Video Killed Authentic Learning

In a fast paced world, children are more inclined to sit down and watch shows which will enhance their learning in areas like counting numbers, familiarizing the alphabet, colors, shapes and a lot more. It may sound good, well… Think again. Parents sometimes just made their kids --- video addicts, unknowingly.

Nothing beats painting with your own hand. Do not use any gadget and you will be surprised how one child could create a wonderful abstract.

                A four year old child who knows how to operate the computer, ipod, ipad or laptop is quite amazing. A three year old child who draws using his / her notepad is brilliant. A two year old child who knows how to use laptop and chooses his/ her own show is quite impressive. The younger the children slanted in technology, the more fascinated people are. Have you tried giving these children pen and paper handy? Have you tried letting these kids master the “scribbling progress” of their childhood? Have you tried to let them create drawing with different colors and let them appreciate their own work? Then again the answer is NO. That’s how videos kill authentic learning.

Kurt's abstract painting. I hope he gets better when is already 3 years old.

                Just because adults these days, parents to be exact or guardians wanted to make things easy for their kids, doesn’t mean they have to forget what authentic learning process is.

Kurt with his Uncle. His Uncle is playing the guitar while he learns how to do the beat box.

                Authentic learning is real life learning. There is nothing more extraordinary than learning how to mix the primary colors to produce secondary colors. Touching and feeling the sand when at the beach or just by the garden doing gardening teaches a child the difference between smooth and rough objects. It even teaches the child with what type of soils are there like sandy, loam and clay. They would even familiarize the insects like worms, small spiders and bugs around the house or in the garden if they would try to put down the gadgets and face what really exists before them. Kids would even memorize the difference between a shrub plant, trees and vines. In the internet, they would know that there are flowers with lovely smell and some were made into perfumes or colognes but have they really tried smelling one? They should try it.

Nothing beats authentic learning especially when the child gets involve and touches the soil and stones.

Pre-school Lesson: Soft and Hard, Smooth and Rough, Dirty and Clean

I get stinky. I get dirty. But see??? I learned!

Besides, what's the use of anti bacterial soap if you're not going to use it after the play.

                There should be a mix lesson of technology and authentic learning. One should not supersede the other for it will only create chaos in the young’s mind.

                Here are some benefits of authentic learning:

1.       Makes children more creative.

2.       Makes children do critical thinking.

3.       Makes children’s senses be more keen like smelling – the difference of the scent of rose from that of a sampaguita or ilang ilang flowers.

4.       Makes children familiarize simple topics like rough and smooth, small and big, dry and wet, soft and hard and a lot more.

5.       Makes children experience the relevance of their existence to that of nature.

6.       Makes children be one with nature by simple gardening task – which eventually instill in their minds the great need of saving the plants.

7.       Lets children define life as simple happiness without valuing for money or gadgets alone.

8.       Provides opportunity to reflect.

9.       Provides opportunity for them to create something without computers like wooden car toys, a mini house toy and a lot more.

10.   Makes them mingle with real people of their age, not just mingle with social networking sites.

11.   Makes them appreciate and value the creations of the Lord.

Have fun mommies! I hope you enjoy!

First Trimester of Pregnancy

Glimpse on our second baby. The baby is now 10 weeks and 1 day.

Going through a lot of physical changes during the first trimester of pregnancy can be more than just dramatic. It could also be traumatic or emotional stress for some women. NV or Nausea and vomiting on pregnancy vary from one woman to the other. This is also commonly known as morning sickness. So, what are the causes of these?

First, we have the change in hormones. In my research, I have found out that there is a change in hCG or Human Chronic Gonadotropin. It arises during pregnancy. It is responsible for nausea and vomiting.

Second, we also have estrogen change. It also arises during pregnancy and another hormone which doctors suspect to be another reason for nausea and vomiting.

Third, we have change of sensitivity level. By sensitivity level, this means very sensitive in all five (5) senses especially hearing, smelling and tasting. That’s the reason why other pregnant women like me, tend to hate noise because even how far our gate is from our bedroom, I can still hear who are coming in and out. Plus I could smell the foulest odour around me and even vomits and have allergies on the most wonderful scents which I usually love when I wasn’t pregnant. The sense of taste is probably the worst sense I have had during the entire pregnancy period (as it varies from one female to the other). Everything I eat makes me vomit and every foul smelling viand would make me feel dizzy and weak to my bones.

During my first pregnancy with my son Kurt, I never had much trouble with eating. I, in fact, eat tons of food and gained much weight. I reached 1 sack of rice when I was about to deliver Kurt. But on my second pregnancy, the first two months of the first trimester were hell for me. I could barely eat. Everything just made me felt to nauseated and I got dizzy all the time. I tried to help myself with some soup (not too intense flavour) but it really didn’t help. I tried to calm down my stomach by drinking only warm and hot water. I cursed soda and coffee (too bad because I really love coffee and I am a coffeeholic until second pregnancy took place).

Aside from the senses, I had trouble sleeping. It felt as though, it’s warm and humid although our AC’s on. I never wanted to see people whose existence easily irritates me. I never wanted lame reasons for lame reasons. I want reasonable and justifiable answers when I ask questions which I only did during my teaching career but its back because of pregnancy.

Patience is another issue. Oh men! I never used be patient but I tried to develop it somehow when I was raising Kurt but this time, I am only patient with kids and not with adults.

These changes are really hard to bear. It is even unbearable for others who cannot understand and who haven’t gone into pregnancy.

What do you need?

You need more patience. It’ll be over when the first trimester is over. Baby’s brain in developing so be very careful.

You need to be strong and courageous so you would overcome this kind of endeavour only given to those worthy being moms.

You need a family and husband who will be there for you no matter what and no matter how hard it will be for the next months to come. Seriously, this is hard to find. I’m too lucky to have one good husband who understands this development.

If your vomiting and nausea gets worse, go to your OB immediately.

That’s it for now, I hope you learned something from my experience.

Self Discipline Starts with Small Responsibilities

Toys. Toy cars. Robots. Toy Planes.

All kids love playing with their toys, at least I think all of them. But after they play can lead into such big chaotic state and can be pretty irritating for moms who are always on the go or always in a hurry. Believe it or not, there is no other way to make this simpler than to start giving them with small responsibilities. Easy duties at an early age will discipline them and before you knew it, you are training them how to deal with their mess when they grow up!

After scattering all the toys all over the whole area, children just hate keeping their toys. And some moms tolerate them by not correcting them or by simply calling all the nannies to take care of the kids’ unwanted job. That is a big NO, NO for me. What I had been inculcating with son is this “It’s your mess. You made it. You clean it.”

The more parents or grandmothers distribute this workload to nannies or house helpers, the more they teach children how to be extremely LAZY. They always go like “Oh don’t worry sweetheart, yaya will clean it up for you because we’re paying them for that.” (Believe me because it happened to me and we got nannies when we were younger. It didn’t help me become responsible. It helped me how to sit on the couch and look at the helpers clean my mess for me which I believe isn’t good.)

Here’s a short step on how to make them reliable:

1.       Start giving sweet and yet effective orders to your little ones before they open toy boxes. “If you will play, you have to promise that you will keep your toys when you are done.”

2.       Let them enjoy playing until they had enough. When it’s already time for them to take nap or to keep all the toys in the boxes, you have to remind them of the promise they gave. “Baby, you promised me earlier that you will keep your toys after playing. Now, show me you can do that.”

In my son’s case, I don’t give his milk if he can’t clean up his mess or I don’t give the things he want after playing if he can’t fix everything. This is what we call conditional strategy when teaching kids in school. I don’t really go for cute puppy eyes. It doesn’t work for me because I’m a strict mom. Plus it’s more like BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, NOT BUYING IT!

3.       When they’re done fixing everything, compliment them all the time! Do not forget to tell them how nice or good they are for keeping their toys back in place. Once you tell them nice words, they will be encouraged to clean up again after playing because they love seeing moms or dads happy with what they are doing.

4.       Once you have started, do not miss a day not reminding them. And one day will come, you never have to tell them over and over again because they will fix it without you ordering them in an instant.

Well, self discipline starts with small responsibilities at an early age.

Have fun mommies!!!

Why Do Bedtime Stories?

Thanks to Ninang Frend (my cousin Carol Deonoso) for the books you sent for Kurt.

Children now days are fond with computer games and chatting over social network. They have less contact with their kind; humans that is. They have less social interaction via real communication; verbal communication, facing each other not using any phones, mobile access or gadgets and computers.

This is somewhat scary but it is even scarier between parents and children. I am a mom of a two-year-old child. Two-year-old children are in still in the process of learning and they have sponge mind. They absorb whatever they hear or see in their environment. Whether be it good or bad, if parents will not be there to guide to these little kids, they will go astray. I work online and I go to school in the evening. But that doesn’t mean I should and I never have time for my boy.

I always see to it that I will read a story, bedtime story for my son before he sleeps at night and that he prays as well.

Benefits of bedtime stories:

1.       Strong Connection – We are not talking about mobile internet connection here. Instead, we are absolutely discussing about the strong connection between parents (mom or dad) and children. One or two hours a day won’t hurt your time. It will make your children feel loved and being cared for.

2.       On Hand Knowledge Distribution – Bedtime stories will make you an instant teacher and parent at the same time whether you like or you will like it even more. Your child will ask several questions especially if you have the right bedtime stories for them which give moral lessons. You may ask several questions to follow up if they are catching up with the story or not. At this point, you are imparting knowledge to them. Mind you, they will always remember what you are saying.

3.       Vocabulary – Their mental lexicon will be honed. The unusual words they will hear for the first time will give them additional vocabulary. And do not forget about the pictures on the books because photographs and simple drawings depict a lot of words.

4.       Memorization – Constant reading and practice would make your kids remember everything. Not all children have the same pattern in learning but there are some who could learn best if they are given pictures.

5.       Skills Sharpened – Whether you like it or you like it more, you will definitely sharpen your children’s skills or intelligence and that I believe is important as well because they will learn a lot of things in their younger years with you and not with someone else. Although, it is also a good way for them to learn something different from other people but it is best if we, parents, teach the basics.
6.  Limitless Imagination - This is the start when the child uses his / her imagination. One good way for a child to play with his / her imagination and who knows, that child might be a good artist someday or storyteller or even a book writer.

On the advent of today’s fast-pace lifestyle, parents should always spare even just a little time for their kids. After all, why do parents have to work? Correct, it’s for our little angels of course. A bond between a parent and a child is such a beautiful thing. It will last as long parents will exert effort to make their children feel cared. It might be hard for our little ones to comprehend why we have to go and work. But they will surely cherish the very short moment of storytelling before they close their eyes at night.

My baby boy..

Have fun watching the video below!

Kurt at 2 years and 6 months reading his bedtime story.
Thanks Tita Gigi (sister-in-law) for the book.

Love from,

Jonee and Kurt

My 27th

Do you lie about your age? Well, I don't. I just celebrated my 27th birthday last September 3. The people around me gave me two separate surprise birthday parties. One of which, I didn't get the chance to see the surprise because I was not able to go to the venue.  The other one was in our house.

How did I celebrate my birthday?

I started celebrating my birthday by talking to the one I love -- my husband who's thousand miles away from home. This wasn't how I exactly planned my birthday to be. I was planning of us (my husband and I) to go somewhere. However due to unwanted inevitable events which happened, he had to stay in Afghanistan for work. And as for me, I had to stay home.

If I were to answer this question: Where would you like to celebrate your birthday? My answer would be either HOME or ANYWHERE MY HUSBAND AND SON WOULD BE -- because my husband and our son is my home. I am more than happy being with them or extremely joyful if I have them with me during my natal day.

Earlier that day, I simply went to the church and prayed to thank God for all the blessings He gave me and for the additional life or year in my life.

The white candles represented the people I love and who love me back. These candles were dedicated to those who have helped me through the years, to those who never left me when I became too hard to handle and to those who continuously supported me in whatever endeavor I am facing in my life. I also prayed for these people to be blessed in every way possible. "Sana pagpalain ang mga taong tunay na nagmamahal sa akin."

This may sound awkward for some, but I also prayed for those people who caused me harm and gave me severe emotional pain for this year. Forgiving is really good however, forgiveness doesn't come along easily. I could not say much about this part but all I could say for now is .... You may probably be forgiven but NOT FORGOTTEN. "Sa mga taong kunwari kunwariang nag-aalala saken.. Inyong paka tandaan.. Ang nag babait-baitan ay pupunta sa langit - langitan".

After my visit to the church. I really took the opportunity to finally visit two of the men I really love and cherish the most.

I visited my grandfather and my father at the cemetery. It really amazes me still to find serenity in this area. I really appreciated how solemn the place was during my visit. This was always and is always the place I go to every time I am in pain or when I'm happy or whenever I drew out out-bursting emotions because I had always trust these people to keep my secrets.

At this point, I felt like I had a family picture taken with them (my father and my grandfather). I just miss them so much. Things have literally changed. "Kasabay ng pagbabago ng mga infrastraktura ng Heneral Santos ay ang pagbabago ng mga taong nasa paligid ko. Maging ako man ay nagbago. Subalit ang aking lolo at ama ay batang bata pa rin sa aking alaala at walang nagbago."

When I got home finally after a long day with a lot of travels, I saw messages on my phones and facebook. I saw this photo. My friends in school decided to give me a surprise. I really appreciated how they planned everything with a little conspiracy with my husband but too bad it didn't work because I was not able to go to school that day. Nevertheless, I would like to thank everyone who really prepared this for me. I knew so well that you guys really did this because you truly care for me and somehow appreciated my existence in your life. Thank you ARISTOTLE 2013- 2014 for the present! (Roevi, Fevie, Chariz, Fremie, Rj, Meo, Roger, Joel, Jian, Naomi, Jenny and everyone who was there. I apologize I really do not memorize who were there because I wasn't there.)

This part of my life is the JOY OF GIVING area. The next photos below are photos of books and dictionaries which I have decided to give to selected students of some rural areas in Mindanao, Philippines. This point is not about bragging or lifting my self. This point is about ENCOURAGING others to give or impart what little you have to others who are in need. You may never know who would be happy with what little you can give or HOW MANY COULD BE HAPPY with what you could offer.

Our country, the Philippines is very well - known for corrupt public officials in the government and a lot of corrupt people feeding on the taxes of the many. Probably that's one of the reasons why books intended and budget allocated  for the poor areas of Mindanao did not in fact, reach the needy. This is one way of showing them that, if THEY the RICH could not do anything for their countrymen, why NOT -- WE, US, the LESS FORTUNATE SHOW THEM HOW HELPING OTHERS SHOULD BE DONE!

If you really want to help others, there are so many ways with a very minimal means, you can if YOU ONLY WANTED TO and if YOU HAVE THE WILL.

These are my two friends Teacher Jessa and Teacher Leah who helped me fulfill my dream of helping the kids in the rural areas. Thank you girls!

Lastly, I spent the end of the day with my family who also gave me another surprise party! Thank you everyone!!!

Thanks everyone! God bless you all! I had fun with my 27th.

Independence Starts Early

Random thoughts visited my inner head from day to day including crazy thoughts and fun thoughts purely about myself alone for more than a month now. Although my brain, to be honest, had been disintegrating solely for the purposes of subdividing it for different subjects I have in school, I still could not subject myself to detach from our house, my son, my husband, our home and our family. I only realized later tonight that much have changed on my son’s attitude. There was a mixture of dependence and INDEPENDENCE.

School has taken much of my time away from my family especially my son, who really needs me and my guidance more than anyone else. I must admit that I could not take care of him the way I did before because the course I am studying now is a very jealous profession. It took much of my time, that even 6-hour reading a day would never suffice the expected answers that our Professors wanted from us. With so much awe I had for this course, I unwontedly and yet permissibly let days passed without me making something for my son like painting activities or drawing session and even our play times had been forgotten.

To my surprise, I had somehow helped him grow when I stayed focused with schooling. I unexpectedly taught him independence. Yes, certainly he is just 2 years and 3 months old and yes, he needs my undying support and nurture. However, at some point, I need to detach my emotions as much as he needs to detach his emotions from me. Not all the emotions but the term being “DEPENDENT” is what I must give highlight for this matter. The simple logic is that, I certainly do not want him to grow and reach 4 or 5 years old and see him whining in school because he won’t let go of my hand during his classes. It happened to me when I was the teacher and the kids won’t let go of their moms and they wanted their parents to be inside the classroom. Plus, they wanted their parents to answer their school activities for them. If I will allow that, I am no longer helping my son.

 I have realized that my son could already do the following:

1.       He removes his own underwear, pyjamas and shorts. He wears the pyjamas and shorts without buttons.

He would insist “Don’t help me. I can do this.”

2.       He wakes up in the middle of the night just to let me know he wants to pee.

He would tell “Mommy, wiwi ako”

In English “Mommy, I want to pee.”

3.       He already masters the DO’s and DON’T’s of potting training.

4.       He asks for his tooth brush after meals and even after eating sweets.

5.       He distinguishes the things which he’s allergic to like chicken, egg and chocolate.

One instance he said ‘Bawal ako niyan chocolate and egg kasi kati kati ako tapos pimple ako”.

In English: I’m not allowed to eat chocolate and egg because it gets itchy and I get pimple. (Although that pimple he was referring to was the itchy spots on his face whenever he eats chicken, egg or chocolate — for asthma.)

6.       He distinguishes what are some of the simple bad things and good things.

One example was when his Tita Alexa went out of the house to get something outside and it was raining so hard, he said “Tita Mae! Huwag ka labas! Ulan! Baka ubo ka naman! Galit si mommy sayo.”

In English: Tita mae! Don’t go out! It’s raining, you might get sick. Mommy will scold you.

7.       He knows how to open and close the fridge all by himself.

8.       He masters the time when the chickens should be fed.

9.       He mingles with kids of his age and talks to them.

10.   He fluently talks in Cebuano and Tagalog. Plus he practices his English language.

Sometimes being away from your child helps him become self-supporting. If my little absence means aiding him to grow and develop, by all means, I would love to give him space for him to do so. All the things he learned may not have come from me alone, but that’s life. Adults get wiser by experience and so does a child.

Still, make time for your family. I just remembered this song from series Seventh Heaven “where can you go when the world don’t treat you right. The answer is home. That’s the one place that you’ll find.”

Have a great day everyone! 

Don't grow up too fast kids. Mommy is not ready to let you go.. Not yet..

Padre de Pamilya

A tribute to my father, my grandfathers, my stepdad and my HUSBAND!!!

To my dad --- 14 years without you is so difficult for me, mamang and my siblings. But I have considered those 14 years without your existence to be my training ground on how to be tough at all times. I know God has a plan... always has a plan why he took you..

To my lolo doming --- Thank you for always guiding me in making my decisions within those years my dad was not around.. I am very thankful that I grew up to be a lolo's girl. Lahi ra gyud ang wisdom sa mga lolo. When you were gone, I also know that God has a plan for everything.

To daddy rey -- you may not be here with us all the time, but I have always treasured whatever you have imparted to me during my stay at Cahilsot compound. Thank you daddy Rey for being one of my grandfathers..

To my step dad, Tito Ongkoy, I know that we both know I was the first one who did not accept you in the family. But you have proved me wrong several times. You have proven your worth many times because you’re not like other step fathers who are coming into the family to ruin the family. You are in fact, one person who believes in the Lord and is willing to complete the family. Thank you!

To my husband, Ian Robert, remember when you told me during high school "maybe may reason si God why he took your father". And that moment, I have you. When lolo doming died, you said "may reason si Lord why he took him as well" and for that I have Kurt. Well, on the other hand, they were gone because they were only made for me and my siblings to be guided. But you were made for Kurt and you were made by the Lord for me. "I wonder what God was thinking when HE created you.... When God made you, he must have been thinking about me..." Well, he probably was thinking of me and Kurt and our children to come. You are a very good man and a good daddy to our son.

You are one good provider my love. You make things easy and comfortable for Kurt. However, please be reminded that our son and kids to come should not get whatever they want in life in a blink of an eye. Just like what Marvin Agustin said “If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulder.”

I know that Kurt is not as close to you as he is to me. But please remember that “blood is always thicker than water”. He will eventually hang on to your shoulders and grab your hand when you get back here because you are his father. (Plus he looks like you now by the way. LOL) I am assuring you that, as long as I’m here, Kurt will always be reminded of who you are and what you are to him. But on the matter of telling him and explaining to him what a father is --- I will leave that up for you to let him feel.

I know that as a couple, we argue just like any other married couple. Of course, we’re not perfect and there’s no such thing as perfect relationship. I also know that, I have hurt you countless times either be it emotional or physical (physical is payback time anyway! :P). But one thing is for sure, no matter how many times we will argue, I will still love you! From the day I married you, I already embraced both your good and bad attitudes. I married you not because you just forced me hahaha but I married you because I love you and I believe that you are the person I want to be with for the rest of my life. Thank you daddy for coming into my life. Thank you for giving me Kurt and thank you for always being my hero – my spiderman! Thank you for being my:::: chocolate, choco, papu, paps, honey, my love, husband, handsome, my husband – my daddy.. our daddy that is.. Thank you for being our “HALIGI ng TAHANAN”...

Happy Father’s Day handsome!!!

Kurt loves you! I love you x 10 raise to infinity.. :P