It’s the beginning of Year 2010..I am excited as there will be new challenges ahead.  The new school term will begin next week.  I’ll be having new group of children in a new environment.  I have been thinking about my lesson plans for this new year.  I hope my teaching will be able :

1.  To stimulate the children interest in learning.

2.  To cultivate creative thinkers and problem solvers.

Setting goals are important so that we have a direction in our teaching.  We would be able to plan our every day lesson plans more effectively.  For instance, I want to build up creative thinkers at young age..how can I do that?  It can be achieved by organizing related activities that help allow them to think independently and dare to share their opinions even right or wrong.  Most important is that each child is willing to share and participate more actively.  This way will help them build their self-confident and self-esteem indirectly.

I started to draw out some lesson plans that I like to work with my children in school.  At the same time, I really hope that I can get parents to participate in creating a fun learning environment not just in school but at home too.  Learning is an on going process.  Learning is not just about recognizing words and be able to write independently…but learning is also about being able to understand his environment.  Adults needs to create awareness and enthusiasm among the child.  Teaching helps me to relearn a lot of things in order to gather the information and deliver them to the children.  Many times, we learn and explore together.  That is why I’m having so much fun.  We, both adults and children, are like scientist, discovering the environment bit by bit as well as getting to know each other while we are exploring our surrounding.

I just can’t wait to see my kids and begin a new journey in year 2010!

This afternoon, one of my children was staying back in school waiting to attend her ballet class.  I told her earlier that I would not be able to accompany her later as I have to attend a meeting in the school.  She took her snack and I have changed her.  She waited in an area with other children for her class that would start in another 15 minutes.

I came to her, “Darling, I have to attend the meeting now…”.  Before I could continue, “Teacher, you don’t have to worry about me, I can take care of myself,” she said confidently.  “You sure?”, I asked again.  “Yes, I can take care of myself.” she said and turned her back to the toys.

I looked at her proudly.  A four years old managed to comfort me with her understanding attitude.  Of course, there was an on-duty teacher to look after the children in that area.  She was playing with toys happily when I was walking away from the area rushing to the meeting.

She is an angel!

Have you ever felt rejected by a child?  You tried to hold a child, but the child cried.  You tried to touch a child, he ran away crying.  Yes, I have lots of them especially when new school term begins.  I was once pushed and punched by a little girl when I tried to talk to her.  These are good experiences because they helped us become better in handling and approaching children.

I heard adult concluded that a child rejected her because of her body size, skin color and so on.  Do you really think children are not attached to a teacher because she has a huge body?  Do you agree that children afraid of you because you possess a dark skin color?

Children afraid because they are not familiar with us.  They are trying to tell us that we need to make some effort to get them to trust us and be comfortable with us.  Children develop insecurity within themselves when they are exposed to new environment includes the setting and the people.  Most children become nervous or uncomfortable when their mommy left them in a new environment alone with strangers around.  Therefore, daily routine is very important to help a child develop familiarity in an environment.  Once children are familiar with the routine and environment, they become calmer and less tantrums.

What should I do to eliminate the fear within child towards me?

First of all, we should love ourselves for being who we are and what we are.  We should be comfortable with our body and physical look.  Maintain a clean, tidy and confident appearance.  When we look good, we feel good.  Think positive and maintain good feelings within ourselves.  When we feel good, we look great!  Happy adults nurture happy children!

Plan interesting activities that we can build positive bonding with our children every day.  Spending time together helps both adult and child getting to know each other better.  Children bond with us faster if they have fun with us.  Laughter is the best formula to create good feeling towards someone.  Of course, care and love are “MUST HAVE” ingredients to build a strong bond with a child.

Be patient and continue the efforts to bond with a child!  Cherish the moments we spend with our children, they will cherish us as well!

I was sitting with my 4 years old student at the lunch table.  She was waiting for her ballet class in an hour time.  We were eating and chatting with few other teachers as well.

There was a small pail on the table.  She asked me what is the pail for.  I told her, “I need to wipe the environment to keep the class clean for you.”.

“Since you are free later, you are going to help me wipe the table, shelves and everything in the class.”  I said jokingly.

She replied, “HA HA!”.

The teachers are looking at her.  “What does HAHA mean?”, I asked.

“Ha ha means I’m not wiping!”  she said loudly with a grin on her face.

Her answer made us all laugh and forgot about the hard day we have had!

Children love cutting activity.  Cutting with scissors enables children to develop fine motor skills as well as good body coordination.  This activity is very simple to prepare and children enjoy it very much.

Materials

• colored papers
• scissors
• marker pen
• glue

Use marker to draw the shape of flowers and small circles on different colored papers.  Draw stems in straight lines as well as leaves on green papers.

Ask your child to cut along the straight and curved lines of each shape.

Paste the cirlce on the middle of the flower shape.

Paste the stems on a black paper.

Paste the flower petals on the top of each stems.  Followed by the leaves.

Done!  A beautiful flower craft!

H1N1 is the most talkative topic among parents right now who concern about their children health and safety.  Of course, as an adult ourselves, need to take care ourselves too so that we are safe from the dangerous disease.  Prevention is the best policy at all times.  Prevention is not just limited to the school itself but also our home and our environment.

In our country, H1N1 cases are increasing every day.  There are schools closed for a week once H1N1 is detected among the students.  The students, teachers, staffs and family members are to detain at home for at least 7 days to prevent the virus from spreading.  Fortunately, there is no death reported from the disease as at today.

Lets get to know about H1N1 flu

H1N1 is a new influenza virus that able to spread from person to person.  It is highly contagious and can cause severe illnesses, even death.  Symptoms of H1N1 patients include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.  Some patients are also reported to have diarrhea and vomiting.

High risk people to have infected by H1N1 virus include people 65 years and above, children below 5 years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions.  These groups of people tend to have lower immune system, therefore they are at higher risk towards the flu virus.

The H1N1 flu is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza.  Sometimes people get infected because they touched their nose or mouth after touching something with flu viruses.

If we have those flu symptoms as mentioned above, the best way is to see a doctor.  Let the doctor examine us and confirm our sickness if it’s just normal flu or H1N1, and then take the medication given by the doctor.  Do not be our own doctor!

How can we prevent and teach our child to prevent H1N1 flu?

• Cover mouth and nose with tissue when sneeze or cough.  Wash hands with soap or cleanse with hand sanitizer.  Throw the used tissue in the dustbin.

• Wash hands frequently - before and after meals, after playtime or coming back from outside the home.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Teach and show our child the proper way or technique of washing hands.  Most children just rinse their hands under running water from the tap without rubbing.

• Watch our child’s activity.  Most of the time, he tend to touch here and there as he loves to explore his surrounding.  Then he may touch his nose or mouth or even put his finger into his mouth without washing.  Therefore, the risk of getting infected is much higher.

• Try to avoid crowds or public places such as park, shopping complexes, cinema.

• Find out if your child’s school is taking any precaution steps to prevent H1N1 flu.  If the school does not have any, do suggest to the school to check temperature of each child every morning and remind children to wash hands as frequent as possible.  Also ensure the school wipe the materials or toys frequently to keep the environment hygiene and safe from flu risk.

We are responsible to our surroundings as well as the people around us.  Lets take all the precaustion steps to prevent H1N1 flu from spreading wide.

I was at the snack area this morning when I saw this very cute Korean girl.  She is just 3 years old and learning to speak English.  She is a very confident child.

I asked her teacher about her name.  So the teacher called her.

“Say good morning.”, the teacher asked her to greet me.

“Good morning!”, replied the child while looking at me.

“Say good morning Ms Rosabel” , the teacher asked her to say that again.

She greet, “Good morning Ms Roated Bell…”.

We laughed.  I have a new name, “Roated Bell’!

Today is the first day of school after a week plus holiday.  Children grow up fast.  Just a week time, they seem taller and mature.

I have a 4 years old girl who is very choosy with food.  At times, she refuses to eat unless someone feed her.  So, I have been feeding her almost every day since she came to my class.  At the same time, I encourages her every day to eat on her own.  She is making progress from time to time with the cooperation with the parents.

This afternoon, she ate on her own without any persuation.  I was impressed with her development.  So, I praised her, “I’m happy to see you eat on your own.  You have grown up!”.  She was happy and leaned on my arm, “Teacher, I love you!”.  That is the sweetest moment of the day and it is a good start of a new school term!

While waiting for parents to pick up end of the school day, one of my girls pulled my hand and said, “Teacher, come with me, I want to show you my boyfriend.”.  I paused and surprised as this girl is just 4 years old.  She pulled me to the other side of the children who were sitting and waiting.  Then she pointed at a boy (6 years old) very shyly and giggled, “That’s my boyfriend!”.  The boy saw her and smiled at her.  I asked the boy if this girl is her girlfriend, he said, “Yes!  She is my girlfriend.”.  I looked at them and wondered..aren’t they grown up too fast?!

What will be your reaction if your little girl or boy told you about his/her girlfriend or boyfriend?

First of all, there is no need to panic or over worried.  Talk to them and listen to them, you will discover their perspective on the issue.  The two children above do not know exactly what is the meaning of girlfriend and boyfriend.  You will realize that the friendship is pure and they are just being nicer to each other; or one being so nice to him or her that he/she feels special and appreciated, therefore in return he/she also being nice in return.

However, we do need to observe their behavior when both of them are together.  In this case, I was told by another teacher that she kissed the boy on his cheek.  After a day or two, the girl met the boy again.  This time, she became too excited after talking to two teachers about her boyfriend.  The two teachers were laughing and showing much interest of her boyfriend, it gave her the impression that this is fun and teachers also like it.  So, she become too excited that she kissed the boy again and again on the cheeks and lips.  Well, it’s more to peck on the cheeks and lips.  We stopped her and asked her to sit separately from the boy.

In this incident, we are to be responsible as well as we create a mental picture that the boyfriend and girlfriend issue is fun and we enjoy it very much.  Young children love attention.  Our inappropriate response has encouraged her to react in that way.  She thought that we would like her more if she kept showing her affection towards the boy.

Do not mislead the child in this issue as we find it cute to see young children talking about his/her girlfriend or boyfriend.  Like the case above, she was misled that adults approved of what she is doing and enjoyed it.  However, she was punished after she has tried to show off her affection in front of the adults.  She was confused.

Guide the child with positive affirmations.  Young children might not understand if we are too eager to explain what is the real meaning of boyfriend or girlfriend.  Instead, tell him/her that you are glad to know that the boy or girl is special to him/her because he/she is being nicer to each other.  Then tell the child that perhaps he/she can be nice to everyone as well so that everyone also feels as happy as he/she is.  This can be a way to divert his/her attention on the issue.  We are guiding the child to develop positive social relations and social skills.

If you have any other ideas on this matter, do share with me.  I love to hear them!  Enjoy reading!

Do you realize that the weather is getting more and more extreme around us?  In Malaysia, it is getting hotter every day.  The weather of the world is changing fast due to global warming.  Can we do anything to help and how can we start?  Yes, we definitely can do something for the Mother Earth!  If everyone of us do a little bit by recycling and save water/energy at home or anywhere we go, we are creating a better environment for our future generation.   We all are responsible and we are determined to make a difference from this moment onwards.

For a good start, we need to begin with ourselves so that we can be good role models for our children.  Lets cultivate love towards plants among our children today!  Planting is a fun, it helps to :

• nurture patience and responsibility among children in the process of planting and taking care of the plant.
• nurture the sense of care and love towards the environment.
• nurture understanding on the interactions of the environment to the growth of a plant, e.g. a plant needs sunlight and water to grow.
• teach children naming of parts of plants and their functions.

What are the materials that we need for our planting project?

• a plastic container
• soil
• spoon
• small jug or watering can
• small onions with little leaves on top
• a straw or chopstick
• a small cardboard
• glue

Put the spoon beside the plastic container.  Ask the child to put soil into the container with the spoon.  Transferring soil with spoon is also an activity to reinforce a child’s fine motor skills.

Use the spoon to dig small hole in the soil.  Then put the onion into the hole.  Cover the side of the onions with soil again.  Do not cover the whole onions with soil.  The top of the onions should be exposed to the air.  You may repeat this step and put few more onions.

Water the onions using a small jug or watering can.  Do not put too much water till the whole container is flooded with water.

Make a “My Plant” sign.  Cut a small piece of cardboard.  You can ask your child to write “My Plant” on top and then write his/her name below it.  Stick the card on a straw or chopstick.  Ask your child to stick the sign in the container.

It’s done!  This is my onion plant!  Help your child to put the container under a shady area and remind your child to water the plant every day.  Spend time every day together to see the growth of the plant.  Choose any botany related topic to talk about every day.  Show the different part of the plant and explain the functions of each part.

This is my plant on the fourth day!  Can you spot the difference?  The leaves are growing taller and the roots are growing more and longer.  Enjoy the activity!