juls random thoughts

Kurt and his classmates had a presentation this morning during the 8am mass in the village. I was so teary-eyed as I can't believe that he's a big boy already. I am so proud of him as during the entire mass, he was very well-behaved even if he's far from us as he is with his classmates. They sang Angel of God and even had some actions to go with it. Funny lang the little boy as he only did the acts on the first round, on the succeeding rounds, parang nag-sink-in sa kanya na ang daming tao, natulala na. Here are some of the pics:

Kurt before the mass:

During the presentation, before priest's final blessing:

With kuya Sean:

With lola, Iyos, lolo and kuya Sean:

More of the pictures here.

We've decided not to move the little boy to another school. I know a lot of mommies/friends out there will react to this but after serious thinking we decided to make him stay with the current school.

Rest assured though that when we decided this, it's because we did it for Kurt. He love his current school, even his teacher and moreso his classmates, so we can't imagine taking that away from him. I guess its better this way na rin as when we move him to the other school his school service will be a tricycle and I can't imagine exposing him to a lot of pollution caused by the smoke kasi mahaba-habang tricycle ride din yun and given that it's a rainy season, kawawa naman sya. We'll again reconsider next year but I think for this school year, we'll letting him stay. And he's becoming more active now in school, I guess it helped when we talked with the teacher kasi she makes Kurt recite more often so nasasanay na sya and even raises his hand now to answer the teacher. We also got his "report card" last weekend, I wish I copied/xeroxed it but he got mostly satisfactory, MS (can't remember what this stands for). The "report card" is per activity like: goes to class early, participates actively in class, indepent, etc.

Finally! our school search for the little boy is over! We've finally found the school that both hubby and I, and Kurt loves!

We actually limited our search to two schools only, we went there before and inquired, watched the class, talked to the teachers. And this morning, we took the little boy to the two schools to let him choose which one he likes and his decision, which is what hubby and I chose too is Parkwood Playschool. It's not within the subdivision though not really far from our area and we love the school, the program, the facilities, the teachers. They use Singapore Math so no need to send the little boy to Kumon and best of all they have Kindermusik so talagang excited na kami. It's a DAP school and when we visited them kanina, they're currently reviewing for the assessment tomorrow and friday. We'll enroll the little boy within the week as he has to start next week na kasi eksakto na simula ng 2nd quarter.

Though before we do that we have to talk pa to the little boy's current teacher.

He'll be joining the Explore Class. In addition to the normal curriculum, they have the following activities:

Monday - Yoga Monday
Tuesday - Drop Everything and Read
Wednesday - Science Experiments
Thursday - Cooking Class
Friday - Outdoor Play

They also have different community exposure every month, I think for September, they'll visit fire station, police station, Superferry and bus station. Sayang nga kasi sana andun na sya kasi when we visited last week, they were having their Linggo ng Wika festivities that in addition to the kids wearing filipino costume, they're playing luksong tinik and other filipino games then they have mga kakanin for merienda.

They will not be wearing the typical white polo and blue shorts uniform, instead, they're uniform is a blue and green polo shirt with the school logo then they can wear any shorts and shoes na. The little boy will be happy about that as he doesn't like wearing his polo.

For reading and writing, they use Sing, Spell, Read & Write program. As mentioned in their website, it is a phonic based program that uses a 36-step program of carefully sequenced steps to teach reading, writing, and spelling. Sing, Spell, Read & Write immerses kids in over 300 multi-sensory hands-on developmental readiness activities that help them learn colors, shapes, and all other concepts that lay the groundwork for learning to read.

Then for math nga, they use Singapore Math. As mentioned in their website, Singapore Math is a learning program developed in Singapore that has been adapted to various school curricula worldwide. In the Singapore Math program, children learn an understanding of the way mathematical processes work and are taught to use new skills immediately in the solving of problems.

Then as an add on, which is scheduled every tuesday and thursday, there's KinderMusik's ABC Music & Me. I'm so excited!! Finally, our school dilemma will end soon.

To address our concerns regarding the little boy's school as posted here. Our search for the little boy's preschool is still not over. I started looking by going through the archives of our egroup, reading the discussion about traditional vs. progressive from moms exchange, then searched for a preschool near our area from preschoolchoices.com

So far, last friday, I was able to visit one preschool inside the village, name is Reggio Children Preschool House, the school is newly constructed, Kurt and I went there together, they have a small student population. For Nursery, only 8 students are currently enrolled. Though they mentioned that the Nursery students are aged 3 years old, mostly turning four next year pa and since Kurt will turn four this year, they said that if we decide to enroll Kurt here, they will assess him and see if pwede na sya sa Kinder 1 though ako I prefer that he stay in Nursery as it is his first year to study. A hesitation about this school is the schedule, they only have morning session, which is 9am-12noon so it will be a big adjustment for the little boy though di pa rin naman ganung kaaga. I was not able to observe an actual class ongoing as they are having their snacks when we went there then we left din agad kasi the little boy has a 10am class pa. I'm thinking of going back there one of these days pag naka-visit na kami ng isa pang alternative.

Our next choice is Parkwood Playschool, mas malayo ng konti, we haven't visited the school yet but called them already and visited their website. They are progressive, though I think it's mixed na kasi they have workbooks na rin, to be confirmed though once we get the chance to visit the school.

We're actually trying to select muna schools within the area but if talagang walang ok that's when we'll move farther but still within the Pasig area.

So far, my choices are:

Cambridge Child Development Center - Valle Verde 1
Creative Learning School - Kapitolyo
H.A.T.C.H Education - San Joaquin (hubby's nephew's current school and we've been receiving good feedbacks from his brother and SIL)
Second Mom - beside Brent, near Ultra (very expensive though)

But I do hope that we can find one that we like in either Reggio or Parkwood Playschool as these are nearest to our place. Though, as of now, parang I am more inclined on Parkwood Playschool as they offer KinderMusik and they use Singapore Math. Sana talaga we find one na ASAP as the second trimester will start na on September 1 so we only have a 1 1/2 week to decide.

I am truly disappointed with my son's preschool. Haayy... I have actually been contemplating and thinking last year pa whether to send him to a progressive school but since sending him to a progressive school would require getting a service or somebody to bring him there and take him home as there's no progressive school near our place. I think the nearest is Second Mom which would require service as both hubby and I are working. We've decided to enroll him in the neighborhood school since it is his first time to go to school, so we thought that sending him there is the best choice kasi walking distance lang so di sya mahihirapan mag-adjust. H's currently 3.5 yrs. old and I never actually saw the importance of sending him to school last year as he has a lot of people to interact with at home eh for me, sending a child to school early (eg. 2 yrs old) is only necessary for the socialization aspect.

So what are my frustrations? it's too traditional!! napipikon ako actually. First, was about the comment that my son doesn't know how to color properly when in fact he's only one month in school so honestly, I wouldn't expect him to master that. We let him color at home pero we don't pressure him to make it perfect. When I saw the workbook, honestly for me, the way he colors is what is expected of his age BUT his teacher thinks otherwise. Second, just today, my MIL told me that the teacher told the helper, who stays in the class to wait for the little boy, that the little boy doesn't know how to write letter "B". Again!! I am so pikon, why? at Nursery ba it is expected for them to know these things already? Sobrang old school na ba ko? Eh honestly, sobrang bilib pa ako sa little boy when I saw one of his workbook last weekend. I was a bit surprised and happy that he's studying and knows na the following:

- big and small
- over and under
- the same and different
- identifying patterns

Now, I really want him to move to a new school. Why? kasi ayokong as young and early as know eh maka-feel na sya ng pressure in schooling or worse inferiority complex as I remember the last time I visited the school eh merong pinapagalitan ang teacher kasi hindi pa marunong and I am not the only one who witnessed that, even MIL overheard the teacher na may pinapagalitang kinder kasi hindi pa rin sya natututo. I don't want that for my son! he's too young for that. It's his first time to go to school and he's only nursery, are they really required to know how to write the ABC already? And medyo parang lalo pa kong nainis kasi kitang-kita how traditional the school is by the sequence of letters taught, it is alphabetical. In Kumon workbook kasi, they start with the simple letters like I, T, L, E then goes harder and harder.

I really don't know what to do. I want him out of that school but can we find another school that will accept him this late? and what are our options? how can I convince the husband about this as he doesn't seemed bothered at all.

I am so worried that I can't concentrate on my own studying. Help mommies please!! I am on a big dilemma that I sometimes now feel bad and guilty that I am working and ngayon pa, studying so lesser time to teach the little boy.

Kasalanan ng blogging, or rather thanks sa bloghopping ko kasi I went to sleep late at nahirapan akong gumising kanina. The effect, I was not able to go to office. For some weird reason, medyo masakit din tummy ko sa talagang di ako makakapasok.

I was supposed to go to office late when I felt better na but decided to go with the little boy to school instead to get updates.

Teacher told me that I have to supplement the little boy's studying at home. He showed me the little boy's workbook and there I saw what the teacher was saying. Wala syang tiyaga to color, he knows the right color but he doesn't color the shape completely, paano ko ba ituturo sa kanya yun?

They are also currently studying LEFT, RIGHT, UP and DOWN to which the little boy was good naman. He was asked to recite in front of the class and he answered correctly. He was asked to identify which among the two chairs drawn on the board is facing left and he was able to encircle the right answer.

Next was their individual identification of colors. Teacher showed a board colored with the following colors: RED, BLUE, GREEN, ORANGE, YELLOW unfortunately, the little boy answered color YELLOW as GREEN so he did not get a star but a happy face stamped on his arm instead.

It has been actually our problem na talaga kasi may pagkasutil the little boy, he has the tendency not to take you seriously when asked for a color kaso even if ako ang magtanong nagkakamali pa rin sya and no matter how I explain how to properly color mali pa rin. Hay naku... though sabi naman ng cousin nya na 7 yrs. old na and boy rin is until now daw lagpas-lagpas pa rin sya mag-color. Sabi rin ni MIL, baka ganun talaga kasi boy, hindi masinsin mag-color.

I decided to go to NBS in my attempt to supplement his studies. I bought art papers of various colors and attached this to an illustration board so he can review, I also bought a wallchart of colors so sana naman in the next few days eh maging clear na ang yellow at green sa kanya.

On a positive note, I am so thankful that he is so well behaved in the school, hindi sya kasama sa mga tinatawagan ng teacher ng attention - ang suki si Joaquin and Matthew. Katakot pala if for preschool eh traditional school - parang naawa ako sa mga bata pag pinagsasabihan sila but I guess they have to learn discipline. Paano ba pag progressive? hindi ba pinapagalitan ang students? Masyado lang ba akong protective for my little boy? para kasing di ko matanggap na baka dumating ang time na si kurt eh papagalitan din.

Friday last week, I was surprised when I got home from work as the yaya told me that Kurt has homework. Wow! only on second week in school and he's got homework already and to think he's only a nursery. When I checked his assignment notebook, I found four assignments! so while the little boy is still excited in doing his homework, we answered it that friday night. I completely forgot to take pictures then but since its a friday today, new set of assignments again! I took pictures already of his assignment last week.

First, the task was to color the two pictures with their natural color. So I asked the little boy the color of apple and sun. Here what he did:

Second, put a check mark if the drawings are alike, then put an x if not. Well, the little boy know the answer, the problem is in putting the check mark and x. As in we practiced first before actually doing it, unfortunately, the little boy's check mark was not clear, nagmumukhang x so i told him to just put a diagonal straight line instead. Too bad however that the teacher did not give points to those drawings that he wrote his version of check mark, malabo kasi kaya he only got 2 out of 4 correct. Kainis!! gusto ko sana ireklamo sa teacher kaso sabi ni hubby wag na.

Third, to put an x on the drawing that differs with the rest. on this, the little boy got everything correct so he was given a star.

And lastly, the hardest of them all, he's asked to draw the missing parts of the face. The little boy knows that the drawing misses two eyes, one nose, one mouth and two ears but to draw it! that's another thing. I'm just so proud of the little boy that he did not give up until he's satisfied - he keeps on erasing until he likes what he did. And here's the funny face that he draw:

He's got four new homework again and a note from the teacher. Apparently, he'll always have a homework on fridays. I'll be posting the second homework next week - with the teacher's marks.

Wow! I really have a schoolboy now.

Because of the typhoon whose wrath was experienced yesterday, DECS declared that highschool and elementary have no classes today. The little boy's reaction? he's NOT happy about it. As in he won't accept that he doesn't have school today. I am one happy mom because it means he's enjoying school. According to MIL, they will take him to school if he insists so he can just play there (the school is one vacant lot and two houses away our house).

About the rains yesterday, the little boy had fun playing in the rain earlier yesterday and had more fun when the fish pond in a vacant lot near our house overflowed. He had a lot of fun catching the fish with his cousins, dada and uncle. I took a lot of pics of them having fun. Will post it here soon.

Additional info about the school:

• since it's the little boy's first time to go to school, we chose the preschool along our street lang but reliable kasi hubby's nephew and niece also had their preschool there and pareho namang ok pagdating sa St. Paul and CSA. he's enrolled this year as Nursery. we're intending to move him to big school next year if he's ready if not, he'll stay here muna.
• when we attended the parent's orientation last saturday, the little boy stayed with his classmates agad, playing. As in hiwalay agad sa min.
• included in the tuition are his four books in Language, Math, Reading and Values and one diary where the teacher will write notes to parents.
• we don't have to bring any school materials like crayons, pencil, etc as this will all be provided by the school
• bawal ang junk food, softdrinks and bottled drinks as baon
• they always have to wear uniform - unfortunately, di kami nakabili ng may paha sa bewant kasi di kasya sa little boy. His uniform are all size 10! while his socks are for 4-7 years old to think he's only 3 1/2 years old.
• they have two exams the entire year (October 14-17 and February 23-27) as assessment of their progress; first holiday of the little boy is July 2 - Pasig day; October 27 - November 3 - semestral break; December 20 - January 5 - Christmas break; March 16 - start of summer
• first friday of the month is PE day at the village park and it's time is 8:30-10:30am so good luck sa min sa pagising ng little boy ng maaga
• other fridays are for Music, Art and Storytelling at 10:00am - 11:30am

The little boy had his first day of school today. I am so anxious, excited and worried - excited kasi finally mag-school na little boy, worried kasi may times na hindi sya excited, may time na excited. His class starts at 11:10am and ends at 1:10pm. Maaga pa lang gising na kami, the little boy is having mixed feelings so to change it to excitement I told him that when his alarm clock rings, it's time to take a bath na so na-excite sya. Next prob that we had, sobrang ayaw nyang isuot polo, mainit kasi but finally I got to convince him. So here are the pics of the little boy.

So, what happened in the school? surprisingly, he was kinda shy and NR kanina that even the teacher was surprised kasi nagsalimpusa na sya last year and he was active, the conclusion was kasi ako ang kasama kanina unlike last year, yaya lang, he's always looking at me at the back checking if I'm still there. Eh last year super bibo daw to think he was younger then.

Tomorrow, he'll go with yaya na lang so hopefully he'll cooperate more. Funny kasi when the teacher says stand up, di sya tatayo that the aide has to ask him to stand up pa then after a minute, upo na ulit sya. Though actually, ok na ko kasi at least, pagdating pa lang sa school, humiwalay na sya sa kin unlike other kids na umiiyak or ayaw umalis sa mommy nila so proud na ko of my little boy. Sana tuloy-tuloy na eto. Kanina, I felt envy sa mga SAHMs kasi how I wish I'll see the boy everyday sa school unfortunately working ako so di possible yun unless I always go on leave kasi alanganin pasok ni kurt. Medyo nagte-teary eyed na rin ako kasi I can't believe that he's a preschool already. Everybody in the house was surprised when they saw the pictures, big boy na raw talaga. Haaayyy.... wala na talaga ang baby ko.