Having Fun...

Before the Easter fair started, the school had an award ceremony for student of the month from each class. A student from my class, Michelle Gonzalez, got an award from our principle and site coordinator. Last month we were suppose to have a ceremony, but we never had the time. Oddly, this month is coming to an end and we haven't be able to celebrate this month yet...lol! I am proud that one of my student get an award. Her parents were really happy at the end of the day since I spoke to them.

Yesterday was a really long and fun day for the Easter Fair that the staff members including myself held for all of the students. We had 9 different stations for the students to come and play. Each class rotated every 20 mins to each station rather than having everyone run freely. I thought it was really well organized. Each station, the students try to win raffle ticket in order to collect and trade in for prizes. So, the activities included bean bag toss, pin the tail on the bunny, ring toss (my station), bunny hop race, can toss, egg in a cup, egg in a spoon relay, egg hunt, and face paint/ art center.

At the end of the day, I had a suprise of my own for my students. For 24 large ziploc bag, I had put some Easter prize and treat for them. Happy Easter and Spring Break to them and myself, lol!

A happy note I forgot to post about in last week blog....my title as a substitute program leader has changed into permanent program leader. I'm happy. There is a position that I want to be....is an assistant site coordinator or a site coordinator...it's similar to a school principle. I need to work really hard for a year or two to be promote up there.

Reality Just Set In...

I think there comes a time when you realize, that the only life you have any control is your own.

You can't control what other people think.
What they feel, do or believe.
You can't change the way people are.
People are stubborn.
Set in their own ways.
People don't want to see their flaws.
They don't want to think that they need to change.

But the will to change, to save them, needs to come from within them.
Not from within other people.

I think people generally think that if they take a broken person.
And try really hard.
They can make it all better.
But I don't think it works like that.
At the end of the day, the only person who can save you, is you.

People like to rely on other people.
Think that other people can solve their problems for them.
That way they have someone to blame when it doesn't work.

Save yourself.
No one else can save you.

My family are mostly my close friends, my support system. I try to take one day at a time and remind myself I am not really by myself.

Amazing Week for Ms. Pengen...

This month, another program leader, Mr. Diaz, and I did yoga club for 3 Fridays' now which includes March 1st, 8th, and 15th. Last Friday, the school had a movie event for the kids and they got to watch Wreck-It Ralph. In order to transition into another month of new club, we tend to end it with a movie day, a relax day.

The students got to vote what movie they could watch in the MPR. We had Wreck-It Ralph, Rise of the Guardians, Diary of the Wimpy Kid, and Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit. Of course, most the kids at this school are really young and active, so they chose to watch Wreck-It Ralph. The other kids wanted to watch Diary of Wimpy Kids. The younger ones out scored the older kids.

Eleven students in my class got to go to the movie since they paid and had outstanding behavior for that week. Seven students from my class got send to the office for bad behavior. They had to pick up trash around the school for 2 hours. And 6 of my students went home early due to sickness or the parents wanted to pick them up.

Even though most of my students had their THINK bucks and were able to pay, I thought it would be best to judge them by behavior rather than having the money. I did charged them 25TB rather than what the other PLs' charge their students which was really high. During the week, I had 4 more new students enter my class which is the total in class is 24 students. Since I couldn't charge them, I based them off of behavior. It goes for the same with my other students who have no money.

This upcoming week is Easter and all of the program leaders including myself are ready to present the kids with an Easter Fair for the last day of the month, March.

Stations for Program Leaders
Ms. Viri for Group A = Can Toss (knocking down cans)
Ms. Moreno for Group B = Egg in a Spoon Relay
Mr. Diaz for Group C = Bean Bag Toss
Ms. Yesi for Group D = Bunny Hop Race
Ms. Stephanie for Group E = Ring Toss
Ms. A for Group F = Egg Hunt
Ms. Sammy for Group G = Pin Bunny in the Basket
Ms. Y for Group I = ?

Each station the kids will be there for 20 mins. Since there are 9 groups, it would take about 180 mins or 3 hours! Next week the kids have conference week meaning they tend to get out at 12:50 rather than 1:50. And the parents tend to pick their kid(s) around 5ish. I think everyone will manage the time.

For next month, April, I finally figure out what club I am presenting to the kids...healthy cooking club. I need another title for my club to make it sound interesting lol! Each Friday, I need to present a simple snack to make and tell them what kind of ingredients are in and why are they important. So, I came up with 3 recipes which includes...

Fudgy Fruit

Ingredients

1 small cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 large bananas, peeled and cut into quarters

large strawberries

 cup(s) chopped unsalted peanuts

 



Peachy Peanut Butter Pita Pockets

Ingredients

Wheat pita pockets

Chunky Peanut Butter

Green apple, thinly sliced

Banana, thinly sliced

Fresh peach, thinly sliced



 

 Berry Good Banana Split

Ingredients

Large banana, peeled and cut into quarter

low fat yogurt

lowfat grandola

fresh blueberries or strawberries

 

Hopefully, I get these snacks approve by my site coordinator by Monday, so I can write up the lesson that is due Marh 29th. 



Preparing for Easter...

It's almost Easter! It's in two weeks so I have to prepare for the activities for the kids at Heninger Elementary will be having. The other PL's, site coordinator, and me decided to hold a small fair for the kids. Each PL will be creativing a game or craft hold at a booth station. Each station should have 20 minutes to present itself. I haven't thought what I am doing for my booth yet since we just had a staff meeting yesterday. I am still meeting crafts for my class on a separate note. And, I have to come up with another club activity for next month but the lesson plan is due at the end of the month.

So far what my kids had done for Easter...

 

 

Since I had 3rd graders, I had to think of small craft projects for them to do which isn't easy. I try to make the crafts easy, simple, and fast making or else my kids tend to make a mess, get frustration, or mess around. The kids have short attention span... =/.

Community Outreach

 

I decided it was time to go back to doing community service work since it made me happy in the past. I used to volunteer at St. Callistus Church since I was 16 years old until I was 23. My job was being an assistant bible teacher for the grades 4th, 5th, and 8th. I did that for awhile until I switched to work in the office since I wanted to have some experience on working with the copy machine and organizing database and files. Towards the spring and summer, I would switch into being a Confirmation Leader for junior high and high school students. That chapter in my life has ended, I don't have the energy to go back doing that same position.

 

On March 9th, I went to volunteer at a food bank in the city of Garden Grove. The event was called Pack-A-Box and our goal was to pack 1600 boxes of food for the homeless. The event started at 10:30am to 1:00pm. The last group that was there didn't finished packing up grocery bags, so a few people including myself got to that for about 30 to 45 mins.

 

 

After packing up grocery bags, our mini group got moved over to assemble boxes. I don't remember how many boxes that I assembled. It is a very fast pace job. I had to assemble the boxes and double tape the bottom of the box. Then I had to throw the box aside. The next person takes the box to place it on rolling rack and fills it with two cereal boxes. Next, that same box rolls down to the next person for the next item to put into the box. In the end of the line of the rack, the last person double tapes the box and carries it to placed on another rack that enters into another building. I didn't have time to take pictures of each task that I got to do. The time went by so quick...but, I had fun! I made some new friends along the way. =]

 

Even though this event was for school credit, I would love to do it again. I found their website and it explains that volunteers are needed from Monday thru Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The Food Bank is also open to volunteers most Saturdays from 8:30am to 10:30am and 11:00am to 1:00pm. There are no walk-ins...so volunteers need to make RESERVATION. The average volunteer session is 2 hours, but volunteers may stay longer or shorter periods of time. In order to volunteer, please call Andre Gaithe 714.897.3493.

 

My next event is on March 16th in the city of Santa Ana and it is called, Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen. It is from 9:00am to 1:00pm. At this event, I will take pictues from my phone so I can show you what I have done...lol

The flyer below is another event on March 23rd that one of my friend gave me through email. I don't know if I am able to go to this one yet.

 



 



In the Need Strength and Healing

I feel like I am a walking zombie that is slowly going insane with a hectic schedule that deals with school, work, and things that come between certain time of the day. Even though I only have one class that I have to go on Tuesday and Thursday and another class on Friday, I have to wake up early around 6am to get ready. My brother isn't a morning person, so it tends to take me 15 to 20 mins to literally wake him. By 6:45, Steven and I are in the car and I am driving him to school. By 7:15, I should be on my way to school. By 7:45 to 8:00, I should be finding parking around a clear neighborhood to park my car. I tend to rest in my car before walking to school. I tend to park 2 to 3 blocks away from school because I don't think it is worth to pay for parking since I only have 2 classes. Who would want to pay $260 for a parking permit? My class starts at 9:00 and ends around 11:15. It takes me literally 15 mins to power walk back to my car. I start work around 1:30 but I am there around 12:30 for lunch and setting up for that day lesson.

So, last week I manage to work 30 to 35 hours since one of the PL quit and the other took a leave of absent due to pregnany...which is legit reason! The other PL went without saying anything to the other PLs' or site coordinators. On Monday, her students were spread out to each class because our site coodinator didn't have time to notify THINK Together headquarter to have a replacement. Each PL's class includes 15 students except my class has 22 students. So, one site coordinator took over one class and the rest had to be spread out evenly to other classes. We didn't find out until Thursday that she quit because she took a leave of absent the week prior due to personal reason. I had 30 kids to take care of.

With this incident, and the cheating incident, last week was not a good week for me. By Friday, I was starting to feel ill due to having sore throat and a lack of voice being gone. Some of my kids were behaving awful to the point that I almost lost my patient. I was so stressed due to the fact I needed to study for my exam which include 8 chapters. So, yesterday I had to take the test I barely knew the questions on the test.....frustrated!!! I went out of class feeling disappointed and angry...!!!

Now, I am doing extra credit for my class. I need to read memoirs...at least 3 books and watch 5 documentaries and then write a report for each one. After work today, I went to the bookstore really quick to pick out 3 books. They are called, "For You Mom, Finally," "Dwarf," and "Smile for the Camera." I still need to find documaries to watch. Even though by the end of the semester I need to write a 10 pages essay on another book for my final, I am still willingly to read more books. Maybe these books can give me something....transport me into another dimension. I don't have time to myself or have a social life at the moment of time....!!! Lol, my blog ranting moment. Maybe next blog will be sometime pleasant...

I love this movie, InkHeart, it makes reading seems magical. Even though it is a trailer, you can go on netflix to watch it. If you had the power to read any story and it came to life, what book would you read?

Inner Peace



The term "yoga" comes from Sanskirt word meaning "union." Yoga combines physical exercise, mental meditation, and breathing techniques to strengthen the muscles and relieve stress.

Last week, I had to make a lesson plan to turn in by March 1st about making an activity promoting health and fitness. This activity will be held every Friday in the month of March. Since I knew St. Patrick's Day and Easter was coming up, I wanted to do a craft session with the kids. But, my site coordinator emailed every PL including me that we couldn't do anymore craft session unless it promoted health and fitness. I think painting/ decorating hard boiled eggs or making a 3D clover mobile will be out of the question. I'm somewhat disappointed...lol! I actually like doing crafts because it makes learning fun and I get to know my students more when I get to see them use their creativity minds in their work.

On Wednesday, I was taking my kids to the school library and I came across a poster that was displayed in the hallway. I thought to myself it would be a great idea to promote yoga for kids. In the poster, each letter in the alphabet represents a yoga pose. I think it would be easier for students to relate and imagine.

By March 1st, Mr. Diaz and I took our group for yoga session. The majority of the student thought the yoga lesson was interesting and hard due to the fact some of the poses made them reach somewhere they haven't before. I enjoyed the fun experience with them.

 

Thou Shalt Not Steal

To define what it means ’to steal’; we first have to define what it means ’to own’. So, what is ‘ownership’?

At the most basic level, ownership is not a financial term. To own is to control. If you own something, you can make all of the decisions about it, yourself. You can do whatever you wish with something you own. You can use it, give it away, and destroy it, whatever. Totally up to you. If you need permission to do something with it, you don’t own it… at least not fully.

Suppose you ‘own’ a house. And suppose you bought the house with a home loan. And, finally, suppose that you rent out the house to tenants. Financially, you own the house. You are the homeowner. However, your ownership rights have been voluntarily limited, as detailed in your mortgage loan agreement with the bank and your lease agreement with the renters.

For example, you own the house, but you cannot use the house as your home. You have agreed to give all of the normal residential usage rights (control) to your renters for the duration of their lease. Also, you own the house, but you cannot tear it down and turn your property into a wildlife sanctuary. You have agreed to give up some rights (control), relative to the physical building, to the bank for the duration of the mortgage loan.

The important point, here, is that control is not all-or-nothing. And therefore, ownership is not all-or-nothing. Some portion of your ownership can be given or traded away. And some portion of your ownership can be taken away. (And we have thereby arrived at the meaning of ‘stealing’.) If someone takes away some or all of your control over your possession, against your will, they are stealing from you.

Even if, rather than physically taking, they simply prevent you from exercising your full control over your possession through threats or force, they are still stealing from you. Even if they are not taking your possession, they are taking away your ownership (control). Now, suppose your life belongs to you. If you own your life, you must control your life. Anyone who prevents you from exercising full control over your own life is stealing (taking) your life. At a minimum, they are stealing your freedom. In the extreme, this can escalate to slavery or murder.

Update to everyone about my week…

Last week went by really smooth until the last day of the month February...I caught some 5th graders stealing snacks from the snack bar. They thought they were quick and sneaky. Each bag of snack with a milk/ juice bag is given to students during nutrition time. They are counted in the morning and are placed in the snack bar. I can't imagine if our site coordinator passes out the snack to the kids and comes out short. Some kids who are in the program don't have enough food to eat; therefore, they depend on the us to give them the proper nutrition. I don't know what these 5th graders were thinking. So, after I was putting the snack back where they were, I questioned them. (I hate it when people who can't tell the truth even when they are caught in the act.) I stood there amazed and frustrated while listening to them about their brilliant lied that they came up in order to cover their mistake even though there was a large amount of evidence against them. (If you make a mistake, then you should own up it.) There are hidden cameras placed in certain rooms that PLs and teachers use. Thank goodness these students aren't mine. To shorten details up, all of them ended up in Mrs. G's office with misbehavior forms and phone calls home.

Please watch the short film…

I found an old clip from R.L Stine! I loved his books and movies in the past. I thought the clip had a similar meaning to be my blog this late afternoon.

Pengen On the Go...

This month has a lot of stuff going on compared to last month calendar. This month all of the staffs and PLs' are promoting mini lectures on how the body system works. Each week, we have to go over one of the parts in the body and explain it the students on why is it important, why does everyone need it, and what is the role for it.