Shoe-ssess

Let me preface this with .... I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS SOONER!!!!

The Kinder Koala's Shoes culminating activity was held October last year. And it took me more than 4 months to blog about it. Sorry, Hadrien! You'll see .... I'll make it up to you.

The theme on shoes came after "sari-sari" store. In keeping with the theme, instead of footprints, the path leading to the Kinder Koala's room was peppered with cut outs of various kinds of shoes, hand painted by Hadrien and his classmates. This set the stage for a month-filled activities involving shoes. Even if Hadrien skipped school for about 2 weeks to attend Tita Bel's wedding in Dubrovnik, he was on shoe-theme mode making sure he took pictures of the shoes he saw:




These were nifty additions to the kinds of shoes he learned in school - sneakers, ballet shoes, slippers, boots, ice skates, etc. His new-found expertise on shoes also added a good 5-minute to our routine everyday as he showed off his knowledge on the parts of a shoe - outsole, insole, heel, vamp and accessories (e.g., glitter, buckles, velcro, straps, etc). Or when he insisted on wearing black leather shoes and white sport socks on days when he was already dressed in shorts. (At this point, I might suggest adding to the lesson which shoes go with which outfit... sneakers do not need shoe polish or that black polish should not be applied to brown shoes.... but I digress...) On some days, he went through our shoe drawers to to point out that shoes could be made out different materials - such as rubber, leather and fabric.

They were supposed to go on a field trip to Marikina to see how shoes are manufactured. But because of Ondoy which inundated Marikina and other parts of the Metro, they decided to collect shoes and other donations for people who make shoes. This was a great lesson in itself.

During the culminating activity, the Koalas recited "There Was An Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe" and another poem which they composed. They also sang and danced to a couple of shoe songs. They held an exhibit where they showed off their shoe designs (both sketches and actual finished products) and allowed us to see and touch a sampling of shoes. We were allowed and encouraged to ask the kids questions. And they were mostly NOT shy to answer our questions. It was an activity filled morning - with the parents and yayas getting the chance to play shoe relay and nibble on shoe-shaped cookies.

I must mention that T. Jojie even came dressed with a pretty-shoe-printed blouse. Talagang sticking to the theme!

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere!

Baz's 5's and 6's (aka Prep) class had a culminating activity on flowers last week. For about a month or two, they learned about the different parts of the flower, what flowers are used for, what flowers need to survive. They also learned about 2 painters who were famous for their flower paintings - Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O'Keeffe.

They had 3 field trips. The first to see different kinds of flowers at Greenbelt Park - a bit poetic since as we were growing up, the park near Shakeys that became Strumms, now Greenbelt 5, looked like a lush mini-forest. The second was to Flower Farm in Tagaytay where they saw greenhouses, learned that chrysanthemums are "tricked" into thinking that there was continuous sunlight by the use of light bulbs strung across the flowerbeds. The third was to Market! Market! where they interviewed people from a flower shop, learned about the flower trade, how to make flower arrangements and put some math into action by buying flowers and making sure they received the right amount of change.

In science, they dissected a flower and saw first-hand what the stamen, pistel, ovules, ovary - in addition to the run-of-the-mill stem, leaves, roots, petals and sepal. They witnessed capillary action at work when they put white flowers into 3 separate jars containing yellow, red and blue dyes - causing the flower petals to change colors. They learned how to measure flowers and chart the lengths.

During the culminating activity, the 5's and 6's opened their very own flower shop - aptly named Flowers & Flowers. We were wisely instructed to prepare P10 and P1 coins and were given an order slip showing how much our order cost. Raffy had his film-tubes of coins and Baz counted out exactly how much he needed - P95 to be exact. The business part out of the way, Baz went into flower-arrangement-mode. His aesthetic was Ikebana-esque. And he snipped and cut away like an expert.

Then we got to see their paintings - all inspired by Van Gogh and O'Keeffe. I couldn't believe how artistic these kids are. There's something to be said about not requiring kids to do projects at home. Their skills are really harnessed and honed - no parents doing their kids' projects here! Still, it's a lot better than I would have expected from these 5 and 6 year olds.

To cap the activity - the kids sang "Starry, Starry Night" - a song inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's life and paintings.

Obviously, we're mighty pleased about what our kids are learning at Keys. And what's more, they are REALLY REALLY happy in school.




Next post: Hadrien's shoe culminating activity....

Wait A Minute Mr. Postman

Teacher Jojie sent me this hilarious video of the mokong during the class field trip to the post office. I just had to post immediately. Thanks, T. Jojie! Very much appreciated.



On the way home from the office, I was trying to get the kids to tell me what happened during the day.

M: Who went to Renaissance for swimming?

Baz raises his hand.

M: Who went to the post office?

Hadrien raises his hand.

M: Who sent Mommy a letter?

Hadrien raises his hand.

M: Aha! I know your secret!

Hadrien: But it's not a letter, it's a painting!

M: Aha!

Hadrien: But you don't know what it looks like! (with pride as if he won the argument)

1st Sem PTC's for SY 2009-2010

Can't believe we're past the half-way mark for this school year! The boys are breezing through the year, enjoying every day they're in school. Whenever I ask them how school was, they would say without thinking "FUN!" I believe this as they come out smiling, bursting with the need to narrate their activities for the day.

We had Baz's PTC yesterday and am proud to say that he's doing very well. Cautious Baz is taking more risks, participates in group and teacher-directed activities. Mighty pleased to say that he did VERY well in his reading tests! Not that I was surprised as I've been harping about his ability to read at an early age. And it's not just reading, but actually understanding and asking questions about materials he reads. He needs to work on opening up and engaging with friends more though.

Dubbed as the "little binata" of the Kinder Koala class, Hadrien did Mommy and Daddy proud too! Teachers find his ability to retain and repeat information he absorbs from everyday conversations and experiences remarkable. He did well in the literacy aspect and shows his love for books. Needless to say, he knows his ABC's and 123's. He just needs to work on sticking to his task, opening up, being more interested in writing and drawing.

For Teachers Joy, Mandy and Timmy

Here's the video of pp. 3 and 4. The last part took sooo long. This process validates that it takes A LOT of patience to be a teacher. :)

Reading Assessment PArt 2 from malou.khan on Vimeo.

For Teachers Joy, Mandy and Timmy

Reading Assessment (pp. 1 and 2) from malou.khan on Vimeo.

Baz is moving up!

It's been a long time since we last posted. Needless to say, there's a lot that is left undocumented which I will surely regret.

Just this week, we had 2 moving up days. One for Baz and one for Hadrien. As part of the program, Baz had to throw a hoop into the air and catch it. Since Baz abhors any kind of public performance, I was hopeful - but did not expect him to do the usual dance moves which his classmates so effortlessly did. But perform he did - at least in the hoops part - and we were so proud of him, knowing that it did not come easy to him.


Baz is moving up from Explorations! from malou.khan on Vimeo.

Congratulations, Baz, aka Lucas! You made Mommy, Daddy, Hadrien, Mama, Papa and yaya proud watching you.

Kinareer na Homework

Some would say I'm taking homework too seriously. Maybe I am. But let me explain.

We've asked Baz's teachers to allow him to submit homework as videos which he can show his class only because he still has trouble verbalizing (ok, talking) in school. We hope that these videos will help him feel at ease with the thought of his friends hearing his voice and will also remind his friends that he does talk.

The good news is that he is much more communicative in school, even to the point of hugging and kissing his teachers when asked, initiating communication (albeit by hand movements) and now reacts with a smile when convenient - to avoid doing something he doesn't want to do. His teachers do admit that once he flashes that smile, he sometimes gets his way. He's also started to make sounds in class - perhaps in an attempt to finally break the silence.

His homework had 2 parts. The first part was for him to portray his favorite animal - and lucky us, he chose the rhino! The second part was for him to investigate certain characteristics of an assigned animal - the tortoise.


Baz Reports on Tortoises from malou.khan on Vimeo.

It wasn't hard to get Baz to do his homework or talk in front of a camera. Except that time when Hadrien was making side comments to which an annoyed Baz said "I'm not making this video for you!"

Baz's Field Trip Report

The Pups class went on the 2nd field trip last Friday. They visited the local post office, police station, fire station, the Archibishop's Palace and .... Krispy Kreme. Baz came home and explained in detail what he saw. At the post office, he learned about the use of stamps and saw "flat rectangle holes" for Metro Manila, US, Visayas and Mindanao (he's editing me as I write and asked me to erase "Luzon" which I placed before Visayas). He also learned how letters are sorted into "boxes of different countries" and how letters are "placed inside square boxes inside the room" and how they are "given out outside the window".

At the police station, he saw saw "a cage with many round bottles" and the pictures of "bad people near the door".

At the fire station, he saw a fireman with "a blue and yellow suit with the hooks and holes and a helmet with a glass here (visor)." He also saw the "fireman with a firetruck, which has a hose connected to the rooftop of the firetruck. He described the hose as having a "snoozer with a shower at the end to spray the water".

At the Archbishop's Palace, he saw many seats near the "altar table where the priests celebrates the heavens and there was a big entrance, like that, like that (moving his arms to show an arch), and there was a tall tower and then there was Mama Mary on the balcony on top of the tower". Since he's very much into architecture and structures, he gave me more details on the church's structure which I am not able to capture here.

Here is a video of Baz relating what he saw at Krispy Kreme. See how descriptive he is and how much detail he is able to retain and communicate, even days after his trip.


The Krispy Kreme Report from malou.khan on Vimeo.

Chick-Boy

Hadrien LIKES girls. Once, he asked his classmate Sophie to be his girlfriend right in front of her mother - then realizing what he had done, ran to hide behind me.

Now in his new school, he talks about the other girls in his class - Cathy, Paige and Carmen. Although he's consistently said that Joaquin is his bestfriend. He enjoys holding Carmen's hand when they sing "The More We Get Together". He even named a comb (of all things!) "Carmen" and pushed the comb around the house as if it were a car while saying that the comb was the "Carmen Comb Car--- but don't tell Carmen".... Don't ask me where he got the idea - but it sure is funny!



"Don't Tell Carmen" from malou.khan on Vimeo.

School Time

Baz and Hadrien started school mid- June. Baz is in the Kinder Pups class while Hadrien is in the Nursery Panda class. Hadrien easily settled into school and the routine and is always eager to be in school much earlier than he needs to be. Not that Baz doesn't like school, he just hasn't chosen to participate yet. The good thing though is that he has started talking in the hallways and grounds.

Having been briefed on and after experiencing Baz's "silent treatment" quirk, teachers Rosana, Karen and Aiza suggested that we make a video of Baz introducing his family and home to coincide with their community theme. This would show his curious friends that he actually talks! True enough, little faces lit up and went from video screen to Baz upon hearing his voice.


Baz's Family and Home Video from malou.khan on Vimeo.

As for Hadrien, he is turning out to be the ultimate "sipsip". When I ask him how school went, he would brag "I shared my cookie with teacher Ingrid and teacher Nika!" Ingrid also told me how one time, thinking that the class was becoming too noisy, got the "quiet" sign for teacher to hold up. To think that Yaya Andora reports to me that his voice usually stands out whenever his class is in the playground!

We've also started doing homework (not assigned homework from school). I figure they need to get into the habit of working even before the real homework comes pouring in :) So far, they enjoy it a lot. Baz does english and math exercises while Hadrien is practicing writing and is learning the sounds of the letters (M says "mmmm", W says "daba"!)

On the 8th Day of Christmas

Baz's school held its annual christmas party. For someone who did not particularly like crowds and strangers, Baz was strangely looking forward to it. Truth be told, I was hesitant to go.

The Incredible Pups, Baz's class, was to perform the 12 Days of Christmas. I brought Baz to the room where the kids were practicing and asked if they were expected to perform the whole song.... Yes... I was worried but figured that Teachers Maiya, Julie and Erica had a game plan.

Surprise, surpise! Baz walked onto the makeshift stage - and stayed there! He even counted each day of christmas with his fingers, all the while moving his arm to the beat of the music.



I could not help the tears that welled in my eyes. Teachers Gabby, Maiya, Julie and Erica were also very proud and rushed to hug him - which made him cry but only for a short while. Baz does not like clapping or attention - and he got both - but he truly truly deserved it.

Art Attack!

Baz likes school - a lot!! But he doesn't show it. He likes it so much that he begs us to play school at home, pretending to be the teacher. I play the "quiet Baz", which he hates to no end. I guess he doesn't like getting a dose of his own medicine.

So today, Baz came home with a brown paper bag with eyes and limbs pasted onto it and an envelope of paper sprinklers. This means that he did not do his artwork at school. Not wanting to put the materials to waste, we set out to do his artwork on his "office table" in my office. I apologize that the video clarity is not so good. I recorded this on my mobile phone.