paige believes it is wrong to fight discrimination with discrimination. For that reason, he strongly supports the President's vision of affirmative access that promotes diversity in our nation's colleges and universities through race-neutral alternatives.As Secretary, Paige has held the Department of Education to the same high standards expected of our schools. Upon taking office, he learned of wide-scale criminal fraud, waste, and abuse within the Department that was featured on national network news. In response, he made improving management one of his priorities. Paige rallied the Department to create the Blueprint for Management Excellence in order to build an organization worthy of the taxpayers' trust and the President's vision—a vision grounded in the belief that good government is not only closer to the people, but also more accountable to the people.The Department-wide implementation of the blueprint streamlined operations, and provided strategic direction, resources and focus for the Department's central mission: ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation.As a result of this work, the Department received its second clean financial audit in a row in fiscal year 2003, only the third in the 24-year history of the Department. The Department's accomplishment also received the highest praise from the federal Office of Management and Budget.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Mi Hogar
Es mi casita querida
Tan bonita como un sol.
Es un hogar muy dichoso
Que me guarda con amor.
¡Es mi hogar, un dulce hogar!
Monday, October 14, 2013
El Ontoño
Los pájaros se van,
Buscando el calor
Las hojas que caen cambian de color.
El día es màs corto calienta poco el sol
Las cerezas y las uvas,
¡Que ricas que son!
Una Mosca
Una mosca parada en la pared
En la pared
En la pared (2X)
Una mosca,
Una mosca,
Una mosca
Parada en la pared.
A-ana masca parada an la parad
E-ene mesce perede en le pered
I- ini misci piridi in li pirid
O- ono mosco porodo on lo porod
U- unu muscu purudu un lu purud
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Palabras de alto frecuencia
My son finished with all 19 word lists before I could even input them into this blog. He is the first student from his class to finish all of the high frequency word lists! We are so proud of him.
He has scored 100% on all 19 lists!
Now he needs to start from Tema 1 Cuento 1 and spell all of the words from the 6 temas.
After he has completed that, he can then start on all of the English word lists from kindergarten, first grade and second grade.
Las vocales
Son cinco vocales
A-E-I-O-U
Son cinco niñitas
Lindas como tú.
Van siempre juntitas
A-E-I-O-U
Son cinco niñitas
Lindas como tú.
A-E-I-O-U.
A-E-I-O-U.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Talent Show
The boys are getting ready for the upcoming talent show at the school. They will perform a Minecraft song.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Practice makes perfect.
She keeps herself busy writing and trying out all the new things she is learning at school!
Lista 2
She is busy practicing her second list. We danced and rejoiced on Monday when she passed lista uno!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
Cabeza, hombros
Rodillas, pies
Rodillas, pies
Cabeza, hombros
Rodillas, pies
Rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca y nariz
Cabeza, hombros
Rodillas, pies
Rodillas, pies.
Canto a los héros de la indepencia de México
Quién inicio la independencia?
Hidalgo y Costilla
Quién la libertad aclama?
Aldama, Aldama
Quién al puedo lo defiende?
Allende, Allende
Quién avisó a buena hora?
La Cor-re-gi-do-ra
Quién escribó con gran pasión?
Morelos y Pavón
Quién luchó con gran esmero?
Vicente Guerrero
Quién luchó con gran esmero?
Vicente Guerrero
Por quién los héroes murieron?
Por ti, por me lo hicieron.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Common Core Standards Part 1
This morning's Parent University informed us of the new curriculum the state has adopted.
Almost all of the states have chosen to utilize a common core of standards. These standards are essential because they will ensure that all students, no matter where they live, are prepared for success in college.
Mrs. Willis summed up the core into two statements:
1. Students must be able to defend their answers by explaining why and giving specific reasons why their answer is correct. It's no longer just filling in the blank with the correct answer!
2. Students will be doing writing in all subject areas. Students need to write complete sentences with a clear beginning, middle and end. Students need to be comfortable writing on the computer. Hence, my kids need to be doing more academic exercises on the computer to be prepared!
Recommendations for books can be founds at:
Monday, September 16, 2013
The NED Show
Last Thursday the students had an assembly given by The NED show. The focus of the show is to teach children three valuable characteristics to be successful in school and life.
N never give up
E encourage others
D do your best
The show combined humor, yo-yo's and audience participation.
Both kids enjoyed the show and asked if they could learn how to use a yo-yo.
Mrs. Willis told parents at The Monday Morning Muffin meeting that this assembly is the start of a anti-bullying focus.
More information can be found at:
Lista uno
Dad took over the lesson last night and they worked on lista uno.
He is a good teacher because he helped her learn 90% of the words without any tears or cries of frustration. Even this morning, she could read all but one of the words!
El
Va
Sí
Veo
Yo
Se
No
Un
Una
Sol
Dos manitas
Dos manitas, diez deditos,
Dos manitas, diez deditos,
Dos manitas, diez deditos
Cuéntalos conmigo.
Uno, dos, tres deditos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis deditos,
Siete, ocho, nueve deditos,
Y uno más son diez.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Tema 3 Cuento 2 palabras de alta frecuencia
Adivinar
Cinta
Desliza
Guardar
Patrón
Tranquilo
Vecindario
Tema 2 Cuento 2 palabras de alta frecuencia
Distintos
Encontrar
Observar
Pasear
Reglas
Tareas
Trabaja
Thursday, September 12, 2013
GATE Program
Jedadiah came home with a permission slip to be signed allowing him to be GATE tested. All second graders, with parents' permission, will be tested in December for the GATE program. Of course, this sparked my curiousity about the test and the GATE program, so I had to do some research:
History of Legislation GATE Program
In 1961, the California Legislature established the Mentally Gifted Minor (MGM) program for students scoring in the 98th percentile or above on standardized intellectual ability tests. By 1980, 454 school districts and 160,000 students were participating in the program. Assembly Bill (AB) 1040, enacted in 1980, established the GATE program allowing districts to set their own criteria for entrance. AB 1040 expanded service beyond the intellectually gifted to students who were gifted and talented in areas such as specific academic ability, leadership, visual and performing arts, and creativity. In 2000, two pieces of legislation were enacted that amended provisions of the EC for GATE. AB 2313 amended EC 52200 requiring that GATE programs be planned and organized as differentiated learning experiences within the regular school day and established a GATE funding formula based on the average daily attendance for all students in the district. AB 2207 amended EC 48800 providing options for gifted and talented pupils to attend classes at postsecondary institutions regardless of the
pupil's age or grade level.
The acronym "GATE" represents Gifted And Talented Education. The definition of a "gifted" student, according to the No Child Left Behind Law, is as follows:
The term 'gifted and talented', when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities. (Title IX, Part A,Section9101(22)(Page 544)
In simpler terms, GATE students, when compared to students their own age, are high-ability and usually learn at a faster pace, use a larger vocabulary, ask many questions, and need activities that are complex and challenging. They may also be highly sensitive, creative, and intense. Though each GATE student is different, one thing most have in common is the ability to perform complex mental functions. According to John P. DeLandtsheer, board member of the CA Association of the Gifted, GATE students can "form generalizations and see unique relationships between concepts; they can synthesize information from various sources and come up with their own innovations."
CNUSD utilizes the CogAT and NNAT as an initial screening tool. This test is administered in the winter at each school site. All parents and schools are notified of the assessment results and student qualifications by mid to late spring.
Bright Learners and Gifted Learners
BRIGHT LEARNERS
Knows the answers
Is interested
Is attentive
Has good ideas
Works hard
Answers the questions
Top group
Listens with interest
Learns with ease
6-8 repetitions
Understands ideas
Enjoys peers
Grasps the meaning
Completes assignments
Is receptive
Copies accurately
Enjoys school
Absorbs information
Technician
Good memorizer
Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation
Is alert
Is pleased with own learning
GIFTED LEARNERS
Asks the questions
Is highly curious
Is mentally and physically involved
Has wild, silly ideas
Plays around, yet tests well
Discusses in detail, elaborates
Beyond the group
Shows strong feelings and opinions
Already knows
1-2 repetitions for mastery
Constructs abstractions
Prefers adults
Draws inferences
Initiates projects
Is intense
Creates a new design
Enjoys learning
Manipulates information
Inventor
Good guesser
Thrives on complexity
Is keenly observant
Is highly self-critical
by Janice Szabos
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Mirror
Over the weekend, Samara was frantically looking for her mirror. I helped her locate it thinking she wanted to play with it or pretend to put on her "makeup."
After finding it, she stuck her little mirror in her backpack. I asked her why was she putting it in her backpack and she responded, "well I might need it at school."
How does an eraser work?
While doing homework last night with Samara, she asked how erasers can take the pencil marks off of the paper.
Once again, her question stumped me, so I had to say, "Let's find out together." Good thing the internet exists! So apparently when the tip of a pencil is moved across a piece of paper, graphite particles from the pencil stick to the paper fibers. An eraser rubbed against the paper will remove the mark by removing the graphite. Pencils have been made from graphite, not lead since 1564 when graphite was discovered in England. Since graphite leaves a darker mark than lead and it's not toxic, pencils have been made of graphite for hundreds of years. Who knew? We still refer to pencils as lead pencils!
Edward Naime, an English engineer, is given credit for inventing the eraser in 1770. Before his discovery, people used to use wads of white bread to remove the pencil marks.
After learning all of this, I told my daughter thank for asking such excellent questions. Because of her curiosity, I learn something new often.
Monday, September 9, 2013
La araña pequeñita
La araña pequeñita subió, subió, subió.
Vino la lluvia y se la llevó.
Salio el sol y todo lo secó
Y la araña pequeñita subió, subió, subió.
Cinco monitos
Cinco monitos
Columpiándose en el árbol
Molestando al caimán,
No me puedes agarrar!
Llego el caimán
Muy calladito.
Agarro a un monito
Fuera del arbolito.
Cuatro monitos...
Tres monitos...
Dos monitos...
Un monito...
Fallaste! Fallaste!
Tienes que besarme!
Bruce Lee
We went to China Town last weekend to help a friend purchase a guitar at Tanyan Music store. They have great prices and excellent quality instruments. The kids had fun eating Chinese food, salted squid, fried shrimp and chow mein with their chopsticks. It's good for children to see other cultures and different ways of living.
Amigas
This weekend, Samara was very busy working on something. When she is quiet, I have learned to ask what she is doing. Well, she said, "I am making cards for my friends at school." She had gotten large index cards, stickers, colored pencils and envelopes. She then proceeded to draw pictures, place certain stickers on the cards and design the outside of each envelope. Five girls were chosen and she asked if she could put one piece of candy in each envelope. I was so touched with her kindness, her creativity and her thoughtfulness. She is quite remarkable. She delivered her cards this morning. Let's she what she has to say when I pick her up this afternoon.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Teaching Mamá
Today we played school, and she taught me the Spanish alphabet. She made sure to point out that in Spanish there are two N's, the n and the ñ.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Substitute teacher
I have to share Samara's first experience with the sub today. These are a few of her comments:
Sra. O is really, really, really (about 50 times) strict!
Sra. O didn't answer our questions. She spoke in English & Spanish.
She made three of us move to the back of the line because we were trying to tell her how to get to the lunch room.
She called me Mara, not SAmara.
I thought her observations were so funny, as she has never had a sub at school before. She said her preschool teacher was strict because she could put kids in a time out chair, but Ms. Julie was loving.
I don't know the sub, but Samara wasn't too impressed. She told me the next time she has Sra. O she wants me to volunteer, so I can see how strict Sra. O is.
From the mouth of babes...
Last swim class
Today is his very last swim class at Aquatic Zone. He has been taking lessons, once a week, for the past 4 years and two months. He started as a Frog and is ending as a Dolphin. There is only one class left, Sharks, and he would have completed all of the levels. He would have liked to have finished, but his schedule just won't allow it anymore. He is sad, and I am, too.
Juramento a la bandera (Pledge of Allegiance)
Yo prometo lealtad a la bandera de las Estados Unidos de América y la república que representa; una nación bajo Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Back to School Night
The dual immersion teachers at work, with a parent translating what is being presented! Sra. Oliver is expecting baby number three this fall. It's deja vu because two years ago she was pregnant and expecting around the same time with baby number two.
Back to School Night
Thursday was back to school night. Mrs. Willis shared about the change the district is adopting to The Common Core Standards. I will be sharing more about that at a later date. We were able to see Jedadiah's room, meet Sra. Puentes and see some of his work.
Back to School
She was so excited to show me her classroom, where she sits and her very first master piece!
I was proud to accompany her and to see Sra. Oliver at work. She is an incredible teacher.
Asi Soy Yo
His first project was due Friday. He chose to design a poster with Mine Craft being the theme, using it as an acrostic poem to talk about himself.
He was proud of his work and was asked to present last Friday. He said it was hard because in addition to sharing his sentences, he had to answer five questions about himself.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Doing homework
She wants to get her homework done right away! That's my girl.
So out of 7 days of school, she has earned "morada" three times. Today was her third time, making her at an average of 40%. Amazing, amazing.
Día de los muertos 2012
One of his projects in first grade was to decorate a mask in celebration of this holiday. As a program, several families went to downtown Riverside where the students could observe all of the festivities and rituals associated with this day.
Still is flexible
Gymnastics still a large part of his life. He competed for the first time as a level 4 gymnast in December of 2012 at a gym in Torrance.
First competition
This is a part of his floor routine. Level 4 is compulsory, which means that every competitor must perform the same routine. Any variation results in a lower score.
First Grade, August 2012
Finally figured how to post directly from my phone to the blog. I will be sending some highlights of his year of first grade with Sra. Fudge.
Palm Tree Classic
The mushroom, p-bars and vault were tough for him in level 4, but this year he will do better.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Moving Quickly
I can see from the papers being brought home that Sra. Oliver's class is wasting no time. Today, Samara brought home a little book with the letter F. I am to assume that her class has covered 6 letters in the first 6 days of class.
She comes home with lots of stories about all the songs she is learning in Spanish. She can't quite remember all the words, but can do some of the actions.
This afternoon, she chastised me for not teaching her the alphabet in Spanish. Apparently the students could receive two stickers if they knew the sounds of the Spanish alphabet. I quickly retrieved an alphabet book from the bookshelf and we proceeded to read it together.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
First Week Highlights
It was such a wonderful week! Samara absolutely loves school. She doesn't want to go to the bathroom because she said she might miss something and won't know what to do when she gets back to the room. She broke my heart.
Yesterday she said the walked to the big room to listen to Mrs. Willis. I asked what Mrs Willis talked about. She said Mrs. Willis explained all the rules, but Samara couldn't remember any of the rules. I'm sure she will do just fine even if she can't remember all of the rules.
Another funny thing that happened is that she has come home with her lunch only 10% eaten. She says they have only one minute to eat!
The best thing about this week is that she has earned "morado" for the second time this week! Once again, she came home with an item from the treasure box. I am so proud of her. She is off to an excellent start.
I can hear her mumbling in Spanish. As Dr. Krashen would say, she is rehearsing by using her language din!
As for Jedadiah, he is happy that his second grade teacher, Sra. Puentes speaks English and that they have a long lunch break. Yesterday he played soccer for a long time and came home starving and ate two bowls of shrimp!
I have to say, it will definitely be a different experience going through dual immersion kinder with my daughter since she has so many stories to share! I look forward to sharing them here in this blog.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Black Belt
He tested two weeks ago before school started. He did so well remembering the required 8 senior level forms, the 50-step hand technique and breaking 4 boards with his hand and jumping over 5 children to break a board with his foot! He will get the actual belt after the results are sent to South Korea and eveything is correctly documented!
First Day on the playground
She was so happy to play before school started. She said the playground has no monkey bars. I said not every student can hang and flip like you.
Second grade & Kinder
Jedadiah is full of advice and encouragement for his sister who is starting in Kindergarten. He didn't want to go to school, but was fine when we got to school. His said his second grade teacher speaks English and Spanish, so that made him happy!
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