Don't Recall The Past

My family always attend the Saturday mass at St Anthony here in Woodlands. The timing best suits us and the location is just minutes away from our place. As usual we did attend mass yesterday.

It is a fact that everytime we attend mass, we learn something wonderful, we feel better and we become more appreciative and thankful of God's blessings. And yes, yesterday I learnt something: we should not recall the past. Actually, I am really trying not to, not to remember all the pain and hurts, and instead see the good life God has given me and my family. I admit that most of the times because of the large scale wrongs done to me and my daughters, I tend to remember them with so much fury. But now, God let me realized that there is no point in recalling them. I should just always remember that in spite of the whats done to us, we are still a strong and happy family.

I hope and pray that God will always give me the courage to move forward, avoid recalling the past and instead see the goodness in everything I have. I know I can do that. I know.

A Teacher's Prayer

When I went to Novena Church last month, I decided to go to the shop to buy some religious items. I bought a book titled Moments with God. And since the school year had started last Friday, 2nd of January, I feel that it is just apt for me to start this year with a prayer. The prayer I chose was taken from the book I bought. For I know in my heart that I can have a meaningful and fruitful year ahead only with God's help. So here is the prayer titled, A Teacher's Prayer.

Generous and ever loving God,

You have entrusted me

with this great responsibility

of molding not just the mind

but the whole person

of the young people under my care.

Thank you for helping me grow

and develop as an educator.

This is an important mission

to which you have called me.

Help me to remember this

when I am tired of writing my lesson plans,

preparing my visual materials,

thinking of my teaching strategies

and following up my students' behaviour

and performance.

Help me to be patient.

Keep me always healthy and calm

and may I never get annoyed with students

who need special attention in class

or who do not seem to be interested with my lesson.

Grant me the wisdom to learn new ideas, methods and techniques

to make my lessons more fruitful

and meaningful.

May I be filled with your Holy Spirit

to make me ever joyful and hopeful.

May I be faithful and loving instrument

in the building up of your kingdom on earth

as I try to follow the example of ypir Son

Jesus Christ, the greatest Teacher. Amen.

by Trinidad D. Molina

Manny Pacquiao won the match

Here is the news from Associated Press.

Pacquiao wins in eighth round over De La Hoya
By TIM DAHLBERG – 12 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Manny Pacquiao fought a lot bigger than he looked. Oscar De La Hoya simply looked old.
Pacquiao dominated his bigger and more famous opponent from the opening bell Saturday night, giving De La Hoya a beating and closing his left eye before De La Hoya declined to come out of his corner after the eighth round.
The fight was so lopsided and De La Hoya looked so inept that it could spell the end for boxing's richest and most marketable star.

One Year Old

Today my husband turns one year old. He is now celebrating life like an infant who sees life as beautiful, bright and full of hope after surviving from stroke a year ago. He wishes that he'll reach up to thirty years old with a blessed life with us. Mostly, he wishes that his new life will be spent happily with our grandkids. They were the ones who were instrumental in his enlightenment and complete rebirth.

We thank GOD for all the blessings. We thank GOD for a new beginning and complete realization of what family and love is all about.

A Thank You and A Birthday Greeting

Tomorrow will be my daughter's birthday. We wish her a happy happy birthday together with her family in Virginia. She is surely very happy as she campaigned hard for Barack Obama even though she is a Friend of Hillary. Obama's win is a gift for her too. May she have more birthdays to come in the land where all dreams can come true.

Here in Singapore, we are of course thankful that Mr. Obama won. My co-teacher asked me what US election got to do with me when I told her I wish Obama to win. Hmm, I admit I am not an American. But Obama's win has an impact on us too. Yes, we are thankful that Barack Obama won. We are optimistic that my grandchildren who are all Americans will have a better life under his presidency.

Happy birthday my dear daughter! We are proud of you that you think of your children's future by campaigning for Obama. And we are glad to hear Kyllenne in her Southern accent saying " Mommy, we have a new president, Obama!" Surely, she'll grow up to be politically conscious as you are.

Happy Birthday Double

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUBLE!!!

WE LOVE YOU KYLENNE!

WE LOVE YOU DARRIELLE!

KARLISSE LOVES YOU BOTH!

MOM & DAD LOVE YOU BOTH!

WE ALL LOVE YOU!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

...because i am forgetful!!!

You lost items in school for the third time. First, you said you lost a bag/toy which was placed inside your office. The next time you said you lost your hand phone near the dining area. Then this afternoon you said you lost the make-up kit you bought to be used for the K2's concert. So you asked for a meeting. Of course it is really pathetic that things will be lost in school considering we are all educators. You then told us that you lodged a police report when you lost your hand phone. You added that when you found out that you lost the make-up kit, you called the higher up. If that someone will be found out to be the culprit, her name will be stripped from MOE's register and will not be able to teach the rest of her life. Correct, correct. We all agreed. But when you added, " so when I go to your classroom, you must keep whatever I left behind or tell me that I left something because I am forgetful" an obvious affirmation of your irreponsibility, made me irritated. So I told you that you should also change your behaviour. You must change your attitude. Girl, you must first learn how to take care and be responsible of your own things. If they got lost, it is your responsibility. Yes, I pity that you lost things. May the real culprit be named. Not only she is a disgrace to our organization she also tainted our profession. But girl, you blew this big time. Yes, big time. You just cannot rationalize that you are forgetful. Blame yourself for losing things. It is not our fault that you are forgetful. Do remember that those who are not doing anything wrong have their dignity also. And I am one of them. Tell me, how can you let us work with dignity knowing that because you are forgetful you might lost things again and we can be the suspects???Ahhhh girl!!!
and the main qurestion.. how if teachers are not registered or when you register them the registration does not reflect the correct qualifications.. hmmm it gets me thinking, girl....

F1 Singapore....and I am for Lewis Hamilton

Surely almost everybody knows F1 Singapore. Why so? It is because this is the first night street race. Like everyone around, my family is into it also. My second daughter just watched the practice last night and she went home so overwhelmed and proud. Right now, my two daughters are over there watching the live Qualifying Round while my husband and me are so glued on the TV screen. I am rooting for Lewis Hamilton but my husband wants either Massa or Kimi Raikkonen to win. I am confident Hamilton will win.

Here are some information about Lewis Hamilton:

Lewis Carl Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Hamilton started karting aged eight. When he was ten, he approached McLaren team owner Ron Dennis at an awards ceremony and told him he would drive for McLaren one day.

Hamilton, whose grandfather moved to the UK from Grenada in the 1950s, started his rise to the pinnacle of the sport in karts in 1995 taking top honours in the Masters at Bercy in 2000. A move to single seaters followed in 2001 with Hamilton taking part in the Formula Renault Winter Series finishing fifth overall. 2002 saw Hamilton back in Formula Renault, recording three wins with Manor Motorsport and finishing third in the championship standings.The championship followed in 2003 – again with Manor Motorsport – and Hamilton was very much into his stride. Wins in the F3 Euroseries before the championship followed in 2005 with ASM. A jump up to GP2 did not daunt Hamilton as he won the title in style from Nelson Piquet Jr with ART Grand Prix.

The McLaren Mercedes squad had Hamilton under its protective wing since the age of 12 and with Juan Pablo Montoya making a sudden move to NASCAR and falling out of favour with the Woking based team, Hamilton’s name was suddenly in the frame for the race seat with the team in 2007.

Birthday & Children's Stories

Yesterday, a father wrote to me requesting that I give away goody bags from his child as it was his son's birthday. He added that he would appreciate it very much if her son would be greeted by the children and by me also. Of course, I obliged happily.

So we sang the birthday song to Nigel, the birthday celebrator. One child asked, "Ms. Luchie why Nigel has no cake for us?" You see, the children got used to the tradition that a birthday celebrator brings cake and goody bags. I just answered that " ringing cake is just an option, what's more important is we greet him on his birthday."

In my classroom, if I have the time I normally make a birthday card for the birthday celebrator of the day. Since I had time yesterday, I made a birthday card for Nigel. I showed it to the whole class and they all applauded for Nigel. Hong Yu suddenly blurted out; "Ms. Luchie you did not give me a card on my birthday!" I was not able to utter a word and later asked "Really?" Sarah answered for Hong Yu, "Yes. You did not give me a card too." I was a little shock. Deep inside me I want to say "Oh my! These children can remember. Did I hurt their feelings?" When I gained my composure, I promised to them that I will be giving them cards on Children's Day.

Children do really make us stop, think and wonder. They may look innocent but actually thay are geniuses who make our life more meaningful and enjoyable. Oh, how I love them.

How I love my grand daughters too. They are angels. That is why I wrote a story titled "The Three Angels Versus The Five Witches". I know that someday they will enjoy reading my stories for them.

If you are interested to read my stories do visit my site titled LUCHIE"S CHERUBIM TALES at www.lggklm.blogspot.com

Dramatic Play : Food Court

As you can see above, my children in school are so engaged as they pretend play in my Dramatic Corner. You see, I decorated my classroom last Friday in preparation for Term 4 which began today. I made learning centres which include this interest area which I named Admiralty Food Court. Of course I am so proud of my work. Why so? My children were so engaged. They even said: "so nice Ms. Luchie", when they entered my classroom.

Yes dearie, my children play in the classroom for they learn through play. So you want to know more information about dramatic play? Please read.

Very early in life children show us that they have an amazing ability to use their imaginations in "let’s pretend" play. Children often use objects as symbols from past experiences. For instance, a child may use a block of wood to represent a loaf of bread. When children pretend to be someone or something else we call their activities "dramatic play".

Watching children’s dramatic play as it develops through the early childhood years lets us see that it becomes more complicated, extensive and prolonged over time. Dramatic play provides opportunities to combine spoken language with imagination, to imitate, and to pretend to be someone or something else. It stimulates all areas of a child's growth and can in turn affect the child's success in school. Dramatic play has also been shown to enable children to be more flexible in new situations. Pretending allows children to transform real life, changing things from how they really are to how the child perceives them to be.

What children learn from daramatic play? Here they are:

1. As they play, the children learn about themselves, their families, and the world around them. They clarify their impressions of what they have seen or experienced.

2.Play helps children to think about the way others act, think, and feel. It enables them to "try on" a role, experience, or feeling and to reflect on experiences that have been important to them. Children can act out times that they have found upsetting or hard to understand and show their feelings safely. Children may use play in this way to express their feelings about a new baby, or a visit to the doctor. When adults can understand the messages children send through play we can be more helpful in providing information and help.

3.Dramatic play helps children develop problem solving skills

4. Through dramatic play children develop communication skills. When children ask other children to play they must use language. As the play develops, they practice talking with each other and listening to what others have to say.

5.Children learn cooperation! Dramatic play provides unlimited opportunities for children to interact with each other and to learn to get along with others and to feel good about working together.

6. Children use dramatic play to discover the role of humor in human relationships.

7.Dramatic play encourages children to organize, predict and develop planning skills.

8.When children get involved in dramatic play they show a remarkable ability to focus, concentrate and stay on task. Once they are involved in play, adults are often astounded at how long children will continue to cooperate and work together.

9. Children learn to think by using symbols when they are playing pretend. Learning to use symbols is what learning to read and write is all about.

10.Dramatic play allows children to learn about feelings and explore power.
(Source: betterkidcare by: J. Birckmayer)