Kids Archive

What my kids are like, and how to raise your child/children in this day and age.

School Ready Mommy!

not that I am going to school anytime soon.. but again this post will serve as a reminder to me, like my post on educational material stuff.

notebooks.. pencils.. crayons..

We tend to buy all those stuff weeks before the school year starts, right? I am sure some moms even bought terno bag and notebooks and pencils.. oh I guess when my 3rd son starts going to school.. it will be cars 2 everywhere! and Hello Kitty everywhere for the little girl.

And with the terno bag and notebooks and pencils and even lunch box, you think you’re all set for the coming school year? I thought I was! I though that was all I need.. and mid school year, I realized ekk! I did not even bought half of what my school boys need! So this blog post will serve as my check list.. you can use this too!

Let’s start with clothes.. you know, school years happens with Nutrition Month, Linggo ng Wika, United Nations, Halloween Party, English Month and so on.. It’s hard for a mom like me to look for costumes for the said occasions.. so next year, as I troop down to the bargain capital of the country, I will include this on my must buy school items:

Barong Tagalog and black pants for my 2 boys (or 3 as my 3rd son will be a pre schooler next year) > Ang esensya ng barong tagalog at black pants.. bow.
Filipino Costume, aside from Barong Tagalog
Costume for Halloween or yards of tela in case my creativity strikes in

Now the props!

sombrero for the nutrition month, complete with plastic fruits on top
posters and picture of national heroes/ pambansang sagisag
flags for United Nation
mask for Halloween party

For the projects:

family printed photos
child’s solo picture, printed (in different sizes, 1×1, 2×2 etc)
plastic envelope, brown envelop, folders
cartolina (different colors but more white) / manila paper / card board
maps
magazines (now I should attend more events on summer and will require PRs to include magazines on the loot bag LOL)
more art materials.. as in more na more

Yan lang muna but I’m sure, I’ll add more to this.. kailangan pati so mommy matuto at maging school ready!

The New K-12 Grading System: The Meaning of A, P, AP, D and B

With the implementation of K-12 system in our education, the Grade 1 students of SY 2012-2013 are the ones most affected. They have a new curriculum, with a priority on mother tongue and less on English as well as a new grading system. I am not familiar with the computation of the grades or if there are changes on that, but what I am familiar with is thew new values written on the report cards.

So what does A, P, AP etc. really means?

When I went to school to get my son’s report card, that is what written on the black board ^

For grades 90 and above, A (Advanced) will be reflected on the report card

P (Proficient) for grades 5-89

AP (Approaching Proficiency) for grades 80-84

D (Developing) for 75- 79

B (Beginning) for 74 and below

Of course, as a parent seeing those letter on the report card, you want to know what is your child’s exact grade.. right? Good thing, you can ask the teachers to show you their grades in numbers.

As for character, they also have a new grading system:

The new curriculum for K-12 is still new to me.. specially I heard that they will soon be using new books.. I am still at lost on what to teach/ tutor my first grader.. specially now that second quarter is fast approaching.

How about you fellow moms, how’s your first graders so far?

Must Have Educational Materials

Having 4 kids of different ages, my living room looks more like a classroom than a living room. No fancy decors, no lamps, no carpets, just posters of Alphabets, numbers and the likes. I still feel that it lacks the basic educational materials that my kids can use. So I made this post to remind me as well as to share with you some basics or must have educational materials on your home.

For kids ages 1- 3 years old:

Simple Alphabet Chart. Look for charts with colorful illustration but refrain from buying charts with unfamiliar words/ objects. Also if you can find charts with pictures only and now words, that would be better. I know we want our kids to learn how to read early, but words may just confuse the early learners or they would resort to memorized reading.
Primary and Secondary Colors Chart. It would be better if shapes are integrated on the chart 🙂 I don’t buy color charts, instead I create mine, like making a yellow triangle, red circle and so on..

Simple 1-10 Number Chart. Your goal is not for them to learn counting by age of 3 but more on to familiarize them with counting and numbers. Choose a chart with familiar objects on them. Or you can make your own chart too.
Board Books. Based on experience, this is the only kind of books that can tolerate the chews and what not of a toddler.
Crayons and Pencils and some papers. Though they won’t be learning to write too soon (there’s a proper age to teach the kids to write)

For kids ages 4-6 years old:

Alphabet Chart with more complex images as well as with words/name of the image
Number Charts from 1-100. It will expose them more to counting but make sure that your kid already knows how to count to 20 and slowly with the help of the chart, they will learn how to count to 100.
Color Chart in complex objects. It would be better if you have objects with different colors on it, it will help their eye coordination as well as their sense of comparison.
Comparing objects chart. Buy charts with small and big, short and long and so on.
Paper book.. yes by this age, I am sure they already know what to chew and what not to chew. Buy them simple story books and more alphabet book as well as simple text books.
Paper, Crayons, Pencils, Scissors and other art materials.
Days of the week chart. This chart will give them the idea of time and as the days go, you can also add a clock on your educational materials
Simple Puzzles

For kids 7 and up:

More complex Math charts (Roman Numerals, Multiplication Table). This charts will be very helpful since this is what was taught in their school.
Maps and Globe. Kids at this age are very inquisitive of places and location, make your life easier by having a ready map and a globe in your home.
Dictionary. Also at this age, they start to learn new words and would often ask their parents what’s the meaning of it. Teach them how to use the dictionary. It will also help increase their vocabulary
Books, pocket books, almanacs and the likes.
Art and Crafts materials.
Board Games/ Puzzles

Now, as I go through my check list, I still have to buy a lot! Starting off with the map.. I have an obsession with locations eh.. and I think my kids are as curious as I am.. It will also make travelling more fun!