Say "I WILL"

Quote by: J. Johnson,  www.searchquotes.com
Picture by: optimisticminds

Although it is good to WISH for things in life, you shouldn't let it get you down if you don't or can't get what you WISH for.  Instead, tell yourself that you WILL do your best to get what you want.  It's your determination and effort that makes what seems to be impossible, possible.  I certainly WISH for more time to do what I need in order to accomplish the many goals I have in life.  But we all know that for the most part, time isn't on our side, it doesn't wait.  So, "I WILL" do my best to make the time and effort needed to be successful.  Especially now that the semester is coming to an end soon, IT"S DEFINITELY CRUNCH TIME!!!  So, Good Luck to you all!!!

SOE Reading Cohort Presents at the 25th Annual Regional Language Arts Conference

The SOE Reading Cohort strikes a pose at the LAC.  Pictured kneeling L-R:  Ted Nededog and Johnavan Tamayo.  Back row L-R:  Pam Villanueva; Stephane Lujan; Nicole Borja; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Reading Program Instructor; Gloria Frias; Lenith Atienza; and Fatima Tibudan.  Not pictured are Dr. Catherine Stoicovy, Reading Program Coordinator; Lourdes Felipe, Ailene Pamintuan; Lee Anicas; Nadine Cruz; and Cindy Galvez.

"What YOU believe, YOU can achieve!"

"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash


This quote is very fitting to how and what I am feeling right now. This semester has proven to be THE most difficult yet - and I know that it will not get any easier:( I need to keep reminding myself that I am so close to reaching my goal and that with perseverance, determination and FAITH - I will achieve my goal.

SMILE, DON'T CRY!

Source from: dreamstime.com

As I reflected on where I was at this point in the semester, I felt that this motivational quote was a good inspiration for me.  Why?  Motivation is the driving force that keeps one going toward one’s goal.  It is the energy that gives you strength to get up and keep on going even when things aren’t going your way.  Among the many challenges in life with family, work, and school, I definitely feel overwhelmed.  My goal is to complete this course by making my best efforts no matter the circumstances.  One major challenge is completing the Diagnostic Report in a timely manner.  The Diagnostic Report is like a jigsaw puzzle with all of its component pieces.  Although several pieces of the report have already been completed, due to many foreseen and unforeseen circumstances, more session hours are still needed to work with my student to complete the rest of the puzzle.  So in order to achieve the best outcomes and reach my goals, I must accept the situation and think positive!  I CHOOSE not to CRY! I WILL not CRY!  I WILL focus on the thousand reasons to SMILE!  CHEESE!



“You've got to S-M-I-L-E
To be H-A-Double-P-Y”
― Shirley Temple

Gloria and I smiling for the camera with Dr. Rivera while our students work independently. o)
Missing Aileen and Lee.  We'll take one together next time, ladies!  



Don't Quit

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Edgar A. Guest

This semester, thus far, has been difficult.  The course requirements, along with work and family, have been overwhelming.  I've thought of withdrawing from my courses several times.  However, my professors and colleagues have been encouraging and inspiring me to continue.  There will always be hardship; lots of hills, twists and turns, but how we get over those hardships will define who we really are.  So as I work on my diagnostic report for ED643, as massive as it is, I have to remind myself to breathe, work as diligent as I can, and remember that I have great professors, classmates, friends and family to lean on and support.  In the end, what I do is going to affect me.  So I have to tell myself to stick it out and don't quit!

November and December Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to all whose birthday we've missed!  A special blessing goes out to the November and December birthday celebrants!  Enjoy your Special Day and may you have many more blessings to come!  If you were born in November or December, but do not see your name listed below, please let us know immediately. Thank you!

NOVEMBER:

Fatima Tibudan
Pam Villanueva
Dr. Stoicovy

DECEMBER:

Ted Nededog 
Dr. Rivera

STOP KONY!

  Recently, my friend Tiffany Bourgeois has produced a video on youtube.com to highlight the unfortunate events surrounding Kony and the LRA.  Joseph Rao Kony is the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a militant group in Uganda that is known for child exploitation.  The LRA goes village to village kidnapping children, using the boys for their military and selling the girls for the sex trade.  This video was posted with the sole intent of showing the rest of the world that we will not simply look the other way as the crimes against humanity continue.
     As teachers I truly believe that it is our duty to keep our children up to date with current events.  Many of them go about daily, unappreciative of their freedom.  They walk around with a minimalistic attitude, wanting to just 'pass' through life.  They only desire to do just enough, not to strive for excellence.  With all the freedoms that our nation has given us, we must live our lives to its greatest potential.  We must remember all these individuals involved that cannot afford to think of pleasurable activities, because their lives have been stripped from them.
     Stop Kony!

Dynamic Trio Hard at Work!

Dynamic Trio are working diligently to post their blog reflection and ace the diagnostic case report! 
Pictured L-R:  Johnavan Tamayo, Cindy Galvez, and Ted Nededog.

BELIEVE in YOURSELF

                                            
                                             Source from:  http://www.lifepositiveway.com


This is one inspirational quote I found online that I liked.  Truly to believe in yourself and that everyone can overcome any obstacle in life.  It's how the person takes care of the situation and really how the person deals with it.  For me, time management is such an essence this month.  Though lots of holidays and days off, lots to tackle and get done most especially our Diagnostic Case Report.  I had a long great session with my student today at school.  He couldn't make it today at the Reading Clinic but we still managed to work with each other at school.  Great job to his accomodating parents!  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE on your Diagnostic Case Report!

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. 

Steve Jobs 

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/steve_jobs.html#tEvXCrD8AeE4Eqm8.99 

Pushing ones self to do better is one way to excel. Utilizing the new found knowledge to help others is the next step to helping society one student at a time. Raising the bar, pushing a student to go beyond his or her comfort zone, is what I find both challenging and rewarding as an educator. 

All Children Can Learn

I love this saying! ? ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN.  Although, they might not learn in the same way or at the same time as everyone else, they learn in their own way.  It reminds me of why I wanted to become a teacher in the first place.  I wanted to make a difference in a child's life but now I'm realizing that they made a difference in my life.  I thought about all this after my session with my student today.  Even though he was exhausted from staying up late the night before he still wanted to come to the session.  He said he cannot wait till the assessments were over so we can do the fun stuff like the learning activities so he could learn.  He said he can do better because I can teach him good.  Aww... moments like this made me realize how much of a difference he's made in my life and hopefully I make in his.  I'll just believe that all children can learn and it will all work out somehow.

 

The diagnostic case report queens are hard at work!

The diagnostic case report queens are hard at work!  Pictured L-R:  Lee Anicas, Dr. Rivera, Ailene Pamintuan, Gloria Frias (front), and Nicole Borja. 

Blogging and Diving into the Diagnostic Case Report!

Cindy Galvez and Johnavan Tamayo are all smiles as they complete their reflective blogging/learning log and dive into their diagnostic case report.

The Meaning of LIFE

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa

 

I love this quote by Mother Teresa.  Very true about "LIFE".  Life is really what you make out it!  Since my student was out sick today from the Reading Clinic, I manage to make use of my time here in class by viewing various spelling and writing assessments for the makeup days next week with my student.  Hopefully, he feels better soon!  Teachers need to be flexible.  So for me, still a working session and learning is still ongoing.  Though there are a lot of holidays this month it's really a great time to work on our Case Study Report.  Good Luck everyone on time managing this month most especially meeting deadlines!  Wish me LUCK!      

 

Goal of True Education

“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”  -Martin Luther King Jr.

     In my past few sessions with my student, aside from his academics, I have been noticing politeness and mannerisms.  He speaks very well, often restating the question then following with an answer.  He understands the rules of conversation and takes his cues very well. I have notice that he never misses an opportunity to say please, thank you, or excuse me.  This is a testament to both his home life and his formal education in school.  He maintains eye contact when asked a question and responds in the same light.  I have learned through my years that both character and education is needed to thrive in any field.  Knowledge alone is not merely enough because in any career field an individual will have to answer to a superior and interact with colleagues.  For this reason the goal of formal education should be to educate the 'whole' person.  I believe that this was the intent for mandating service learning, so that students can be visible and productive citizens in their island community.


Image courtesy of: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23924.Martin_Luther_King_Jr_