talyn

About - The Wongs The Wongs

Talyn

Talyn Wong, contrary to popular belief, is not a Chinese woman. Her eyes don’t “look like this,” although I can understand you might have been expecting “…someone else.” (Quotes courtesy of actual students and their parents.) Instead, she’s a tall, strawberry-blonde, freckle-faced girl with legs whiter than the snow on a clear winter day in Minnesota. Reading with Alena

I’m a wife, future mother, teacher, children’s literature connoisseur, and choral singer. I have the most fabulous husband, and he just keeps getting better. He’s pretty much what I always wanted: talented, good, handsome, righteous, kind, hard working, creative, and driven. We’re expecting a little girl at the end of July. I enjoy being pregnant (truly), and I’m looking forward to having a sweet daughter and to being married to a father. Additionally, although I love my career, I’m looking forward to staying home with that little girl for a while.

I taught fourth grade last year. I taught at a fabulous school and learned heaps. I’m not a huge fan of the science and social studies portions of the curriculum in fourth grade (dirt, Utah ecosystems, and Utah history) but I really enjoyed the age group. My personality fit in the fourth grade. This year I’m teaching sixth grade, which has a fabulous curriculum (astronomy, light, sound, and world history) but the age group brings with it some challenges. Growing up is hard to do, and I’m not sure I’m built to help people do it. It seems that a lot more of it happens in sixth grade than in fourth. However, I am one of those people made to be a teacher. I know no other career would make me as happy as teaching does, even when I come home wishing it were summer. Yes, that happens to me just like it happens to every other teacher, and every student for that matter. The joys outweigh the difficulties, and I’m positive I made the right career choice.

Teaching in Fiji Along with being an elementary school teacher comes being a connoisseur of children’s literature. The two just go hand in hand. So whether I’m reading to my kids, for my kids, or for myself I get a whole lot read. I enjoy getting students to read books by promising to read them along with them. My main problem is I can’t actually stop and I usually finish the book within a couple of days and then don’t want to tell the students I’m done, because I don’t want them to get frustrated. I’ve read many books this way. Sometimes I think it’s hard for people I’m with to understand that I can’t actually think of anything else until the book is read. I enjoy kids books far more now that I’m not a kid anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading as a kid, but so many of the best books mean so much more now. If you’ve stopped reading children’s literature, I’ll always tell you to try it out again. Children’s authors have to be a bit more creative seeing as they have to leave out some of the main plot elements of fiction written for grown-ups. It’s really quite refreshing.

The final element of this bio is that I’m a choral singer. (Emphasis on choral) I’m not the kind to break out in sing at any moment, although singing is a passion of mine. I’d much rather be surrounded by people singing when I let loose. Perhaps that’s my insecurity coming through. Perhaps it’s my desire to be part of something bigger. At any rate, I am thoroughly enjoying being part of a really great choir again since being out of school. Kevin and I found a community choir to sing in, and it fulfills my weekly choir cravings. What joy comes from creating beautiful music with a herd of other people! You don’t even have to listen to yourself. The only thing that compares is a cup of chocolate mousse when you’ve been wanting one. Perhaps that’s something I’m passionate about as well…