10 Suggestions for President Obama

In light of the historical inauguration today, I asked a class of 3rd graders to write 10 suggestions for President Obama. All twenty of these students are immigrants or children of immigrants from Mexico or another South American country, hence the grammar and spelling errors in their writing. Despite that, their wishes and messages are loud and clear… I never cease to be amazed by the little ones surrounding me…



10 Suggestions for President Obama
by Jennifer Mendoza, 8 years old

1. Give papers to Mexican people for immigration, like my parents.
2. Do not send any more soldiers.
3. Do not be mean with all the people of the United States.
4. Give money to poor people.
5. Give things like books to schools.
6. Fix Houses because in my house water goes in the house.
7. That people that work a lot pay them lots of money.
8. That people that go visit their family do not come hiding in a car or through mountains.
9. Give better jobs to Mexican people.
10. In my school the computers work, but sometimes they don’t work.

Even the Little Ones Love Him.. GObama!!!

I know it's been a lonnnnnngggg while, but I'm still in the teaching world. Here and there....

I’m subbing a 2nd grade class this whole week. And of course, today its a special day. It’s election day. All the kids know this. Although they are too young to vote for real, the concept of voting should still be taught early. And that is exactly what we did.

The entire school had our own voting process. Each classroom represented a state. Each student got their own ballot with the choice of McCain or Obama. The kids were super excited about this.

It just so happend that today’s math lesson involved learning about picture graphs. As the clever teacher that I am ;), the two concepts were quickly combined. The result? A very cute and complete landslide winning by Obama.

I graduated! :)

After two years of reading, writing, reflecting and teaching... :) I finally turned in the final draft of my Master's Thesis... I'm now ready to have my own classroom! :)

Photo taken with my beloved and wise professor and advisor from DTE.

Proud & Happy

Oh it's been a while.... I've been busy preparing for graduating in May, in one more week actually. In fact, I'm still in the middle of writing my thesis and really shouldn't be here to blog. But this is just another, more productive, way of exercising my procrastination habits. :) Anyhow, I thought I should document here that, yesterday I proudly presented my Reframing Technology Education argument in my Urban Ed class with my inspirations and findings from this blog! And here's my proof!

"Idea Tree"

Need an idea for an "Idea Tree" in the classroom?


Thanks to the brilliance of the art teacher at East Bay Conservation Corps K-5 Charter School.

"Reflection Center"

Everyone needs a reflection center sometimes. This blog is kind of like my reflection center, and I am thankful for it.

Once in a blue moon, my graduate program organizes a trip for us to visit other classrooms from other schools... I always thought we should do this more often, both as a student learning to be a teacher and as a teacher who desires to continue learning.

On one of these learning field trips to a small charter school, East Bay Conservation Corps, in Oakland, I came across the most inviting, content-rich and brilliantly organized art classrooms ever!
















And of course, it even had a very reflective "Reflection Center".

Yet Another Best Part of Me

This is another Best Part of Me photo and poem done by a student. I love his choice of appreciation here! Why shouldn't we celebrate our uniqueness?

The Best Part of Me
by Aaron

The best part of me are my teeth,
because they are beautiful and strong.
I could eat well.
They look like my mom's teeth.
I like my teeth,
because they show when I'm happy.


















And here I am,
busy posting these beautiful treasures
that my beautiful students
have created
in the classroom!