Marriage and Beyond

posted by Jennie on Aug 3

Last Friday, July 20, 2010, I attended  “Trek Around Europa,” a culminating event of the Linggo de Lingua Europa 3. It was a collaboration of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. The marathon activity ala Amazing Race was held at the Manny V. Pangilinan Building inside the Ateneo University campus in Katipunan.

Students from participating schools all over Manila: Ateneo, Miriam College, UP Diliman, De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Instituto Cervantes Manila, et.al. were first given the floor as they were randomly asked why they think it’s important to learn a foreign language. A handful of students gave their take, including a Chinese exchange student who shared her thoughts about the beauty of exploring different cultures through learning a second tongue. Bloggers and language enthusiasts also graced the event.

Foreign ambassadors and culture representatives of European Union who were present gave short talks as each shared their thoughts about their respective country’s culture and history as they encourage the audience to learn a second language.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 1

My boys and I attended the launch of the Mind Museum’s online fund raising campaign in Market! Market! last Saturday, May 29, 2010. We also got a taste of what Mind Museum has to offer for family and kids via The Roving Space Shell – a travelling inflatable dome that would bring the wonders of the universe within our reach. The 8-meter diameter Roving Space Shell is from Cosmodome Australia and is the choice of many universities and research institutions around the world, including NASA. This inflatable planetarium can sit up to 50 people comfortably with a 360- degree view of the shows through a high definition projector. This also provides the public a sneak preview of what The Mind Museum, our country’s first world class science museum, will be offering to the public when it opens late next year.

The Roving Space Shell

My boys and I just before we got in the Roving Space Shell

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on May 27

This is the time of the year where premiums have been paid and the next we have to prepare for are the school expenses. The next homeschool curriculum that our family is going to use for our son is School of Tomorrow’s ready to read program – ABCs with Ace and Christi. Our son will go through this curriculum for approximately 3 months and he will be off to first grade from there.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on May 26

When Alex Dizon had us sign up for a whole day event in Zoobic Safari, I knew I just had to grab hold of the opportunity for a learning experience for the little guy. Since our son has been blogging for sometime now, he also gets to sign up. Nevermind if we had to wake up earlier than usual. It was something all of us (and not just our 5 year old tot) looked forward to.

The event coincided with the launch of Zoobic Safari’s newest attractions: The Zoobic Cave and The Forbidden Cave.  The Zoobic Cave is a taxidermy museum. Real stuffed animals are showcased in this cave that mimics the natural habitat of exotic animals, complete with waterfalls and a pond. The Forbidden Cave took us through a forest with two waterfalls, a shaking hanging bridge and real aetas spitting fire.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Apr 25

Yesterday, I attended an event for parent bloggers where we were presented 2 of the most creative toys that were recently introduced in the market – ZipBin and RainbowBrush. Just to give you an idea what RainbowBrush is. Here is a video clip of how to get started with these creative pens.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Feb 25

I have not joined WW for a while now. Our son’s graduation pictorial day got me back to wanting to share pictures again to the meme group. Here’s one of the pictures the hubby took as the official photographer was taking shots of him.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Feb 24

Today I was  finally able to finish my son’s progress report.  This is how School of Tomorrow’s Progress Report of Preschool with Ace and Christi (front) looks like.  We have finished 35 letter sounds.  In this program, the child is not expected to learn how to read just yet but half way through, our son was already able to read with ease.  You can read more about his progress in our homeschool blog –  ChristianHomeschooler.info.

posted by Jeff on Jan 7

The Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) is giving away one (1) FREE Culinary Diploma Course Scholarship. No strings attached! Just fill out the form  and you will be considered eligible for the scholarship selection!

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Dec 5

We attended yesterday, December 4, 2009, our very first Annual Homeschoolers Christmas Fellowship over at Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow in Paranaque City.  It was a huge school. I heard from the hubby that it was formerly a Japanese International School.  If only we live close by, then we won’t think twice in enrolling our little guy in this school if and when we’ll graduate him from homeschooling.  What’s important is they’re using the same curriculum that we want for our child.  

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Nov 26

The country celebrates the National Week for the Gifted and Talented on November 22 to 28. The annual event, held every fourth week of November, was declared through Presidential Proclamation No. 199 by then President Joseph Estrada in 1999, to promote opportunities for talented children and to help parents and teachers foster an environment for children to nurture their potentials and utilize their skills at home, school and the community. This is also the time to recognize the exemplary performance of gifted and talented Filipino children all over in the country.

In celebration of the National Week for the Gifted and Talented, the Philippine Association for the Gifted (PAG) is holding its 12th Annual Convention-Workshop. Entitled “Nurturing Giftedness: New Directions” and slated on November 25 to 26 at the Mandarin Oriental Suites, Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, the event will serve as a venue to learn new methods in nurturing children’s talents and potentials. Hundreds of parents, teachers, school administrators, guidance counselors and professors are expected to attend the workshop.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Nov 21

My homeschool blog,  ChristianHomeschooler.info is now live! I have been asking Jeff for a good one month, to find me good combining words for a homeschool blog. I went to check with AdWords and believe me, I still can’t seem to figure out how they work. It wasn’t until I sat the hubby down and worked on his laptop last Tuesday night, did he get to focus to finally get me a the perfect name for a homeschool blog. 

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Nov 19

After so many weeks of putting it off, my homeschool blog is finally live! It’s barely a couple of days old and I’m not about to share the link just yet. Allow me to work on its content first.

Ever since late June, I have toyed with the idea of putting up a Homeschool Blog. I figured, homeschooling is taking up a bulk of my weekday mornings, then might as well blog about the random activities we do as me and my son do our homeschool routine.  But because I was yet to get the hang of it, a brand new blog will add to the stress.  Less than five months down the homeschooling road, I am now so thrilled to have my brand new baby blog.  We so love homeschooling that getting some few snippets of our everyday classes documented, seeing how my four year old is doing better and better each day, academically and otherwise affirms our stand to homeschool him. Despite the odds. 

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Nov 4

For parents who wish for the optimal development of their children, the preschool teacher is one of their best allies. Early childhood educators are tasked with the preparation of young minds for studying basic academic subjects. In practice, this may look like a lot of games and playing, but in truth, there is a world of research and study that go into the creation of every educational activity and into the development of every learning system. There are also many kinds of approaches to early education as there are different types of parents. The challenge for parents here lies in finding educators or an educational system that would best complement their own child-rearing efforts.

To help parents along, early learning expert Dr. George Morrison and literacy specialist Laura Benson will speak on Nov. 5 & 6, 2009, at the 1st Philippine Summit on Early Childhood Education sponsored by Wyeth Progress Pre-School Gold. Held in Fort Bonifacio Global City, the two-day seminar aimed to promote the importance of early childhood education in the Philippines. Some 750 educators, program administrators, school supervisors, university students, researchers, social workers, psychologists, counselors, developmental pediatricians, and parents will attend to learn about the latest information on early childhood learning.

Dr. Morrison, professor and director of the Success for Life Programs at the University of North Texas, will be sharing his knowledge on the current Trends and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education on Thursday, November 5. The author of several books on early childhood development, he is constantly sought to speak and present on the future of early childhood education, changing roles of early childhood teachers, the influence of contemporary educational reforms, as well as research and legislation on teaching and learning.

“Early childhood professionals have acknowledged that they must educate the whole child—his or her physical, social, emotional and cognitive aspects. However, the spiritual aspect has not received much attention. A recent trend is a greater emphasis on supporting children’s spiritual development through moral and character education,” he said.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Oct 23

As our dear readers know, my son and I are now back homeschooling.  Our class was on hold for a good couple of weeks because of the storm. It was during the time that our class was on hold, did I appreciate seeing my son draw and spell words (according to letter sounds-phonics) on his MegaSketcher. The curriculum does not encourage pushing a student his age to write yet.  If at all, we trace the letters on air and focus more on getting the child learn about the letter sounds.  Jed has memorized the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag in less than a month from the time we started homeschooling last week of June and as second quarter came in more than a month ago, the Pledge to the Christian Flag and the Bible were introduced to our daily routine and he has now memorized both.

Pledge to the Christian Flag

I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for Whose Kingdom it stands;

one Savior, crucified, risen and coming again

with life and liberty for all who believe.

Pledge to the Bible

I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

I will make it a lamp unto my feet 

and a light unti my ath.

I will hide its words in my heart

that I might not sin against God.

posted by Jennie on Sep 5

Yesterday, my son and I wrapped up our first quarter of homeschooling. I cannot be more proud of him! Right from the time that we started, how he memorized the visualized instructions by heart, which is foundational to every pace that we use for every single subject of every single school day. I never had a hard time getting him through the homeschooling routine, to start with. I cannot be more convinced that this is exactly what I should be doing. My heart is full and I am overjoyed as I see right before my very eyes how his eyes light up as he learns new things and all the developments!  How he associates everyday things with the new learnings. How he can locate countries and places around the globe and to think that it has only been less than 3 months!!! I can go on and on about these things, but here’s one thing for sure– in my heart I know that this is exactly the place that I should be and not the sidelines. Read the rest of this entry »