Classroom Shortage

Dear CACC Board Members:

Chinese School of Delaware has been facing the class room shortage starting 9/2008. The CSD school board had come up with a two year plan trying to resolve the class room shortage issue by combining the two pre-K classes (PK-A and PK-B) for one of the period during the school hours since the beginning of school year 9/2008. We have recently received feed back from teachers and parents that this arrangement has caused difficulty in classroom management for the teachers and also comprimised the effectiveness and quality of students’ learning experiences. The school is proposing to move the starting time of incoming pre-K and K classes to 1:oo pm starting in fall 2009, the rest of the classes remain starting at 1:30pm. The school will remain ending at 4:00pm on sundays.

On behalf of the Chinese School of Delaware, the CSD school board is requesting the approval from CACC Board members for the usages of 3 class rooms, starting from 1pm ( which is 30 minutes earlier then the current schedule) , while the rest of the class rooms will start from 1:30pm-4pm on sundays when the Chinese School is in session, starting this fall, 2009. We hope to hear from the CACC board’s decision by mid March, so we can communicate the new schedule to the parents at the general parents’ meeting on April 5.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

regards,
Tsuey-chen Long

Chinese New Year Presentation

Follwoing is the story how Bill present Chinese New Year to his children’s classes.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Dear Teachers,

First, I would like to wish everybody a early Happy Chinese New Year!

As Chinese educators, I know we are all very passionate about the Chinese culture, so I want to share something that we do in our kids’ (Katelyn and Brandon) classrooms that you may find interesting.

Each year around this time, we would book a short period of time (usually around 30 minutes) in each of our children’s class to talk about Chinese New Year. This can be done during “mystery reader”, “special guest”, or any other time slots reserved for outside visitors.

As preparation, we order a few small items from Oriental Trading that includes a red envelope and a couple of small Chinese toys for each student in Brandon and Katelyn’s classrooms. We would translate each student’s English name into Chinese and use a PowerPoint template (attached, PowerPoint 2007) to print out a customized Chinese New Year pamphlet for each student. The pamphlets would go into the red envelopes. We also buy big bags of individually wrapped fortune cookies from Chinatown. Our budget is approximately $1.50 for each student (2 classes, 50 students & teachers = $50-70 a year, but you can of course scale up or down as you wish).

For the visit, I use a display board to discuss various aspects  of Chinese New Year: traditions, food, firecrackers, lion and dragon dance, special clothing, and of course red envelopes. We would take questions and facilitate discussions about similarities and differences between Chinese New Year and other western holidays. After that we hand the gifts (red envelope with their Chinese name, the Chinese toys, and a fortune cookie) to each student. If time permits, I would show a short, 5-minute video of Lion Dance by our CSD students.

We have been doing this for the past 4 years, and the reception has been phenomenal. Students, from 3 to 9 years old, were very interested in all areas of Chinese culture and we had some very lively discussions. They also loved their Chinese names and other gifts. Each year we get numerous thank-you notes and class projects thanking us for the wonderful experience. We even had a parent telling us that her daughter slept with her red envelope and the toys at night for a week!

I encourage you to get engaged in this type of activities. If you are interested to learn more, please let me know. I posted a few pictures at the following gallery:

 http://www.billtsaiphoto.com/gallery/7173208_aocQv

Chinese New Year template

 Bill

一片金秋 – 一封來自蔣海瓊的電郵

以下是她的電郵全文，一位罹患漸凍人症以她無力的手所寫的一篇文章及拍攝的秋景照片。貼本文的目的是有感於一個罹患罕見疾病的人在肉體疼痛關節僵硬的情況下依然對人生及她週遭的人事物有著樂觀的見解，怎不讓我這有健康身體，景況比她好，卻常唉聲嘆氣的人自形慚愧？為尊重原作者，我將全部原文張貼如下：

　　十一月初，幾場秋雨過後。一位朋友知道我愛欣賞換了秋裝的紅葉，提議帶我出去逛逛。他駕著我的小白車，一路向山間開去。秋陽下的樹林，舖張著不同層次的紅、黃、綠。有的葉子已經落在地上，有的在空中飛舞，有的在樹梢上泛著金光。
我取出相機，想捕捉這一片亮麗的金秋。沒想到，我的病情已經從雙腿影響到上肢，雙手竟然無法負荷換了長鏡頭的相機。朋友耐心的說，我幫你扶著鏡頭吧！於是，每一次看到一個令人驚嘆的美景，朋友就停下車來，等我在座位上取好角度，他已經從駕駛座下來，走到車門邊幫我穩定相機。
我ㄧ面欣賞大自然的美，一面心裡想：為什麼我不在健康的時候，多出來走走？為什麼等困在車上不能爬山以後才．．．？為什麼．．．？為什麼．．．？我立刻制止自己負面的思想，不要因為追悔過去，而又錯失了眼前的美景。再說，我雖然困在輪椅上，還能出遊，不是該感恩嗎？於是，我的心緒隨著小白車攀爬在蜿蜒的山林間，獻上一個又一個感恩的祈禱。
2007年年初， 我發現右腳無力，走路困難。經過十個月的檢查，醫生診斷我得了漸凍人症。這兩年來，我從右腳帶著護踝、配著支架，到拄拐杖、助行器(walker)、使用電動輪椅。現在，又出現雙臂無力，甚至有吞嚥和說話困難的情形。在這樣急速發展的病情之下，我還能獻上感恩嗎？是的：

* 我感謝女兒、女婿的貼心愛護
* 我感謝有最好的醫療團隊照顧我
* 我感謝有幾十個家庭輪流為我提供飲食
* 我感謝上帝為我預備了一間一層樓的房子，居住較為安全
* 我感謝搬家期間有幾十個人幫忙打包、搬運、油漆、開箱、整理．．．
* 我感謝上帝仍然賜給我教書、講道的機會
* 我感謝溪水旁關懷單親家庭協會在美國和台灣兩地都如常舉行成長營、專題講座．．．等活動
* 我感謝在病中仍能透過電腦Skype向北美、台灣的學員教學
* 我感謝上帝賜給我好的胃口和甜美的睡眠
* 我感謝上帝賜給我正面積極的態度面對每一天的挑戰
* 我感謝海內外朋友的關心、支持、和代禱
* 我感謝．．．．．

　　當我開始數算上帝的恩典時，發現自己是那麼富足。剎那間，我的心隨著金色的陽光，在不同顏色的葉片間飛舞。我不再尋找完美的葉子，而是欣賞那被蟲咬過、被雨打傷的葉片。葉面上的斑斑點點是生命掙扎的痕跡，而不完美的五角楓葉仍在秋風下展露誘人的風姿，彷彿在向天地宣告，也好像在對罹患絕症的我說：「我不服輸，我不放棄，我要在陽光下展現生命的美。」仰起頭，我的視線穿過金黃、豔紅、深綠的樹梢，迎向藍天白雲，心中默默回應：「是啊！好好活著就是美！」
親愛的朋友，請為北美賓州十二月五日至七日的溪水旁單親成長營禱告，願神賜下好的天氣，願聖靈透過講員的信息改變參與者的生命。也請為我明年一、二月份回台灣領會的行程禱告。感謝神，一位曾經擔任助理護士和宣教士的朋友安媚爾女士(Imelda Fadullo Andricks) 將全程照顧我。

再一次謝謝您的關愛，請繼續支持溪水旁在北美、台灣兩地的事工。謝謝。

願賜恩惠的主，時時與你同在。

Ps. 歡迎上網 http://albums.phanfare.com/PaulineChiang 點一下Fall Leaves 一片金秋，再點一下 Start slideshow，就可以看到我拍的秋葉，音樂也很美，曲名就是「秋葉」(Autumn Leaves)。ㄧ定要上去看，怡情養性喲！

Love in Christ,

蔣 海 瓊
Pauline Chiang, D. Min.
President, By Streams of Water, Inc.
理事長, 溪水旁關懷單親家庭協會

他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁、按時候結果子、葉子也不枯乾．凡他所作的、盡都順利。詩篇一：3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in
season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:3)

對中文學校的發展與期許

 

早在三十年前，就有中文學校的出現，當時不論是社會資源、硬體設施、教材教具、師資培訓、學生人數、學校規模、政府(臺灣)補助、校際交流、人力財力物力都比不上今天，靠著當時一些前輩們的披荊斬棘，默默耕耘，好不容易開創了基石，也讓我們後來的享受了果實。這些年來，有心人士亦不斷的加入，對中文學校的延續，有卓越的貢獻，也讓美國的社會對中文教育，多少有了一些瞭解。寫本文的目的，不是在歌功頌德，也絕非自我陶醉，是在知恩感恩之餘，忖度如何就現有基礎再向前邁步。

 

一、自籌財源

把錢放在頭一個來談，好像有些市儈，但是任誰都清楚，有錢好辦事，任誰都明白，天下沒有白吃的午餐。只可惜中國人至今對籌募款項不是沒興趣就是沒經驗，對捐款不是對捐獻對象沒信心，就是覺得只出不進，心裏不安心，看見自己辛苦的血汗錢白白給了別人，想起來就痛心。其實對象是自己應該相當熟悉的中文學校，錢也是花在自己的子女身上，即使是用在給老師進修，也是給自己的子女(或以後別人的子女)請好老師，應當寬心放心。

 

其次，辦活動、出版教材、義賣等也是籌募經費的好方法，但我覺得都不如向企業募款來得多；但是對贊助的企業要尊重及給予一些考量。舉個例子，當年公平保險公司贊助了各區各州乃至全美的中華文化常識問答比賽多年，但是當他們的經記人請求到學校舉行投資講座時，部份學校不歡迎或完全不支持，以致參加人數寥寥可數，加上平時不相往來，只是在活動前申請經費，所以一旦負責人轉任，贊助隨即停止，不但增加後續活動經費的困難，更讓其他企業望之卻步。向企業或個人募款已成了專業，傳統式靠關係、套交情的方式一旦任何一方不在其位，這條路就斷了線，關於籌款，實有賴我們集思廣益。

 

二、走入社區

中文學校發展至今，只有極少數的學校與社區服務結合，把中文教育成為社區教育的一環。就我個人所知，光為了教學內容、教學方向、教學活動、提昇學習興趣、找老師、找校務行政人員、支援或主辦地區活動，就已經筋疲力盡，還要面對經費不足的困擾，自己白天還要上班養家活口，那有多餘時間和精力開辦社區中文教學服務？多年來我們就一直在這個圈圈中打轉，開展不出，德裔或法裔人口絕不比華裔人口，但是德語及法語一直是各高中的外語選修課程之一，除了紐約、加州等地區外，甚少聽說有中國人競選學區委員或家長會長甚至參加教育公聽會，固然部份原因是中國人對於上述活動沒有專長，但是與主流社會保持接觸、和社區領袖交換意見、甚至共同主辦活動，卻是未來爭取支持的基礎。過去幾年的重要活動如中國新年、中國節、文化夏令營、海華文藝季等都沒有什麼主流人士的參與，總是淪為自己辦活動自己參加的階層。要想使中文教育得到主流社會的重視，進而成為正規學制的一部份，就必須與社區結合，不僅是教中文，還要教文化，目的不僅是推廣中華文化，更重要的是縮短文化差距，增進了解，避免不必要的誤解及歧視。如此吃牛肉的不必對吃狗肉的大加撻伐，愛清蒸龍蝦的不必指責愛吃醉蝦的。

 

三、教材研發

教材教具一直是中文學校的困擾，一方面我們不斷的聽到對現有教材各式各樣的批評，一方面又一直無法整合專家人材編撰教材，另一方面又無法說服家長購買，限於經費，又無法每個學生一份。一套教材的問市，除了老師的專精知識，還需要編輯、翻譯、美工、校對、考証、打字排版、印刷、發行等等的工作，若再加上多媒體的製作、網路網頁、錄音錄影、輔助教材、教學檢討、測驗評量、師資培訓、市場調查，絕非一人甚至數人能力可及，我們不是沒有這方面的專家與人材，但是我們無法要求一份高水準的教材而不考慮應有的報酬，這又牽涉了經費問題。

 

有好的教材，有主流社會的認同，接著便是師資認証。越來越多的知名學府在開辦師資認証課程，但迄今為止，好像都沒有一套認証標準，個人認為應集合專家，認真發展一套(一套就好)認証標準，向幾個主流機構如美國中小學教師協會、大學理事會去推行，這說來容易，做起來可是要花費精神、時間、和經費的，我們去那裏找這群人呢?

 

四、學生背景

近些年來一個值得注意的現象是來自臺灣的移民多集中在東西兩面岸的大城市，以往的中文學校，年級越小，學生越多，但是隨著臺灣新移民人數在部分州的減少，有許多學校小班的學生人數開始年年遞減，加上注音拼音的爭議，使得所謂的傳統中文學校有式微的跡象，如何使這些學校順利轉型成社區中文學校，例如中文成人班，收養家庭中文班，乃至於中華文化班(烹飪、書法、國畫、國樂、棋藝等等)已越行重要，然而這方面的師資、教材、培訓、經驗、經費、推廣計劃皆是不足，如何說服地方政府協助乃為當務之急。

 

2008-09 Speech Contest

The speech contest rules have changed a little bit this year based on last year’s feedback. For the whole school contest, in addition to the first three places from each grade all interested students are encouraged to participate.

The junior group’s age has changed to 11 years and below so there will be no lower age limit. By the same token, senior group’s age has changed to 12 years and older.

Track B is not separated from track A this year because we only have two track B classes eligible: 3B and 5B.

The speech contest information is available at the wiki site: http://chineseschoolde.wikispaces.com

10A connection to Advanced Class

From the wiki posting, 10A students should be able to move on to the Advanced Class without problems. Advanced Class has written exercise every week. I assume this writing is using pencil and paper. This could be a gap because I have asked 10A students focused on typing instead of writing. In order to have a smooth transition to the Advanced Class should students choose to do so, I need to start to assign written homeworks.

10A students should have enough vocabulary and necessary culture background for entering the Advanced Class. Currently, 10A is using Book 9 due to the connection issue when we switched text books. We don’t have 9A this year (2008-09) so we will continue to use Book 9 for next year.

10A connection to 9A

There is no 9A syllabus available.

Syllabi Considerations

Dear teachers:
 
Thank you all for providing your current syllabi. Now we have syllabi posted on our wiki, I think we can start next step. Pleaset of  check and compare the grade you are currently teaching, the grade before and the grade after. For example, if you are teaching grade 4B, please check and compare the syllabi for grade 3B and grade 5B to see if they are aligned.

Please do not make any changes but make a note of the changes you would like to have and either post it on the wiki on the current grade you are teaching or post it on the blog at http://chineseschoolde.wordpress.com
 
When we have collective information after this practice, we should have a pretty good picture on what kind of changes we would like to make at our next meeting.

I noticed that several teachers have posted new information for her classes. That’s great! If you have some successful strategies or stories, please share them also on the wiki or the blog.

In case you have not noticed, there are two new links: Learning Resources and Teaching Material that contain some useful stuff for you to use.

Thanks.
 
Tommy,

Classroom arrangement

From principal Tang:

Dear boarad members,
 
I would like to call for your attention on one major issue: classroom shortage next school year.
 
We need to act fast to solve this issue because next year we definitely have classroom shortage problems.
 
This year we managed to combine PReK A and B classes to share one classroom.  So far, the teachers have been struggling to teach two classes during 2nd period.
 
CSD administrators will discuss with two teachers on Sunday to help their problems.  However I can assure you that teachers do NOT like the idea of combining classes to share one classroom.
 
Before we made such adjustment, all was talk.  No teacher has actually taught in such a scenario.  Now two teachers are actually teaching such combination classes and so far, they really do have problems.  They have expressed the wishes to either find another classroom or move up A class to 1 pM.
 
I  think in the next board meeting, board members should really look into next year’s classroom arrangement first.
 
Thanks n regards,
Fancia

Montessori School Complaints

From: Nancy Pu-Chou

I am in favor of Phoebe’s suggestion for now.
If you have further communications, please post it on CACC Blog at http://caccboard.wordpress.com.  However, you need to first give your email address to Tommy at lu@dtcc.edu.  So he can regeister you and give the username and password to you. 

Tommy. my email: npchou88@aol.com

 

Nancy Pu-Chou
Prudential Fox and Roach Associates
302.235.6411
nancy.puchou@prufoxroach.com
A Rock Solid Realtor since 1989
Accredited Staging Professional
Accredited Luxury Home Specialist
Certified Relocation Specialist

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:09 pm
Subject: Re: Montessori School complaints

Hi, I like to share some thoughts - 

We will need to get their buy in from both of the two Chinese schools to make this solution work.  My major concern is whether they have the funding available, it sounded not easy to get the other Chinese School to pay their rent up front at the last Board meeting.  It will be fair to listen to what they have to say about the complaints.  An open discussion with all three schools hopefully will come up with some feasible ideas.& nbsp;

Invite the two Chinese School principals to the next meeting, and make it clear if they do not attend we will then implement a solution.  I think that are appropriate steps to take procedurally.  Thanks.

Phoebe 

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 4:59 pm
Subject: Re: Montessori School complaints

We definitely need to work on the problem. However, I don’t think the Chinese Schools will accept easily our proposal of depositing $2,000 with CACC at the beginning of each school year. I think we need to find a diplomatic way to communicate with them. How about we ask them if they have any pro posed solutions for the problem? We can work through the alternatives with the Chinese schools. If they can’t come up with a better solution, we can, then, impose a deposit from each school. This is my 2 cents.
I’ll be out of town on September 27, 28 and Oct 4, 5 for 2 weddings. Please carry on with=2 0the meeting without me. I am supporting any solution that will solve the problem.
Shirley

—– Original Message —-
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 7:56:56 AM
Subject: Re: Montessori School complaints 

Kai,

Is it okay if you can please post your suggestion on CC’s Blog http://caccboard.wordpress.com? ; We can then respond on there with each of our own thoughts and ideas.

Nancy

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 8:08 pm
Subject: RE: Montessori School compl aints

I hope we can get together first to put in $ amounts for the proposal and come up with ideas on how to a sk each school to accept the proposal.  Then we meet the principal individually on a weekend (during Chinese School hours) to finalize the proposal. 

  

I donʼt think we need the principals to come to our next CCC board meeting; especially they might cancel at the last minute.  Hopefully, we have something to report back to Elizabeth at our next CCC board meeting on Oct.. 20.

 

The week of Sep. 29 is good for me to meet.

 

Any other ideas?

0A

 

Kai

 

---

Subject: Re: Montessori School complaints

 

It is worth a try. When we have the 2 principals of Chinese Schools to attend the next CCC board meeting, we certainly should propose it as one of the alternatives unless they have a better solution.
Shirley

 

—– Original Message —-
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:46:25 PM
Subject: Montessori School complaints

 Hi, 

 

Regarding Montessori School toddler playground/equipment and classroom complaints, my wife Yih-Fen has an idea.  We will ask each Chinese School to put do wn say $2000 as deposit now.  When the weekend m anager sees an older child(ren) using the toddler equipment, we will deduct certain money from the deposit.  The deduction is for each incident, not for each weekend.  The deduction also applies to classroom complaints.  For each incident, we will deduct money and give the money to the classroom teacher.  If the Chinese School cares, they will do whatever to prevent money being deducted.  At the end of the school year, they will get their left over money (if any) back.  Any broken equipment will use their deposit money to fix (instant deduction).

 

What do you think?

 

Kai