Monday, June 1, 2020

Halina't kumanta at sumayaw!




Sa Yahweh by Gary Valenciano [Live from ARISE 3.0 2014]

Naalala ko bigla ang kantang Sa Yahweh ni Gary Valenciano. Itinugtog ko ito
at pinakinggan namin ng mga bata. Natuwa naman sila. Sino nga ba ang hindi
mapapasayaw sa galaw ni "Mr. Pure Energy"?

Ngayong Hunyo, adhika kong linangin namin ang aming kakayahang magsalita
ng Filipino. Ngunit gusto kong ibahin ang pamamaraan ng aming pag-aral nito.

Ayoko nang ituro ang Filipino bilang isang asignatura lamang. Hindi
binibigyang hustisya ang karangyaan ng Kulturang Filipino.

Nais kong gumamit ng mas organikong pamamaraan. Tiyak na kinakailangan
pa naming dagdagan ang aming pakikinig, pagsasalita, pagbabasa
at pagsusulat ng Filipino. Pero susubukan naming gawin itong lahat
sa isang mas masaya at mas makabuluhang pamamaraan.

Kayo, anong kantang OPM ang nagpapangiti sa inyo? Ipamahagi niyo ito
sa inyong mga anak! Halina't kumanta at sumayaw!

Friday, November 16, 2018

Christmas Activities for Moms 2018




















Here's a little something for the Moms (and Dads!).




















Christmas Coloring Pages


Whimsical Coloring Pages


Inspirational Coloring Pages


Grateful and Blessed and Cup of Tea
by Dawn Nicole


Joy Coloring Page by Thirty Handmade Days


Quick and Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas via Stonegable
















Lest we forget, Aunt Leila's wise advice on the true spirit of Advent
and Christmas.


Are you feeling the holiday rush? Taking Time for You by Julie Bogart
has awesome suggestions on loosening up! Yes you can, even if all you
have is 30 seconds, better yet if more. Did I mention that I needed this!!!

Last but not least, this awesome reminder on how to make Advent
and Christmas right.

Friday, November 9, 2018

Christmas Activities for Children 2018






































If your kids love I Spy, they'll get a kick out of this Find and
Colour Christmas by Picklebums

There's loads of Christmas Colouring Fun here and here.

Create a Baby Jesus Ornament.
















Or maybe DIY a Nativity Set like this or this.

Try out this Wise Men Adventure activity and bid good bye to
that mischievous little elf.

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Christmas Plans 2018




















I'm really looking forward to Christmas 2018. Christmas 2017 was a season
of transition for the family. We did a big move during the holidays. We also
had a baaaadddddd case of the tummy bug. Things just went by in a blur.
This year, I hope to slow down and enjoy Advent and Christmas Time with
my not-so-littles.

Im hosting a Christmas Read Aloud session or two for our Homeschool Coop. 
Im posting some of my resources here.

A glimpse of Christmas in our home...

TRADITIONS

Sacraments
Mass and Confession

Our Crib and Christmas Tree

Countdown to Christmas
In previous years I borrowed Christmas books from the local library.
It was a great joy for the children and I to spend a few minutes each day
reading new and old Christmas stories. This year, we no longer have access
to that library. Nevertheless, I managed to buy us some Christmas books.
And so, the Christmas Read Aloud Tradition continues...

SCRIPTURE + POETRY

Luke 2:1-14
Each year, we pull out this passage on The Birth of Jesus Christ.
It is the one passage we've consistently read these past few years.
May these words and their essence remain etched in our hearts.

A few other poems worth reading during Advent and Christmas Time:

In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak mid-winter...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
The Shepherds had an angel...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
by GK Chesterton

The Animals' Carol
by Charles Causley

A Visit from St. Nicholas (and the poems inspired by it)
by Clement Clarke Moore


BITS AND PIECES

Random thoughts for Moms by the lovely Elizabeth Foss.
A great reminder to have some Margin and Rest for Advent from
Kortney Garrison


RESOURCES

Good books are hard to come by where we're at. These are free
Christmas eBooks available online.

Ambleside Online's Christmas Poems and Stories
The Baldwin Project's Christmas Stories
The Project Gutenberg Christmas Bookshelf





Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Unit Study: Japan

Im planning to do a Unit Study: Japan. Here are a few things I'd like to cover...
Let's see how things go...

Top of Mind:
I. General facts about Japan:
- flag, continent, capital, population, currency, geography, seasons, clothing, government leader, etc
II. Historical facts
III. Important people, events and places
- Artist: Yayoi Kusama
III. Stories and Folk Tales
IV. Japanese Words and Phrases
V. Create something Japanese
- Sudoku
- Origami
- Color a Kimono
- Sushi Making Day
- Draw Japanese Cartoons (Kodomomuke)
VI. Immersion Trip
- Write about My favourite day, thing, place, memory, _______


Some useful links:

Kids Web Japan
Japan Printables
Geography Study
Smashbooks

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Love


Love love love. Where to begin?

Love can be warm and cozy. Hugs and kisses for a happy moment. 
A long hug on a disappointing day. Coffee and conversations while 
on a long drive. Lounging and laughter on a relaxed weekend.  

Love can be cold and harsh. Going to work when you prefer to stay 
at home. Doing mundane chores when you’d much rather relax. 
Waking up at odd hours to comfort a crying baby. Raising a child. 
Staying strong for the sick and dying. Foregoing luxury now in favour 
of the future.  Saying no when things aren’t right. Agreeing to disagree 
when you can’t compromise. Asking for forgiveness when you are 
in the wrong. Letting go when you’re itching to hold back. 

Love can be fire and passion. Embracing change despite the fears. 
Moving forward because it’s for the best. Baking a beautiful cake 
for a special occasion. Cooking a favourite dish to celebrate a 
success. Sex with the one you’re married to for life. Raising a child. 
Encouraging someone to pursue their dreams. 

We do ourselves a disservice when we expect a song, a book or 
a movie to portray an accurate depiction of love. How can something 
so immense and glorious be expressed in such short a time? Expect 
to see a mere moment of love. Nothing more. Real life and real love 
is an intricate tapestry of emotions and experiences. It is different things 
at different times. Love is something nurtured and cultivated for 
a lifetime. If you must, look to those who live a life of love. Learn from 
their stories of failure and success. Avoid the pitfalls and trappings. 
Do what needs doing constantly and consistently. Pray, act and believe 
that you too will reap the fruits of your labour of love.

Remember remember remember. LOVE is ancient and eternal. Love 
springs forth from the Almighty who is Father, Son and Spirit. God 
who is Creator, Redeemer and Paraclete. The One for whom our hearts 
will always be restless until it rests in Thee. You cannot give what you 
do not have. And so, you and I must, could and should — 
love and be loved by LOVE.  

Love in a chorus? Love in a page? Love in a scene? 
That’s not all there is. That’s not all it can be. 
It’s more more more.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Raising Readers


If I had my way, you would often find the children and I gathered
around a circle. Or sitting cozily on the sofa. Or idly lounging around.
We'd be spending hours on end reading good books. We'd be reading
away without a care in the world.

If. I. Had. My. Way.... But I don't....

I live in a world where life is just happy busy. There are toys to be
played. There are gadgets fighting for our attention. There are chores
to be done. We're simply not reading as much as I'd want for us to.

So here I am again, trying to put more consistency in our reading time.
Reading in our different ages and stages. Trying to find our rhythm.