Saturday, December 18, 2010
18.12.10 birthday brrraaaiiiins!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
04.12.10 sausages
Today would be a perfect day to go... Rain scares away the crowds. More sausage for you!
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
teaching. (just a blurb of a blog.)
i read when i can. my daily routine seems to start with a quick browse through my twitter feed. yeah, it's geeky of me, i don't greet the sunshine (or whatever weather is out there). instead i grab my iphone and hit my twitter app to get it running as i pick out my clothes or head to the kitchen to forage for breakfast. it's just so much more... me.
anyway, i like to read posts from mr. don tapscott ( @dtapscott ). lately, he's been posting about the need for a reform in teaching. he's been really keen on this subject for a little while now, probably because of his interest in how technology has been affecting society in all sorts of situations, particularly in the youth.
i can go on about mr. tapscott and how great his work is, but he might get embarrassed so i'll just say that he's really got a good brain in that skull of his. i really like how he thinks. mr. tapscott, if you're reading this, this blog entry was inspired by you.
there's no question that kids nowadays are not the same as we were waaaay back when. i notice this even in my everyday dealings as an elementary substitute teacher. i sub in a school where cellphones and personal entertainment devices (mp3 players, digital cameras, portable gaming devices) are not allowed to be on the students' person during school hours. it is a small independent school, and that rule makes sense to me. if phone calls need to be made, the office is right there. maybe i'm old fashioned but, i don't think a kid needs to be listening to their mp3 or playing the latest pokemon game while i'm teaching a pertinent lesson on dividing decimals with base ten blocks. so the need for those things aren't on the top of my list.
however, i really like the idea of web access in classrooms. whenever i have the chance, i try to get the kids to use the computers they have in the class. today wasn't one of those days, but i know that if it was possible, the kids would have reacted differently to this morning's classroom work.
i spent almost 20 minutes reading a story about brother andré from montreal and barely got further than when he was just accepted into the brotherhood. i had to spend another 5 minutes to explain what i had just read to the kids, because they just didn't stay focused on the story.
instead of just reading them brother andré's story, i would have had them break up into small groups, given them different points in the saint's life to research online for about 15 to 20 minutes, then have them collaborate in telling me his life story in ten minutes. this wouldn't have just been a one time exercise. the students still have a project to do on a saint of their choice. this exercise would have familiarised them to sites that carry information they'd be needing for their own research. if only it happened.
so that was the daydream i had today, as i followed instructions that were written on the agenda. when i have my own class, mr. tapscott, i'll do you proud.
which brings me back to kids these days. the class i taught today acted in a way i lovingly like to refer to as sedate. they were not unruly, thus "well behaved", but they also felt about two steps away from being braindead. they didn't react to anything i said. as a teacher, i want my students to feel like they matter to the lesson. mind you, they matter for every second of the lesson whether they feel it or not, because it's them who'll be tested in the end. but that sense of engagement i want them to feel is priceless. if they feel like they add value to the subject matter, they will want to be more engaged, and would be more open to learning more. even as i type, it sounds like i want to scam the kids into thinking they matter to something they otherwise wouldn't matter to... but i want them to realise that they actually do matter, that they are their own catalysts for broadening their own horizons.
and how to accomplish this? well, with all my experience in a classroom environment, i've narrowed it down to a few key points.
1) be interesting. be human.
i'm not saying that you aren't an interesting person, but the way you portray yourself to a class has to hold their attention. and we like to have their attention on us. don't be the teacher from ferris bueller's day off ("bueller?... bueller?..."). show that you're passionate about the subject matter. even if you sound slightly crazed, the enthusiasm you emit will be reciprocated. and if you don't like the subject matter (like dividing decimals using base ten blocks), tell them. show them that you feel emotion. sympathise with them that it's not going to be an easy thing for you to teach and it possibly may be difficult to learn, but you'll do your best to make it as painless for them as possible. they'll appreciate it, and will want to talk to you. like humans do.
2) be open-minded.
these kids don't know how it was when you were their age. they have a different sense of everything from you. so let them teach you something. how comfortable are you with learning from a young whipper-snapper? they really do have something to teach you. it could be something as simple as having one of them rundown the hierarchy of ancient egypt for you and the class, or as complicated as showing you how to divide decimals using base ten blocks... yes, i learned that from a child today, and i'm so glad i did. i may never use it for my own personal calculation needs, but if i ever have to teach it again, i know exactly how to, because a 12 year old taught me how.
3) be consistent.
this is what i try my best to do when it comes to discipline. oh, it's not all fun and rainbows in my classes. i rule with an iron fist and a smile. i tell the students from the get go that "we have all this work to do. let's get it done as much and as well as possible so you can have less homework." they like that last part of "less homework" so i emphasize throughout the day that in order for that to happen, i'll be making sure they work. i also tell them that i am at their disposal if there are any questions. it's easier than guessing the answer at home.
they also know not to waste my time or act a fool in my class. i don't like to yell at them so much. i just walk to the classroom door and point at it. they know it means "this door is not locked so i can freely leave this class and try to waste my time in the principal's office." it just takes a few gestures for the kids to know what's up. they catch on faster than you think, and it takes less time than lecturing the class every time little timmy decides that he should be talking while you are. this way, the kids wanting to learn don't lose their train of thought while you teach, and everyone is more efficient with their time.
(if you do have extra time, you can use it to play a game at the end of the day or something rewarding like that after all their hard work. don't promise them rewards, just give them unsuspectingly. yes, be consistent with surprises... haha.)
basically, be the teacher you'd want to have. whatever your teaching style, do it with conviction and confidence. if this means that you'll teach in a "less conventional" way. do it. i think some things are easiest taught and learned through "old school" methods. for example, i like arithmetic drills and verb conjugation tests. but that's my personal preference. however, a lot of subjects can benefit from a more student collaborative and interactive environment, like my daydream about the saint andré story. when students are tuning out from a subject you're teaching, don't be scared to try a different approach to reel them back in. you'll find that they'll leave the class at least remembering that the lessons were taught differently, and that's one step towards them retaining their subject matter.
and let the students know that they matter. workers will do good work if they feel good. the same goes for students.
anyway, i like to read posts from mr. don tapscott ( @dtapscott ). lately, he's been posting about the need for a reform in teaching. he's been really keen on this subject for a little while now, probably because of his interest in how technology has been affecting society in all sorts of situations, particularly in the youth.
i can go on about mr. tapscott and how great his work is, but he might get embarrassed so i'll just say that he's really got a good brain in that skull of his. i really like how he thinks. mr. tapscott, if you're reading this, this blog entry was inspired by you.
there's no question that kids nowadays are not the same as we were waaaay back when. i notice this even in my everyday dealings as an elementary substitute teacher. i sub in a school where cellphones and personal entertainment devices (mp3 players, digital cameras, portable gaming devices) are not allowed to be on the students' person during school hours. it is a small independent school, and that rule makes sense to me. if phone calls need to be made, the office is right there. maybe i'm old fashioned but, i don't think a kid needs to be listening to their mp3 or playing the latest pokemon game while i'm teaching a pertinent lesson on dividing decimals with base ten blocks. so the need for those things aren't on the top of my list.
however, i really like the idea of web access in classrooms. whenever i have the chance, i try to get the kids to use the computers they have in the class. today wasn't one of those days, but i know that if it was possible, the kids would have reacted differently to this morning's classroom work.
i spent almost 20 minutes reading a story about brother andré from montreal and barely got further than when he was just accepted into the brotherhood. i had to spend another 5 minutes to explain what i had just read to the kids, because they just didn't stay focused on the story.
instead of just reading them brother andré's story, i would have had them break up into small groups, given them different points in the saint's life to research online for about 15 to 20 minutes, then have them collaborate in telling me his life story in ten minutes. this wouldn't have just been a one time exercise. the students still have a project to do on a saint of their choice. this exercise would have familiarised them to sites that carry information they'd be needing for their own research. if only it happened.
so that was the daydream i had today, as i followed instructions that were written on the agenda. when i have my own class, mr. tapscott, i'll do you proud.
which brings me back to kids these days. the class i taught today acted in a way i lovingly like to refer to as sedate. they were not unruly, thus "well behaved", but they also felt about two steps away from being braindead. they didn't react to anything i said. as a teacher, i want my students to feel like they matter to the lesson. mind you, they matter for every second of the lesson whether they feel it or not, because it's them who'll be tested in the end. but that sense of engagement i want them to feel is priceless. if they feel like they add value to the subject matter, they will want to be more engaged, and would be more open to learning more. even as i type, it sounds like i want to scam the kids into thinking they matter to something they otherwise wouldn't matter to... but i want them to realise that they actually do matter, that they are their own catalysts for broadening their own horizons.
and how to accomplish this? well, with all my experience in a classroom environment, i've narrowed it down to a few key points.
1) be interesting. be human.
i'm not saying that you aren't an interesting person, but the way you portray yourself to a class has to hold their attention. and we like to have their attention on us. don't be the teacher from ferris bueller's day off ("bueller?... bueller?..."). show that you're passionate about the subject matter. even if you sound slightly crazed, the enthusiasm you emit will be reciprocated. and if you don't like the subject matter (like dividing decimals using base ten blocks), tell them. show them that you feel emotion. sympathise with them that it's not going to be an easy thing for you to teach and it possibly may be difficult to learn, but you'll do your best to make it as painless for them as possible. they'll appreciate it, and will want to talk to you. like humans do.
2) be open-minded.
these kids don't know how it was when you were their age. they have a different sense of everything from you. so let them teach you something. how comfortable are you with learning from a young whipper-snapper? they really do have something to teach you. it could be something as simple as having one of them rundown the hierarchy of ancient egypt for you and the class, or as complicated as showing you how to divide decimals using base ten blocks... yes, i learned that from a child today, and i'm so glad i did. i may never use it for my own personal calculation needs, but if i ever have to teach it again, i know exactly how to, because a 12 year old taught me how.
3) be consistent.
this is what i try my best to do when it comes to discipline. oh, it's not all fun and rainbows in my classes. i rule with an iron fist and a smile. i tell the students from the get go that "we have all this work to do. let's get it done as much and as well as possible so you can have less homework." they like that last part of "less homework" so i emphasize throughout the day that in order for that to happen, i'll be making sure they work. i also tell them that i am at their disposal if there are any questions. it's easier than guessing the answer at home.
they also know not to waste my time or act a fool in my class. i don't like to yell at them so much. i just walk to the classroom door and point at it. they know it means "this door is not locked so i can freely leave this class and try to waste my time in the principal's office." it just takes a few gestures for the kids to know what's up. they catch on faster than you think, and it takes less time than lecturing the class every time little timmy decides that he should be talking while you are. this way, the kids wanting to learn don't lose their train of thought while you teach, and everyone is more efficient with their time.
(if you do have extra time, you can use it to play a game at the end of the day or something rewarding like that after all their hard work. don't promise them rewards, just give them unsuspectingly. yes, be consistent with surprises... haha.)
basically, be the teacher you'd want to have. whatever your teaching style, do it with conviction and confidence. if this means that you'll teach in a "less conventional" way. do it. i think some things are easiest taught and learned through "old school" methods. for example, i like arithmetic drills and verb conjugation tests. but that's my personal preference. however, a lot of subjects can benefit from a more student collaborative and interactive environment, like my daydream about the saint andré story. when students are tuning out from a subject you're teaching, don't be scared to try a different approach to reel them back in. you'll find that they'll leave the class at least remembering that the lessons were taught differently, and that's one step towards them retaining their subject matter.
and let the students know that they matter. workers will do good work if they feel good. the same goes for students.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
05.11.10 diwali is di-licious
04.11.10 origami
This is what my 6th graders managed to create for the art portion of their unit on Japan. They worked hard and did a great job. I think the kids were more stressed than I was!
03.11.10 the last dinner at jac's
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
30.10.10 blamtastic
you'd think that the ferry ride to victoria is pretty boring. it is. but if you look carefully, the things you can find are pretty hilarious. you just hafta look hard enough.
Friday, October 29, 2010
29.10.10 i heart waffles from the future; shout out to mr. @wilw
see, i get ridiculously star struck... perma-smile, profuse giggling, shaky thumbs (incoherent typing)...
i'll just say that if it weren't for my twin prodding me all the way from victoria, and my lil sis prodding me from where she was at (burnaby?), i wouldn't have stayed on twitter... and inevitably seen the tweet he wrote that pulled me off my seat:
wilw
@merboo double dare you to come over and say "waffle"
yes, he dared me. and not just some dinky dare, it was straight to the DOUBLE dare.
i KNOW. this sh*t just got real.
and my friends know at least these 2 things about me: i'm not one to flinch (don't expect me to dodge a dodgeball), and i do not back down from good dares. and THIS, my friend was the ultimate in good dares. it was a GREAT dare.
so i excused myself (by then i was in the presence of randy, cristina and cflo). i casually/nervously walked toward the end of the table, made no eye contact, stopped beside mr. wheaton and said in my best secret agent voice "waffle".
i stood up straight with probably the goofiest smile i've ever worn as he looked up at me and laughed. not AT me, more so WITH me... or maybe it was a bit at me, but i didn't care, it was HIM! he could've squeezed lemon juice in my eye, my face would've remained just as goofy.
anyway, that broke the ice real fast and turns out the most awesomest of awesomeness is a really cool dude too. i didn't expect him to be a jerk or anything, but i'm really appreciative that he humored my geeky star-struck-ness. i've been a fan since stand by me, then st:tng, and for real, he's an awesome storyteller, writer, nerd... i truly felt special. he's just so awesome.
so after a quick, amazing, conversation, i let him get back to his venn diagram of nerdiness (refer to his photo: 
) as i returned to my friends.
this experience made me (and my sisters AND my friends) so happy. also, i am going to take the train to the eccc next year, first class, and drink beer all the way down.
mr. wheaton, meeting you was a pleasure. if you don't find that red racer ipa down in the states, let me know. i'll gladly bring down a six pack for you when the con comes around.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
27.10.10 31% milk fat!
I'm gonna have a poutine party!
Monday, October 25, 2010
24.10.10 tim burton inspired pumpkins
See the full gallery on posterous
Last night, after a mushy pumpkin guts removing, I carved 2 pumpkins. The best scariest ideas come from Tim Burton's head. So I googled and this is what I created. An Oogie Boogie monster and a scary Vampire Teddy (sans ears cuz I ran outta room).
13.10.10 the best medicine
Laughter is, no doubt, but where is the best "pharmacy" for these "meds"? No other place than DAISO of course!
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
05.10.10 just don't fight it
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
15.09.10 last dragonboat sunset of the season
my dragonboat team killed it this season. i'm sad it had to come to an end. maybe i'll post a pic of our ribbons and plaque if i can figure how to make them look epic!
28.09.10 fall at strathcona skate park
some days you really just need to take a breather.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
09.10.10 i heart family
Two weekends ago, I spent time with my adopted family, the Raymundos, at Christine's wedding. The last time I saw them was in 2003. And aside from us getting older, taller and/or wider, the fam was exactly the same. I love this family so much because the "kids" remind me so much of how my familia and I are every time we get together. From hanging out at home with too much food, to relentless teasing, to going out and getting belligerent at a local pizza spot at 2am, we rolled together. So many good times :)
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
06.09.10 bumbershoot
This year, the art was beautiful, particularly the graffiti by katsu. The music selection was not enough for me to get a 3-day pass so ron and I got one mainstage pass for the last day of festivities. Well worth our $40.
J.Cole
This man is up and coming. Do NOT sleep on his talent. A great performer who really loves and appreciates his crowd.
Fave J.Cole quote:
"White people get gritty, black people we gotta scare somebody, asians just fall in line... This is how we do this."
Drake
I'm gonna learn his whole repertoire on the ukelele. Including forever and his verse on bedrock. For serious, the crowd loves this man. I want love like that too.
Fave Drake quote:
"Febreeze ain't never been sexy."
Mary J. Blige
I can't believe I just experienced that. She can still sing with the pain of K-Ci and Puff Daddy in her voice. Amazing. Mary J. Blige WAS bumbershoot. I just went to bumbershoot featuring J.Cole and Drake. That woman killed it.
Fave MJB quote:
Everything that came outta her mouth.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
I'm on the bus to Seattle
I've taken many a bus to Seattle to kick it. This time around I'm going to the bumbershoot festival. Today, on this bus, there are many kinds of people. Passengers from an Alaskan, cruise, some Quebequois, a man who is just visiting his kids, all sorts.
There are two little boys on this bus. They are so cute, maybe 2 and 3 years old, and they have their little kid voices speaking Spanish non-stop to their parents. I can understand most of what they say, particularly the older more talkative one, with my limited Spanish knowledge. It consists mostly of "¿que eso?", words I've used in my first AND second year spanish class.
Sitting across from me is a middle aged American couple. I only know this because the woman was nagging her husband to ask for the "non-Canadian or American" form to fill out. He was pretty sure they didn't have to but she told him to check. I just told him he was right. Anyway, this woman must not have or want children. Earlier she loudly groaned "oh this'll be a long four hours." when the kids started talking. Once we got to the border, she was sarcastically looking forward to "hearing them scream the whole bus ride from here to Seattle." Once we got back onto the bus after customs, she wouldn't stop insisting to her husband "Do you smell that? It smells like urine in here. Do you smell it?" And she complained about something else I can't remember but it sparked me to write.
I'm sure she's a nice woman, but what makes a person talk/think so snootily? Speaking without thinking one can offend or hurt someone's feelings or something is exactly what I teach kids to NOT do. I'm already well into the "grown up" demographic and I'm very upset that there are people who are also considered grown ups that act like that.
Maybe I'll consider teaching a class called Common Sense 101. Made for people who don't think they need it.
There are two little boys on this bus. They are so cute, maybe 2 and 3 years old, and they have their little kid voices speaking Spanish non-stop to their parents. I can understand most of what they say, particularly the older more talkative one, with my limited Spanish knowledge. It consists mostly of "¿que eso?", words I've used in my first AND second year spanish class.
Sitting across from me is a middle aged American couple. I only know this because the woman was nagging her husband to ask for the "non-Canadian or American" form to fill out. He was pretty sure they didn't have to but she told him to check. I just told him he was right. Anyway, this woman must not have or want children. Earlier she loudly groaned "oh this'll be a long four hours." when the kids started talking. Once we got to the border, she was sarcastically looking forward to "hearing them scream the whole bus ride from here to Seattle." Once we got back onto the bus after customs, she wouldn't stop insisting to her husband "Do you smell that? It smells like urine in here. Do you smell it?" And she complained about something else I can't remember but it sparked me to write.
I'm sure she's a nice woman, but what makes a person talk/think so snootily? Speaking without thinking one can offend or hurt someone's feelings or something is exactly what I teach kids to NOT do. I'm already well into the "grown up" demographic and I'm very upset that there are people who are also considered grown ups that act like that.
Maybe I'll consider teaching a class called Common Sense 101. Made for people who don't think they need it.
Monday, August 23, 2010
22.08.10 garden fresh market
Anyway, this is the fun I have after getting my eyebrows threaded at the salon down the street with my mom. I also bought delicious veggie samosas nearby. Mmmmm I heart Indian cuisine.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
03-06.08.10 shots! shots! shots! EVERYBODY!
 |
| See the full gallery on my posterous |
food, chocolate, magic, lights, and heat.
all of which I enjoyed in no particular order :)
good times!
Saturday, August 07, 2010
07.08.10 have you ever...?!
lol. i'm such a dork.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
familia
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL OF US! THANKS TJ FOR THE PHOTO :)
that's what my god siblings and i refer to our big family. it's kinda funny because aside from our immediate families, we are not blood related. our parents were all friends (barkada, as they would call it) since they were in university back in the philippines. somehow they all found their ways to vancouver, and stayed connected for that long.
last night, we celebrated the parents who would be turning 60 (or 60-something) this year. it was a great night, with all us "kids" preparing the food and dessert and drinks. we knew from the start that the 'rents would be all up in our business, making sure that we were managing to do everything like they did it every other weekend or so for the last 30 years at least! in the end, and to the surprise and amazement of our parents, we pulled off a great backyard party.
i know that our generation has to start doing this on a regular basis... some of us already have kids of our own! hopefully, we can make this a summer tradition. it's tough now that a few of us are far away (annie, char... dennis ;p), but i know that we'll make it work. my sisters, g'sibs and i all grew up knowing that the weekend was never far away and that we'd always get to see each other and hang out with the best brothers and sisters we never had. when i have kids, i want them to have that too.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
22.07.10 looking glasses
when i'm near something reflective, I'll try for that artsy shot...
be it waiting in a dressing room, chillin on a blanket at the park, or riding shot in a car.
Monday, July 19, 2010
19.07.10 in victoria with my twin @nurseshark
Friday, July 16, 2010
16.07.10 balloons!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
what good is a hand model?..
without some shine?!
this is for my kuya. he thinks i have nice hands. i think i have FAbulous hands! another reason why i love manicures.
11.07.10 why i heart yokoyama very muchly
the giggles this place gives me are priceless!
11.07.10 7-eleven! free slurpee day!
09.07.10 he wore a tshirt... YESTERDAY!
08.07.10 trolls exist!
yes, that's a vw bug in his clutches!
08.07.10 it was 30C out...
08.07.10 for bill and lino
they loved this view.
seriously, they did. think they liked the tall grass too?
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