RESONO
SPRING
2017
NEWSLETTER
Resono Children Center
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Contact:
Board of Directors:
Resonochildrencenter@gmail.com Address: P.O. Box 1787 Suwanee, GA 30024 Jinhee Kim, Ph.D. Sangwon Kim, Ph.D Kyu Lee, Esq. John Woo, Esq.
Advisory Board Committee:
Sohyun An, Ph.D. Wing Yi Chan, Ph.D. Linda Grant, Ph.D. H. Sophia Han, Ph.D. Kristine Hwang, MFA Bena Lee, M.D., Ph.D. Jeongyi Lee, Ph.D. Minjung Lim, Ph.D.
Laura Mahalingappa, Ph.D. Nihat Polat, Ph.D
Editor’s Notes:
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Every journey starts with one step. I am delighted that Resono Children Center, Inc. has moved step by step to advocate children and their families from diverse backgrounds. Since 2015, we have been working to make respectful and meaningful community to live together in a diverse society.
Resono
[/’re.so.no:/] Comes from a latin word:
re: “back, again” sono: “make a noise, sound, resound”
OUR
MISSION
“
Our work advocates for the voices of children from diverse backgrounds and their families; strengthens the agency and capability of children and their families from diverse backgrounds; and promotes mutual understanding among all children, regardless of race/ethnicity, language, religion, class, gender, ability, or other differences; and contributes to building a respectful community to live together in a diverse society.
“
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2016 2017
s r o d a ss a b m A h t u o Y r n e a t c n i r e e C m n e A r n d l a i Asi sono Ch @ Re
Asian American Yout Leadership Initiative
T
his program was designed for Asian American youth (rising 10th-12th graders) attending high schools in GA to promote leadership skills, explore their own strengths as Asian Americans, develop healthy cultural/ethnic identity, and to give back their strengths to community. The program included: 1) Learning Asian American’s leadership & civic action in history, which is generally not taught in school curriculum. 2) Conversation with local Asian American leaders. 3) Team project.
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, s s e c o r p w e i v e r s u ! to o s r r d o e o t g d i c r e sa l h s e g a s u b e o r Thr ents we Youth Am 5 stud American Rosa Kim n a i s (Mt. Pisgah Christian School) A Angelina Suwoto
About Timothy Hwang
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s the founder and CEO of FiscalNote, Tim was recognized to the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Prior to starting Fiscal Note in Silicon Valley, he started his career in politics as a field organizer for the Obama ’08 campaign. He was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education a year later. Tim also served as the President of the 750,000-member National Youth Association (https://fiscalnote.com/team/tim-hwang/). Hwang is the son of immigrants from Korea and was born in East Lansing, MI and raised in Potomac, MD. At Princeton, he worked on policies to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs on campus and in the community. In 2009, he was named as Time magazine and Bentley University’s Tomorrow25, for his “leadership and creativity to make the world a better place.”
(Brookwood High School)
Sabrina Chua
(South Forsyth High School )
Hannah Ann
(Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology)
Ethan Tsaur
(Northview High School)
Ambassadors’ Work
(Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Hwang )
Rosa Kim
(Mt. Pisgah Christian School) did a wonderful short interview with Mr. Tim Hwang, Fiscal Note. Interview Dates: 10/28/2016
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SPOKEN WORDS We are thankful for having such a great community members for the initiative
&
Kavi Antony Vu Bui Kavi Vu and Antony Bui are spoken words artists who both won Kollaboration Atlanta. Together, they perform at shows and conferences across the U.S., hoping to inspire and entertain their audience through poetry and comedy. They hope to be positive role models for the youth, as they feel Asian representation in the media is dangerously low. They are deeply passionate about Asian culture and making sure it is preserved as generations pass. They discussed about the issues that the students as Asian Americans could face in school and community.
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Dr. Steve Kim (Emory University)
Dr. Steven Charles Kim was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Huntsville, AL. After graduating from Grissom High School in 2005, Steven attending Princeton University where he concentrated in Chemistry and minored in Music Performance. In 2009, Steven returned to Atlanta to begin his studies at Emory School of Medicine, and upon receiving his MD, he matched at Emory to begin his residency in general surgery in 2013. He is currently in his 3rd year of post-graduate training for surgery. He is conducting a 2-year research sabbatical in transplant immunology at the Emory Transplant Center under the direction of Andrew Adams, MD, PhD. After his time in the laboratory is complete, Steven intends to return to his clinical residency to finish his general surgery training, then pursue a fellowship in solid organ abdominal transplantation surgery.
Dr. Wing Yi Chan (Georgia State University) Dr. Wing Yi Chan is an Assistant Professor from the Department of Psychology, Georgia State Universtiy. Her research focuses on promoting positive youth development among adolescents and young adults from diverse backgrounds. Her most recent research examines how civic and political participation can prevent problem behaviors and promote successful transition to adulthood. For example, her recent projects investigate how to encourage immigrant adolescents and college students to engage in civic and political activities. Her work also addresses the development, implementation, and evaluation of school-based interventions (e.g., mentoring, service-learning) designed to promote academic success.
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We, Immigrant Parents, Are Special!
Dr. Sohyun An, Associate Professor of Social Studies Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
I am an immigrant and I have a daughter who is a second-grader this year. I grew up
“
Here, I want to share three lessons from my students, school teachers and my own experience, which may be helpful for immigrant parents like me regarding parent engagement.
in South Korea and came to the US 13 years ago for my doctoral study. Thus, parenting
and helping my child with US schooling is all new to me. In some sense, I am for tunate. I
studied teacher education with focus on socials studies education for my doctoral degree, and I am currently a professor of elementary teacher education at a state university in Georgia. My students [in my courses] are
”
Don’t be shy to ask question. If you
have a question about homework, testing,
current or future elementary school teachers,
curriculum or school events, don’t hesitate to
and I often work with local schoolteachers for
ask your child’s teacher. She will be more than
various research projects. My interactions with
happy to help you. I learned this through
teachers and education major students have
my mistake.
taught me a lot about American education
Last year around Valentine’s Day, I found
and parent involvement. I find what my
a note from my daughter’s backpack, stating
students and schoolteachers share with me
“Dear parents, please send Valentine envelopes
are very beneficial because I get to hear about
for every classmates.” I wasn’t sure what the
education from the teachers’ perspectives.
Valentine envelope was, but I thought it must
For example, parent teacher conference! I
be just envelopes. So, I sent 22 envelopes, and
might have been very nervous during my first
my daughter came home on that day crying,
parent teacher conference with my child’s
“Mommy I was so embarrassed. Everyone
teacher if I didn’t learn about parent teacher
brought the Valentines goody bags, and mine
conference from a teacher’s perspectives. My
has nothing inside.” I was so sorry for her.
students shared with me that teachers are as
Since then on, I ask whenever I am not sure.
nervous as parents when they are preparing
American teachers may not know some parents
parent teacher conference, and teachers are so
especially parents from other countries may
eager to hear from parents and work together
not know something that is so natural for
to make the best for the children. My students
American parents. So ask, and teachers love
indeed helped me less nervous about parent
to teach!
teacher conference, enjoy meeting with my child’s teacher, and share my concerns and wishes about my child.
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Don’t hesitate to make a suggestion. Teachers love new ideas
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and incorporate students’ family cultures.
In a related note, social studies is the best subject we as immigrant parents can engage in school. Social
Particularly, an immigrant family may have
studies is all about people, place, culture,
a different tradition from American families,
and history. Most teachers and students in
and the difference can be an asset than barrier
our children’s classroom may not know much
for your children and others’ learning. For
about other places, people, cultures and
example, tooth tradition! The first time losing
histories than America’s. We can enrich their
a tooth is a big deal and various countries have
teaching and learning by sharing what we
different traditions.
know about our own culture and tradition. In
Unlike America where they put it under the
elementary social studies curriculum, children
pillow and wait for the tooth fairy, in South
are learning about American heroes, holidays,
Korea we throw the tooth onto the roof.
money, government, continents, oceans and
When my daughter, Jackie’s tooth felled out
landforms. By sharing our knowledge, we can
first time, Jackie wanted to put in it under
broaden America-focused learning to a global
her pillow. She already knew the American
level. It can be as simple as bringing photos
tradition from her friends and children’s
of the city and countryside of your country or
books here in America. So, I let her do it but
brining coins from your country.
also I told her about Korean tradition. She
You can come to class and read a children’s
got so excited and curious what kids in other
book about holidays, heroes or myth from
countries do when their tooth falls out. So,
your own country. What I did last year was,
we went to a local library and we found a
right after open house, I asked Jackie’s teacher
book called “Throw you tooth on the roof:
about the social studies topics that they would
Tooth traditions from around the world”.
work on for the year. After brainstorming, we
Jackie enjoyed reading the book so much.
decided it would be great if I could send some
So, I emailed her teacher and recommended
coins and children’s book and photos about
the book because 6 and 7 years olds are
Korean holidays because the first grade social
experiencing the excitement and pride of
studies included money and national holidays.
losing a tooth! A week after, I got a note
Jackie and her friends loved to see, hear,
from the teacher, “Mrs. An, it was so helpful!
touch something from a country called South
Students loved it! Thank you so much!” So,
Korea and find something similar and different
reach out your child’s teacher if you have an
between the two countries.
idea. It can be as simple as tooth tradition. As an immigrant parent with different culture and tradition from American family, we can
WE ARE SPECIAL!
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contribute to global awareness of our children and other children and the teachers.
In conclusion, we are special! We immigrant parents can enrich our own children, other children, and the teacher experience in the classroom by bringing what we know the best, our culture, history, and tradition. Our different language and culture are not disadvantage, but an amazing asset! Dr. Sohyun An is an Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.
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I am teaching at Humboldt State
Most school psychologists work in
University, one of the California State
public schools. If your child attends a
University campuses, as a faculty member
public school, you should be able to find a
of the psychology department. One of the
school psychologist working at the school.
main responsibilities I have at the university
However, if your child goes to a charter
is to train graduate students who intend
school or a private school, there may or may
to serve children and their families in K-12
not be a school psychologist on the staff.
schools. You may or may not be familiar
In that case, it is still possible to receive
with school psychologists, but I hope that
services through a public school located
this column will help you understand what
nearby. Now you may wonder how to access
school psychologists can do for children,
such services, when you notice your child
especially those who come from culturally,
struggling or the teacher says your child is
linguistically diverse backgrounds.
not making progress.
What Can a School Psychologist Do for Your Child in Schools? School psychologists are trained to
There are several steps to take, but you
perform a variety of roles in schools.
can begin the process by expressing
For example, they work with students,
your concerns to the teacher or a school
teachers, and parents when students
psychologist. Upon request, a group of
struggle academically. They can help to
professionals involved in your child’s
develop personalized educational plans
education, such as a general classroom
to accommodate the needs of students.
teacher, a school psychologist, a school
School psychologists also help children
counselor, a principle, will schedule a
with social, emotional, and behavioral issues.
meeting and discuss ways to help your child.
Through individual or group counseling
When your child does not show expected
services, school psychologists can help
improvements after interventions are being
children to learn skills necessary, such as
implemented for a certain period of time, a
how to regulate emotion and behavior, and
school psychologist may need to formally
how to make friends. For example, children
evaluate your child to find out what is
with attention deficit and hyperactivity
going on. There are a variety of assessment
disorder (ADHD) may have difficulty paying
methods utilized, such as intelligence tests,
attention and completing work in class.
achievement tests, social emotional rating
Then a school psychologist may help the
scales, and functional behavior analysis.
teacher and parent with strategies that can
Assessment results can help you and
increase the child’s academic engagement
teachers to better understand the needs the
and work completion rate in classroom as
child may have. This also can lead to more
well as at home.
intensive interventions needed to remediate the problems your child may have.
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“
When you notice your child struggling or the teacher says your child is not making progress. There are several steps to take, but you can begin the process by expressing your concerns to the teacher or a school psychologist.
”
Dr. Sangwon Kim, Assistant Professor, Humboldt State University, CA
School psychologists can be of great resource and work with parents in creating a better educational environment for the child.
Words for Future Youth Initiative Participants: talked by Angelina Suwoto
(Brookwood High School)
So far, I provided general descriptions
facilitated communications between the
F
or this initiative, you need to be confident
of school psychological services and
parents and teacher. She also helped the
procedures, and I would like to talk about
parents to understand their right to Jamie’s
some challenges that children and their
education. In order to address Jamie’s
matter if you got straight A’s or if your GPA
parents from diverse backgrounds may
delayed language development, aggressive
is like or if you won the national cheering
experience in the US education system. In
behavior, and hyperactivity, the school
competition or something. It only matters if
doing so, I am going to use a case, which
psychologist conducted assessments, and
you are willing to make a difference. If you
is not a real child but represents some of
based on assessment findings, developed
come here, that means you do not know
the unique issues. Jamie is a young boy
individualized educational plans for
enough. But, at least you are taking the first
attending a Kindergarten in a suburban
classroom as well as for home.
couple of steps to become a leader. My advice
area. His parents are immigrants from
As illustrated in Jamie’s case, some
China and speak limited English. Jamie’s
immigrant parents often find it challenging
teacher is concerned that he is aggressive
to communicate with teachers about their
towards peers and constantly moving
children, partly due to language barriers
around in the classroom.
and lack of familiarity with American
Also, though he speaks some English
schooling. However, it is of importance
words, his speech is not understandable
that parents are knowledgeable about their
for the most part. His parents have seen
rights to child education and advocate for
similar behaviors at home and share the
their child.
concerns. However, the communication
School psychologists can be of great
between the parents and the teacher has
resource and work with parents in creating
been difficult because of language barriers.
a better educational environment for
Moreover, the parents feel intimidated as
the child. Dr. Sohyun An is an Associate
they are not familiar with the American
Professor of Social Studies Education at
education system. A school psychologist
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.
in your skills, but you need to be humble
in your knowledge. At this seminar, it doesn’t
I have for you guys is that come with an open mind. Be ready to confront some pretty controversial issues. Don’t be boring. Don’t be shy. Don’t be normal. This will have a great fun so get ready to be a leader.
PRESS PLAY
came on board with an interpreter and
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DONATE You can easily donate: http://www.resono.org/donate You may write a check to "Resono Children Center" and mail to: Resono Children Center P.O. Box 1787 Suwanee, GA 30024
Editor in Chief: Creative Director: Contributing Photographer: Contributing Writers:
Jinhee Kim Kristin Hwang Eric Yi Jinhee Kim Sohyun An Sangwon Kim
Designers:
Tyra Bullock Rositsa Asenova Eric Liu
Are you interested in being volunteers?
Volunteers make a big difference! Please contact us resonochildrencenter@gmail.com or visit our website www.resono.org
Resono Children Center
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Email:
resonochildrencenter@gmail.com Address: P.O. Box 1787 Suwanee, GA 30024 Resono Children Center @2017 All rights reserved