T-Party :)

It's my first day of class with the Kinder Seniors this 2013. I was planning to prepare surprises for them but decided to let them do some reflection instead. We had a tea, I mean, T-Party. I got this idea from one of the animal stories from the School of Tomorrow curriculum. It's a story about keeping an attitude of gratitude. The animals in the story had a T-Party. Thanksgiving Party. They simply shared their thanksgiving items over tea. I just regret that we weren't able to have tea a while ago. Milk tea sana. I'm sure they'd enjoy the activity more.

I really learn a lot from kids. They never fail to make me realize important things. What made our activity interesting was how quickly each child was able to think of his/her thanksgiving item. I asked them to complete the statement "Thank You God for..." I was expecting common answers from young children like "Thank You God for toys, gifts, etc." I was surprised when I heard their answers. I wrote each answer on the board. My pupils are thanking God for providing their needs more than thanking Him for giving their wants. I was rebuked. I often forget to express my gratitude towards God for providing my needs, probably because I got used to His nature of being gracious that He provides all of our needs. Indeed, I should learn to give thanks for every thing, at all times.

It's true that teachers learn as much as students learn inside the classroom. :) Thank You, Lord. :)

Carton Box Pencil Holders

I was amazed when I saw my Kindergarten pupils' creations: recycled pencil/crayon holders.

Resourceful Ideas from 5-year-old Children

Biscuit carton box turned into a pencil holder

You may let it stand on your desk, or hang it.

Materials used:

Hello Panda carton box

Packing tape

How resourceful! My pupil's pencil holder :)

But wait, there's more...

Enjoying Spelling

I'm enjoying this Spelling thing in class. Yes, the teacher is the one enjoying the class activity! ;) The Spelling exercise itself is very simple. But I was surprised with the turn of events in the two Kindergarten class that I am handling.

Yesterday, I gave away the prizes that I promised those who got a perfect score in Spelling last week. They received the reward pencils I bought the other day. I got different reactions from my pupils upon 'awarding' the prizes. One pupil got disappointed, saying that the prize was boring. One said that she did not like the prize. There was also this pupil who cried when I gave the pencils to her classmates who got perfect scores.

I'm enjoying this Spelling thing because it seems to have affected my pupils, in positive ways I just hope. The pupil who cried, whenever she sees me, keeps on asking if I still have many pencils to give away. Many of my pupils are asking when we will be having the Spelling Quiz. One of the pupils who received a prize kept the pencil with her since yesterday. I asked her a while ago why she was holding it all the time. She answered, quoting her exact words, "I can't let it go." How cute! :)

My pupil copied the words for the week to study them!

I hope I am really achieving my goal in giving rewards to my pupils, which is to motivate them to desire and enjoy learning. I was so delighted a while ago when I observed that the children showed more interest in reading and spelling words than before. One of my pupils even copied the words for the week that I wrote on the board. He seems to be really determined to perfect the Spelling Activity on Friday! This is what I want to see. I hope children would develop a love for learning. I pray that they would enjoy learning and have the initiative to help themselves learn. After all, I think that's the goal of education. To train people to desire learning and apply all that they are learning wisely.

I hope that as my pupils enjoy our Spelling activities, they would also learn to enjoy learning.

Family Picture Frames

As part of our family theme, the Kinder Seniors made picture frames for their family photos they brought to school.

My pupils and their family picture frames

Discoveries at Year 1

This week, I'm gonna see children in school again. This week, I'm gonna meet new adorable faces! I'm also gonna see my pupils last year who I missed a lot! This week, I'm gonna meet my second batch of toddlers class. This week, my second year of teaching starts. Today, I reminisce and reflect on my first year experience as a teacher.


I have observed that children learn by discovering. And I have also discovered that this is also true for teachers. Teachers learn through discovery. I've learned a lot in my first year of teaching. I've got discoveries that I will always keep in mind as a teacher.


Discovery #1
Before anything else, apologize. Humility is the key to strong and good teacher-parent relationships.


Discovery #2
As a teacher I must kneel in prayer everyday, declaring my dependence on God for wisdom and direction for me, and safety and protection for the children.

Top 5 Disasters in a Classroom with 18 Toddlers

5. Spilled Yakult

Most of my pupils love drinking Yakult just like almost all children (and even adults, like my older brother) do. Hence, most of them have a bottle of Yakult during Snack Time. During our first few weeks, my co-teacher and I usually opened the wrappers of the children’s biscuits or bread and punched their packed juice with a straw right after we finished praying for the food. As for a Yakult bottle, we usually removed the entire foil lid. At first, the sight of Yakult was ordinary to me. But after a series of events, it became dreadful for me. Almost everyday, at least one child spills a bottle of Yakult on the table and down to the floor. Then, he/she steps on it. And then a classmate steps on it and then walks around the classroom and then steps on the rubber mats. Some children even drink while walking or running! And there, there is sticky feel all over the classroom! Mind you, the sticky-ness cannot be wiped off easily. A wet cloth is not enough. And even if you wipe it off several times, the presence of sticky-ness is still there. A disaster, indeed. Because of this, we have decided not to remove the Yakult’s lid until the child is ready to drink it. I love Yakult. But I hate Yakult spills. I would love it more if straws are included in the package.

4. Scattered toys

Two-year-old children are at a stage in which they are still discovering a lot about themselves and what they could do and about their surroundings as well. They love to hear sounds, look at pictures, touch and manipulate objects around them. That is why my pupils love to scatter the toys in our classroom. They love throwing toys and hear the sound when a toy hits the wall. They love mixing different toys together until it becomes difficult for us, teachers, to sort them. Believe me, seeing scattered toys is a disaster. And in our classroom, toys are not just scattered… They are also flying!

I want to be like them.

Written on June 21, 2009.

Masaya kahit medyo pagod. —- Ito ang summary ng 1-week practicum experience ko. Sobrang saya ko dahil answered prayer, napunta ako sa Toddlers’ Class. Nakakatawa lang kasi wala akong expectations. Kaya ayun, na-shock yata ako pagpasok ko nung Tuesday! Haha.
Iyak, karga, iyak, karga, iyak, iyak, iyak—- ito ang scene sa classroom. Nanakit talaga ang katawan ko! Hanggang ngayon actually… Hehe.
But more than the muscle pain, mas natatak sa akin yung lessons na natutunan ko sa pag-papracticum ko. Nung Tuesday, habang tinitignan ko yung mga bata, nasabi ko na lang kay Lord, “I want to be like these children…”
Bakit? Hehe. Kasi nakakatuwa sila. :D  Kaya pala Jesus delighted in children. Una, napaka-dependent nila sa parents nila, to the point na iiyak sila nang todo ‘pag umalis na ng classroom yung parents. At hindi sila talaga titigil. At kahit may ginagawa na sila (kunwari naglalaro), once in a while naaalala nila yung parents nila at iiyak sila ulit. Hehe. Naisip ko, ganito rin ba ako kay God? Am I in despair without Him? O ‘pag busy na ako, hindi ko na Siya naaalala? Isa pa, nakakatuwa kasi nakikinig sila at nagtitiwala! Nung minsan sabi ko dun sa isang bata pagkatapos niyang mag-toothbrush, “Diyan ka muna ha, babalik si Teacher” (kasi may isa pang bata akong iaassist). Aba, I was surprised to see her waiting for me! Hindi talaga siya umalis. :) Ganito rin kaya ako? Nakikinig at nagtitiwala ba ako?
Ilan lang ‘tong mga ito sa characteristics ng mga bata na super na-amaze ako. I believe na marami pa akong matutunan… Nakaka-excite! I love children! I want to be like them. I want to be a child before the Lord—- helpless, dependent, and trusting Him always.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday Mornings

Written on July 10, 2009.

Let me give you a picture of my Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings this past week.

I had to wake up early because I needed to be at CDC at 7:30AM, prepared, equipped, and ready for the day.
I had to wear a big smile as I welcomed 1-year-old-and-above crying children who were hesitant to let their parents leave them.
Still, I had to keep wearing this big smile all throughout the morning as I comforted, assured, and convinced the children that their parents would come back after 3 hours.
My cooperating teacher, my co-teachers, and I had to carry children once in a while to attend to their needs.
One morning, I carried a child for almost 2 hours. I had to smile even after he accidentally vomited on me.
One morning, I woke up unable to move my left arm which was probably the effect of carrying children.
One morning, I gained my first experience of changing a child’s diaper with poo-poo and of course making sure everything was clean. (You know what I mean.)

Another morning, I felt I was an expert because I accommodated two children.

Each morning this week, I had to convince children that they needed to change their clothes, with my assistance, because they were dirty. I ended up undressing and dressing up children who were crying and resisting to be undressed and dressed up. I had to gather my strength to overpower their resistance. 

Also this past week, I was so delighted to see these children.
I was delighted to see them, little by little, learning to adjust.
I was so delighted to see a child who was only crawling a few weeks ago but was able to walk alone this week.
I was so overjoyed to see children who were once always crying but were already exploring around the classroom and were playing, and dancing, and enjoying this week.
This past week, I felt the excitement of seeing these children every morning. 

I look forward to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.