DepEd Kindergarten Summer Program

Today is the start of the Kindergarten Summer Preschool program that the Department of Education initiated which aims at ensuring Grade 1 entrants of the upcoming school year are equipped with the learning experiences and skills essential for them to take on their next level of academic work. It targets potential Grade 1 students without preschool experience by June 2011. This is the second year that the DepEd is implementing such program and my second year in teaching summer classes as well.

This year's first day turnout was better than that of last year's because a number of pupils (42 kids) came to school today to attend their first day of class compared to the 5 pupils last year. So it is a progress. I have to commend DepEd for coming up with such a great program centered on preschool because this stage is the most crucial stage for learning.

The summer classes will be conducted in eight weeks (April 11 - June 3) and we teachers have been given modules of what routines to conduct starting from day 1. This program is promising and I hope we will be realizing a recognizable progress soon.

When Kids Perform

My class is going to have a talent presentation next week to showcase their skills in performing before a large audience. Aside from the academic studies, it has always been my dream as a teacher to let my pupils perform on stage. I wanted to do something like this since my first year in teaching but it never materialized then because I was just adjusting to the routines inside the school.

However, this year I took a big step in fulfilling this vision. At first I wanted the children to do a stage play but since we are short of time, I decided on doing a variety show instead. Some kids will be reciting a poem while some will do an interpretative dance number, and the others will sing.

As we were practicing this morning, I just know that my pupils will have a great time on stage and I am sure that the parents will be happy seeing their kids show off. The talent presentation will be shown next week so we are actually cramming up with the stage design and of course, the kids’ costumes. I wanted a variety of clothes to see so some kids will be animals while some will be princes and princesses and then the other will dress up as someone they want to be in the future.

I asked the children what they wanted to be when they grow up and of course, of course, majority of them wanted to be a doctor! So I jotted down scrubs for kids and lab coats for doctors as one of the costumes needed to be envisioned in the presentation. It is not hard to look for a doctor uniform anyway so I know I will not have a difficult time in materializing the children’s costumes. I will be busy the whole month of March so wish me luck!

Look At Me

I was looking for a nice and perky graduation song for my pupils this month and stumbled upon this song online. It's very nice and we practiced singing this song this morning and the kids easily memorized it!

LOOK AT ME

CHORUS:

Look at me, look at me!

I’m doing something that I want you to see;

Put down the paper, put down the mop.

I’m growing up and I’m not gonna stop!

So look, look at me, look at me now!

Are you really too busy to look my way?

I want to show you what I learned today

Give me your time, just a little while,

I promise I will make you smile!

REPEAT CHORUS

You know, I just want to make you proud

I want to hear you shout out loud

You’re gonna be amazed,

Showing off, I need your praise, so

REPEAT CHORUS

I can tap dance (“Look at me!”)

I can pogo stick (“Look at me!”)

I can play the piano (“Look at me!”)

I can walk on my hand (“Look at me!”)

I can jump rope (“Look at me!”)

I can draw a picture (“Look at me!”)

I can wiggle my ears (“Look at me!”)

I can do the karate (“Look at me!”)

This Day Called Love

I didn’t expect anything today as it’s an ordinary day for some unattached like me. But I asked my pupils to wear red to school and skip wearing their uniform just for today. It’s very liberating to be actually having the freedom to celebrate Valentine’s Day without being criticized by others.

Anyway, with the social stature of my pupils’ families, I never expected anything from them ever since I started teaching. I knew that life is hard so I cannot compare my pupils to the children of the school where I came from. So imagine my pleasure when I received those stuffs from my pupils today. I was very much delighted especially with the card my pupil helped his mother make. And those who were not able to give me any gift or card; I required them to kiss me on my cheek. J

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A funny story inside the classroom today:
Me: V, who is your Valentine’s date today? Your mother?
V: No! My mother already has a husband ma’am.
Hahahaha kids say the darndest thing.

Linggo ng Wika

I had a big day today because it was our school's Linggo ng Wika culminating activity. I had a major blunder and it's still pissing me off. You see, yesterday I asked the coordinators about the program invitation so that I can guide my pupils what time they should go to school. The coordinator told me that the invitations were not disseminated yet and the program will start at 1pm. I then told my pupils' parents about the information relayed to me.


When I went to school this morning, I had the shock of my career when I saw the higher level kids in their costumes! The program was moved to 7:30AM from 1PM. I didn't know what to do for a minute and wished for the earth to eat me alive. I managed to pull it off anyway without being hysterical or any wild reaction. I called my contestant for the solo declamation and decided not to join the sabayang bigkas instead. But when I saw 10 kindergarten pupils waiting outside our classroom, I once again changed my mind and made them participate for the sabayang bigkas.


My pupils were great! They're the youngest in the campus but they placed 3rd for the Sabayang Bigkas and my contestant for the Solo Declamation won 1st place. Oh I am ever a proud teacher and coach! And as for the kids who were not able to join the contest, I demanded from the coordinators to make them perform in the afternoon program because of the miscommunication that transpired. So everyone had their shining moment.

My pupils' parents, however, are so mad at the administration and coordinators for not giving us a copy of the program invitation. But luckily, no one blamed me. I learned a lesson this time and the next time we have a program like this one, MY PUPILS WILL WIN FIRST PLACE IN ALL CATEGORIES. Haha! I know they will, I have so much faith in them.

Meet Yahyah. He made me proud as he recited Jose Rizal's "Sa Aking Mga Kababata".

The pupils who were not able to make it to the contest proper had their shining moment as they performed and intermission number in the afternoon activities. And yes, Aloy was one of those who were not able to perform in the morning. Any way, they all made me proud.