Mama’s Getting Help From The Learning Library

October 31, 2011 by

I’ve been reading to my daughter since she was growing inside my womb and until now, not a day passes by without us reading a book together. At her very young age, she has already shown great love for literature and a knack for weaving stories of her own. When dear Mama is cannot read a book for her, she often narrates her own version of a storybook based on the pictures.

I have tried to teach her how to read on her own but have only managed to help her recognize letters and their sounds. We’ve been stuck at AT and AN words for weeks now and I’m pretty much the one who’s getting frustrated. You see, my Mom taught my sisters and I to read before we even reached three years of age. Jade is three years and four months now and I feel that I may not have enough skill to teach her the basics of reading.

Since she herself has been clamoring to go to school and has shown signs of being ready for more challenges, we agreed to check if she could be enrolled in a Reading Program. The nearest establishment that offered such a program was The Learning Library but when I inquired, they said that they only accepted children who are already in school. After reasoning out that my little girl was already used to answering worksheets and knew how to follow instructions, they did schedule us though for an assessment.

Our first visit to the center proved how ready Jade is for school. She easily warmed up to the teacher and had no qualms going off with the teacher by herself. It felt kind of sad that she left poor Mama within five minutes of arriving at the center; but, I am proud of how independent and driven she is.

How did the assessment go? It went fairly well with Teacher Erica informing me that Jade was very quick with her answers.  Although she missed several questions, her Reading level was still above-average for her age. Most importantly, she showed readiness to learn and behaved well during the assessment.

We’re starting Level 1 of their Reading Advantage Program this November. I really thought we’d be on Level 2 already as she already knew all of the letters and sounds, could identify beginning letters, and read a few cvc words. However, it turns out that she had to be able to identify middle and ending letters also before she could proceed to Level 2. And she is also still unable to segment words phonemically.

She is very excited to go back to The Learning Library and learn how to read. We’ll see how it goes the first month and if she wishes to continue the program then we’ll do so.

Filed Under: BookWorms, Mom's Corner, PLAYhouse preSCHOOL Tagged With: , , ,

Mashed Vegetables Art

May 11, 2011 by

photo mashedart.jpg

No, those are not made of clay nor playdough.  We actually had those for dinner. Those are the mashed potatoes and carrots we had with our barbequed chicken.  I know that I have much to improve on when it comes to food decorating but my children are still toddlers who are still so very easily pleased.  (Good for me!)

This is one of the best ways we’re able to make our toddlers eat their food on their own and finish it up to the last bite.  It really makes mealtime fun for them and they look forward to what they’d be eating next.  The shapes don’t even have to be so complicated. My little daughter is easily delighted by a heart-shaped serving of rice.

We also do this with pancakes and sandwiches.  Pancakes don’t necessarily have to be round, we make them in all shapes and sizes. We even have fun figuring out or giving names to pancakes I messed up shaping.

Toddlers can be quite difficult to feed. At their age, all they want to do it seems is to run around and play.  Do try to create funny shapes with their food to make mealtimes enjoyable.  Pretty soon, they might even actually start eating by themselves.

Filed Under: Eat-Outs, Kids At Work Tagged With: , , ,

On Filial Love – and War

April 19, 2011 by

My toddlers have started to fight over toys and over attention as well.  I have been told that fighting over toys is part of their social and emotional development.  Although it seems that their behavior is nothing out of the ordinary, it does bother me a lot.  I think any mother would be bothered to see their children fighting over a toy flailing wildly at each other.  But I think what bothers me most is how fast they get over the fight.

Once I saw both of them arms up high flailing at each other and both shouting “Mine! Mine!”  But before I could intercede lest they hurt each other really bad,  they were suddenly laughing and tickling each other.  Did I miss something there?  How can they be fighting one second and giggling together the next.  This has happened a couple of times more.  In each one, the transition from fighting to loving each other transpired in a blink of an eye.

My sister supposed that this “fighting” could be actually be part of their play.  If it is so,  I hope they play something less violent and more friendly and fun.  I am comforted though by the fact that each night before they go to bed, my toddlers say their prayers together (well, at least my daughter says her prayers while her little brother listens),  kiss each other good night and say their i-love-you’s.

Filed Under: Kids At Work, Mommy Talk Tagged With: , ,

Easter Egg Baskets Math Activity

April 17, 2011 by

It’s Easter Sunday today and this morning, the toddlers and I prepared Easter cards to give away.  As with most of the activities that we do, I try to incorporate something that would hone their thinking skills.  So while creating our Easter cards this morning, I gave my little Jade a Math activity.

For this activity, I cut out small baskets from used board paper and flowers from a used gift wrapper.  On the flowers, I wrote the numbers 2, 3, and 4. I had Egg Stickers printed beforehand since we were to use them for making the cards.

photo easterbasket.jpg

Jade’s Easter Math Activity

Here are the instructions I gave my little Jade, which I am proud to say she was able to follow without assistance.

  1. Get three eggs and place them on the pink basket. Two eggs on the blue basket. Four eggs on the red basket.
  2. Color the eggs. (This one she wasn’t able to do properly though. She was in no mood for coloring)
  3. Count the eggs on the pink basket and get the flower that shows the correct number.  How about the blue basket? The red basket?

Jade was able to count the eggs in each basket and to find the corresponding flower for each.  She has actually known the concept of counting from one to twenty for months now.  Her little brother has been able to count by rote from one to ten at an early age just by watching his sister practice her counting skills.

Filed Under: Kids At Work Tagged With: , , , , , ,