Kimmy Schemy

Archive for August, 2011

Michelle* is in grade 6. She seems to be having difficulty with her studies that’s why she was brought to us. I found out during our session that it was even worse than ‘a difficulty.’ The girl doesn’t even know that the plural form of child is children, and she doesn’t know which word is a naming word and which is an action word.

At the end of the session, I talked with the one who brought her to the center, which happened to be her older sister. I told her my observation and recommended that Michelle take regular tutorial as reinforcement for her lessons in school. Her sister very truthfully admitted that Michelle has been taking tutorial lessons ever since preschool. Aside from home tutorial, her school requires her to attend Saturday classes to recap the lessons for the week. At the end of the school year, however, Michelle is still under probation. So, her parents would plead with the director of the school to let the girl stay. The director would then require Michelle to attend summer lessons.

At the mention of their parents, Big Sister became emotional. She told me how at first she was the one who was helping Michelle with her lessons, but it seems like the girl’s head is a sieve and the lessons are like clear water that simply passes through. Nothing is retained.

I nearly suggested having Michelle checked by a neurologist to find out if there’s something wrong with the part of her brain that affects her memory, but I was worried that she may get offended.

I felt sorry for them, but teachers have limitations, and I believe it’s not a simple matter of ‘not paying attention in class’ nor ‘limited English vocabulary.’ And though I strongly believe there’s something more to it than being ‘forgetful’ I sincerely wish I am wrong about it.

If you were Michelle’s sister, would you have been offended if I suggested having your sister checked by a neurologist?

*not real name

I have always been a studious person. I love learning and it is something I enjoy much. So, I collect books and I prefer those I could learn from over those that simply entertain. So, as early as my college days I was already into the idea of pursuing graduate studies, something like the business school colorado offers.

However, my plans took a different turn when I got pregnant with my eldest child. I dropped out of the university for two years. When I got back, the idea of pursuing further education was totally set aside and then forcefully forgotten. After several years, my children have grown and I found another chance to pursue that dream I have always wanted to achieve. Since I am a graduate of BS Psychology major in Industrial Education, it was only wise to take up Masters in Business Administration, which for me was a continuation of my training in the Human Resources Department. So, I was all set and really excited. I inquired at the nearest college that offers graduate studies. It was no colorado business school, but it will do, right?

I was disappointed, however, when I learned that the school offer Masters in Education major in Administration and Supervision only. Did I enroll? Yes I did! I know it was not mba colorado but it was the closest thing I could have to the real one.

That was 2004. Sadly, I haven’t finished my MA yet because I needed to focus on my teaching job as it is so demanding. Deep in my heart, though, I still believe that I would accomplish my long time dream, it may not be now, but it could be later..

This is a sponsored post for a Colorado business school. However, the views and opinions are my own.

I’m just so happy to have my family together…

Just when we thought the rainy season has begun to abate, it rained so hard. It’s not that I don’t like the rain, in a way, I like it. But if you are expected to come to your work place on time, I guess you won’t consider the rain your best friend. Yesterday, as I was rushing for work, I didn’t notice the drop smudges on my pants as I walked along the muddy, partly flooded area of the subdivision. What I noticed, however, was the fresh mud on the van’s mat which obviously rubbed off from my shoes. I glanced at the driver innocently to find out whether he noticed it, too. Luckily, it seems like he didn’t, because if he did, he’d probably get annoyed with me. It may not be one of those nice lincoln zephyr custom floor mats, but it was his mat and he cleaned it. And I guess I owe him an apology for rubbing mud on it. But I was running late so when it was my time to get off the van, I quietly slipped out of my seat and hurriedly walked away

This is to extend my gratitude to Niko of Girls Rule for this prize.

Recently, I joined a giveaway contest hosted by Niko and sponsored by Nivea. I wasn’t expecting, though, that I would win, so I was so glad I did.

Thanks, Niko! Good luck to you and more power!

Yesterday, our former Math teacher dropped by. He was dressed formally complete with gel. He obviously was applying for a job. It has been almost 3 months since his last day in the company and I wonder why he is not employed until now. Maybe the job he applied for before he resigned from our company did not materialize.

Well, some young professionals are difficult to please. Unlike old employees like myself who is normally contented with good pay, stable position in the company and respect among colleagues, most young people want higher salary in order to maintain their luxurious lifestyle. That is why they normally go for Computer Operator Jobs or they apply as call center agents where the pay is good and the experience opens for better opportunities.

Well, I simply wish my former colleague luck on his application..

Luke* is 5 years old. A handsome boy with chubby face, he is obviously the favorite in the family as he is the youngest. They call him ‘baby.’ He was enrolled in our Reading Program without undergoing the usual assessment test. His mother simply said ‘READING’ so, I assumed that the boy already reads some words.

I was surprised to find out, therefore, that he doesn’t memorize the letters in the alphabet. Not only that, he couldn’t identify the letters, ANY letter, in the alphabet including the letter A. So, I gave him some work sheets to do. But since they came late, I handled him for barely an hour. When mommy came to pick him up, I talked with her and told him that my assessment is that Luke doesn’t memorize the alphabet yet. To this, she answered vehemently that he does, only, he couldn’t pronounce all of the letters because he’s still a baby. I smelled trouble right right away. I, very politely insisted that, no, he doesn’t. He just knows the Alphabet Song, but he couldn’t identify each letter if randomly presented. Mommy didn’t insist anymore but I could feel her disapproval.

The following session, Luke started to show impatience. He kept on asking if it’s time to go, so I have to say, ‘not yet.’ In addition to the worksheets, I started to use ALPHABET flash cards when Luke suddenly.. CRIED. Yes, he cried. He said he didn’t want to work anymore and he wanted to go home. His name came right away so I wasn’t able to comfort and stop him from crying. And since we couldn’t talk him into doing his worksheets again, I decided to let him go home with the instruction to give him a schedule of 1 hour only until he gets used to it, and when he did, then we’ll resume to the usual 1 hour and a half.

The following day, I learned that Luke’s mother wanted to have me replaced. She said that she wanted another teacher because I offended Luke when I said that he is not good, so he doesn’t want to go back to the center anymore. I was offended. Not because I was being replaced, but because I never say to ANY of my student that he or she is not good, and I’m sure I NEVER said that to Luke.

The following day, Luke had a session in Math, her mother was stiff and treated me very coldly. After barely an hour, Luke CRIED again. Surely, the younger and gentler Math teacher didn’t say that he’s not good.

I know what the problem is.. Luke doesn’t want to work and he is not used to working hard. So, when we gave him some worksheets to do, he started to cry because he knows mommy won’t let anyone force him to do something..

Parents love their children so much that they want to make things easier for them. But there are things in life that couldn’t be learned without working hard and that parents couldn’t do for their children, they have to do it themselves, like reading and writing for instance. No matter how much we love our children, we just couldn’t do everything for them..

*Not real name

The moment my husband arrived at the airport, the first thing my son, Daryl asked from him was “Where’s my bike?”

Yes, it was a long-standing promise from Papa and Daryl never forget about it even for a single minute.

Two years ago when my husband finally decided to work overseas, he promised our youngest, Daryl, that he would buy him a bike. Not the one for small kids but that which is used by big boys. Though I strongly loathed the idea, I had to defer as that was the only way our son would consent to papa’s leaving for abroad. And every single day since then, he waited for papa to come home with his big bike. Every time we chat on YM, he would ask papa where his bike is.

And now that he’s come home, papa had to make good of his promise. So, despite my apprehensions, papa got Daryl a bike. But to make me feel better, he also bought a helmet for protection. And here he is now, Daryl on his bike with a helmet on his head..

I am going to get him nice pairs of elbow and knee pads later. Well, mommies are like that. They always make it their business to worry about their children’s safety

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Vincent* is our regular student in the tutorial center and he is one of our least favorites. First, because he doesn’t seem to understand why he is in he tutorial center, second, he doesn’t seem to understand that we are doing our best to help him pass his subjects and third, he is none the wiser after each session.

One time, he had a quarterly exam in Civics, he gave his book ahead of time to give us the pointers for his test. So, I was like.. ‘Civics? Isn’t it memorization? Does he really need to go to the tutorial center for that?’

He did. After leaving his book to us for 3 days, he came back. So, I prepared about 6 pages long identification type of test for him to answer. But since his book was with me, obviously, he didn’t study. So, he didn’t know the answer to any of the questions.

So, to save time, I gave him the summary of the test first, for him to study. Then, I made another copy of the same summary replacing the answers with blanks. So, all he needed to do was fill the blanks with the correct answer.

I’ve given him ample time to ready and memorize the details in the summary before I finally made him answer the test. He did not do well in the first 2 pages, meaning, he remembered very little from the summary I gave him.

On the third page, however, it took him longer to study. But I was amazed that he nearly got a perfect score in the test. Even the spelling of the answers was perfect, so unlike Vincent. I felt funny, so I gave him the 4th page of the summary and observed him from a distance.

So, I saw how he brought out his cell phone and copied the itemized details in the summary. After a few minutes, I gave him the test and as expected, he nearly got a perfect score. But to show him that he didn’t outsmart me this time, I asked him, orally, the questions from the summary. He wasn’t able to answer any.

I didn’t know how I would feel, mad or sad. Mad at Vincent for cheating on the review or sad for him for cheating himself. Didn’t he realize that whatever he got from the review didn’t mean anything to me, that I exerted an effort to make him a test just so it would be easier for him to study. He didn’t cheat me, he cheated himself. He paid for my services but he didn’t learn anything..

It was simply.. sad

*not real name

The short ‘o’ sound is that which is found in the words like: log, cop, hot, etc. It is pronounced like a short ‘a’ only with the mouth shaped like the letter ‘O.”

Now, try this worksheet..

Click the image to be redirected to the printable page. Help your child identify the words oven, ostrich and octopus.

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