Below are some pictures of Chap Goh Mei, our celebration of the Year of the Rabbit.
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| The Theme Board |
Monday, March 14, 2011
Chinese New Year 2011
Have not been updating as much I would love to ... time seems to fly this year!
Below are some pictures of Chap Goh Mei, our celebration of the Year of the Rabbit.
Below are some pictures of Chap Goh Mei, our celebration of the Year of the Rabbit.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Yuks!!!!
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| What's this???? |
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| My first taste of bitter gourd. |
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| Oh!!! Why does it taste so funny? I don't like it! |
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| Trying very hard to eat the bitter gourd. Teacher says we cannot waste food. |
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| Grape Fruit - really sour! |
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| We like this. It is sweet! |
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| Perfume smells nice and sweet ... |
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| ... but certainly not this. Take it away from me! |
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| Yuks!!! |
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| Really yuks!!!!! What is it, anyway? |
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| They are Mandarin orange, ikan bilis, shallots, lemon grass and belacan. |
SPIN & SPIN
It was fun, watching JK and WN playing with the 2 geometric solids. They spun the ovoid and ellipsoid and discovered that both solids can spin and chase them. There was much squeal of delights as they continued to spin the solids and watching the solids go round and round and round.
Although both children were still young (not yet 3), they were engaged in cooperative play, where both were playing together and taking turns. It helps them socially and emotionally. It was a good opportunity for them to learn about the two shapes - now they know for sure that these two solids together with a sphere can roll and spin. Physically, the children had lots of exercise as they run and let the solids chase them! They also refine their fine motor skills as they spin the solids with their fingers. Cognitively, they figured out the best way to spin or roll the solids so that the solids chase could them. Linguistically, both children did not talk much, but there was clearly lots of body language and laughter from this simple activity. Don't you agree that young children learn best through play? The play was so intense that both children concentrated and played for more than 20 minutes!
Although both children were still young (not yet 3), they were engaged in cooperative play, where both were playing together and taking turns. It helps them socially and emotionally. It was a good opportunity for them to learn about the two shapes - now they know for sure that these two solids together with a sphere can roll and spin. Physically, the children had lots of exercise as they run and let the solids chase them! They also refine their fine motor skills as they spin the solids with their fingers. Cognitively, they figured out the best way to spin or roll the solids so that the solids chase could them. Linguistically, both children did not talk much, but there was clearly lots of body language and laughter from this simple activity. Don't you agree that young children learn best through play? The play was so intense that both children concentrated and played for more than 20 minutes!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH (REA)
The Reggio Emilia Approach is a project-based, child-centred approach to learning. It is widely acknowledged as one of the best methods of early childhood education in Italy. The teachers or adults in the environment listen to the children and take the cue from them to embark on interesting projects for them to work on.
It is not widely known in Malaysia yet. I would say that it takes a lot of love, patience and understanding to get this approach moving. I am learning and trying to integrate this into my Montessori approach. One of the important factors is a suitable environment for the children to work in. According to the REA, the environment must be pleasing, open and aesthetically beautiful. It is a place of joy, serenity and somewhere for children, teachers and parents to meet, talk and build friendships. The children's learning processes are well-documented and displayed - making learning visible - for parents, teachers and children to ponder on, to enjoy.......it's actually what we have been practising all these years.
I've renovated and extended part of Little Beans to make the learning environment even more conducive. I don't like the idea of having children cooped indoors all the time, not knowing how to work in a natural environment (without air-con). Hence, I've built an open hall on purpose. It is basically an extension of our garden, but with a fan and roof to shield from the direct sun. However, there is plenty of natural light and space for children to roam and explore. I admit that not all children favour this as compared to an air-con room. But, the younger children love playing and working here. The freedom of space appeal to their natural needs. They, in fact, have been using this place too often, so much so that I have to ask them to use indoors. The older children would like to have the 'privilege' of working there as well!
Below are some photos of the new extension. Feel free to drop by for a visit.
It is not widely known in Malaysia yet. I would say that it takes a lot of love, patience and understanding to get this approach moving. I am learning and trying to integrate this into my Montessori approach. One of the important factors is a suitable environment for the children to work in. According to the REA, the environment must be pleasing, open and aesthetically beautiful. It is a place of joy, serenity and somewhere for children, teachers and parents to meet, talk and build friendships. The children's learning processes are well-documented and displayed - making learning visible - for parents, teachers and children to ponder on, to enjoy.......it's actually what we have been practising all these years.
I've renovated and extended part of Little Beans to make the learning environment even more conducive. I don't like the idea of having children cooped indoors all the time, not knowing how to work in a natural environment (without air-con). Hence, I've built an open hall on purpose. It is basically an extension of our garden, but with a fan and roof to shield from the direct sun. However, there is plenty of natural light and space for children to roam and explore. I admit that not all children favour this as compared to an air-con room. But, the younger children love playing and working here. The freedom of space appeal to their natural needs. They, in fact, have been using this place too often, so much so that I have to ask them to use indoors. The older children would like to have the 'privilege' of working there as well!
Below are some photos of the new extension. Feel free to drop by for a visit.
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| The retiled hallway for the children to walk on bare-footed. |
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| Part of the hall |
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| The documentation panels |
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| The whole hall |
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| My two lovely sinks |
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| The most important message of all - The Image of the Child competent, responsible, expressive, creative, compassionate, independent. We must keep this image in mind when we work with the children! |
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
No way. The hundred is there.
The child
is made of one hundred.
The child
has a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marvelling of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head and the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.
Loris Malaguzzi
Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach
is made of one hundred.
The child
has a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marvelling of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head and the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.
Loris Malaguzzi
Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach
Monday, January 31, 2011
Let's Go to the Theater!
We are going to the theater on March 9! Last year, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves watching Giraffes Can't Dance. It was an eye-opener and mesmerising experience for the children and myself!
This year, it is Elmer the Elephant, and I look forward to watching it very much. I've sent the details out via the Communication Book. Do let your child join us for the show - it's really good!!! Alternatively, you can bring the whole family for the show. Dates and prices are included in the details for your reference. Or, visit their website www.gardnerANDwife.com for more information.
ENJOY and Happy Chinese New Year!
This year, it is Elmer the Elephant, and I look forward to watching it very much. I've sent the details out via the Communication Book. Do let your child join us for the show - it's really good!!! Alternatively, you can bring the whole family for the show. Dates and prices are included in the details for your reference. Or, visit their website www.gardnerANDwife.com for more information.
ENJOY and Happy Chinese New Year!
Welcome 2011!
BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! It has been a very busy January - there was no time to even take photos of the children. Generally, things settled in time for Chinese New Year. Hope there will not be another round of settling down after CNY!!!
We look forward to new activities in 2011. Despite some 'challenges' getting all the children feel at home, we managed to have the Sunmaid team here to organise a session with us. Audrey, Terence and her team enlightened us on how Sunmaid raisins are processed, why they are good for us and of course, there was a Q and A session, where many children (and 3 teachers) went home happy with many raisins! Everyone got at least a pack of Sunmaid raisin home and we enjoyed the goodness very much!
I've always looked forward to Audrey's visit as her team are good, and they always get the children involved with many activities. Of course, our children love them (or their gifts???) and they are not shy to participate. In fact, most want to take part. Above are just some of the photos taken during the event.
Another event that we will be taking part in together with Audrye's team (Strategic Creative) is a fund-raising campaign with NASOM - The National Autism Society of Malaysia, which will be held in end-February. The event is called Draw to Support Autism, and the main objective is to raise fund to support the activities organised by this society. This is held in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Month, and selected kindergartens will participate by drawing and colouring pictures based on the theme "Helping Children Around the World." No participating fee is required. However, children are urged to seek for sponsorship for their art piece. It can be a token sum of RM5.00 or more, depending on the generosity of parents. This sponsorship will be donated to the cause of autism. I'll fill you in on the details later, but I hope that parents that support this noble cause and help our children learn about fund-raising, and being caring for the less fortunate.
If you wish to have more information on autism and NASOM, please feel free to visit this site : www.nasom.com.my
We look forward to new activities in 2011. Despite some 'challenges' getting all the children feel at home, we managed to have the Sunmaid team here to organise a session with us. Audrey, Terence and her team enlightened us on how Sunmaid raisins are processed, why they are good for us and of course, there was a Q and A session, where many children (and 3 teachers) went home happy with many raisins! Everyone got at least a pack of Sunmaid raisin home and we enjoyed the goodness very much!
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| Terence welcoming the children. |
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| Harvard retelling the story about how Sunmaid is processed. |
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| What's so funny? |
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| Get this right, and you'll get a gift from me! |
Another event that we will be taking part in together with Audrye's team (Strategic Creative) is a fund-raising campaign with NASOM - The National Autism Society of Malaysia, which will be held in end-February. The event is called Draw to Support Autism, and the main objective is to raise fund to support the activities organised by this society. This is held in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Month, and selected kindergartens will participate by drawing and colouring pictures based on the theme "Helping Children Around the World." No participating fee is required. However, children are urged to seek for sponsorship for their art piece. It can be a token sum of RM5.00 or more, depending on the generosity of parents. This sponsorship will be donated to the cause of autism. I'll fill you in on the details later, but I hope that parents that support this noble cause and help our children learn about fund-raising, and being caring for the less fortunate.
If you wish to have more information on autism and NASOM, please feel free to visit this site : www.nasom.com.my
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