Kung Hei Fat Choi

There is always a first time.

Today,I planned to have some Chinese-New-Year inspired classes. We did a number of activities that made us feel and experience the Chinese way of life.

1. We had a 'show and tell' portion. They brought some items related to this celebration. Some brought tikoy, lucky charms, calendars, chinese dress, red envelopes and other stuff which we cannot named.

2. We listened to a lot of some traditional Chinese music.

3. We wrote our names in pseudo-Chinese alphabet. And they loved it so much. Check out the pictures below.

4. We tried to pronounce properly some simple Mandarin(?) phrases (e.g. Good morning, good-bye, yes, no and thank you)

5. And the one I like the most is our SABEW or Share A Book Every Week, where I got to share Lily Toy Hong's Two of Everything. I also had the chance to tell one famous legend on this holiday. They story of the human-eating beast Nien/Nian really amused them.

My Chinese New Year has never been this memorable.

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Sixth Graders 2011 Mantras

Eight out of ten teachers had probably asked their pupils to come up with a list of new year's resolution yesterday,which was the first school day of 2011. And that is according to my own survey only. Haha.

One of those two non-traditional educators, did the same. Well, almost but not quite. Actually,he just renamed it; presented it just like any other teacher would.

He prefers the Buddhism/Hinduism term mantra over New Year's resolution. No, he's not a follower of Buddhan nor one of the thousand Hindu gods. He just wants to try something new. And he is happy with the outputof his pupils.

Congratulations to those who made the cut. For those whose work are not posted here, you're efforts are highly appreciated.

Learn from my mistakes. –Nikita

Spend less time watching TV. –Johainna

Always look for the good things in everyone. –Alea

Always be happy.—Aron

Act educated.—EJ

Never give up when there are trials we need to face.—Jireh

Simile and Metaphor Poems

Who said that it's difficult to write simile-and-metaphor-filled poems? Ask the fourth graders of our school and they would shake their heads in disagreement.

Writing poems is as easy as learning your ABC.

Here are their sample works. Can you find the similes and metaphors in the poems below?


I Am Like
By Princess K.P.

Sometimes I feel like a dizzy electric fan,
Sometimes I speak like a rabbit,
Sometimes I act like a princess,
Am I really like that?

People think that I’m as tall as a tree,
My friends tell me that I’m pretty like a mermaid,
My teachers want me to be as pretty as a princess,
What they don’t know is that I am what I am.

I Am Like
By Beautiful B.A.

Sometimes I feel like a butterfly in the air,
Sometimes I speak like a hummingbird in the garden,
Sometimes I act like a crying baby,
Am I really like that?

People think that I’m as small as an ant,
My friends tell me that I’m cute like Hello Kitty,
My teachers want me to be as smart as a scientist,
What they don’t know is that I am just what I am.

I Remember
By J.Z.


I remember that I look like a tarsier,
I remember that my classmates tease me, that my eyes are like a magnifying glass,
I remember that my parents want me to be a smart kid like Thomas Alva Edison and Isaac Newton,
Can I really be like them?

My friends tell me that I’m as noisy as an alarm clock,
People think that I’m as cute as a teddy bear,
My teachers want me to be as quiet as a lizard,
What they don’t know is I am just what I am.

Just As I Am
By XXClaXX566


One day, someone says—
I act like her
I talk like her.
And I say—
I am just as I am.

My mom says “You are smart like a Math book.”
I talk to myself, “Am I as smart as a Math book?”
Maybe?
But don’t you see I’m just as I am.
I am as cool as an ice and I always act like just as I am.

Finally, they know that
I’m not as lovely as a flower or
As smart as a computer,
But, you know, I act like just as I am.

Just So You Would Believe

Just so you would know that I met and greeted and "rubbed elbows" with your favorite author Russell Molina, I'm posting some pictures here.


Before the author-meet-the-fans moment, Sir Russell gave a talk on his journey to becoming a writer and the reasons why he writes stories for children.

FYI, Sir Russell is the author of Tuwing Sabado and Lub-dub Lub-dub, two of the winners in the recent National Children's Book Awards.





He is also the brain behind your favorite Madyik Silya ni Titoy and your soon-to-be favorite Ako si Kaliwa, Ako si Kanan.





I and JM, an Alitaptap Storyteller, were very fortunate to open the event with a tandem telling of Ako si Kaliwa, Ako si Kanan.



Million thanks to T. Hazelle of UP College of Education, Department of Reading for allowing us (her former students) to attend the Weavers of Magic spectacle.

Happy Literacy Month!

Manila International Book Fair

Meet and greet your favorite children's book authors in the 31st Manila International Book Fair in SMX Convention Center, September 15-19.



Visit the 31st MIBF website for more details.

See you there!

High in Haiku

Selected haiku poems from the Reading 6 class.



Clouds
by Madison

Are up in the sky
with the heavenly angels
singing songs of love.

Clouds
by 1303 Megumi Yamamoto

Clouds that float above,
Wow, what a wonderful sight!
In the clear blue sky.



Sun
by Adelynne 06
Mighty, mighty sun,
Thy shining rays bathe the hills,
The land and the sea.


Trees
by Code_78096

Oh wonderful trees,
What things have we done to you?
Can you forgive us?



Birds
by Backyardchicken

Flying gracefully
with those beautiful feathers
high up in the sky.


Water
by a17eabRm0s

All over the world
The happiest songs they sing
With the love they give.

Dear Strega Nona

I met Strega Nona when I was in college. I found her in the library of my Children's Literature professor. And from that day on, I fell in love with her....story.

I tirelessly waited for the day that she would be part of my personal collection. Thanks to my favorite bookshop for giving me a copy of her stories.

I love reading aloud her stories to a young audience. Strega Nona and Big Anthony (and Bambalona) make us laugh and believe in the power of imagination, words (and magic).



Last week, after reading and (chanting the magic words of) Strega Nona, I asked my second grade pupils to write Strega Nona a letter. I am overwhelmed with their outputs. Their responses are just so authentic. As a teacher, I am proud that at their very young age, they are able to come up with very meaningful (and funny) responses. I've also noticed that they were so involved and engrossed with the activity.

Here are the unedited letters of some of them. (Note: Most of these pupils are ESL or English as Second Language learners. I also decided not to edit them to "preserve" the authenticity of the "children's voices".

Happy reading!

***************
Dear Strega nona,

i want to borrow your pasta ball many people is want to taste your pasta because iwant taste your pasta

From Pupil A

***************

Dear Strega Nona, i am one of your fun i want to borrow your pasta beacuse manny People is want to taste your pasta

Dear big anthony what is the taste of pasta wow you eat the all pasta in to your town that is so manny

From Pupil B

***************
Dear Strega Nona,

can i borrow Your magic pasta pot and Your mgic ring and can You teach me Your magic. Ypur so very funny and can you teach me your song

Love
Pupil C

***************
Dear Strega Nona,

Can I borrow your magic pot beca-
use there are so many people that is hungry and I want to help them and I will just return next year, mon-
th or week. well bye for now I will just give you another letter.

Love, Pupil D

***************
Dear Strega Nona

When is your birthday
are you hands some

From Pupil E

***************
Dear Strega Nona

Can i borrow your magic ring?
Whem is your birlhday?
because i will athend in your birlhday.
Tank you. love

Pupil F

***************
Dear: Strega Nona

can you be my Friend and I
read all your story’s and all your books are Good. Do you have more Storys

Love
Pupil G

***************
Dear Strega Nona,

Hi, Strega Nona! I’m Pupil H--a Grade 2 pupil-- one of your fans. Is Big Anthony’s deeds being good now? I have also a favor, can I barrow your magic ring? Because my birthday is getting near. So that I’ll feed many noodles for many people
God bless!

Love,
Pupil H
***************
Dear Strega nona,

Make me Some pasta and i’ll be your Grandmother Can I barrow
magic Ring and if you
have Facebook i’ll add,

Love,
I

***************

Dear, Big Anhtony

Do you have Girlfriend
I wonderWho is that is

From Pupil J

***************
Dear: Strega Nona,

Your stories is very beautiful
and I want to borrow your
magic ring I want to be
your friend and How old are you
now?

Love,
Pupil K

***************

Dear Strega Nona

I want to buy your magic
ring and i want to be your
grand mother

Love
Pupil L
***************

Dear Strega Nona

Strega Nona
can you teach me your mgic
tricks and your magic things
and how to make a pasta
pot and what is big
Anthony doing there in italy
and if you do that i’ll be
happy gratia Love Pupil M

***************
Dear Strega nona,

i want to borrow your pasta ball many people is want to taste your pasta because iwant taste your pasta

From Pupil N

***************
Dear strega nona:

Strega nona can you teach me how to do
magic Strega nona can you be my
best friend where do you leave can you
be my friend in face book thank you
you have a wife

Love,
Pupil O


Thank you Tomie de Paola for giving us Strega Nona.