Too busy!!

最近真的是忙到爆,有許多很有fu的story book想要上來分享都抓不出時間,
希望能夠在新的一年"民國100年"趕快完成這項任務耶....

雖然還有5天才過年~祝大家新年快樂囉!!

笑口常開,精神愉快!!

James live DJ show

Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas! I guess you guys do have a very wonderful holiday, don't you?

Today I found a video from James' school and like to share with you.

Good Job, James.

James live DJ show

雷夫老師的分享

Your must heard about Mr. Rafe Esquith, the author of "Teach like your hair's on fire : The methods and madness inside room 56". He is in Taipei county now and I am so glad to join the education seminar. It's so touchable when I saw the video of Rafe's students. Rafe shared few letters sent by his former students to us included one returned the check sponsed by Rafe.... that moment, I felt a little bit sad. I did understand the feeling what these students wanted to express and I did understand what Rafe felt.

Anyway, I appreciate for this opportunity to let me get close to this great teacher in my heart. God bless him.

EVERYONE POOPS

Today is my first show in the kindergarten and
I choose a funny book "Everyone poops" by Taro
Gomi. I like his books and some translated into
Chinese version and are very pupolur in Taiwan.
Specially the young kids, they love it.


I google the poops of snake and whale. It's really
amazing to use the simply, easy way to intoduce
this body science book to kids. I asked most of
kids about their poop experiences and the steps
when they finished the poop poop. It motivates
the kid to share their experiences. That's good.


I also prepare the song of body parts as "Head,
shoulders, knees and toes" and play the different
beats as quick and slow. All kids have fun today.
Great

I'm back~

It's really a long trip and I'm finally back to Taiwan. We also went to Tainan last weekend. We had a very great time there becasue before we visited the famous night market, we met a nice couple Mr. and Mrs. Booth in hotel. They also liked to visit the same night market. They came from California, the north of San Fransico Bay and we just back from the south of San Fransico Bay. What a coincidence!! The next day we shared the wonderful breakfast time together.

It's the time to back to school, not only James but also including me. I start to prepare the daily lunch boxes for James and my husband. Specially James needs to stay in the school for whole 5 days a week! Poor James!

Final countdown

There are still a few days for me and James returning to Taiwan. It's quite a long time since we left Taiwan to USA. Everything here is pretty great. We love here but we also love our home country, specially the food. James told me that he's missing the food at night market like as stinky tofu......

My sister-in-law told me this summer is cooler than last year. They visited Taiwan early in July and felt the hot wave in south of Taiwan. Everybody hided in the house daytime. But here is comfortable to go outside and make activities (You still need the "sunblock"- sun lotion)

Anyway, it's time to back school. Wish everyone I knew is healthy and happiness in this summer vacation.

The birthday box

The Birthday Box - by Leslie Patricelli

What's better than getting a brand-new toy as a birthday gift? Playing with the box it came in!

Are your curious about what is inside the box? I won't tell you! Guess! But it is not important to know what's inside.

For me,

"I like to stand on my box. I am taller than a tree.

I give my box a hug.

Look! There's a hole. Is there something inside?..................."

What can w don with a box?

"We fly in an airplane over the ocean.

We sail a ship. I am the captain.

We slide through the snow. Look out below!

We cut some holes in my box. Snip. I am a robot............"

Happy Birthday, Lulu

It's wonderful book for Pre-K. It's Lulu's special day. Pretty cards to look at. A present to open before breakfast. And a party to prepare for! All parents in America will invite a lot of little friends to the kids party to celebrate. My nephew had invited her friend to the rock climbing for the seven years old birthday!

Help Lulu bake cookies, blow up balloons, and greet her guests. You're invited to the best birthday party ever. Happy Birthday, Lulu!

(from website)

A birthday for cow

Kids love birthday parties, so do I. They specially love the presents from parents, friends....

Do you know animals also love birthday?

It is cow's birthday, and the celebration is about to begin. Pig and Mouse are making Cow the best birthday cake ever. They mix flour, sugar, and eggs into a big bowl. Duck wants to mix in a turnip, which Pig and Mouse adamantly refuse to do so. How can you mix a turnip into a birthday cake? As the cake is baked and about to be decorated, Duck keeps insisting that they add the turnip, but the other animals refuse to consider this suggestion. They ice and decorate a beautiful cake which they feel Cow is guaranteed to love.

The end of the story has a funny twist: Cow arrives at the surprise party and is thrilled to receive a turnip; he is not quite sure what do with the birthday cake. Children and parents will enjoy this humorous story, as well as the cartoon-like drawings which bring it alive in splendid color and details. This book brings new humor and fun to an old topic, birthday celebrations. (from website)

It's really a hard time for James?

Today is the 3rd day for James' debate class. I heard that there are only 3 students left today. Is it too difficult for James? I doubt? What does the instructor think about that? There were total 5 students took this class in the beginning but now is only three? What happened? Does James can afford to the class? I don't know. He seems still ok for it. Everyday we check the vocabularies or search the information from website to meet the debate topic of next day. We are quite busy but happy. I like James to study hard to widen his vision and more experience to face the difference topic and learn how to debate!

Anyway, there are still have 2 days at all. I believe we can hang it on and go through by any tough situation here . GOGOGO!

We will return to Taiwan after 10 days!!! I love you Taiwan.

Red Sings from Treetops ~ Caldecott Honor book

Red Sings from Treetops

a year in colors - by Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

In winter....

Green waits

in the hearts of trees,

feeling

the earth

turn.

Color comes alive in this whimsical, innovative book: blue dances on summer lakes, green drips from spring leaves, black wafts mysteriously through autumn evenings. Together, an award-winning poet and a brilliant painter inspire us to look closer at the thrilling colors of the seasons. So what colors can you feel - or hear, or taste, or smell - today?

(pick up from web, book)

The Boy who wouldn't swim

The boy who wouldn't swim - by Deb Lucke

Eric Dooley would not swim. Even though it was so, so hot and everybody was in the town pool nearly every day. Everybody, including his little sister, who wasn't afraid of the water at all. Underneath his sunblock, Eric was green with envy. Not to mention sweaty. And irritated. How much more could he take before forcing himself to overcome his fears and try the water?

(picture from web)

It's about whole town practically lived in the pool. They got out of the water only to sleep! Except Eric Dooley! What's happening next to Eric?

Bubba and Trixie

Bubba and Trixie - by Lisa Campbell Ernst

(pick up from web/book)

Bubba the caterpillar is a nervous Nelly. He won't set even one of his sixteen feet off the plant where he born. And then he meets Trixie, a ladybug who lives life to the fullest. Trixie convinces Bubba to take a giant leap off his plant so that he can explore the beautiful garden down below. After that, Bubba and Trixie spend every day of the summer together, having more fun than Bubba ever imagined. Each night they make wishes on the stars.

One evening Bubba wishes for everything to stay exactly as it is forever, and Trixie gently tells him that he will soon turn to a butterfly.

Bubba refuses to listen: " I just want to stay me - and be your friend!"

Trixie promises that, no matter what, they will always be friends, but that isn't enough for Bubba. Will Bubba's wish come true? (written by book)

Did you remember your any one of good friends? Did you keep in touch with him/her? Those unforgettable time will never come back again? Enjoy the story and get a new thought!

Class two at the zoo

Class Two at the Zoo - by Julia Jarman Illustrations by Lynne Chapman

Class two is going to the zoo! They see parrots squabbling and spotted cheetahs running. What they don't see is the crafty anaconda sliding from the water..... One by one, the students and even Teacher are gobbled up by the sneaky snake. That is, until one girl catches the snake in action. Can she save the day?

(pick up from web/book)

It's a little bit scary, don't worry, the brave little girl will recuse the swallowed teacher and classmates. Kids can learn the name of those animals You can play zoo game. Have fun!

Bear wants more

"When springtime comes, in his warm winter den a bear wakes up very hungry and thin!" Remember last time we talked about the Bear try very hard to stay up Christmas? Now, the spring is coming, of course the Bear wakes up. Bear finds some roots to eat, but that's not enough. He wants more!! With his friends' help, he finds some berries, clover, and fish to eat, but that's not enough. Bear wants more!!

How Bear's friends help him to finally satisfy his HUGE hunger in a most surprising way??

(pick up from web/book)

Gilroy Outlet

It's a wonderful day to go shopping in outlet. I have been there for couple times. Sometimes I drove, sometimes didnot. There are a lot of famous stores let you feel so exciting. For example, you can find the "hot" store "COACH" where always "people mountain people sea"! Of course, I bought some from there! Levi's, American Eagle, Body shop, Gap, Old Navy, Puma, Keneth cole, in and out burger, Timberland, Clark, some kitchenwares, BCBG, Banana Republic.....too much and hard to memorize.

Shopping is my favorite habit. I love shopping!!!

Bear stays up for Christmas

How was your last Christmas? Was it interesting? Have you receive any present from Santa? What is your expected present for next Christmas? Bear just want to give it a try " Stay-up for Christmas" Do you think he can make it?

Bear Stays up for Christmas is good to use in the day before Christmas in class. Bear likes to sleep in winter all day long but his friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up - by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!

(pick up from web/book)

Bear's new friend

Bear's new friend -by Karma Wilson / Jane Chapman

Bear is going to the swimming hole, but first he must find his friends. There's a clatter in the tree! Is is Mouse? No..... "Who?" calls Bear.

Something quickly scampers by! Is it Hare? No.... "Who?" calls Bear.

Someone seems to be hiding from Bear and his friends. Who is it? WHO? How Bear and his forest friends discover a NEW FRIEND will enchant young readers.

I bet you don't know the answer!! Fortunately, I know that and I will give you a hit to guess what animal hiding in the swimming hole.

An animal with feathers, 2 wings, feet, peak, great eyesight at night.

Never take a shark to the dentist

It seems a lot of book with the title as "Never...... the...", here the author of Judy Barrett created a story to tell us there are many things you should never ever, ever do.

Like sit next to a porcupine on the subway(ouch!). Or hold hands with a lobster(double ouch!). Or take a shark to the dentist (triple ouch!).

And the imaginative illustrator John Nickle give us a raucous look at the perils of taking giraffes to the movies, goats to the library, and pigs out to lunch....and other such silly stuff.

I love this book!!

A frog in the bog

A Frog in the Bog -Karma Wilson, Joan Rankin

There's a small, hungry frog sitting on the log in the middle of the bog.

He flicks ONE tick off of a stick.

He sees TWO fleas in the reeds.

He spies THREE flies buzzing in the skies.

The frog is feeling pretty fine, but the...... the log in the middle of the bog starts to rise.....

What s surprise!!

(picture from website)

Your can play the number game! And you can see the chant, kids will love it.

The foggy foggy forest

The foggy foggy forest by Nick Sharratt (picture from website)

"What can this be in the foggy, foggy forest?" (then you can see the shape from shadow)

That is a good to guess what creatures are coming next from the shadow. Each time you can make a different guess according to the displayed shadows. Sometime I am right but sometime wrong. The answer is always showed on the next page by fill of color. Most of the them are easy to guess from the known famous fairy tales. Quit fun!!

Bear series - Bear Feels Scared

I love the bears. Here is a pile of bear books you can see. You will surprise that how the kids love them!

Bear Feels Scared!

Bear's gone for a walk in the woods and gets hungry, so he decides to turn back. But the sun is setting and the sky's getting gray. A rainy storm kicks up and Bear just can't find his way.

Bear has many woodland friends around him and they play together, take care of each other in the dark dark windy night.

That will be the same experiences as anyone who has ever felt the fear of straying a little too far from home.

Karma Wilson / Jane Chapman

1. Bear snores on

2. Bear stays up for Christmas

3. Bear feels scared

4. Bear wants more

5. Bear's new friend

6. Bear feel sick

(picture from website)

Happy weekend~

The farmer market opens every Friday morning. I like to be there cause I can find many organic food specially strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, eggs, vegetables, milk and all kinds of peaches. There are a lot of person shopping here. the booth owners are pleased to invite everyone to give a try for all of their stuffs. Sometimes I will try the home made fresh salsa with a piece of cookie.....so wonderful taste and yummy. I love the hot flavor than mild one.

BTW, the price on farmer market is more lower than supermarket in USA. Chinese people loves to shop here as you can see and hear someone speak the mandarin and you will feel like you are in the China town.

Don't forget the flea market is also a good place to go. The first Saturday in a month, you can see so many trucks get into De Anza college parking lot. There are more than 50 booths you can shop. Maybe you can find something particular or valuable. Go hunting by yourself~

Tongue Twisted

Kids love tongue twisted!

James and campers are practicing hard for the last day performance which will show on Friday night 6:30 pm in Mountain View Pioneer Park stage. They are so amazing and acting better and better everyday.

It's really helpful to improve the accent.

i.e.

1. Sally sells a seashell in the seashore.

2. Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People

3. I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.

That's lovely, and try to find more from website. You can find it from "Tongue twisted for children".

Hope you enjoy it.

A penguin story

Remember the most popular books "Not A Stick", "Not A Box" and I told you I will show you guys the newest book from Antoinette Portis. Here it is!! " A Penguin Story" talking about Edna the penguin knows only the three colors that surround her, white ice, black night, and blue sea. She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest......a quest for color. When she finally finds what she's been looking for, it is everything she hoped for and more. But does that mean she will ever stop looking?

(picture by website/book)

White, thinks Edna. Like yesterday.

Black. Like tomorrow.

Blue, blue, blue. Forever

"There is white ice for sliding," says Edna.

"There is black night for seeing stars.

There is blue sea for hunting fish.

But there must be something else."

Look at the little penguin, she is trying hard to find something different with daily life. Good job!!

SPLASH ! Part V

Do you know where is the class three plan to go?

What happened to the class three at sea? Was there a shark? an octopus?

unexpected visitors? Guess what, they always got the way out........

Trust me, you will really enjoy this fantastic adventure story. Look at the picture on the cover page! Who is smiling and heading at the boat? What a terrible terrible thing is meeting the pirates at sea. Unfortunately, class three is too happy to ignore the sign of dangerous.......Who's gonna to sacrify for all of the classmates? Where is the teacher? Who can rescue them?

After that interesting story, I will bring you the other exciting story for "class two"!

(picture from website)

Class Three is going to sea!

They se dolphins, sea lions, flying fish, and an octopus that's all knotted up. What they don't see is the pirate ship sneaking up behind..... Before the students can say "Arr!" they're captured! That is, until their friends from the sea come to their aid. Can they save Class Three before the pirates reach Treasure Island?

Wonderful story!!

Wizard, Fairy, Chicken

This is a great book to learn about cooperation, team work and you can see how is the three become one!! I also suggest the song with lyrics "This old man" what you can link from as below.

BTW, you can play the "knick-knack" game in the class. That will be fun. Enjoy!

(picture from amazon)

Song: This old man

This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played three,
He played knick-knack on my knee;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on my door;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played five,
He played knick-knack on my hive;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played six,
He played knick-knack on my sticks;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played seven,
He played knick-knack up in Heaven;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played eight,
He played knick-knack on my gate;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played nine,
He played knick-knack on my spine;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played ten,
He played knick-knack once again;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

The little house

The Caldecott medal winner~ story and pictures by Virginia Lee Burton

In the middle of path, you can see 2 words "HER STORY", and the house looks smiling to you. The sun is in the sky, birds are flying across the house, window eyes are shining....everything looks so wonderful! And the house looks like our grandma! But who knows, things changed day by day, year by year. The buildings, cars, people become more and more...Where is the little house?

Luckily, they found it and move it to a little hill and she can see the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter come and go.

Is it beautiful? Yes, it is!

Discussion:

What are the differences between four seasons in this book?

What is city?

What is countryside?

Do you like to live in city or countryside?

What can you see in the city or countryside?

What are the differences between both of them?

Do you see the cover page illustrated by a round shape? In my opinion, that's a hit~ it presents that everything will go back to the very beginning! Am I right?

SPLASH ! Part IV

Where's the Fish? by Taro Gomi. It's a famous picture book translated to many different languages and still popular in every country. Where's the fish? He's hiding among the dots on a curtain, among the flowers in a spreading bouquet, among the little striped candies in a tall glass jar. There's the fish! Taro Gomi turned story time into an exciting game in a simple, funny book.

(picture by website)

Song: Row, Row, Row your boat ( I love this song)

Drawing : A fish

SPLASH ! Part III

The Octopus follow me home !! What? An octopus follow me home?? What a crazy story it is!!

Look! A kid pets an green octopus? Do you have any ideas that how many animals pet by the kid? Holly cow, you will never, ever believe that!! Do you pet any animals at home?

Song1: Ten little octopus (use the melody of ten little indians )

2: The fish go jumping in the pond, shu-shu-shu.....all day long.

The cram do nothing in the sea, um-um-um.....all day long.

The octopus go wiggling in the sea, wiggle-wiggle-wiggle..all day long.

Activity: cut out 5 sea creatures, a lobster/octopus/seashores/starfish/crab

create a small story for these good friends funny life in the sea. The kids will love you so much!

SPLASH ! Part II

You must heard about "Swimmy" by Leo Lioni. It's very good to

encourage kids to create themselves' particular crazy ideas.

(picture from website)

Swimmy by Leo Lioni: Swimmy and his friends learn that teamwork works!

Make a bulletin board display entitled “Fishing for Teamwork” and post photographs (with captions) of children engaged in everyday teamwork activities.

Examples: cleaning up block area together, carrying a tub of sand, sharing play-dough, etc. You’ll find that as you start to highlight teamwork, the children will bring instances of teamwork to your attention so that you can put it on the bulletin board.

Or, cut out 5 different color paper or fabric of fish (pink, red, green, blue, yellow fish)

Or, chant is also attractive~

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (count numbers and clap hands)

I got a fish alive.

6,7,8,9,10 (count numbers and clap hands)

But I let it go again !

SPLASH ! Part I

Here is quite hot in daytime under the sunny shine. Kids like to play in water and I would like to introduce some books related "water"

~ Here we go!

Book : The deep blue sea (picture from website)

There's the sea, the deep blue sea.

There's a rock, a red rock in the middle of the deep blue sea.

There's a tree, a green tree on a red rock in the middle of the

deep blue sea.

There's a nut, a brown nut on a green tree on a red rock in the

middle of the deep blue sea.

......

It's amazing, isn't it? I love it. you can find the rhythm is very cool.

Readers will love learning their colors with this brightly illustrated.

Activity:

a. Draw a picture what they hear!

b. Prepare 3 different colors of each item mentioned, students choice

the correct color and object to match the story.

Am I in the wonderland?

I believe you must heard about this story or watched the movie of "Alice in the wonderland". Here Ivy's real life is some kinds of similar with that. I lived in a big house with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 1 living room, 1 dining room, 1 game room with piano, backyard with flowers, fruit trees, small size basketball court, front yard and 1 garage. besides, there was a housekeeper to take care of our dinner. For me, holly cow!! It's really like a dream to live here.

BTW, I drove James to school in the morning then I went to my own classes. On Monday and Wednesday morning and evening I took 2 classes in adult community. On Tuesday and Thursday evening I took another class in the same place. It's quite interesting. Live in USA is so much fun and you can find so many incredible thing different from Taiwan. Most of people are polite, driving very smoothly, following all the traffic sign. Air is fresh and daytime lasting very long from 5am to 20:30pm. James loves here.

I went to library almost everyday and I found a pile of picture books are very interesting. I will try my best to introduce you all of them. Hope you will like them.

Enjoy!

USA trip

Dear friends,

Here is Ivy saying hello to eveyone. Do you miss me? Um...I don't think so. Since I didn't write my blog for a long time during the first semister in Taiwan. Now I am staying USA for almost 4 weeks and wish I can offer you some helpful information from now on. Guys....don't forget to give my comments if there are.

祝大家新年愉快~

各位伙伴們,辛苦啦......在這過去的日子裡,有您的
溫馨灌溉與經營,相信一定有許多參加此次繪本的
班級同學感受到您的努力與付出!!

海山的孩子真有福,我們也很有福,能夠有這塊園地
讓我們與同學們互相分享英語繪本的樂趣.....

繼續前進,在未來的日子裡也要幸福喔~