Old Merges New

This post is dedicated to a very special student of mine this year. I'll name her Dizzie. Though I have only just met her in early September, she has inspired me to revisit here yet again. (Dizzie was trying to search for our current class blog and stumbled upon this one by mistake.)

"Oh!" I said to her the next day, "How did you find my old class blog?" When Dizzie started to recall everything she read the night before, I realized that I missed posting and hearing from all of you.

Dizzie reminded me of how important it is to merge my old school experiences with my new school experiences. Having old memories to help me transition to new memories brings me comfort and joy. It's the similar kind of joy that I feel when I see my old 4th graders (now 5th graders) greeting me in the hallway with hugs and high fives in the mornings, stopping by after school, or during recess. The transition to a new school year is difficult enough, so maintaining some type of familiarity is essential. It may take months before the changes become routine.

Have you settled into your new school year? What are you challenges?

So here's to merging the old with the new and embracing newness...

Thanks Dizzie!

Beloved Maurice

Prickly, witty, wise and ground-breaking children's book author Maurice Sendak died today in Connecticut. He was loved and cherished by many, many children, adults, teachers, librarians, scholars, and filmmakers.

I found out about this sad news in the middle of a typical school day. Another teacher received the news via a text from his phone. When he told me, I decided to stop the class and read from his infamous From the Night Kitchen and of course, Where the Wild Things Are. Before I knew it, 20 curious 4th graders sat in our meeting area watching Miss Lou cry. "Miss Lou! Are you going to be okay?"

Now I will be remembered as that teacher who cried in class. I'll blame it on Maurice. It was a sad, sad day for me.

What was your favorite children's book?

Read more...


New York Times
The Washington Post
The Philly Inquirer
The Huffington Post
The Guardian UK
Alzajeera News
NYT on Sendak's Concerns
Publishers Weekly

Is this gonna be forever?!

The three children I have been tutoring for the last 2 1/2 years are moving across country tomorrow. We had our "last" tutoring session a few weeks ago, then the real last tutoring session this last Friday (again). I'm really, really going to miss them. We've had our ups and downs, many moments of amazing learning connections, lots of (sometimes too much) laughter, frustrations (that followed), annoyances and most of all, fun-filled fun. Like all end-of-the-school-year emotions, it has been quite sad especially since these children have become my family. We have shared our lives together by celebrating birthdays, holidays, meals, graduations, tragedies, coincidences, promotions, transitions, tantrums, and milestones that have earned this city the feeling of home. This dear family has contributed in making this transition easier and more comforting with the smells of Chinese home-cooking, ginger soy sauce eggs and screaming nannies.

I will miss you, Family!

Changes

Do you think change is hard or easy? This new move was a bit stressful for Veda Bee, but I don't blame her. Though exciting, change is haaard. With age comes more awareness and wisdom, making change sometimes unbearable. But with time, a cozy bed, an ear piercing serenade or two, and lots of meaty flavored treats (most of which were stolen)...Veda Bee is beginning to relax in her new home.

The easier part about getting older is that we tend to know ourselves better - monitoring and taking better control of what we can and can't handle. The hard part is knowing when to let go of the things we can't handle (despite knowing the risks, guilt and consequences that come with letting go). The most challenging part of all is trying to find balance and to adapt to the changes of our already established comforts, routines and habits.

Change could be a move from one city to the next (like me), a break up or good-bye to:

- your best friend,
- your parents,
- ahem,...your favorite teacher (or students),
- a grade,
- school (elementary to middle to high...to college),
- a death of a loved one,
- a new height or weight and simply trying to find new clothes after a bizarre growth spurt (yes, I'm still waiting for that one).

Either way, anything different (especially one that is out of your control and desires) are DIFFICULT at any age. The harder the change, the longer the time it takes for me to adapt. However, the longer it takes to adapt, the more I grow from the experience and overcoming it with great reward and appreciation in the end.

Aww, change. I love and hate you, dear Change. Let me count the ways.

Stages of Change for me:
1) Hooray! Change! Exciting, novel and adventurous! Change, change, change! Who doesn't love that?
2) Hurry, hurry! Out with the old! In with the new. Oh, Change...how I love you!
3) Oh, gosh...is this really happening? Is this real life? Change, change...go away. Please come back another day. Or never.
4) What did I just DO?!?! NOOO! I miss the past. I'm n-n-ever going to s-survive this...I'm n-not going to make it....HELP!!! SOS!!! Wahhhhhh! (This stage could go on for a while.)
5) Wait? Why am I still alive? What just happened? This IS real life. Dang.
6) OK, fine. I'll give you a chance, Change. Show me whatcha got.
7) What old? New and improved Change. I like-y.
8) I'm so awesome. Check out my biceps. I'm a Super Star!

Waiting Anxiously...

Hello 401'rs

I'm a bit worried to propose a reunion since I might feel incredibly sad to see you all grown up and taller than me (well, if you weren't taller than me already...Claire or Jordan? Not you too?!)

How about a 401 reunion? Let's set up an event on FB. Spread the word!

Unfortunately, Veda Bee is grounded from traveling after getting into a few moving boxes, finding her snacks and inhaling them like she was some hobo. But she sends her licks, wags and devilish smiles...

Any suggestions? Coyote Hills? Chuck E. Cheese? Mt. Diablo? Or at a Sox game?

Hello?

Summer Reading

There is no better word to describe freedom. How will you spend the next few months surviving the scorching Fremont heat and bubble pearl teas cravings?

What about pulling out that crumbled piece of paper lost on the bottom of your crusty backpack and add to the list below? Any recommendations?

For the fantasy-crazed:

Abadziz, Nick. Laika. Non-fiction graphic novel about Sputnick's first Earth traveler. A puppy! (Moments like this, I wish I were an illustrator. I would so love to draw this one...)

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Arnold Spirit leaves his Indian Reservation to attend school outside of his community.

Berra, Tim. Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man. Who wouldn't want to read about an extraordinary man? Yes, there is more to know about Mr. Darwin.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Game.

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire

or if you really need a break from life, how about those vampire books?

Expiration Date

Sad Chicken

Like curdled milk and week old Chinese take-out cartons, should we clear out and dump old blogs too? Is Virtual 401 dead?!

First off, I want to apologize for my fellow 401 followers for months of neglect. Since the unfortunate incidence with the Russian caravan in May of 2010, knee surgery, months of painful physical therapy and a long, long winter buried under salt and snow, I've come out very much alive and well. Thank you for all your concern and FB wall posts. Thank you Mark Zuckerberg for keeping us all connected!

Fast Update on Miss Lou:

True or False?

___ Miss Lou quit teaching to join Mark Zuckerberg and his FB staff.
___ Miss Lou promises to update this blog more regularly to stay connected with her awesome students.
___ Since her discovery of Big Macs, Miss Lou decided to stop eating fruit, nuts and salads.
___ Miss Lou wishes she could have a reunion with 401.
___ Veda Bee is training for the 2012 Boston Marathon by bulking up with whey protein and steaks.
___ Miss Lou is rereading Mr. Popper's Penguins and realized she may have skipped a few chapters when her third grade teacher made her read it.
___ While reading Richard and Florence Atwater's 1938 Newbery Honor Book, Miss Lou also remembered copying the back cover of E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swans during a summary test in second grade. She had wondered how her teacher Ms. Wirt found out and thought teachers were brilliant.
___ The Third Book of Kane Chronicles is coming out Spring 2012!
___ Egypt is a mythical place created by a Greek God named Rick Riordan.
___ Due to high humidity and heat, Miss Lou inhaled four cherry Popsicles yesterday. Okay, maybe 5.

Now your turn...how's your summer?

You are what you eat...ew!

WARNING: This posting contains high levels of preaching and brainwashing. Read with caution.

Read the label on any processed food (usually comes in a nice sounding, unrecyclable wrapper and has a shelf life of = unlimited.) Usually, all the ingredients are made up of some chemically engineered element of either corn or some other synthetic substance. It's right at your allowance budge, but it may end up costing you more when you're constipated on the toilet or filled with embarrassing toxic gas.

So why do we eat such foods? Bad for the environment and our health, but oh so good for the soul! You won't be slaughtered off like that poor Kabul goat (see photo above). Just limit your intake - especially before test day, race day, game day...when you're not feeling well, or coughing up a lung.

Take One:

I challenge you. For the next 3 days, check the ingredient label of everything you rip open and eat. (Or better yet, before or while you eat.) If any of these following items are listed, think again!

1. corn syrup or high-fructose corn syrup
2. artificial flavors or colors
3. hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated soybean oil (or anything partially hydrogenated)
4. MSG (mono-sodium glutamate)
5. sugar listed as the first 3 ingredients
6. modified starch (or anything modified)
7. maltodextrin
8. xanthan gum
9. ascorbic acid
10. crystalline fructose
11. caramel color
12. glucose syrup

Take Two:

I challenge you to avoid such foods that contain such ingredients for 3 such days. Why not give healthy eating habits a try? Where in the heck would I reach for a quick bite now? What? You mean I'll have to eat real fruit and veggies? What?! Nothing I can buy at the gas station on the way home? Nothing to change the color of my milk, tongue and fingers? What?! Why must I eat REAL food?!

If you're still craving frilly, fancy dyes on your fingers, peel a red beet and rub it all over your face, body, and or sibling...avoid the walls for your parents, please.

Enjoy!

what word would you be?

how do words feel when they're crossed out?
would it be worse to be misrepresented,
disguised as compound meaning?
or better to be misspelled, gone unnoticed?
what word would you be?
words come in clusters, but many stand alone.
sometimes, i feel like that the lonely 'a.'
it needs to connect with others to mean something.
but sometimes letting another in like "an"
but why the commitment issues?
if you were a word, what would you be?
i would not want to be clustered among the racist world,
thought up by an angered person on a bad day.
what if you were banned when you never meant to hurt the world?
can a beautiful word have a bad day?
trendy words come and go.
i'd name them Tiffany words.
a one hit wonder.
words that babies make up
muttered, mumbled, praised by parents
made up wonders
 
if i were a word, i would want to be an onomatopoeia,
crash! whrrr! bzazzzh!
sounds spelled out to my name,
different in every language,
spelled to every which way.
a sound is a sound
no conventional rules
no boundaries
not hurtful like
ugly, fat, crusty
not frightful or hateful
like war
not exhausting
like rush or run
or complicated
like love.
words,
emotional, unexpected, and powerful.

what word would you be?

Knees Please

Apologies (esp. to Pichu) for the neglect. This summer has been a whirlwind of travels, warm weather, swimming in ponds, oceans, saying goodbye to old students, meeting new students, visiting friends, family, graduations, weddings, accidents, recovery, and now for the greatest adventure to top off a great summer...

Yes! Knee surgery!

Having never experienced knife insertion under anesthesia, this will be both frightening and exciting.

This CPM machine will bend my knee from 0 to 45, all the way up to 90 degrees even while I'm sleeping. If it can only make my coffee, walk my dog, do my work, and think for me...would that not be the greatest? It's up to you to invent something soon.

Wish me luck and I'll let you know how it goes. Now go and enjoy the last of summer for me.

No, no crying.

Suck it up.

Brave it out.

Go!

My Idol

Oh, yeah. What you see is not a figment, fragment, or frigment of your imagination. Along with other amazing writers and illustrators, Brian Selznick begged me for a photo when I cruised passed his signing booth at the ALA Conference in Washington D.C. The guy has a Caldecott and all, so it was the least I could do to make his weekend feel complete. I didn't want to intimidate him, so I humbly held up his book like a starstruck dork.

Everything but the dork part is all a lie.

But this was one of my most memorable author encounters because I was mortified when my camera froze before the click.

"You want to be in the picture?" Brian Selznick asked, looking up and catching me take a sneaky pic of him signing my book. (Note to self: Work on skill.)

"Yes, Brian Selznick. (Gosh, I love saying his full name.)

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Umm, not yet," I blushed. And then of course, my camera wouldn't work. I shook it. I made crazy 8 circles with it. I caressed it against my cheek, but no use. "When we get home, I'm gonna bid you for cheap on eBay, you useless piece of innovative technol..."

"It's okay," he says, catching me at mid-whisper. "I'll wait."

50 million frustratingly dark minutes later...

(Advice: The new iPhone 4 is not designed to work under pressure. Take note, Steve.)

"Are you ready yet?" the fabulously famous person asked again while my forehead dripped with sweat. I was so embarrassed, I just turned around and left.

"Hello? Are you okay?!" he hollered. "What did I do?!"

After a cold shower, wise coaching from an encouraging friend, and swallowing a box of breath mints, I finally gained enough courage to return. I strolled passed him as cool as a kumquat.

"You finally ready?" the man with a huge smile.

"I..I was," I stammered. "I mean, my ca-ca-camera w-was nervous. But we're re-ready now, Br-Brian SelzniCKK."

"Good. Smile!" he said.

Click. Flash. Capture. Easy. He was just about the nicest illustrator writer Caldecott winner there ever was.

More author sightings that weekend...Laurie Halse Anderson, Mo Willems, Christopher Paul Curtis, Grace Lin, Nancy Werlin, ...even Spike from Top Chef Season 4.

I am officially cool. Or cooled off?

ALA Weekend: Week or Weak?

I'm off to another fantastic ALA (or Awkward Literatureaholics Anonymous) Conference in DC this weekend. I'm braving the train with my author/agent autographing pad, extensive spy gear, a big empty suitcase to fill with free books, and one of my most favorite writer friends. (Not Veda Bee. And no, my friend is NOT invisible this time.)

DC or bust, dudes.

I suppose I'm getting to that ripe age in my life (19) when I no longer care what others think of me. Go ahead. Call me a dork, a worm, a nerd, a geek (I wish!), or make fun of my awkward hobbies, or even my looks. I'm not going to waste time wondering why my interests don't always align with the masses or the popular kids, or whether or not I really do resemble an endangered hairy-eared dwarf lemur at all because I don't. (Thanks, Mom!) At the end of the day, I just can't help it....I love books! I'll happily admit it. I'm a dork! And yes, I know I know,...not the cool kind either. I just love the feel of new glossy covers and the sound of crisp page turns. I love dog-eared corners. I obsess over my own collection of favorites that bring great memories, that have worn with age, with scribbles, and saliva. And I love the familiar musty smell of ink on paper at the library, imagining all the other people and places they've touched and seen. And not to mention, books make me feel brilliant and alive, especially when I find print errors hidden in published pages. Ahh, I can't emphasize more; I love books! (And yes, I'd totally marry them if I could...)

Now go be off with your hobbies and your bad self. Who cares what others think? They'll worship you when you grow up to be incredible. I know you will!

My weekend conference goals:

-to catch my train on time and not lose my friend in the crowds.
-to arrive without getting too lost.
-to stalk at least one great famous author for an exceptional amount of time.
-to scout out all literary treasures and get them home legally.
-to NOT roll over anyone with my filled suitcase.
-to make an impression after "bumping" into agents like Arthur A. Levine or Jodi Reamer or Anyone else.

The goal in making goals is to keep the list short, specific, and attainable. I will accomplish one or more of the above. I will. I will. I will.

Let the nerds unite!

And PS on those lemurs mentioned above: They are one of the rarest mammals in the world. People steal them because they're so darn cute.

Got Zen?

to take a Zen moment and relax. Let go of all your worries for the next grade, papers, standardized tests, camp applications, recitals, events, races, nagging,...what am I leaving out? Let go of all that end of the year stressers and remember to enjoy life, your family, your health and the amazing sunshine! Yay! Listen to the wise one.

Veda Bee asks, "Any fabulous summer plans?"

Summer!!!!

Now that you're free, watch out for CARS! And minivans. Especially the blue ones. Unless you own one, they’re evil. They’re dangerous. They come out of nowhere and make U-turns into your crosswalk, directly striking your left zygomatic bone, patella and thigh when you least expect it. But if you do own one (a van, not broken zygomatic bone), I'm not posting here for condemnation's sake. On the contrary, I genuinely believe ownership of such a frightfully intimidating vehicle automatically eliminates all possible likeliness you may get run over or hit by one. What are the chances?

Blue minivans are as loyal and committed to their operators as Veda Bee is to me, or how plague sticks to your teeth if you stop brushing. I mean, do you ever see a mother bird eat their own young? I don’t think so. And that’s exactly why they try to clear off everyone and everything else corrupting their roadways and paths. Swipe! Loyal and committed. Now before you run off to invest in a blue mini-mean mobile with your college savings and week's allowance, let me just say that during the endless hours of recovery and painkillers, I had much time to come up with an elaborate list of environmentally-sound transportation alternatives for the next time you want to go somewhere but too scared of those cleverly crafted, face-altering, and bruise-thirsting metal machines.

Happy Summer and BE SAFE!

Miss Lou

Never Trust Drivers

Be weary when crossing the street!

As cautious as I think I am, I was one of the unfortunate fortunates yesterday while attempting to save the environment by taking public transportation.

This is how it went... 

Me: No! Stop! I want to live!
Old Russian Man: я ничего не вижу.
Me: NOoooo! (CRUNCH!)

Or at least that's what I remember before I was Velcro'd on a wobbly board and rushed to the trauma room at the nearby hospital.

Through CAT scans, I remembered more: Me, halfway across the sidewalk, almost to the other side, a minivan drove right into my left cheek, smashing into my left side like I was some urban Chinese deer.. (you're probably thinking, aren't those suckers extincted?)

Anyhow, helpful neighbors, rushing ambulances, masculine cops and nosy passerbyers crowded along the Big Avenue to witness the scene like a party. Those who helped were very dear and helpful (thank you and bless you, strangers!) and those who watched, watched with dear curiosity (thank you and bless you for your dedicated passion, rubberneckers!)

But thanks to educated doctors, kind nurses, technology and fabulous friends and amazing doctor friends, I'm ALIVE! Just between you and me, there was a car crash. The others will get the boxing championship version.

So, please my dear 401'rs...LOOK all FOUR WAYS when crossing the street:

Front, back side to side (x8) before walking!

May 14, 2010

So as you may have noticed, I don't post about my personal life here, but I suppose this is something to share. As much of you know, I left FP for graduate school on the opposite coast.

Can you guess what happened last weekend?

What a surprise!!

So nice to have some of you back, visiting little ole' me. Despite all of us ditching Forest Park for elsewhere, we can still manage to stay together in this crazy virtual space. Welcome back! And visit soon...

Who's got new news to share? Pichufreak? Thoughtful person? Jcw? Daniel? Hello?

As for me, things are looking up. Well, minus the bad luck I got in my fortune cookie that said, "Your problem just got bigger. Think, what have you done." I mean, those funny looking wafer cookies shouldn't even exist! Not in China...not in the U.S.A....Mean! Mean! Mean!

But looks like good luck has found me.

Yum!

(Hi Mr. "Shing!" I see you!")

Prison

Who here sometimes feel they are trapped behind bars? Tortured into doing too much work for little to no pay? Silenced from speaking up by rules, teachers, parents and Principals, limited from playing endless hours of video games, chatting with friends...owning a cellphone and controlled by lectures, nagging and bells and more bells. Those dang annoying endless bells! URGHHH!

That is...until the freedom of the last one of the day rings, preferably on a Friday of a long weekend.

So close, yet so far away.

Good luck and enjoy the last few miles!

Star Struck & Stalker'ing

Many of you may yawn, but I get very excited when I run into (not literally but maybe), local authors like Lois Lowry, David Macaulay, Mordicai Gerstein, Jane Yolen, Dr. Seuss to name a few. Call me a nerd, a dork, a stud muffin...I don't care. But that gets me excited and motivated to read and write and stalk behind bookshelves and more (with our without my Sidekick). Some people get Star Struck when they see famous people: tongue freezes, dry mouth, hives, cold sweats and bug eyes.

But no way, not I. When I see someone I envy and admire (whether I followed them all the way home from the supermarket or not), I approach them slowly at first, punch them hard on the shoulder or slap them on the back (or fanny) like we're BFFs and find some uncommon ground, on any topic and violently disagree until they get really PO'd and leave. Why? This way, I can always be sure they remember me. Maybe not in a good way, but any strong impression is a good one, right? I'm trying to perfect this craft, so they'll stop filing restraining orders - or worse, stalk me back. I hate that.

So name a few of your favs. Artists, musicians, actors, performers, writers, bloggers, teachers...

Who crowds your brain space and daydreams? Do you get Star struck, torture them until they want to run you over with a truck, or do you have way better luck?

Comment your favs! And maybe some advice.

Note: Okay, maybe not running into the dear deceased Theodor Geisel so much nowadays, but once a stud muffin, always a stud muffin and I'm sticking to it.

A Smart Guide to Middle School

So what's eating you these days? Besides too much homework, mean teachers, rigorous practice and friendship troubles? Is middle school awesome and you can't believe there's only 2-3 years of it? Or do you want to change your style, your name, or your friends so you can fit in? Are you making new friends, branching out, or just happy to keep the old? Are you getting zits? Chatting like mad?

What's going on in that junk-food crazed, angst-filled (insert grade here) grader? I hate that I don't get to see you everyday anymore. I hate that you never pop into my classroom to bug me during the limited few minutes to break from your exhausting energy. I miss screaming at you for not doing work.

Fill me in, dude(tte)s. What's up with my class?

I'll be waiting...

Smart Guide to Middle School

1) Do your work. (Sorry, no way to avoid it. Just get it done. Get adult people off your back.)
2) Talk back with your abilities. (art, writing, music, athletic abilities)
3) Write notes to your friends (and to your teachers, and parents - include them with updates to avoid future questioning to get them off your back)
4) Nod. Lots of nodding.
5) Read. Read lots. On anything.