Understand the Problems Related to Reading

Why do you think so many students can "identify words", but can not understand what they have read?

I think many students can not understand what they have read because they have not acquired the language proficiency needed to succeed in understanding the vocabulary. And also, most of our students are EELs (English language learners). EELs experience immense difficulties reading their textbooks because the language of academic subjects (such as social studies, science, math) requires a high degree of reading and writing ability that English language learners do not have.

How do you think we, as educators, can best solve this problem?

As educators we can solve this problem best by determining standards and objectives, choose the concept to teach, eliminate unnecessary information that will be too difficult for students of low English proficiency, choose key specific vocabulary to pre-teach and develop assessments to determine students English proficiency.

Writing definitions that are simple and brief can also help students improve their vocabulary skills. Use highly illustrated books. Using visuals are power tools for comprehension instruction because they offer concrete, memorable representation of abstract content. Creating interest in the subject by using pictures, real objects, maps, or personal experiences and repeat vocabulary words as often as you can so that students can remember them.

No Eye Has Seen

MAY 26

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has

 conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9

                           Your imagination is capable of great things, but it is no match for God's imagination. Your thoughts may reach high, but God's good plans for you are infinitely higher. Whatever it is your dream about, it may seem marvelous- quite certain to make you happy. Yet God wants to increase your wonder and joy by creating something extraordinary. God wants you to be amazed at what he does that any memory of hardship fades away and you spontaneously praise him.

                           Today, therefore, do not fret about what your eyes haven't seen. Rather, thank him for it- knowing that what is ahead is sure to be out of this world.

Dear God, what amazing things have you prepared for me?

I will praise you today knowing that it is better than

anything I could possibly imagine. Amen.

Resources: 

                            

Ehssa's Suitcase Won!

So happy that I won a second place, in an essay writing contest, Non-Fiction, in the Annual Emerging Writer's Contest at our school. I was selected and recommended to enter it by my English Professor last year. Glad, I entered it. 

The awards ceremony took place on May 14, 2014 on the Schulenburg Campus. I missed  the ceremony, the photo, get together lunch and being on the newspaper. But, I received my prize and certificate. That's a good thing, yay!

I am excited to re-share the winning essay, again! Enjoy, hope you will like it =)

Essay Title: "My Life in a Suitcase"

                          I was twenty-one when I left my country to work abroad, I brought a fancy zebra-striped suitcase as heavy as stones. It was chubby full of my stuff, as if I was staying out-of-the-country for the rest of my life. The day before my flight, it was raining and I was excited that I fantasized being a traveler, for in a short narrow hallway of our house I dragged my suitcase behind me and practiced how to use its handle. I waddled along the hallway in between the kitchen and living room holding all my luggage as I carried it up through the two steps to my bedroom. While I was busy as a bee, my mother reminded me of bringing a winter jacket and explained that the country has a winter season. I was young and didn't know what else to prepare, I only cared about my new suitcase with lots of pockets: it looked strong, smelled like happiness and it sounded like joy. I was totally fascinated. 

                             Even though I was jumping for joy to leave, my heart was also mourning, for I will be bringing past family memories all together in a suitcase. As I kept adding things inside my suitcase, I realized I was also putting the clothes that my sister and I shared and noticed the blanket that my mother sewed for me. At that time my family was ready, my father and brothers alternately carried the suitcase to the van and to the airport. All of them touched my very own suitcase and left their hand prints on it. My suitcase was thankful for it was surrounded with supportive people and it was ready to embrace the changes this fast moving world will throw its way.

  

                            Finally, in a crowded area of Davao International Airport, I rushed into the bathroom adjacent to the departure area and surprisingly cried. My thoughts of missing my hometown and family was a storm, unexpected. I fixed my hair and wiped my tears and said that I needed to do this. I had to leave and work for my family, who back then never had experienced a better life. The difficult condition sent me to work far away carrying hope and determination to fulfill the dreams I had for them. I told myself I can do it. I am a Filipino. Thrall acknowledges, “Filipinos are determined to work abroad” (18). 

                               I was determined that I can make my family live a better life and help develop my country. Thrall argues that Filipinos get paid very low in the Philippines and the money they send home from working abroad helps the country's economy (18). 

                              On the journey over to Taiwan, I began to wonder what it would be like. I wondered how people would treat me. I felt strange to live and work in the house of my employer. I suddenly saw the seatbelt sign blinking and heard the pilot's loud voice reminding us to fasten our seat belts while experiencing turbulence. His voice was like music to my ears, I wondered if pilots are also DJ's. I joked to myself and laughed in the sea of sadness.
 

                   When I arrived and looked through the window I saw this beautiful foreign country. My sadness was replaced with excitement. It was the cleanest, colorful and the most immense airport I've ever seen. People were busy moving in different directions as I was struggling to hold all of my stuff. Immediately, I saw an agent in a white jag shirt smiling,holding a small white poster with my name on it, and he was waving his hand at me. He took me to a bus with full of workers from Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand and other neighboring countries of Taiwan. I heard different languages spoken when I was entering but never understood them. I thought nobody had spoken English for none of them ever spoke a word nor looked at me after I said hi to everyone. After a long hour, the bus dropped me off in Taipei and the agent guided me to the restaurant of my employer. I noticed my suitcase was getting tired of the travel or maybe it was I that couldn't bear the hours of this unending journey.

                          As soon as I met my lady employer, she quickly took my things away and asked me to start working. My suitcase was taken and thrown away on the floor by her violent hands. I never thought I will be working fifteen hours a day, no rest days and communicated with sign language for none of them spoke English. I saw her yelling and throwing plates at the cooks for missing orders and being verbally abusive to the work staff. Jung explains, “Taiwanese eatery owners have poor management, personnel problems, and inexperience dealing with their employees due to inept business skills and decision-making” (17). 

                         My employers never cared even the days I was sick working long hours. A day of rest that I requested was never given. I spent my nights laying my head on my suitcase, wishing for the pain to vanish. After a long ten months of sacrifices being treated like other employees, I packed my things and was ready to go home. As I closed the empty cabinets in my room, I stared at my suitcase. The dirty looking suitcase had had enough: The life it represented- was my life journey filled with opportunities, hardships, heartaches and sometimes incredibly cruel – was ready to end its suffering and to go to a much nicer place to rest and rebuild strength.
 

                          At last, when the plane landed and the seat belt light turned off, I took my suitcase with a smile on my face bringing hope back to the people who cared for me. I came back and arrived to a very homely airport where I recognized the voices I heard and enjoyed the honking of cars, jeepneys and trucks outside the building. Opposite to me, I saw six excited people waiting outside the building. My mom ran towards me and gave me lots of love. My family offered to help carry my things. My sister noticed the handle of my suitcase was broken. Dad said not to worry for I was home now, safe and sound. My mother told me while she was holding my hands, in time this broken suitcase will be replaced with a new one and it will begin traveling to its next journey without getting hurt for I will buy you a sturdy one. “New hope, new plans!”, my Dad added with his loving smile and a sweet tap of his hand on my back.

Works Cited

Thrall, Teresa Hudson. “Visas Nearing Cap.” H&HN: Hospitals & Health Networks 80.9

                        (2006): 18-20. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.

Jung, John. “The Sour Side of Chinese Restaurants.” Chinese American Forum 29.1 (2013):

                         17-22. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.

Elementary & High School Reflections

1) First, what do you remember most from your elementary school experiences?

I have vivid memories of elementary school (Maa Elementary School) and could name most of my 6th grade classmates at least by first name. A number of young people from my elementary school went to my high school and  college, and they all seemed to recognized me. I remember the halls, the classes, some teachers, and most of all my friends. I really liked my 6th grade class. It was really special. I had wonderful teachers. Mrs. Ybanez was one of my favorite teachers, she was awesome. She was teaching Science and she was a great teacher. We actually studied a lot about biology and I enjoyed learning when she was teaching us. I remember joining girl scouting and participated a group “muslim dance”. I also had fun participating an “On the Spot Drawing Contest” in school and outside the school (Inter-school Drawing Contest). Drawing, coloring and painting were my favorite things to do. I've won several times in participating on the spot drawing. I can't forget the most unique prize I ever received, sack of rice. Haha!

I remember learning about Philippine History and lots of English words to spell (Mrs. Mahinay) wonderful English teacher. I was also a volunteer student, helping at the cafeteria preparing food for all the students every snack and lunch time. My very closed friends were Vanessa, Genelyn and Sheila. Nutrition Month was the big celebration at our school, where we have to cook fresh Filipino foods, prepare fresh juices from vegetables and fruits available at our school garden.

As part of the school, students were part of keeping the school neat and beautiful. We kept our classroom clean by doing our morning chores: sweeping, watering the plants, wiping the furnitures, washing the curtains, organize shelves and planting. Gardening was a huge responsibility for teachers and students. I recall spending a lot of time planting and knowing about gardening at school. It was a great learning experience for me. I graduated with honors, canteen of the year (I guess you get rewarded helping at the cafeteria) and Artist of the Year!

2.) Your junior high or high school experiences? 2) What do you remember about your teachers? 3) What do you remember about the students?

I remember the first day of high school (Ma-a National High School); walking into a completely new world of the unknown. The school just seemed so big compared to before and there was a crowd of people in the halls trying to get to their classes in a hurry before the classes begin. My dad was my math teacher in my freshman year. It was a little awkward to have your father as your teacher, but advantageous because I was able to asked for help in some math problems that I had difficult time solving. One night, I have to ask my papa to give me what math problems he was going to give the next day, so I could prepare myself. LOL

I thought high school was the best years of my life and wish so many times that I could find a time machine and just go back and re-live the good days. I maintained getting great grades, it’s one of the enjoyable moment I had back then. High school was also the time when I first known love. I learned how to love someone, it was such a good feeling when I’m with him and with my peers. Cheer leading, drawing, badminton, Folk dance member, and being an SBO President were my extra curricular activities during my four years in high school.  I met great teachers and I remember them teaching us with instructions that were connected and integrated. Some days were working with partners or groups. We enjoyed reporting our assigned topics infront of the class. We also had fun debating and sharing our different opinions. Most of our teachers were well prepared and were really great using strategies to develop their students thinking skills. So many teachers I would like to mention that were great but Maam Vecino, Maam Mellejor, Maam Alcordo, Maam Briones, Maam Repollo, Maam Largo, Maam Gonzaga, Maam Laguitao, Maam De Leon (ofocurse gotta include my dad Sir Villarosa) were the teachers that made real good connections and good memories with me and the rest of my classmates. Awesome teachers!

I remember most of my Pre-AP (it’s called Section 1 in the Phililippines) classmates were really hard workers. We spent a lot of time studying but a few times to hang out and had fun enjoying our teenage life. We exchanged notes, we studied together during break times, we spent time brainstorming and shared opinions about the lessons we learned. In the Philippines, you don’t have to change room every subject. Instead teacher comes from period to another. You will have the same class, same classmates all day long.

4.)What do you recall about peer and parental pressure?

I remember on my junior year, I started spending more time with my classmates and friends and I was influenced by my peers through peer pressure. Every time we planned for an outside school gathering, everyone has to attend with or without parents permission. I thought, peer pressure is not a bad thing. We all are influenced by our peers, both negatively and positively. Ofcourse, parents usually struggle at the beginning in understanding the changes their teens were going through. My parents were not happy when I spent more time with my friends. I can’t blame them for thinking too much because they just want their children to be in the right direction. I think they end up thinking that they can’t spend their whole life worrying about what what I was doing when I am not with them. When I reached college, that’s when they started to give their full trust that I can make mistakes and learn from it. I wasn’t really involved with drugs, smoking and drinking that could worsen parental pressure with my peer. I was also looking out for myself and constantly thinking about my future allowing my parents to help me and monitor me with the choices I was making at that time.

~Ehssa2014

Unknown Friend

            Sarah? Jane? Geraldine? I don't remember her name, even we met last year. And now, its our first day of first grade. But, I'm going to name her, Kat. Kat Soriano. I think, that's a good name! Have you ever have trouble remembering things in Kindergarten? I have.

           Kat Soriano, a friendly girl whose smiles as beautiful as flowers in the garden, something like that warm smile of a flight attendant greeting people by the door or when you get your drinks at your seats, like the dogs that wag their tails when given some treats.

            Have you ever experienced losing a friend every time you finish a year at school? I have. That's what I feel right now. When the first grade door opens I didn't see her. I see no familiar faces. I really don't remember them, but I recognize my first grade teacher Ma'am Nacario. She is my aunt, she is nice and a great teacher. But me, I like my best friend Kat, happy smile and black shiny pony tails just like mine.

            I'm going to stay outside the classroom, don't care if the class begins, so I can find Kat and ask her real name. Get to know her more. Her likes, her favorite color and we can sing Abakada and dance "Ice Ice Baby" and Macarena together.

             Kat will show up. She will show up. I'm waiting. People walking in different directions. Potted flowers by the classrooms doors. Red and white checkered uniforms are everywhere. Some of the classroom walls painted blue, some yellow, because first grade teachers like it that way. Newly white painted sign that reads MA-A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Parents are giving Children their backpacks and lunch bags and hugging them tight.

              I'm standing in the sun even though I can get in the classroom, the part that I can no longer see my best friend makes my first day of school lonely, when you will never see the smile from a sweet friend makes a little cloud above my head that's raining and I'm all wet on my face like a sad goat that doesn't want to get wet.

              I want to use an umbrella and dry my hair because the clouds are following. Then, I sleep in bed with my dog, little chicks around my head and ducklings at my feet. Piglets in front of me. I think it would be fun to sleep with animals you could talk to all together, instead of no seeing Kat at school.

               Maybe I could do the Marlboro snap and then BANG! I am now at your place. I found you, Kat! We're never ever going to be apart! I say. We're going to run backwards and we're going to run frontwards, play Chinese garter, and I will stick my tongue out and make bunny ears because you dared me. I'm going to give you "juicy fruit", "santol" and "rambutan" I've been saving for you since yesterday. I comb your hair, you want? I comb your hair with my fingers and ponytail it real pretty. We're going to wave to people we know and we don't know after dismissal. You and me can say Hi to Principal Gamayot. Hello! I'm going to jump over you and let people watch us doing "Luksong-Baka". And maybe tomorrow, you and me can play "luksong-tinik".

             And cut paper dolls we draw ourselves, and color in their clothes with crayons, my eyes looking at yours. And when it's recess time, we run to the canteen and eat "puto" decorated with "kalamay" sprinkled it with "mani" and "nips" on top of it. You saying something into my ear that tickles, and me going Ha Ha Ha Ha. Her and me, my unknown friend whom in a snap and I'm back to reality. She's gone, gone by the wind.
Written by:
Ehssa
Age  7 First Grade
Memory Year 1990

TEACH Program Q&A #1

Why do you think it is important to know the stages of development of children in pre-school and in the first years of elementary school? If you're planning to teach Ec-6, how can you adjust your instruction when you see that some children have developmental delays in one of the areas? If you are planning to teach in upper grades or secondary school, what can you predict will happen when students with developmental delays reach your class?

The four primary areas of developmental in children are intellectual, social, emotional and physical.

It is important for educators to have a thorough understanding of the stages of development of children because schools today play an important role in the socialization of children and therefore it is critical that teachers know how to best socialize their students. Knowing the basic human developmental stages can be used to gear the teacher’s lesson plans to maximize the success of students in both the academic and the social of their lives. This understanding can also help minimize problems in the classroom. It can also help the early childhood teachers set appropriate objectives for child’s learning and create expectations for growth and behavior.

When an educator has understanding of development delays of his or her students, he or she can use that understanding to make assessments of behaviors and differentiate lesson plans of his or her students in the classroom.

When I teach middle school and notice that some of my students have developmental delays and would probably require more assistance, I could place their desks close to me, so that they will be easily accessible when assistance is needed. If my students qualify for special education, I could recommend to have them in Special education. They will have an (IEP) Individualized Education Plan designed just for them. I will provide them books on tape/CD and software programs that assist with reading and writing during free time to help the student academically. To help my students better understand lesson directions, I will provide them as many visual aids as possible and give directions one step at a time (break into chunks). Encourage the parents of the child to assist him or her at home with the activities we are doing in school, especially reading and writing.

I should be focused on teaching them appropriate socialization and helping them to develop a strong sense of personal identity. I will lead them into becoming healthy and well-developed students.  As their teacher I will make sure that each of my students practice their critical thinking skills. I will be incorporating reading and math in to each subject taught in the classroom.

~Ehssa2014

A Three Hour Waltz

               We were hungry. We were preparing to cook beef and vegetable soup. Chopped onions, carrots and celery. The kitchen counter top was filled with bags of vegetables. Potatoes, okras, green peas, beans, kernels, diced tomatoes, beef broth and beef shanks were needed. Beef shanks looked like tough, it smelled strong and sounded fresh. Kalami, I said in my language, delicious.

               She browned the beef shanks in both sides. As gentle as a lamb, I added the onions, garlic, celery, carrots and chicken broth into the tall pot. Smell of warm soup, seasoning it with salt and pepper. Adding some diced tomatoes, a waltz in the pot of vegetables and meat were dancing around, and around, because me and my mother-in-law, we're the kitchen queens, who can cook like that, like as merry as crickets and as bright as day.

               Slicing potatoes with a knife that remind her, she says, how happy she was learning this recipe from her grandmother. And me remembering when I was little, my mother who cooked beef soup at my homeland in the Philippines similar to this.

               We saw our dogs happily cleaning the kitchen floor. Tails wagging, happy thoughts. We love them. The youngest dog is mine. My dog Doss with eyes as black as coal, Doss of the crooked mouth and a small body shaped like a hotdog, Doss whose name that some people cannot remember, was the dog who killed two chickens and a duck for dessert, licks the other dogs asleep, toots as stinky as the breath of a vulture, was constantly licking the floor while we were cooking.

               After three hours of boiling and simmering, spaghetti noodles were added last. We cut it into small, that's how we liked it. When flames were turned off and we tasted the soup we knew the vegetables continued dancing in our thoughts. Delicious, the word we said.

               With all her cooking memories and all my learning that day, our love for cooking is like a growing garland. Us, enjoying between big bites and sips of soup.

                                              Homemade Beef and Vegetable Soup!

                                              Hubby's bowl                       My bowl  ;)

                                                                           Yum! 

                                                                  Reese eating carrots!
                                                     All of my dogs love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

Have a good one!
~Ehssa