Raising A King

SCHOLASTIC BOOKS AND THE PLAYGROUP

2008-11-14T07:41:32Z

It was such a wonderful break that I attended the playgroup and I was not the teacher. Ivy Riototar, a junior consultant of Scholastic books (Philippines) paid the playgroup a visit and hosted all the activities.

Pablo has been so into books lately that it was just great that the activities included a storytelling time. Ms.Ivy narrated THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle to the group of attentive toddlers who enjoyed the story and the activities.

All the mommies were so interested to visit the Scholastic books main office in Manila to buy books at half the price, although we do have a lot of book sales stands that hold scholastic books in mint condition. In fact, I've bought a Jumpstart Readers story book, Hapsalot's garden only a few days ago...and realizing that its been published by Scholastic books.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a very creative way of teaching our kids about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly! I've started to browse on other educational books and am planning to visit the main office to get Pablo some more books.

I believe that reading is still the best way to get an education!

FOR MORE PICTURES, CLICK HERE!

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Shifting curriculum in mid-Preschool Homeschool

2008-11-04T13:59:41Z

My valid excuses are: Nausea and other pregnancy symptoms, Catching up with backlogs, and tons of laundry.

My invalid excuse: No printer ink! (We print Pablo's worksheets from resources on the internet).

We skipped weeks of homeschool basically because my nausea kept driving me to bed. It was a relief (guilt, guilt) that we had no ink. Pablo has been asking about his homeschool. "Mom! I want homeschool!", "Mom, I want to read book!", "Mom! This is A! (Showing me his hand signals on alphabets)", "Mom! I want Optimus Prime!".....okay, okay, so the last bit was actually on his latest favorite characters: Transformers! But Pablo has really been upset about not having homeschool for a month.

Anyway, being a self-confessed O.C. that I am, changing patterns, most particulary in Pablo's lesson plan is unthinkable, but we were lagging behind.Well, we're really not that behind since we have 2++ years of preschool ahead of us, but he's growing up and hungry for learning....it's not such a bad thing to maximize that potential.

3 nights ago, while cleaning up Pablo's drawers, Jay came across a couple of sets of Kindergarten workbooks and phonics reading books that were given to us by a very good friend of ours, an experienced non-traditional home schooler. They were great books, really, colorful, interesting, with captivating, excitable pages...however, I kept them in the drawers because I was thinking I wanted to formally go over the basics of ABCs with Pablo before going to that level. But since the ink is so far off in schedule (we're planning to convert the ink supply thing into the unlimited thingy for practical reasons), I browsed through the workbooks in consideration. Though hesitant, we decided to shift our language/reading curriculum from letter-of-the-week to these themed Harcourt kindergarten workbooks!

PABLO DEVOURED THEM WITH MUCHO GUSTO!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much more practical the lessons really were. We started with labeling characters wherein Pablo would analyze the pictures and put the names on the characters, then we moved on to colors. I asked Pablo to look for certain basic colors from among his crayons and gave him a picture to color. Then, I asked him to describe the pictures based on their colors: Yellow duck, Blue car, Red firetruck, Green ball, and Brown Bear.We're talking ADJECTIVES!

I was also happy because Pablo, who was never fond of crayons, highly improved on his coloring skills and was enthusiastic about it. We sang the traditional alphabet song while he pointed to each letter (he now sees that there's an N after M,hehehe) and I asked him to glue strips over the page.
We had a nursery rhyme suggested in 1 of the worksheets:Moo,moo brown cow (good thing it was available to copy from an internet page) and we identified pictures of animals that of course, Pablo already knows.

In the evening, we read the first 2 of his phonics books (I didn't ask him to do the exercises yet and just talked about the texts and the pictures). With Jay's help, we reviewed his memory on the phonics, pronouncing sounds of the alphabet and asking Pablo to identify the letters! He was so cute as he rolled his eyes to recall the letters that went with the sound! He got almost all letters correctly except for /w/ /w/....Y! hahahaha!

Anyway, we're still using the Math and Science books we started out with...hayyy, I'm just so glad we're back and rollin'!

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Trying Times in Raising a Son

2008-10-29T10:12:56Z

I laid on the bed, almost motionless, staring at the ceiling, counting as the clock continues to tick. We were down to our last P25.00 -- not even enough for Jay to take the public transportation to work. No food left in the pantry. No gas for the car that needs a complete overhaul. No drinking water left at the dispenser except for a lone pitcher in the empty refrigerator. Days stretched before our financial inflow.

I texted my spiritual mentor with my fears, my frustrations, my disappointments. You don't tell everybody what's going on, but you need to tell somebody -- to vent. For comfort.

She came to our rescue. Her family was on a long trip and has food left at home that may just waste. Sent in a little cash so we can get food. So Pablo can have food.

I'm grateful. We're grateful.

We know God is faithful. Never doubted that a bit. Maybe we're not looking at it right. He's always provided. Maybe we're not looking at the possibilities He's already given us. It's impossible that He'd let Pablo go hungry. Or us. Or the baby in me. Maybe we thought we've done our best. Maybe we haven't.

Maybe we need to open our eyes, step out of what we're used to, and check out our other options.

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What bugs this 2nd-time Mom?

2008-10-11T10:07:49Z

The story behind these latest photos is posted HERE. Anyway.........

I remember a pregnant mommy friend who talked to me tearfully about her concerns for her firstborn who's the same age as Pablo and how worried she is that she might not be able to meet her needs while having to attend to the needs of her newborn. I wasn't pregnant then, and I was BEING WISE, that I assured her that she'll do well with both kids and her firstborn will be just fine.

Now that I'm 14 weeks pregnant and I look at Pablo, I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the same concerns: Will I be able to meet both their needs fairly? Will I be able to give the same quality of time to Pablo when I'll have to attend to a newborn's crying and diaper needs? Will I have enough strength to take Pablo out? You know, all those stuff....I was so worried about Pablo....

Then, I started worrying about my new baby. Will his/her kuya Pablo allow him/her to play with his toys? Will he be kind to him/her? Will I be able to homeschool him/her the same way I homeschooled Pablo at a young age? Will I be able to devote the same love and devotion to this baby as much as I did my first-born? And all those.....

I guess, it's just really the way it is, huh? Happens to every 2nd time/3rd time mom? I mean, my sis-in-law did worry about her eldest daughter when she got pregnant with her son...

I'm sure, by God's grace, we'll be fine. We wanted this baby. My worries doesn't make me less excited on his/her arrival. I guess, I need to prepare myself so I can continue to love Pablo and make room for the new one.

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They named the last Philippine typhoon -- Pablo!

2008-10-04T14:48:26Z

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I've recently been hospitalized for weakening due to a viral illness I've contracted. It was a stormy day in Manila. A really strong typhoon was devastating places all over south -- (if I remember it correctly. I was too drowsy from the flu and the drugs--and being 3mos preggy doesn't help). Anyway, I didn't know about it until my folks came to visit and told me that the very strong typhoon has been named PABLO, my son's first name!

I'm not happy about the people gravely affected by the landslides and all caused by Typhoon Pablo. I find it funny, though, that the typhoon was named as my son.:-)

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DO YOU KNOW HOW IT IS TO HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

2008-09-27T05:45:07Z

Russel and Michelle

No, you don't. Not unless you have one yourself. Let's say you do, where does it take you with your faith? Would you leave a stone unturned?

Read all about a young mother's love for her child and her faith in God that transcends all borders. She's one of my closest friends, one of my spiritual mentors, she's my inspiration. Trust me, it's a blog worth your while.

CLICK HERE TO READ.

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Pablo declares, "I'm now a Big Bird!"

2008-09-26T02:52:20Z

One of the things that Pablo decided on when he turned 3 is that he wants to eat his meals by himself. I'm okay with that. I've gotten used to years of spills and a little mess doesn't bother me AS MUCH anymore. One evening, while having dinner, he took his spoon from me, swallowed some food, and said, "Look mom! I'm now a big bird!" Apparently, he's gotten confused with the terms, "big boy"and "big bird" but whatever, hehe, Big Bird or Big Boy, consider us proud turkeys!"=)

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Pablo turns 3, potty trained, and other updates....

2008-09-23T03:46:16Z

It's been a while since I've blogged. My pregnancy has been easy the first two months, but seems not to let me off the throwing up stage before the trimester ends! So, here I am, trying to find balance between my head in the toilet and catching up with piles of work!

Aug 21 '08_10

Anyway, the good news is...my son is THREE! Oh, and there havebeen so many developments to date! First of which, he decided he doesn't want diapers! After two days of accidents....he just ran to the potty and made a go for it. He has been doing it since then. And the amazing part? He doesn't need nappies at night or when he naps. He wakes up and asks to go to the potty! LISTEN TO THE OLD-TIMERS, YA ALL! IT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT READINESS---AND THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ARE! Glad I realized that what they're sayin' is true before we have this next one!
Pablo is also communicating more, talking more! In fact, he's been exchanging conversations with us and is as friendly to others as always! I'm just so happy. There aren't any more signs of those delays, hoorrai! He can eat his meals independently (and I no longer mind the little spills, here and there..hehe, I've grown up as well), and he seems up and ready for the sibling he's gonna have.
I've got some more stories...some of them really funny....to tell....but I gotta run and do 2 weeks of laundry!

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I'm pregnant....Pablo is a kuya!

2008-08-15T00:16:44Z

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QotD: Built to Last

2008-08-05T17:45:57Z

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What was the last thing you built with your own hands?
Submitted by Nick.

I don't really know about having built any structure, but the last thing I put together is the playgroup that I organized for my son. He's a gifted kid -- really advanced in many ways and is showing, and has special needs. We can't always afford the things that he needs. We're not financially stable yet, but we don't live limited. We know that God faithfully provides for what we need even before we ask. And we know that He gives in different ways, sometimes even through abilities.

The Playgroup is a success! It's now an official weekly activity for Pablo and his friends and their moms. It's his official Toddler Art and Music class (part of his Homeschool Pre-school curriculum). I'm the main teacher, it's hard work, but it's worth every single weary bone in my body! My son deserves the best, and I will never settle for less. A wise friend once said to me that it is the quality of love that you give your child that will last him a lifetime.

Click HERE to see pictures of latest playgroup activites.

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