Adorable little Alyssa and her many faces! :D
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thoughts on Home Schooling and Others
I’ve always believed that the home is a child’s first and foremost school. This is where they learn the basics of life --- how to behave, initial values and principles, etc. Parents are, therefore, a child’s first teachers.
My two older girls learned how to identify shapes and colors, to count, and to name the parts of their bodies way before stepping into a classroom. Our house is surrounded with various books, art materials and music. And like her older sisters, my 21-month old is learning all these things right now.
So I believe that I’ve “home schooled” in a way since here was their first learning venue. The question was what to do when they reach school age so that we can continue what has been started in the home and build on the previous skills learned.
I remember when I gave birth to Raya, I wanted Nadine, then aged 2, to start in a toddler school so she would have some other activity and socialization with other kids. (It turned out that she wasn’t ready for it and we pulled her out. But that’s another story.J) Aside from continuing her academic formation, I wanted her to develop social skills with kids her age.
Nadine formally started preschool at 2 years and 10 months. Raya, on the other hand, started at 2 years and 10 days because she wanted to join Nadine in going to school everyday. It was fortunate for us that their school was just a few houses away from ours inManila
There was a time, in a conversation with the school’s directress, she asked me if I would consider home schooling my girls since this was a growing trend in thePhilippines
I thought a lot about it. Seriously, I know deep in my heart that I would be able to do well in home schooling if I do decide to pursue it. But I felt that there is more to just having my kids in the four walls of a classroom. Learning how to interact with other kids in a school setting (in a daily basis) can teach them in developing skills at listening, being patient and taking turns which are essential to a blossoming personality. They may encounter undesirable friends or experiences but these are all opportunities of learning and growth. (That is why a parent’s involvement in a child’s life whether in school or in any other setting is very essential)
Likewise, I believed that it is important for children to have other authority figures other than the parents. In a school, they not only interact with their peers, they have constant interaction with other authorities such as teachers, librarians, as well as, guards and janitors.
But this doesn’t mean that we turn over the reigns of teaching to the school. The home is still the main seat of learning. We, as parents, are life-long teachers and models for our children.
The challenge, therefore, is to look for a school that has parent collaboration as one of its thrusts. I was fortunate to find a PAREF school here in Cagayan de Oro. PAREF is short for Parents for Education Foundation Inc. and involves parents in the wholistic formation of their children. There are periodic chats between a mentor with the student and also with the parents. In these personal conversations, both the school and the parents can collaborate in the overall development of the child’s growth and can assure greater harmony between the home and the school. Many parents do not understand this and have transferred their children to other schools where they feel can “teach” their kids more.
Another thing I like about a PAREF school is that enrollment is not the priority. The aim is for a small teacher-student ratio in the classrooms and they continue to keep student count at 20 maximum for every section. When we transferred here 2 years ago, Raya had only four classmates in the afternoon session and Nadine had 8.
Honestly, I don’t think there is a perfect school. Parents will always have something to complain about or be unhappy about. It’s just a matter of making the most of what is there and what you want.
My two older girls learned how to identify shapes and colors, to count, and to name the parts of their bodies way before stepping into a classroom. Our house is surrounded with various books, art materials and music. And like her older sisters, my 21-month old is learning all these things right now.
So I believe that I’ve “home schooled” in a way since here was their first learning venue. The question was what to do when they reach school age so that we can continue what has been started in the home and build on the previous skills learned.
I remember when I gave birth to Raya, I wanted Nadine, then aged 2, to start in a toddler school so she would have some other activity and socialization with other kids. (It turned out that she wasn’t ready for it and we pulled her out. But that’s another story.J) Aside from continuing her academic formation, I wanted her to develop social skills with kids her age.
Nadine formally started preschool at 2 years and 10 months. Raya, on the other hand, started at 2 years and 10 days because she wanted to join Nadine in going to school everyday. It was fortunate for us that their school was just a few houses away from ours in
There was a time, in a conversation with the school’s directress, she asked me if I would consider home schooling my girls since this was a growing trend in the
I thought a lot about it. Seriously, I know deep in my heart that I would be able to do well in home schooling if I do decide to pursue it. But I felt that there is more to just having my kids in the four walls of a classroom. Learning how to interact with other kids in a school setting (in a daily basis) can teach them in developing skills at listening, being patient and taking turns which are essential to a blossoming personality. They may encounter undesirable friends or experiences but these are all opportunities of learning and growth. (That is why a parent’s involvement in a child’s life whether in school or in any other setting is very essential)
Likewise, I believed that it is important for children to have other authority figures other than the parents. In a school, they not only interact with their peers, they have constant interaction with other authorities such as teachers, librarians, as well as, guards and janitors.
But this doesn’t mean that we turn over the reigns of teaching to the school. The home is still the main seat of learning. We, as parents, are life-long teachers and models for our children.
The challenge, therefore, is to look for a school that has parent collaboration as one of its thrusts. I was fortunate to find a PAREF school here in Cagayan de Oro. PAREF is short for Parents for Education Foundation Inc. and involves parents in the wholistic formation of their children. There are periodic chats between a mentor with the student and also with the parents. In these personal conversations, both the school and the parents can collaborate in the overall development of the child’s growth and can assure greater harmony between the home and the school. Many parents do not understand this and have transferred their children to other schools where they feel can “teach” their kids more.
Another thing I like about a PAREF school is that enrollment is not the priority. The aim is for a small teacher-student ratio in the classrooms and they continue to keep student count at 20 maximum for every section. When we transferred here 2 years ago, Raya had only four classmates in the afternoon session and Nadine had 8.
Honestly, I don’t think there is a perfect school. Parents will always have something to complain about or be unhappy about. It’s just a matter of making the most of what is there and what you want.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Buttered togue (mung bean sprouts)
Description:
This goes well with the Korean Ribs. Whenever I make this, I usually decide that I won't make it again next time because it takes time to clean the bean sprouts. But I always buy and make it. Hehehe!
Ingredients:
butter
garlic
togue (mung bean sprouts)
Directions:
1. Clean the bean sprouts by cutting off the tips and removing the green covering of the mung.
2. Saute garlic in butter. Add the mung beans then saute until a little cooked but not too cooked. Serve warm.
This goes well with the Korean Ribs. Whenever I make this, I usually decide that I won't make it again next time because it takes time to clean the bean sprouts. But I always buy and make it. Hehehe!
Ingredients:
butter
garlic
togue (mung bean sprouts)
Directions:
1. Clean the bean sprouts by cutting off the tips and removing the green covering of the mung.
2. Saute garlic in butter. Add the mung beans then saute until a little cooked but not too cooked. Serve warm.
Korean Ribs
Description:
This is one of my favorite dishes but I don't cook it often because my MIL makes this super yummy and it's hard to compete. Hahaha! But sometimes I do crave for it so I try to make it as close to her version as possible. Yum! This is good with buttered togue which I will post in a separate entry.
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo ribs
garlic
ginger
onions
pepper
laurel leaves
soy sauce
sugar
pandan leaves
sesame oil
sesame seeds
leeks (or spring onions)
red pepper (optional)
Directions:
1. Saute garlic, ginger, onions and ribs. Let the ribs cook in its own juices.
2. Add pepper, laurel leaves, soy sauce, sugar and pandan leaves. Add a little water if necessary. Bring to boil then simmer.
3. When ribs are soft, add sesame oil, sesame seeds, leeks (or spring onions) and red pepper.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Back-to-School Soon
While most schools will be starting school today or have started school last week, Nadine and Raya have yet a week of vacation because their school postponed classes for another week. Nope, it’s not because of the swine flu virus (Thank God!) but their school is finishing the 2nd floor of their building.
Well, that means another week of thinking of stuff to do for the girls. I think we’ve thought of every activity in the book already and the girls are just sooo ready for school. But there’s nothing we can really do about it, I guess, but make the most of vacation time.
I involved both of them in buying their schoolbooks and school supplies. If you have kids, I’m sure you can imagine their joy in choosing their notebooks and even the smallest erasers for their school stuff; and after buying them, their delight in arranging them carefully inside their bags. My happiness lies in carefully labeling their books and notebooks and wrapping them one by one in plastic wrapper. I don’t know why but there seems to be some relaxing or therapeutic thing that causes me to just enjoy this activity.
My girls are looking forward to seeing their friends again, exchanging stories and hanging out. I’m eager to have some routine back into our lives too. Don’t get me wrong, I love having the girls at home and spending time with them. But I also look forward to some “me” time for me. Well, I guess not exactly since I still have my 21 month old with me. But since she still naps, I’m hoping I can squeeze in a few minutes for myself.
Going back to school is no joke for the wallet. I think there are more and more stuff to buy every year, especially as the year level goes higher. And to think that a lot of these things weren’t even used! Some things we recycled from last year like rulers and scissors etc. A lot of stuff we donated to the school’s giveaway program including unused notebooks and hardly used books. But still we kept some schoolbooks that would help in review for the coming year.
Speaking of review, while browsing through Booksale in SM (Yes! Our favorite store!) I found some workbooks that would be helpful for the coming year. Most of them are for the lower grades though especially Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten workbooks. I found one or two for Grades 3 and 1. Although Nadine and Raya are only in Grade 2 and Senior Kinder respectively, theseUS
What about the little Alyssa? Well, while the big sisters do their studying, she can practice her motor skills by coloring and drawing in her own papers. She has always been a littlegaya gaya
So what do we do for the remaining vacation days? Hmmm… will have to think of other activities and just enjoy each other’s company.
Well, that means another week of thinking of stuff to do for the girls. I think we’ve thought of every activity in the book already and the girls are just sooo ready for school. But there’s nothing we can really do about it, I guess, but make the most of vacation time.
I involved both of them in buying their schoolbooks and school supplies. If you have kids, I’m sure you can imagine their joy in choosing their notebooks and even the smallest erasers for their school stuff; and after buying them, their delight in arranging them carefully inside their bags. My happiness lies in carefully labeling their books and notebooks and wrapping them one by one in plastic wrapper. I don’t know why but there seems to be some relaxing or therapeutic thing that causes me to just enjoy this activity.
My girls are looking forward to seeing their friends again, exchanging stories and hanging out. I’m eager to have some routine back into our lives too. Don’t get me wrong, I love having the girls at home and spending time with them. But I also look forward to some “me” time for me. Well, I guess not exactly since I still have my 21 month old with me. But since she still naps, I’m hoping I can squeeze in a few minutes for myself.
Going back to school is no joke for the wallet. I think there are more and more stuff to buy every year, especially as the year level goes higher. And to think that a lot of these things weren’t even used! Some things we recycled from last year like rulers and scissors etc. A lot of stuff we donated to the school’s giveaway program including unused notebooks and hardly used books. But still we kept some schoolbooks that would help in review for the coming year.
Speaking of review, while browsing through Booksale in SM (Yes! Our favorite store!) I found some workbooks that would be helpful for the coming year. Most of them are for the lower grades though especially Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten workbooks. I found one or two for Grades 3 and 1. Although Nadine and Raya are only in Grade 2 and Senior Kinder respectively, these
What about the little Alyssa? Well, while the big sisters do their studying, she can practice her motor skills by coloring and drawing in her own papers. She has always been a little
So what do we do for the remaining vacation days? Hmmm… will have to think of other activities and just enjoy each other’s company.
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