Eanna's Moving Up Day!

Cheers to my new Elementary girl! :)

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Eanna's Sakamoto Math

Let me just be a proud Mama for a bit and take a look at Eanna's Sakamoto Math worksheet...

Teacher has informed me that my little baby has a knack for Math and she keeps on asking for more worksheets until she gets exhausted hahaha. She also asked me if I could reconsider extending her time as she is eligible for international competitions by next year. Of course I had to check on cost considerations but if it's ok then I have no problems with it, as long as my daughter enjoys.

I'm so proud of her. Gotta love this kid. :)

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Summer Activities of Eanna

What has my little girl been doing this summer? Swimming lessons? Nope. Cooking class? Planned, but no. Arts class? Try again. Sports training? Nope. Playing with kids (knee scooter races, play ball, etc). Not even. :)

She's been having lessons on reading and Math. Yup, you read that right. My little girl has taken a very keen interest in reading so we thought of enrolling her so she could further develop her reading skills. So far, I'm very pleased with her progress. Like!

Then she takes Sakamoto Math classes too. It is different from Enopi and Kumon, and if i got that right, it is also what you call "Singapore Math" which is being introduced to schools here (not sure if Poveda uses this but hopefully they do, will check).

According to the website,

Originating from Japan, the Sakamoto Math Method is a visual approach to problem solving. It is a powerful and innovative method for solving word problems. It provides students with a simple yet systematic and structured technique to analyze questions in a logical way. Because the emphasis is on understanding of concepts and applications, and not on rote learning, it cultivates logical and creative thinking, thus improving students' skills in problem solving.

I know, I know, people say that I might burn out my kid at an early age. However, to me she is really enjoying as her "tutoring" is a mix of play and learn. If ever there are any signs of her wearing out and disengagement then I will gladly stop. So far, she loves going to the center.

Anyway, the June is right around the corner, so at least the little girl is somewhat prepared to learn. :)

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Eanna's Field Trip

Here at Nido Science Discovery Center at Mall of Asia!

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Little Girl and Firetrucks

MY little girl had a field trip with her classmates in the nearest firetruck station, and she went crazy!!!! For some reason she loves seeing firetrucks, trains, ambulances, and the like, and so when she stepped foot on the station, she was ultra mega happy!

Check out her pics:

I kinda feel bad because I wasn't there (had to work huhuhuh) but I'm glad that my darling daughter enjoyed her day!

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Eanna's Assessment Report

I just received Eanna's "Report Card" after our PTC earlier this morning. overall I am pleased with the results, though I wasn't really surprised that my daughter is doing well. However, there are of course some areas for improvement, areas where the little girl has attained the skill but still needs assistance. On these, I promise to help her out here at home. Nope, I will try not to be the strict parent/educator type because frankly I don't want to be a stressed parent this early. I do hope that by the end of the school year, there will be improvements in these areas. Assessment reports aren't necessarily stressing after all, you will not see me like katherine heigl smoking electronic cigarette (s) hahaha!

To my lovely little darling daughter, good job!

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Eanna's Assessment

It was Eanna's assessment in school today, and for some reason I wasn't really nervous or stressed about it. We didn't review or prepared for it.

When her 2-hour assessment was done, her Yaya (she's always with the little one because she gets too clingy and loses focus when I'm around) was in very high spirits. Why? Because our darling lady did quite well during her assessment! According to the Yaya, "walang kahirap-hirap" and began comparing Eanna to the other students who were scheduled the same time. The only concerns were the Linggo ng Wika questions because Eanna wasn't around that time, as well as when she was asked if chips are good or bad and the naughty girl said "good!" with gusto. Hahahaha.

Anyway, the parent-teacher meeting will be done next week and hopefully it confirms that Eanna did well.

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Eanna's Krispy Kreme Field Trip

Yes I know this is a week late, but like I always say, better late than never!

Eanna had her first taste of field trip last Thursday when their whole class went to the Fort and tour Krispy Kreme. This is in connection to their theme for this month: "Communities." Their trip was about the mall, park, restaurant, and bakery.

This was the group before we left:

With teacher Sam inside the "school bus."

Eanna knows where Krispy Kreme is Hahaha!

Hands on the back and fall in line from smallest (and youngest) to tallest!

We went inside and the kids made their own krispy kreme donuts: glazed dipped in chocolate and sprinkles!

The kids were given coloring materials too as their activity. I felt like a kid all over again hahaha. And the donuts, man, we were given about 3 pieces each, whatever we liked! Imagine the damage that causes to one's belly fats hahaha! I should click here to keep my fats from ballooning hehehe.

Another group pic before leaving Krispy Kreme

Time to go!

Well, we didn't really leave immediately after as the kids played in the park.

Overall, it was a fun experience for the kids and for adults too. What a wonderful way to teach kids about the community. Experiential!

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Explorations School Seminar on Positive Discipline

I just copy-pasted the entire blog post of my cousin regarding Explorations School's seminar for parents on Positive Discipline.

*****

Announcing another Explorations Preschool parent seminar, Positive Discipline in the Filipino Home: a forum focused on successfully implementing positive discipline strategies in various Filipino family settings. Because sometimes, resources don't consider the nuances of Filipino family dynamics.

This forum's resource families include: a father raising 4 children, a mother with a longtime yaya and a mother living with in-laws. The forum will be next Saturday, 25 September, 9am to 11am. Venue is Explorations Preschool 928 Luna Mencias Street, Mandaluyong. This is part of the school's parent development series which is offered free to all Explorations parents. If your child does not go to Explorations you're still welcome. Fee for guests is P350/person. Seats are limited, so call the school for reservations at 724-3320 or 724-4271.

*****

See you there!

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The GiggleBellies

Mommies out there!

Has anyone tried purchasing the GiggleBellies video for preschoolers?

I chanced upon this in Youtube while browsing for nursery songs for my little girl. The songs were very nice and I'm interested in purchasing one. For those who don't know this yet, check out The GiggleBellies Youtube Page!

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Rainbow Room Learning Center

Finally, the husband and I decided to enroll Eanna in a pre-school. We broadened our options aside from Explorations and Julia Gabriel and considered HEMS (a Montessori preschool in Mandaluyong), Mulberry  Preschool, and Preppi Kids. However, we decided to enroll her in Rainbow Room, which is inside Tivoli Gardens and is very near our place (it's also a DMCI property). I saw this sometime June (or July?) when my Aunt checked out Tivoli Gardens. It's just a room with few kids, two teachers, and a nanny. What's good is that it used Progressive methods for teaching. I talked to the Head Teacher and our thinking is the same. That won us over.

Last Saturday was the culmination of the Filipino month and there was a gathering of parents and presentations by the kids.

Unfortunately Eanna was not enrolled earlier so she didn't know the steps and all. Eanna was shy though, which was a shock!!! Nevertheless, we enjoyed the get together.

Anyways, the little girl is attending classes that are a bit advanced because of the schedule. Today however we will check out the class that's age-appropriate for her. The teacher will then decide which would suit her best. This school year will be a test too on whether we will enroll her there for next year or push with our original plan of enrolling her in Explorations.

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Eanna's Last Day of Summer Class

Today was Eanna's last day of her summer classes, and I feel a bit sad because I know Eanna has been enjoying her classes and always looks forward to going to school. I also got used to this routine of staying in her school for a couple of hours.

Anyway, their class prepared simple food that the kids themselves made (with the assistance of teachers of course!). 

The kids also served these meals to their parents!

There was a scheduled parent-teacher chat too, and so we just had our lunch in a nearby restaurant, a quaint little place called Cookbook. After lunch, we walked back to the school.

Here's what we have talked about:

• Eanna is very intelligent and very independent.
• She is into a lot of things and are very focused when doing the activities: art, story-time, blocks, ABC's, etc.
• She is very friendly towards her classmates and calls them by their names. Even occasionally shares and gives toys to them.
• Very attentive and always the first to participate in their daily activities.
• Eanna however is very territorial when it comes to the stuff she plays with. Sometimes she grabs things she considers as hers, and when kids don't budge, resort to pushing.

One shocker though was an incident that happened earlier during the day. While at play in the ropes climbing area, a baby was positioned where she was staying. Eanna immediately reacted negatively and started pushing and kicking the baby and screaming. Then when she was being taken, she just held very tightly on to the ropes and screaming and crying.

Her teachers were also shocked because they said it was so out of character. Eanna usually plays along with the kids and when asked to return to the room she does so with no effort at all.

I was too shocked myself to react, upon hearing this and while on my way back to her room to console her, I was wondering what happened. Eanna adores babies and handles them with care. She kisses them and touches them. She is very generous and shares her toys to babies. She greets and says hello and is very warm to any baby, whether she knows them or not (i.e. at the mall).

I immediately felt bad because of course, I blame myself yet again for this very unpleasant scene. I must have done something wrong that triggered her bad temper, or that I have set a bad example. I don't know. I always blame myself for the "bad behavior" of my child.

But anyway, the teachers assured me that maybe the little one really did have a bad day because it was really a first for them to see her like that. She has always been sweet and friendly, save for some pushing and grabbing, which I think is a bit normal to kids her age, a stage where they become territorial with their things. I do hope that this is really an exemption and that this will not happen again. Maybe it's because she is not fully well that's why she's cranky, not to mention the fact that earlier she was "forced" to take a bath and got her teeth brushed. Sigh.

Overall though, the teachers are really impressed with Eanna and I promise that I will do my best to nurture this appetite to learn and be creative. 

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