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The Downside to Hi-Tech Classrooms

Today technology failed me terribly….hehe. I love how my classrooms have become all hi-tech and stuff but on occasion, things happen and my classes get derailed. Today for example, the LCD projector wouldn’t work and the speakers connection was broken so I had to run all the way down to the library to get another projector and the portable speakers. I ended up wasting a good chunk of the class period. Sigh. That definitely is the downside to my hi-tech classroom

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Last Stretch…

I’ve been so remiss in working on my blogs (and even on those commissioned articles that I so love doing ) mainly because of this thing called a THESIS. Sigh. I love being in the academe and I swear I do not wanna give it up for anything but this is such a challenge that sometimes I just think of throwing in the towel and (not that their job is any easier, mind you, it’s just the fact that a graduate or doctorate degree is not expected!) becoming a nanny abroad, going into the call center industry, or being a full-time blogger. Sigh. Like I said, I know their jobs post their own difficulties and challenges, and so I know it won’t be a walk in the park. But at least there’s no need to read those journal articles. Haha.

Yes, this is Teacher Ria attempting to release some of the pressure from writing the thesis. Teehee. I will get it done, though. Like I said, much as I never expected to fall into the academe, I love it to bits. When I first set off into college, I had wanted to either become a writer or get one of those Healthcare Aides Jobs (no, I didn’t want to be a doctor, but a nurse, or a midwife or a nursing aide! I wanted the caring part of the job and not the “difficult” serious job of healing) and so when I fell into teaching, I found that it was a merger of the things I liked best.

Until I met THESIS! ARRRRGHHH!!! Okay, talking in circles now. Back to thesis-ing. Wish me luck.  Home stretch….it’s due on Monday. Haha.

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Tie Dye My World!

In my yoga class, we have this long running joke about having a tie-dye party where we can just get together and splash some color into our otherwise plain and boring yoga towels. This was inspired by one of those Yogitoes towels that my friend and I were talking about one day before class started. We were like, it would be so much more fun to go on your down dogs and look into something pretty like that, right? Thing is, those towels are not available here in the Philippines, plus it costs sooooo much

Being a whole bunch of preschoolers, we were like, hmmm….maybe we can tie dye our towels!!! Teeeheee. Then it went on to maybe we can customize towels and other stuff…it wasn’t long when carpets, blankets, seat covers  and even someone’s toyota prius custom floor mats got into the mix! Suffice it to say we haven’t done it but wouldn’t it be cute to walk into a yoga class full of tie dyed towels???

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Little Miss Crammer Comes to Visit…

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this side of me and um…..I don’t think I can do this anymore!!! Haha. Yes, I am talking about cramming. Today, for example, I am trying to catch up on grades, papers and my presentation. I went to the computer and yes, much as I know I am supposed to print exams and stuff ahead of time but because I did not plan ahead, I am stuck!Both laser printers are out of ink!!! Egaaaad.

Like I said before…there comes a time in life when one must admit that cramming no longer suits their lifestyle. And yes, for me, I have gotten to that point. Haha.

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Goodbye Archer’s Field

Yes, I know I am about a year late but yesterday as I was walking through campus, I saw the spot where the football field used to be and saw the new steel buildings rising from where it used to be. It suddenly made me a wee bit sad to see all the concrete and steel in that once green field in the middle of the busy campus. I remember having watched my sister practice in that field many times over (she was the captain of the football team ) and how my mom and I would often cheer her on during games, albeit in different venues and never in the DLSU field. Yes, talk about a bit of nostalgia. I felt suddenly claustrophobic too, as there was suddenly a wall right there greeting me. But then again, I’m sure when this building is done, it will give the campus a whole new vibe again. Let’s see where this goes, shall we?

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Harnessing Children’s Learning Styles

Over the past term I have come to realize that harnessing a child’s learning style really doesn’t end at the preschool level. Rather, it is a lifelong experience. Let me put it in context: when I am teaching classes with, let’s say, Engineering majors, I find that they do not enjoy some activities (nor are they able to appreciate for that matter) that my Liberal Arts students find so much delight in. For example, when we do role playing exercises or perhaps visual illustrations, their responses are very different from the more artsy students I have. I guess it’s part of learning styles after all, right? I bet if I asked them to illustrate something mechanical or to give me instructions on how to change a tire or on rv repair they can easily explain it with no difficulty at all. As for me understanding it, that’s a different story haha.

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That Time of the Term Again

I  miss blogging.

I miss reading non-intellectual stuff.

I miss lounging in bed and being lazy.

I miss being free to go to yoga anytime I want.

Yes, it’s that time of the term again and much as I have learned to not be a super crammer anymore, this time I am finding myself inundated with so much work. I guess trying to write my thesis, preparing for a convention, and taking on heavy majors classes wasn’t such a brilliant combination. HAHA.

Oh well…as I always do, I will survive!!! Just a few more weeks….

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To Make Up or Not To Make Up, That is the Question

One of my biggest frustrations in class is when my students miss my exams It’s not the fact that they are absent that gets to me, it’s the fact that I feel caught in the middle because of it. On one hand, I want to give my students a chance to make up for the exam they missed (or activity for that matter). On the other, I don’t want to because I feel it is unfair to those who made it to class. Sigh.

Yes, I know that there are valid excuses for the absences, sometimes I can’t help but feel a wee bit skeptical at times. Sure they may have medical certificates and can present letters from the best austin allergist for example, but at times, I can’t help but ask questions about it.  It’s not that I want to doubt them, but there have been those times when I have caught students making up feeling sick just because they weren’t ready for their exams. Siiiiigh….

Yes, this is a rant from teacher coz I just gave an exam and yep…someone missed it.

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Toys of Today

I don’t know if it’s just me, but have you noticed how complicated toys of today can be?!? Gaaawd. Let me put it in context….last Sunday, we celebrated my niece’s third birthday. Of course she received a lot of presents to mark the occasion, right? One of the gifts she got was this princess set. It was kinda like a doll house, but it was a castle. It came complete with towers, horses and carriages, a garden and a drawbridge etcetera etcetera. Not only was it difficult to assemble it, getting it out of the box was such a complicated matter I tell ya! Haha. It was funny though that while  I couldn’t figure out how to hook those rings like a trailer hitch in the carriage, the three year old simply slipped it together and viola, a hooked carriage to the horses reins. Okay okay…maybe the toys weren’t complicated after all. Maybe it’s me. Haha.

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Never on Any Day

I never really understood what not wearing white after Labour Day meant. Perhaps it’s a western thing or a culturally bound expression? If you know what it means, do share it with me! Yes, this is teacher being too lazy to even Google it. Haha. Seriously though, one thing I have learned as a former preschool teacher is you really should never wear white, especially pants, on ANY day. Haha. Every time I’d wear white, for some reason I’d end up with either paint or glue on it. When I’d wear jeans, on the other hand, nothing ever happens. Toink. Teehee.

Random, right? Well, I was just thinking about what to wear tomorrow for work and pulled out an old pair of white pants and couldn’t help but remember all my white day mishaps in the preschool Gnyt guys!

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A Teacher’s Journal

Earlier this year a friend of mine gave me this as a present. It is a daily journal for teachers, filled with little snippets of wisdom and inspiration on one side and a blank sheet for journal writing on the opposite side. Sadly I never got to use it while I was teaching in the preschool, but for some reason, I find myself drawn to it almost daily. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but well, I’m going with it

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Oh There Went My Money!

I came across an site today called “This is Why I’m Broke” and it made me laugh a whole lot. Well, mainly because it mirrored exactly what I have been thinking about these past few weeks. I’ve been trying to sort out my finances and came to the conclusion that I spend too much on useless things. Things that are cute, things that are fun, things that I enjoy, but definitely things I don’t need much. Like what, you wonder? Well, for one, junk food. Secondly, I spend too much on accessories like bags and shoes. And gadgets. Sigh. I should be thinking more about things that I should be investing in at this point in time (and in the same time, where I am in my career) such as stocks perhaps, or property, and even getting the best term life insurance that will give me back something in return or allow my money to grow. But yeah, where’s the fun in that, right? Haha.

Seriously, though…yeah, I should change my spending habits.

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Teacher Finds Her Joy

Today I was reminded of little joys I get from my profession. I will admit that lately I’ve been feeling all frustrated and stuck in a rut (professionally, at least) and I have really been thinking about perhaps shifting gears and taking on a job that will allow me to bring home a bigger paycheck. But then I gave it some thought and I realized that where else can I get a job that will allow me to have the schedule I have now and the freedom to take on different types of tasks and roles?

Then out of the blue, one of my students texted me and told me that her heart was so full today and that she was very happy. Although it wasn’t me that did that for her, I realized, that feeling that she has, that’s what I feel when I see my kids graduate and become their own people. I love how our conversations evolve from theoretical concepts to more lived experiences. I find joy in being a part of all of that. I also love it when they feel comfortable to talk to me about issues such as how to handle their relationships, whether or not weight loss pills are advisable and what to do about certain things that they go through. While I do maintain a comfortable distance from them, I realized that I find joy in letting them be part of my life as well

And so for now, at least, I think I still belong in the classroom. Correction: I KNOW this is where I belong.

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Dear Students…

Dearest Students,

Well, well, well….here we go again with my little letters, yes? Sigh. You know, I truly, truly love teaching, but sometimes you guys make me feel stretched to my limits. Please remember that I am still human and I still get angry and frustrated from time to time, okay? I try not to ask for much, and I try to be as patient and understanding as possible so please try, at the very least, to at least come to class when you’re supposed to.

Ktnxbai.

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Still The Same

Today I met up with my college friends and I couldn’t help but smile at how much we are still the same when we get together. Perhaps a wee bit mellow, and though our styles more sophisticated (yes, even the guys…more formal compared to the urban clothes they used to wear) deep down inside we’re still the simple teenagers that met many, many years ago.

It was in the university that we first met, and it’s interesting to note that back then, I had sworn to be the first to shift out of our course to go into Psychology because I had no intentions of teaching, but, well…things changed and I found myself in the teaching profession haha. I guess it really is where I was supposed to be, huh? And today, I still found that same old Teacher Ria who I got to know in college. We even got to laughing about I still am the non-confrontational and compliant me that they got to know back then (yes, my friends are very headstrong and determined). It was a fun night

And yes, after 12 years, we are still the same and  for that I am grateful

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Things I’ll Never Understand: Road Edition

Today as I was driving home I was inspired (errr…I don’t know if inspired is the best term, but, heck, I’ll go with it haha!) to list down some things I’ll never understand. Where did this come from, you may ask. Well…lately I’ve been saying that to myself. While I often try to understand and make sense of what’s going on around me, try as I may, there are some that remain unexplainable. Mind you…I’m not talking about astrophysics here, but common every day occurrences. Let me put it in context….

Today as I was driving home, I once again got caught in traffic. Why? Because of people who keep insisting on making a salubong or counterflowing in our very very tiny roads.

Secondly…I’ll never understand why traffic enforcers think ignoring the stop light and manually directing traffic is more efficient.

Third, I can’t understand for the life of me why so many road diggings have to be done at the same time….and over and over again. I swear you have to know all the side streets just to avoid such bottlenecks. Sad thing is, even with one of those nuvi 465t gps systems, you’d probably be caught in traffic because of, you guessed it, more road repairs. I’d think that if they’d do road diggings on one side of the major thoroughfares they’d keep the back streets free first, right? But no….

Lastly, I’ll never, never understand why drivers thing weaving from one lane to another (when it’s traffic, more specifically) can get them to their destination faster. Then again, one car ahead is still one car ahead right?

Yes, this is my way of dealing with road frustration…better than road rage, right? Haha. Gnyty folks.

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