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Easy Cost-Cutting Measures for Day to Day

It is a sad fact that good quality learning materials are costly. While it is true that cheaper and more affordable alternatives are readily available, their quality is not always as good. For example, I was able to buy a relatively affordable pocket chart for my class, but compared to the more expensive one that I got a few years back, it broke more quickly than the old one. Another example is how the low-cost building blocks can really not compare to Duplo or Lego.

However, the question of expense should not compromise the quality of education we give our kids, or at least I would like to believe. I work hard at finding ways to give my best to the kids without having to spend too much. Unfortunately for me, the use of discount coupons and rebates, such as the Radio Shack coupons I was able to use years ago to get one of those V-tech computers, is not very popular where I live. As such, I have to rely on store sales all the time.

Nonetheless, there are many ways to cut costs on a daily basis. Here are a few of my ideas:

1. Buy in bulk. Whether it is art supplies or printer ink, get them in the bigger bags since these are often waaaay cheaper. Plus there are often promos for these, such as the HP coupon codes that allow you to get small tokens, rebates and refunds.
2. Utilize scraps! I use a whole bunch of these…from toilet paper rolls old boxes, these will definitely lessen the need to purchase new items.
3. Scratch paper is your friend! I use these for drawings, practice sheets and the like.
4. Make sure your light bulbs and the like are cost-efficient. Recently, we were able to change some of our bulbs to the “green” and “low energy” bulbs. Hopefully this will translate to savings soon. These bulbs are available in local hardwares. Sometimes there are even Home Depot coupons and discount vouchers that can lower the costs of these more expensive light bulbs to the regular ones which are generally cheaper.
5. Be vigilant. For me, this is the best cost-cutting measure. Make sure you utilize materials and equipment at it’s best so that you can save in the long run. Keeping these in tip-top shape will make sure nothing goes to waste.

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My Biggest Investment :-)

This is about a year old but I guess I really have to say that my car has been my biggest investment ever. Well, financial investment that is. Given that teaching is not really the most lucrative profession around, it really took some time for me to be able to pay off the amortization of the car, but at the end of the day, it was so worth it!

I am also glad that I opted to maintain a comprehensive insurance coverage, even though the car is halfway through it’s fourth year.  Sometime last year, for example, a small pebble hit my windshield and a crack appeared. Thankfully, my insurance company replaced it with no questions asked.

This year, when I asked for a my renewal insurance quote, I made sure to include an “Acts of God” coverage. I think this is especially important especially given the changes in today’s weather. We all know how floods are so prevalent nowadays, right?

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Planning Ahead is Key

I guess this will not only relate to preschools but to any business venture as well, but one of the key steps in making your plans is considering all options for protecting your investment. From a commercial insurance policy to getting a group health plan for your employees, this can translate to big savings in the long run. For example, last year during Typhoon Ondoy, many schools, ours included, lost some equipment and materials due to flooding. Lucky for us, it wasn’t so bad for our school but for other schools, they lost much, much more. Having a good coverage can surely be a good way to help you get back to your feet, right?

Other important things to plan ahead for, especially in the school setting, are as follows:

• Keeping your fire insurance up to date and ensuring you have the necessary equipment such as a fire extinguisher, a fire exit and the like, just in case of emergency.
• Everyday health and safety measures should also be kept in check. Having your first aid kits fully stocked is one good way to get this done.
• Having a list of emergency numbers, including the numbers of each of the children’s parents close to the phone is also important so they can easily be contacted if the need arises.
• When planning field trips, activities and the like, check out the travel and group health insurance quotes that partner establishments offer.

These are just a few of the things to plan ahead for in ensuring the best for whatever it is you are doing, be it on a personal or business level

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Toys and Playground Stuff from the Hardware

Photo credit Shaun Sullivan, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

One of my favorite places to explore for unusual toys or play equipment is the hardware store. I love browsing the aisles in my local store such as Home Depot or The Handyman for things that are not necessarily toys, but end up being great learning materials.

In my personal experience, I’ve used floorboards, tiles, putty, and cement for different kinds of activities. I’ve even made pachinko boards with those teeny tiny nails and scrap wood. From old tires, we’ve made swing sets and obstacle courses. My dream, however, is to get one of those extra large stainless steel drums or those cement tunnels (like that in the photo above) for our school playground. I remember that as a child, those were my favorite spots in my village playground. I would creep into the tunnel with a book and just spend hours there in my own little hideaway.

Some things I keep in mind, however, when using non-toy materials for toys are the following:

1. Is it safe?
2. Are there any potential risks to using these?
3. How can I make it more attractive to kids (especially since hardware stuff are pretty plain and simple, right?
4. Is making the toy out of this worth the effort or is it cheaper to simply buy a ready-made toy?

Have you made any toys from non-toy materials? If so, what and would you like to share these ideas?

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Ideas that Change Winners!

Before anything else, I’d like to thank everyone who joined in on the IDEAS THAT CHANGE contest sponsored by Unilab. I was quite encouraged by the many ideas that you guys have shared. I wish all of you could be winners, but unfortunately, I only have 5 gift packs to give.

So, with no further ado, here are the winners as selected by our generous sponsors:

1. Nica
2. Ellen Joy
3. April Grace Lacson
4. Roch
5. Erica Yu-b

I will send you an email regarding your prizes

Again, congratulations!

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The Evolution of Student Government

These past two weeks have ushered in campaign period once again at the University I teach in. I can’t help but admire how the whole student government campaign process has changed since I myself was a student. On one hand, I see it as a positive sign, but on the other, it kinda strikes me how our whole political system needs to be improved on.

For one, today’s campaigns are so commercialized and exaggerated. In the realm of real world politics, platforms seem to take a back seat to this commercialization. In the student government world, I can still see how platforms are still important to the kids running. I think this is a good thing, especially since that’s what winning leaders should be made of: good governance and not just good connections.

Nonetheless, I still see how different campaign materials and the like have gone since the time I ran for student government. I remember in my time, we would have to make posters by hand and have just a few “professionally” done posters. Now, large tarpaulines are all over campus.

Before, we would wear pins on our same-colored shirts, but not have them printed with slogans and catch phrases, especially since it was SOOOO expensive to have a small batch of shirts printed. Today, each political party has several designs available.

Before, we would hand out bookmarks and stickers. Today, they hand out pins and baller bands. I wouldn’t be surprised if soon this goes from just personalized ballpens to custom water bottles to promote their parties.

It’s not that these changes have become detrimental to the way student government goes. It just gets me to thinking how much money goes into the production of these. While for the student government, I don’t see it as a problem, mainly because it’s not like they will try to recoup their expenses by being a corrupt student leader. But in real life politics? That makes me question the whole process.

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Assurance and Insurance.

Getting insurance for local business is perhaps one of the things any preschool (or business for that matter) should prioritize. Having this assurance can help quell fears and allow owners to really feel safe about their investments. To be honest, I was not a very firm believer in insurance, particularly life insurance, but because of my friend who shared with me how the insurance policies her parents had taken out when they were younger helped her after their deaths, I realized it does have good value. With regards to educational plans and these types of insurance, I’m not very sure.

Next to life insurance, I think it is very important to have your home insured. After all, this is where you spend most of your time in, right? When getting insurance, it is important to make sure you understand the fine print of what you’re getting. Some agents may sweet talk you into things and you may not realize you can get more for your money. Nowadays, online sites can aide you with this as you get a whole range of estimates that best suits your needs, such as these links on Home Insurance in California and Illinois life insurance. You can even get multiple quotes that will allow you to choose the best for you.

Overall, I think getting insurance does have a lot of great benefits. It is important, however, that you take into careful consideration what company you will deal with. Sure there are a few fly by night, unstable companies there, but there are a lot of reputable companies that can provide you the assurance you need.

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Cooking days are the bestest days, Teacher!

My kids love cooking activities. Be it something as simple as microwaving popcorn or something more complicated like making vegetable soup, the kids have a blast. Last week we had egg sandwiches and the kids were just ecstatic about it!

I like using these cooking activities as story stretchers, such as what I shared with my Green Eggs and Ham Story stretcher. Other ideas include:

vegetable soup for the story Stone Soup

pigs in a blanket for The Three Little Pigs

caramel apples for Ten Apples Up on Top or The Giving Tree

alphabet soup for Chikka Chikka Boom Boom

Not only do the kids learn a lot from these activities, its a lot of f too! So fire up that stove, bring out your electric grills and clean up that microwave and let the kids get cooking!

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10 things every preschool should have

If I had it my way, this is what I think a good preschool/learning center should have, besides of course, great teachers. These will definitely make teaching and lerning much more meaningful and exciting

1. A well stocked library

2. Sandboxes

3. Water tables for waterplay

4. Child-sized sinks and potties

5. LCD TVs , DVD players and similar audio visual equipment 6. A large playground 7. A bountiful arts and crafts stock room 8. A pretend play area (dress-up, kitchen, or store would be good examples) 9. A science corner with pets 10. A photocopier, laminator and similar paraphernalia. If ever I do set up a school, this will definitely be my list!

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Laugh Trip Moments with the Seniors

In the past few days, we have been discussing the senses. It sure has been fun talking to the kids about their ideas of what things they can see, smell, taste, feel and hear are. A lot of funny moments sure come out of these discussions. For example:

Teacher Ria: Okay, who can tell me what we see when we look up at the sky?

Kid #1: The clouds, Teacher!

Kid #2: Mr. Sun, Teacher!

Kid #3: Teacher, where’s Superman? I can’t find him!

In talking about taste:

Teacher Ria: So, what part of our body helps us know what things taste like?

Children: Tongue!

Teacher Ria: Correct! With our tongues, we can taste sweet, salty, sour, bitter and even spicy stuff. Now lets play a guessing game. Can anyone tell me what a chocolate bar tastes like?

Kid#1: Sweet teacher!

Teacher Ria: Good job! Now lets try this. What about a calamansi (Philippine lemon)?

Kid #2: Asim, Teacher. (Sour, Teacher)

Teacher Ria: Great! What about ampalaya?

Kid #3: Bitter.

Teacher Ria: Correct again! Very good guys. Now…this is tricky…let’s try this one. What does rice taste like (hmmm….no particular taste right?)

After carefully pondering over it. Child #4: I know, Teacher!

Teacher Ria: What?

Child #4: It’s yummy Teacher!

Hmmm….that’s right I guess!

This one I don’t know is laughable or what:

Kid: Teacher, what’s that? (pointing to my face)

Teacher Ria: What’s what?

Kid: There’s black-black on your face. And dots too. (referring to lines on my forehead and my freckles)

Gee….I guess I need to invest in some wrinkle cream and good foundation too!!!

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Growing Up Is Hard To Do!

One thing I will miss most from teaching preschooler is being with the joyful spirit of innocence. When I am with the kids, I feel like I still am very young, despite the aches and pains I may feel while working with them. They also help me keep the child in me alive by making me laugh, not just have fun, but to really laugh those deep belly kinds of laugh that really go to the core of you.

However, every now and then I think about how I have to “grow up”.  I need to think more seriously about moving on to the next phase in my life, personally and professionally. I guess that’s really why I’m lucky that I also teach in the college level because that caters to the adult side of me.

I still wish I could afford to keep on teaching until I’m much older to the point that I am no longer looking for life term insurance but I will be considering term insurance for seniors already. Yup, I seriously love to teach well into my old days but I know that’s an impossibility! I hope, however, that I can still work with kids in some other way as I age. This website, for example, is one way for me to do that

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Teacher’s Back Hurts :-(

While being a preschool teacher may be full of fun and excitement, it is not without any job hazards. For one, I have not had my toe nail grow back to normal after it has been trampled on, dropped upon and abused by my kids. Lately, however, I have been contending with one of the worst job hazards ever: lower back pain. I know there is a right way to bend and squat, and I guess I really haven’t been quite careful about it because now, my lower back is always soooooo painful. At times, even slight movements make me cringe. I think I need to see an acupuncturist or a therapist to help realign whatever and help ease the pain. Also, I KNOW losing weight will help a lot, and I can’t really dilly-dally around with that. Perhaps some apidexin supplements will help kick start the weight loss and ease the back pain. It really is crucial that I get this done ASAP! Perhaps, if I feel better physically, I may reconsider leaving preschool next school year.

job hazards I have learned to live with

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Let’s Talk about the Birds and the Bees…and everything in between

One of the biggest controversies surrounding this coming school year is the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum. When I listen to the news reports, especially when they just feature sound bytes about the issue, I can’t help but feel that people may not be looking at the entire issue clearly.

I think people automatically associate the act with the words sex education. I also get the feel that people assume that just because it is being talked about, it is automatically encouraged. I would disagree.  Talking about the birds and the bees can a good way for adolescents to become more aware and educated, thus helping them make informed choices. I think it is essential, especially given our highly technological world now where information is really just a mouse click away. Rather than inadvertently discovering the fallacies of these online, the facts are much better, IMHO. Also, by being matter-of-fact about issues like what genitals are called and how the reproductive system works can help clarify issues, thus lessen the urge for experimentation, especially since making it “matter-of-fact” makes it less mysterious.

I also think talking about “acceptable” and “unacceptable” touches (which is partly talking about s-e-x) can also be.

When it comes to preschoolers, I tend to agree that sex ed can be a touchy issue. I’m quite grateful, to some extent, that questions like “where do I come from” don’t often come up with my kids but I have had this happen a few times in the past. Personally (and hypothetically, should I say, especially since I am not a mommy  yet ) I would like to think that I would be okay with talking about the fact that babies come from mommies and daddies, and not dropped down a chimney by Santa or the stork. How it gets there, well…I guess I don’t know how to explain that!  I do think though that using clinical or scientific names for body parts rather than sugar coating it to sound

There are a host of children’s books, however, that do talk about how babies are made, and I suggest that parents check it out should they feel their kids are curious about it.  I’ve heard that books like Mummy Laid an Egg and Where Willie Went  are interesting and entertaining ways to discuss the subject. Some parents feel these books were a little too much though, and in some libraries or schools, I think they’re banned, but for home use, it may be a good resource. That depends, of course, on your level of comfort with the subject. I was able to find a slideshow of Where Willie Went online so if you wanna check it out, just Google it

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The Culprit!

Not so long ago, I was shopping in a local mall and I was flabbergasted when I walked out of a store and the alarm went off! Talk about embarrassing!!! I quickly looked up to her with a look of shock that must have been so funny that she just smiled warmly and pointed to the package I was holding. It was a bag of new books from the neighboring bookstore. She asked to borrow it and passed the bag through the alarm sensors and lo and behold, it rang again. Apparently, a common culprit for false alarms are those tags for barcode scanners in books, particularly the imported  hardbound ones that have those inserted alarm tags.Talk about relief!

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Games teachers play :-)

One of the fun parts of being a teacher is getting to play a lot of fun games. I’m the type of teacher who enjoys getting down and dirty with her kids, especially the preschoolers. In the college level, we use toys like play dough and pattern blocks, too, but we’re not as rowdy as the little ones. I am a firm believer that even at any age, toys and games are great ways means of learning. An added bonus is that these games are also helpful in getting you moving. I remember that when I stopped teaching preschool before, I gained a lot of weight because I stopped running around and being active. One thing I missed a whole lot was doing the hula-hoop with the kids. Believe it or not, it was an effective stomach weight loss program! In fact, even if I was still somewhat chubby, I had a pretty flat gut. That just goes to show that toys aren’t just for kids!

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Aquatica Light and Water Show

Last April 5, I was able to see a preview of the Aquatica light and water show at the Manila Ocean Park grounds.

Aquatica is one of the parks newest attractions and it was quite amazing to see such technology in the Philippines. The stadium is located in the open area of the facility and can probably seat a hundred or so people comfortably (I think!!!). It reminds me of the stadiums in other amusement parks in the US, only without the deep pools for whales or dolphins. Nonetheless, it is quite impressive.

The show featured the story of the Maiden of the Sea where there were human dancers and digital images of fishes, dolphins and mermaids telling a tale about caring for our environment. I liked how the lights shone through the water and the beams were quite mesmerizing as water shot through the air. It reminded me of the fish pond we had in our old house in Urdaneta where we had a waterfall cascading down and the pond light would make the water dropping so captivating.

The downside to the show is that it can only be viewed at night. Also, as a preschool teacher, I feel the musical score and the story line is too adult for my audience, but gradeschoolers may appreciate it more.

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