Lil' Dean Fam

I was substituting in first grade this week for the last day before Chinese New Year break.  It just so happened that first and fourth grade had their assembly together so I got to see exactly what the boys saw.  There were dancing Chinese teachers, a lantern dance, a lion dance, a game-show quiz and some audience sing-alongs.  It was pretty fun!  I sort of felt bad for the Spanish students who didn't know the songs or understand the Chinese spoken but they did everything bilingual so that was nice.  Gong Xi Fat Cai! Evan and Lucy Dancing Chinese Teachers Lantern Dancers Lion Dancers Finale by the Chinese Teachers This is a song they teach the kids in Chinese class.  It's about Chinese New Year and it has actions! It's a little bit like "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" Just a snipit of the Lion Dance at the assembly This is the most popular of CNY songs.  Leading up to CNY and all throughout, you hear this ...

The boys have completed the first half of their second semester at SAS and today we celebrated their learning with Student Led Conferences.  I was really impressed as to how this system is set up and runs at our school.  My kids led me through their respective classrooms showing me all the things they've been working on and learning.  Each classroom had different tables set up with the respective curriculum areas such as reading, writing, science, and social studies.  Ryan and Evan took me around the room and showed me how they'd been learning in each of those areas.   I was so impressed!  I am so proud of the boys and the progress they've made in school this year.  I really knew about all that they'd been doing because of their homework and my time volunteering in their classrooms but it was so fun to watch them show off their learning for me.  I have been particularly impressed with the technology integration in the intermediate school. ...

Chinese New Year is coming up! This year it falls on January 31st, and it's the Year of the Horse.  I had the privilege of attending a field trip to Chinatown with Evan and his class.  We saw the Buddha Relic Temple, walked around the market stalls, and saw part of the wet market.  Then we ate lunch at the Hawker Center, chicken rice, of course!  Evan was such a good boy and we all had a lot of fun.  Video enclosed at the end. Stole this image from a friend.

On Saturday we had some errands to run.  We jump in the taxi and Colin starts right in on the Chinese.  He spoke in Chinese most of the day.  This is a terrible video because the boys wouldn't leave me alone to take it. But I just thought you might like to see it!    Grandpa has been asking me about street food.  Every time I've talked to him, he's asked me about it.  I kinda feel badly, but I honestly haven't really tried many hawkers stalls.  These mall food courts are about the closest thing.  Anyway, I wanted to take some photos but I know I'll get brave and try some REAL street food in the future.  Pictures to follow!  The crowd  Sorry for the reflection in this one.  No, a woman's hand is not coming out of the chicken, it's the reflection.  There is however, a full chicken (with feet and head intact staring back at you).  Some fried food.  Evan's been learning some songs in Chi...