Posted by Teacher Ria in Music and Movement | 0 Comments

Music and Movement in Kids Curriculum

One of my fondest memories of preschool teaching was when one of my little kids handed me a CD for circle time. She proudly came in to the classroom waving it in the air saying, “Teacher, Teacher, for you!”. After I thanked her, she says “teacher, please play it during circle time because when you sing, it’s not nice eh!” . OUCH! Haha. While that little incident did make me stop and think about including music and movement in my curriculum, I did not let it deter me from doing so. I realized that the incorporation of music and movement activities in class DOES have a lot of advantages for the kids.

Incorporating music and movement at whatever grade is important. For early childhood classes, introducing simple instruments can be explored. In fact, making such simple instruments can be included in arts activities. For older kids,  more complex instruments can be introduced and for advanced learners, they can even explore the mechanics of such instruments. For example, they can learn about how to change guitar strings, replace drum skins and the like. They can also look into the wiring system of electronic musical instruments and use a seymour duncan jb in order to experiment on how adjusting guitar strings can bring a better balance to the sounds the instrument produces. From there they learn more than just music, but even elements of electronics, engineering and mechanics.

Overall, much as I am not very musically inclined, I do see the value of making music a part of everyday learning.

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Advocacies, Going Green | 2 Comments

Bid for A Greener Future with WWF

It has been quite a long time since I got myself involved in an advocacy project and so when I was invited to participate in a project that The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was doing in celebration of its 50 years of conservation, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.

What really motivated me to say yes to this project was Joe, the dog I adopted last year. Raising him made me realize that while he and his brother, Bubba, are quite lucky they live in a home, are fed and are safe, many other animals are not. Not only that, the places that these animals make their homes in are not protected either, all because of what we call “modernization”.  And so I decided that my project this year will be on going green in whatever small way I can.

However, while individual efforts at going green, such as taking steps to choose earth friendly products, recycle, and so on and so forth, are important, we can also be part of a bigger solution by teaming up with organizations that can put together individual efforts into collective action. One such organization is the WWF.

In celebration of its 50th year, the World Wildlife Fund invites us all to bid for a greener future with an online fundraising auction, GREENER AT 50, via Ebay Philippines. Proceeds of the project will benefit the WWF-Philippines’ environmental sustainability projects. Up for grabs in the online auction are limited edition items from celebrities, such as a signed pair of pointe shoes by prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and other memorabilia from celebrities and personalities including the Philippine Volcanoes Team, Pat Dy, Sara Black, Boy Abunda. You can also get the opportunity to immerse in exclusive WWF sites and discover nature from your own experience!

Check out www.ebay.ph/wwfgreenerat50 to view the items for auction and get ready to start bidding for a greener environment.

This year, let’s all be part of the solution and bid for the future with WWF-Philippines.

Log on to wwf.org.ph to learn more about WWF-Philippines and like them on facebook http://www.facebook.com/WWF-Philippines.

Posted by Teacher Ria in Teaching Resources | 0 Comments

Don’t think twice to learn English

It is easy to discover why English is such an important language. Everyone should know how to speak this tongue, due to its worldwide impact. Let’s analyze some facts about the English language.

English is the 4th most widely spoken native language worldwide. As to its number of speakers, it is the most spoken official language in the whole world. Also, it is the first choice when it comes to international affairs, which may be owed to the fact that it has official status even in countries where it isn’t the main spoken language. In global trade and commerce, English is spoken as the default language as well.

Have you noticed that most of the Internet is in English too? It seems like the language rules the Digital world. Typically, English is the language of newest applications, programs and software in general. Everything is written in English before it is made available in other languages.

When it comes to Education, English has vital importance as well. In universities in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, New Zealand and Singapore, thousands of students come from foreign countries. However, the default language of instruction is…guess? Yes, it’s English. When seeking to learn English Cairns students don’t think twice. They know that this language will open many doors for them in the field of studies. Consider that the majority of the top business and medical schools and advanced-study institutes are situated in the United States and the United Kingdom.

It should come as no surprise that knowledge of English opens job and employment opportunities in many different countries and markets. While studying to learn English Sydney students are aware of how much brushing up their English will do for them. To get job opportunities it is of vital importance to be not only fluent, but also be able to switch the register from formal to informal in order to be able to adapt to any kind of situation in a proper manner.

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Teaching Resources | 0 Comments

Teacher Made Materials: Why Bother?

Just before the Chinese New Year came in I decided to give cleaning my room another go. I was sorting through my files, discarding papers and throwing away old projects when I came across some of the teacher made materials I had made waaaaay back when I started teaching preschoolers. I found them at the very back of those plastic stackable storage cabinets that I love so much and I suddenly missed being a preschool teacher again.

Anyway, going back to those teacher made materials, it got me to thinking about all the time I spent making flashcards, bingo cards, etc etc. After all, they can be bought in the stores, right?

For me, as a teacher, even though the toys and educational materials were available in the stores, I still made little teacher made materials even to the end. Why did I bother? Mainly because I liked being able to modify materials for my kids the way the kids need them. This is not to say, however, that I don’t use store-bought materials! I just realized that teacher made materials are really more individualized and activity specific.

I am grateful, however, that by the time I got to my eighth year or so of teaching I could afford the conveniences like a laminating machine and a ring binder. Before, I used to painstakingly use packing tape to wrap materials. QUE HORROR!!!

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Going With The Dress Code

After my last post, it occurred to me that perhaps even my college students need reminders on going with the dress code. In fact, even I, on occasion, need to be reminded. Especially with footwear! It’s so much more comfortable to just go to school in flip flops rather than heels…especially now that I have discovered the joy of not squeezing my feet into those stilettos (haha). I remember that when I first started teaching, I’d wear not just heels, but formal business attire. Now I don’t. I have only one or two colleagues left who really get all formal now (complete with the tie, tie clips and steel cufflinks). Perhaps I should start going more with the dress code and I can have my students follow suit. What do you think???

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Today’s Random Snappy: This is what school shoes should look like!

Last week I went to Payless shoe store in Nuvali and got a good laugh when I tried on these shoes It reminded me of shoes I  had in the first grade! Although it made me laugh, I liked how they had this in the store because, as those who have read in this blog several times over, one of my pet peeves is really how kids now wear shoes with heels. HELLO!!! It really gets to me because it is such a dangerous option for the kids. I have had many kids in class fall over and get hurt because of their shoes. This, on the other hand, is really how school shoes for kids should look like.

Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Getting Back in the Thesis Groove

Okay…I quit my preschool teaching job in order to get my priorities straight, right? I said I would finish my thesis and get the ball rolling with the rest of my professional career. Buy yeah…once again I lost my bearings and got lost in the shuffle of daily life. Since September my thesis has been sitting in a little shelf, the books I meant to read remain shut, and well, I just haven’t gotten things done.

This has to stop.

Wish me luck…

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Make or Break Term

Well, well, well…it seems like only yesterday when the second trimester ended and now I’m at the cusp of what is turning out to be a make or break term for me. I really, really have to figure things out by the end of this school year. Do I want to trade in my books and chalk for something new? As many of my friends know I have given up the preschool classroom this past year (or 2011 should I say) and now I wonder if my classroom has really gone beyond the four walls of a building. Don’t get me wrong: I am not giving up my university teaching job. I’ve just been thinking, maybe I need to teach something more creative…howsabout arts and crafts?? Maybe a class that teaches mandala making or perhaps jewelry making, such as those threaded friendship bands or perhapsmacrame shamballa bracelets? Let’s see, let’s see.

Midlife crisis much? Har.

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Teacher’s New Job

Well, well, well…it’s been six months since I have been “unemployed” (in the preschool setting that is!) and so I really have been exploring all sorts of options that interest me. This is one of my latest explorations…

Cute, right? It was made for my best friends baby shower. Her sister decided she didn’t wanna buy cakes anywhere else but from me. Mwahaha.  Short notice, though, so I couldn’t really experiment much. The icing needs work (flavor wise that is), but I’d like to think it’s pretty cute, yes? So…new project? Let’s see!!!

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Teaching Resources, The Library | 0 Comments

Book Review: Changing You

I came across this book earlier today at a colleagues house. It was a nice take on puberty, sexuality and adolescence. It was a very matter-of-fact book that discussed the stage and it surely would be a good book to use when kids start transitioning to that stage in their lives. Very nicely written in words that kids can understand Highly recommended