Preparing for school

My daughter Ysabel has been telling me lately how eager she is to go to school just like her Ate Helen. At 4 years and 3 months, I am not so sure if it's time for her to get formal education. Although my daughter is smart (like me) she can write her name, identify objects, colors and shapes; count and she can even speak in English (like mom)..but I'm not so sure if she can endure having to sit for more than an hour or follow a daily routine or worse focus on something. As we all  know, kids dont really have the patience to stay put in one place for a long time, they prefer playing games or do coloring and listen to stories.

The idea of her going to school is making me anxious.I am a working mom and the idea is making me feel guilty that I cant be there to bring and fetch her from school, or probably monitor her lessons and homework or just be there to make sure that she will adjust to the school environment. How I wish there was a an elective in college about raising kids and preparing them for school, or probably a subject with a course outline on how to become a "super mom". But I guess I have to rely to my instincts and just hope for the best for my daughter.

I began my quest for pre school hunting by writing down my expectations with the kind of education that I want my daughter to receive and how this new endeavor will fit to our daily routine since hubby and I are working and we may have to rely so much with our angels.

1. Not too expensive. (We have 2 kids and we are on a very tight budget). If the school can offer a payment scheme, the better.
2. Must be near home. (Preferably in or near Teachers Village Quezon City).
3. School should have a comfortable atmosphere, safe, and not too crowded
4. School should offer a good training portfolio but not so very strict. Probably a play-based program.

After writing down my expectations, I turned to the world wide web for some answers and I was overwhelmed with what I discovered. A lot of schools are nearby indeed but they have different approaches to education that I have never heard before and now I am having a problem which would fit my daughters' personality and my preferences.

Anyway, let me share with you some of the things I discovered and maybe you can help me identify which would be good for my daughter.

THE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL & CHIL'S PLACE PRESCHOOL

Address: 4 Escaler St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines

Tel. No.: (632) 92801-43
Fax. No.: 4334949 loc 102
Teaching Method: Multiple Intelligence
Ages Accepted: 1.5 – 5.5 yrs old
Tuition Fee Range: call to inquire
Teacher – Student Ratio: 1:10

The Multiple Intelligence International School & Child’s Place Preschool was set up in 1996 with the vision of providing learning environments that are truly child-centered. It aimed to open schools that welcome all learners, recognize and understand the individual differences among children, & work with the learner in bringing out their potentials.


The Child’s Place preschool and the M.I. International School are the first learning institutions in the country that base their approach on the principles of the multiple intelligence framework of Dr. Howard Gardner, a well-renowned cognitive psychologist from Harvard University. The MI approach, which is currently being implemented in the US and other countries and backed by recent research on how children learn, is truly responsive to the needs of the 21st Century. This framework prepares the Filipino child to be creative, critical, and divergent thinkers who are able to really ‘think outside the box.’ In our schools, we recognize that by teaching for understanding, our students are encouraged to problem-solve, to hone their skills, and to develop their individual strengths. All these are qualities that will allow students to ride the tide of the Information Age. Since we understand that every child learns in many ways and each has his own interests and needs, we provide children with multiple access or entry points to a concept through their different intelligences or “smarts.” We also do our best not only to provide a holistic curriculum but also to practice “differentiated teaching” inside our classrooms because we understand the differences in interests, needs, and learning styles among the learners.

CENTRO PAMBATA

Address: #9 K-11 street, East Kamias, Quezon City

Tel. No.: 434-9238
Cell. No.: 09178954356
Teaching Method: developmental play-based
Ages Accepted: 2-6
Tuition Fee Range: to be given upon request
Teacher – Student Ratio: 1:6

Play with a purpose guides our unique developmental play-based program, designed to move your child ahead in an environment that’s warm, nurturing and fun. We aspire to ready every child to face the bigger challenges in life.

Low teacher-student ratio
Highly trained and experienced teachers
easy payment schemes
high quality educational toys and materials
Also OfferS:
- Tutorials in all subjects ( one-on-one or group )
- MPM math program ( an analytical math program popular in Singapore, USA and Canada )
- SPED

BRISTESPARKS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Address : 100 Katipunan Avenue, White Plains,

Tel. No. : 912.06.69 / 437.47.47
Teaching Method : Holistic Approach / Child-Centered
Ages Accepted : 1.5 – 6 yrs old
Tuition Fee Range : Call to inquire
http://www.britesparksschool.com/pre.htm

CAMBRIDGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Address : Capitol Hills

Tel. No. : 931.03.72

Address : Banawe Street

Tel. No. : 362.48.04

Teaching Method : Thematic Approach and Individualized Instruction
Ages Accepted : 18 mos. – 6 yrs old
Tuition Fee Range : Call to inquire

CAMELEAN ACADEMY

Address : 10 J. Ocampo Street Project 4

Tel. No. : (02) 421.25.95
Teaching Method : Traditional
Ages Accepted : 2 – 6 yrs old
Tuition Fee Range : Call to inquire
http://cameleanacademy.neotitans.com/site/index.html

CHILD CASTLE LEARNING CENTER
Address : 16 Kasing-Kasing St. cor. K-7th St. Kamias

Tel. No. : 433.47.84 / 415.19.21 / 374.36.73 / 374.30.33
Ages Accepted : 1. 2 -6 yrs old
Tuition Fee Range : Call to inquire

DILIMAN PREPATORY SCHOOL

Address : Commonwealth Ave.

Tel. No. : 931.07.31 / 931.07.28 / 932.83.28
Ages Accepted : Call to inquire
Tuition Fee Range : Call to inquire
http://www.dps.edu.ph/dps/DPS%20Web%20Content/About/About.htm

I am now ready to visit the schools in my list and see what they have to offer and how the environemnt is like in their school. Of course I need to know how much the tuition fee is so that I can now start saving up for my daughters' pre school. Im sure Ysabel woulf gladly tag along with us while we make our rounds.

Learning a valuable lesson from Ysabel

I was distracted by my daughters crying one afternoon. She really sounded so upset over something that she couldn’t stop herself from crying. I wanted to ignore her because I was dying to get some sleep as I wanted to shut my mind off my own personal problems too. But the sound of her cry felt like she was telling me in a way to comfort her from whatever it was that was making her upset, although I heard that she and her cousin had a fight over something and my dear Ysabel was hit in the head, that’s why she was crying.




No, its not that I do not want to attend to her; In fact I felt so guilty that I did not ran to her side immediately after I heard her cry. I have confidence with my children. I know that they can handle their cousins and playmates and a petty quarrel among kids should not be an issue with me.

Besides, I always tell my kids that if they are about to be hit by someone, just try to get out of the way, but never hit back because it’s not good. Unfortunately, my little girl was not quick enough to avoid getting hit and so she was crying her pain out but she did not come crying to me..,I guess she was trying to be strong and she didn't want to bother me. Now I'm guilty.

I stood up and went to her side wiping her tears from her cheeks. My Ysabel reminds me greatly of how I was when I was a little girl. Playful, friendly, and I always wanted to share my toys with friends. I didn't like playing alone. So it’s either I was at my friends house to play, or my friends and I turned our house into a circus.

I asked Ysa what's wrong and she said while sobbing that her cousin hit her in the head because of a toy. Then I replied the very same thing I would tell her every time occasions like this happen, and that is to avoid getting hit. I would explain to her that if it was not her toy, she would have to wait until she was allowed to borrow. Then my daughter replied, "ok Mom". Then she stopped crying and went back outside to play.

Her reaction was so simple. And it somehow struck me. She was hurt, yes, but she did not dwell on the feeling of getting hurt for so long. After realizing what happened to her and what she can do about it, she stopped crying and went back to her cousin to play with her. That simple!

Ironic isn’t it? I tell my daughter to avoid getting hurt and she shows me how to "accept getting hurt". And that’s the best way to deal with our problems in life.

Acceptance.

To stop crying over spilled milk and start moving on.

We cannot avoid the many obstacles that come with life. That's reality. And nobody can ever help us confront that reality besides us.

My Ysa is indeed strong.

Stronger than I am.

Thank you for discretely teaching mommy what do.

I’m looking forward to learning more lessons from you. I love you.

What is a family?

The Ties That Bond

No one is ever born into this world alone but the Lord connected us to someone's family tree.

Everyone has shared the bond of family whose name always has a history.

Our family were the ones who were the first to see us shed a tear. They were the first to see us grow over the years.

Our family, they're usually the first to work our nerves but they are also the first to help heal our hurts. Our family are usually the ones who would put up with us despite our faults right to the very end, and no matter how many times we go a stray they always except us back into the bond again.

No matter how mant times affliction came upon our lives we were the first and last ones there. These are the ties that bond, and this is the bond that holds the family together, and these are the ties that makes the family endure forever.