Ace water spa buffet fee and other menu, Paper and pencil assessment, Ethical considerations in assessment, #IWishMyTeacherKnew

Thinking of going to Ace Water Spa?

Here are their buffet rates:
Adults
P605/head weekdays
P715/head weekends
Kids (3-4.6ft in height)
P247.50/head

Separate access and payment to the spa

Spa access:
Adult - P550
Kids 4ft below - P250

Paper and pencil assessment
Paper and pencil type comprise the majority of classroom assessments I had as a student - from quizzes, to seat work to essay tests. I remember taking some performance-based assessments such as dance presentations, home economics skills demonstration and public speaking during elementary and high school. For college, my undergraduate course required a few TV and radio production classes which involved regular performances.

Paper and pencil assessments taught me valuable life skills such as taking down notes during class, mustering the courage to clarify what is not clear to me, and developing friendships with classmates who help me prepare for such exams.

Performance-based assessments, on the other hand, helped me directly learn new skills and processes.

Hat Tip, Escape The City

I have been a proud product of Philippine public school education. It is only now in post graduate that I have enrolled in a private institution. Generally, I consider my schooling as top notch. I was fortunate to have excellent and passionate teachers who valued us, their students, as if we were their own family.

However, my educational experience does not resonate with the majority of Filipinos.

Stories about teachers physically hurting non-performing students, school administrators manipulating honor roll, teachers giving out quizzes as punishment to students' behavior are real and illustrate lack of ethics when it comes to assessment of learning.

Though I have not directly experienced any such things, I am most able to resonate with the psychological strain that classroom assessment typically has on students.

I would like to meet a student who enjoys taking exams. Assessments, no matter how beneficial, remain a requirement students grudgingly take on. It is synonymous to pressure, cramming and manual labor.

School and learning are fun, but when assessment gets into the picture, the fun stops. Perhaps due to competition among learners, pressure from the family or society, and the feeling of being judged among other things, contribute to the negative psychological impact of classroom assessment.

#IwishmyteacherKnew
An American teacher, Kyle Schwartz gave out a simple question at the start of the school year to break the ice with a short essay prompt: I wish my teacher knew. The responses she got where overwhelming, with several students revealing deep and personal issues about their family, parents and dreams.

She shared some students' reply via Twitter and the hashtag #Iwishmyteacherknew became viral.

Open-ended questions, smart kids, traffic sensors, dream perspectives, PETA

Thanks Tito Danny! You will be missed.

Open-ended questions
Interviews encourage open-ended questions. They have the power to elicit deeper thinking and meaningful conversations. Parents are encouraged to ask open-ended questions to start family bonding.

One way we do this is through our daily roses and thorns. I found out about this from Pastor Herald Cruz who talked about parenting in my kids' school. He shared the Obama's roses and thorns which lets the kids share the best and worst part of their day. Every night, before we do our story time--we are in Book 10 of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events--kids have to share what was their most and least favorite parts of their days. Then we pray and give thanks for them.

My 8-year old boy never fails to give the answer: I am thankful for the computer. Day in and day out, believe me!

Our beloved pets: Sunny and Myeh!

Smart kids

We noticed that our 8-year old's best friends are the smartest kids in his class. We asked him and this was his answer:

I only befriend the smart kids at school because they are the only ones who understands.

Traffic sensors

Passing through an intersection, our 8-year old suggested to his dad that there should be traffic lights with sensors. So that when there are no cars on the other side, the green light for those with heavy traffic can still go on and drive.

Throwback photo of us fit girls trying to get slimmer

Dream perspectives

Our two kids were discussing their dreams last night. Couldn't hep but laugh when I overheard our 8-year old asking this:

Was your dream in 1st person or 3rd person?

Kids reaction to my blog
I told my kids that I keep a blog to house my journal of our experiences. I have been very forgetful, and the blog will remind us what those past years have been. I read to them several posts I found very funny. While I was already cracking up reading the first few lines, they were cringing.

Lenny Kravits 
One of the early video games we let the kids play is Guitar/Music Hero. Most of the songs were rock classics, and not the usual pop songs the kids know. One of the songs included was Lenny Kravits' Are You Gonna Go My Way. So imagine our amusement when recently, we caught our 8-year old humming to that song.

A very sloppy picture without much thought about composition

Peta Theater's Art Zone
My friend and I recently attended a PETA parenting seminar. It was my first time to be at PETA Theater's building. They are located at the back of Quezon City Sports Club, near St. Lukes. Their building was impressive. I know that was a product of much labor and sacrifice. It felt chilling being within a structure build by the country's geniuses of theater and music. Yes, I was able to spy several theater greats like Kuya Bodjie Pascua, Direk Soxy Topacio, musician Noel Cabangon among others. It was great that there's a place like that where enthusiasts can hang out and be in the company of these wonderful, talented and accommodating stars.

PETA or Philippine Educational Theater Association started as a Martial Law protest group, if I remember it right. So imagine my surprise, finding about their other programs which include theater acting for kids, writing as well as storytelling. They have regular weekly offerings. How come I didn't know about this when we were still QC-based?

Parent's role, Missed playing with me, Benefits of swimming, No time for Strawberry Shortcake, Kid funny questions

Surrender your kids to God and spend the time necessary to uncover His plans for their lives.

Noticing that most of the kids' time are spent tinkering with the iPad, I once used it as a punishment tool.

One of the things I particularly admire about my girl is her obedience to rules and punishments, despite her upfront discontent about them. She's my rule guardian and punishment enforcer ally.

Me: No iPad for you until your birthday. (That was like a month of iPad-less days to go.)

Days and weeks went on and she would just look at her brother use it. She stood firm with her punishment, until I could no longer bear it and asked her.

Me: Don't you miss playing with the iPad?

Lois: No mom, I don't miss the iPad. I missed playing with you.

Swimming at the fine sand beach of Pagudpud

Swimming: Ideal exercise
Here are upsides to swimming I have recently learned:

• 30-45 minutes of swimming provide relaxation, toning, stretching and trimming down. Best if you can do different strokes per session. Back stroke is ideal for people suffering from back injuries and helps correct posture.
• 1 hour of swimming = 4 miles of moderate pace running
• 30 minutes of water exercises = 90 minutes at gym
• It's all about the water. Water pressure on our body is 800 times more than that of air. It's comparable to massage's pressure. Therefore, swimming improves blood circulation. It also helps even out cellulite.

No time for Strawberry Shortcake My girl received a Strawberry Shortcake activity book. She was eager to do them with me, but I declined since there was a deadline I was aiming for. It was also night time already. The following Friday morning, we could do them together. She reasoned out she has two classes - kinder class in the morning and piano lesson in the afternoon. The following day, Saturday, it's her schedule to use the computer and that's her Polly Pocket time. She definitely has no more time! 6-year old life questions Kids say the funniest things, right? They also ask the most difficult questions. Some of Lois' deep thoughts: What is heaven like? Why is their dad's middle name different from all the rest of us in the family? Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them. Marie of Aristocats

Memory backup, Kid suggestions, Ilocos Norte and Pagudpud

Age has turned my topsy-turvy memory in a more chaotic state. Thanks to my daughter, I have needed help.

"Remind me that we need to buy this and that at the supermarket." We go buy at the supermarket and I am gently of what I earlier told her. Her impressive memory and persistence prove to be a useful backup to my otherwise short term memory.

She loves to go to school. There's no problem in waking her up, and getting her ready.

Within reach
While passing urine in the rest room, my preschooler boy remarked, "Why is our light switch placed so high? Creatures like me find it hard to reach!"

"How then should we place it?"

He argued they should be placed low enough for everyone to reach.

Top view of Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte with Manong Ador

Part of our emerging family tradition is to spend the New Year's eve in a new place. Partly to avoid the smoke of the fireworks, though we've observed that the smoke is the same anywhere we go.

This time we headed to Ilocos Norte. Took a low price airplane Cebu Pacific on sale seat on our way there and toured around Laoag City. It was sad that it was a weekend when we were there. The city's museum is impressive.

I love it that riding the kalesa is not as pricey as compared here in Manila. Fare is like that of tricycles, which is Ilocos Norte's equivalent of the jeep. P10/ride per head when we went there. Jeeps are reserved for town-to-town trips like when we went from Laoag to Paoay to visit the World Heritage Church there. We also visited a chicha-corn factory.

Corn, garlic and salt are materials abundant in Ilocos Norte, that's why chichacorn rules there!

Afterwards, we took a bus to go to Pagudpud - Luzon's Boracay. If I remember it, the fare from Laoag to Pagudpud is P60/head.

In Pagudpud, we met Mang Ador. A tour guide/tricycle driver. His number is 0948-794 0255. He toured us around Pagudpud, and the nearby towns. He even helped us look for our accommodations. He said that local tourism is a big boost in their livelihood and that the local government is helping them get proper training.

If you're Ilokano, you can read this!

We chose to visit the lighthouse of Bojeador, South East Asia's tallest. It's on top of a hill, so it really has a breathtaking view of the sea below. At summertime, visitors have to walk from the bottom up. We were lucky that Mang Ador's able tricycle took us at the steps of the lighthouse.

On our way, we had lunch and I ate their pinakbet version. I find it a bit salty. Perhaps because salt is so cheap there? Pasuquin's rows and rows of road-side salt stores are nice to see. Mang Ador chose the Bagnet, the pork chop of Ilocos Norte.

I love their green grapes. The seeds make them real healthy. A kilo is P80.

The windmills of Bangui were giants guarding the shore. They make this scary sound that my little boy doesn't like. They say that it supplies 40% of the province's power needs.

On our way back, we took the bus and it was expectantly uncomfortable. It was cheaper. We had no choice. All throughout the 12-hour trip from Laoag to SM North, the bus kept on stopping to load vegetable produce from farmers who had contacts in Manila. From the smell of it, we rode with onions and pepper. The other vegetables didn't smell that strong.

Before boarding the bus, I was able to try their empanada. It's a marriage of lumpiang toge and kwek-kwek. It's either I am not a great fan, or the one I tried wasn't very well prepared.

Being a kindergartener mom - webbing, preschool diary, invented spelling, wushu

Chair artwork - what if they go to your pants when you sit on them?

Just came from a PTC (parent-teacher conference) with husband to discuss my two kids' progress at school.

According to her teacher, my kindergartener is well matured in class. She acts like a big sister, assisting those younger and seem to be needing help; keeping quiet when someone is acting roughly. However, she is also soft-spoken and timid.

Origin of kindergartenThe first kindergarten was established by Froebel in Bad Blankenburg in 1837. He renamed his Play and Activity Institute to a ‘kindergarten’ two years later in 1840. That Bad Blankenburg Infant school used play, games, songs, stories, and crafts to encourage children’s imagination and widen their physical and motor talents. "Kommt, lasst uns unsern Kindern leben" Come, let us live with our children’ turned into the catchphrase of the early childhood education.

Webbing and other preschool tricks
Among her teachers' tips to further enhance what she has been learning at school are the following activities:

1. Webbing - TeachPreschool.org defines webbing as a tool that may be used to: 
   • Webbing - build on a basic idea.
   • Webbing - illustrates how each idea builds off another.
   • Webbing - helps you think outside of the box.
   A case in point may be talking about a certain topic, for example, whales. Then, whatever my kid associates with it, like seeing a baby whale being born in a YouTube video, and then moving on towards the subject with inputs coming directly from the kid. Learning that is personal is more effective, teachers said.
   
   What webbing activity have you tried with your kid?
   
   
2. Diary - Encourage your kindergartener to keep her diary, not to start a private life, but to encourage writing and spelling. With reading skills go along writing skills. Letting your child have her own 'notebook' enforces both skills.
3. Invented spelling - It is natural for kindergarteners to miss vowels when writing down words. Yes, you may call it JEJEMON but this one is acceptable and unintentional, unlike the horrible JEJEMON lingo which has permeated the Philippine society of today.
4. Right vs wrong warnings - Being wrong or right is subjective, and for little minds, it is better to give them scenarios and explanations of how things are done. Simply stating that something is wrong or bad does not help. Carefully lay out how she ended up doing what was wrong. You are given a warning because you shouted at your brother when you could have called his name softly.

Extra activities
One thing is certain, the kids will be starting on their new extra curricular activities soon. What I originally have in mind for my kindergartener is piano lessons. However, the choices available to us is a 5-15minute daily lesson which I find too short, or another one that is 1-hour every other day. The teacher in the latter is unknown to me, and I am not very comfortable with that.

So it might be Wushu lessons twice a week here at Quezon City, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5pm. Fee is P3k+/month exclusive of uniform, insurance and processing fee.

Feedback about my nursery kid
It has been a great relief that my youngest is fine at school. He's average. Before I enrolled him, my greatest fear would be that he would not pay attention to his teachers. Luckily, he participates in class and gives out correct answers. Areas to be improved were identified, like finding a dominant hand, strengthening his hand muscles, and listening and communication skills.

I think my role as a mom-teacher cannot be pushed any further that's why we might enroll him to Enopi for after-school practice sessions. I regularly give them worksheets to do at home and both of my kids grudgingly do them. I am too 20th-century for these digital learners.

Forming a letter 'T' with two cars

Enopi preschool
I have inquired last summer about Enopi, they are Korea's answer to Kumon, and they accept kids who have started attended formal school already. Their monthly charge is about P1600+/month which covers a two-hour per week schedule for one subject. They offer English and Math for preschoolers.

Focus on the main thing
Honestly, I felt low after hearing from my two kids' teachers. They were not bright stories at all. However, I am thankful still because at least we are given the chance to prepare and make adjustments with how to raise them to be the best that they can be, as God made them. I am a bit forced to emulate kids that show traits my little ones don't have - being outspoken and sociable. I fight myself though, thinking they are God's workmanship the way they are.

My heart's desire is to raise up kids who fear and love God and serve their countrymen rather than achievers who give in to the dark side of themselves.

Young Achievers

Singapore made history when it hosted the first Youth Olympics August 16-18, 2010. A small country that could, yes, they've come a long way.

Some Grade 7 students from Maya's school were sent to experience it and had a unique learning experience. I hope when it is time for Maya to be exposed to these kinds of trips, Daddy Paul and I have saved up.

"Spend money to make memories, not to acquire stuff."

Barbs Hermanson

Learning to swim
Maya has always loved the water, so we decided that for this year, she will learn swimming. It is only Carlos who hasn't enrolled in any class this year. It is our goal to learn something new each year. I took up graphic design lessons, Daddy Paul is enrolled at the University of the Philippines Open University learning teaching.

As expected, my daughter enjoyed her lessons. Though not the waking up early part, we're still adjusting our routine to cover more day times. :)  She cannot swim from both ends of the pool yet, which I thought was the goal of the program, but she's learned the basics of breathing with the nose, bubbles.




Young novelist
I once read about a 12 year-old novelist who is now taking Medicine at UP. She's 16 now. She started writing novels inspired by her friends and family. Then she chanced upon online publications and got her stories printed. Her parents helped her look for local publishers and now, she's juggling schooling with writing - though the creative part only serves as a hobby.

I think we will be the same kind of parents to our two kids. Supportive, empowering. Right now, we've been making sure that they are started with house chores. Once again, we are nanny-less. Our last, who's the 10th already, was fetched by her mom when she passed out after an overnight day-off. She's been wanting to return after more than a week's rest, but it's fortunate that my mother in law needs someone to be with them and that could be her.

So I guess, we're really starting them young. Not when Carlos is 7, as I hoped it would be.

Unique terms
Well, like Ms. Venus Raz in the Miss Universe pageant, we still think in Filipino that's why when we speak, though the words are in English, the concepts are still very Pinoy.



Mom: What movie would you like to see?
Carlos: Yung life bubuji! (referring to the sound track of Cars the Movie which has the first line going like, Life would be dream...)

Maya talking with her Ninang Rachelle: "You are so tired, you will sleep while stand upping?"

Maya saying good night to us: "I am so sleepy, I can sleep so hard."



Little talker
With age comes greater word power for my little boy. We can talk sensibly to him now, when he's in the mood! Sometimes too, if we're lucky, we are served funny conversations with our little Carlos. Oh, kids, why are they so endearing?!

Husband, sister in law and I talking about forgetting to bring a camera. Carlos joined in, matter of factly, "Daddy uses the iPhone as camera." Yes, and he brings it with him anywhere. :)


Husband and I talking about something while the kids were playing nearby. Husband asked me something, with perfect timing again, darling son replied, "Me? Are you talking to me?"