Posted by Teacher Ria in Classroom Escapades, College | 0 Comments

Oh My Gawd She’s Human!

Last Thursday I had a great laugh courtesy of my crazy Clinpsy students.

Lemme put it in context: a few weeks ago in class, I was dressed in this bright red dress and one of my students randomly made a comment about her red pair of Keds that were too big for her and asked if I would be interested in buying it from her. One of her classmates suddenly quipped: Miss, you know pa ba what Keds are?? TOIIINK!!!!

Anyway, her point was that she had never seen me wearing anything but stilettos (or wedges at the very least) and so it seemed implausible for me to actually ever wear flats.

Well, in some ways it’s true because since around July of last year I had stopped wearing flats. If ever I did, it would be flip flops but for the most part, it was always heels. So when my friend told me to wear flats or rubber shoes when we went to the 16th Hot Air Balloon Fest a few weeks ago, I had to dig out my old Crocs. While we were in Clark, I decided to stop and take a photo of my feet since it had been way too long since I had last worn flats. While I was doing so, my friend snapped a shot of me too:

And so when she posted this on Facebook, I had to show my kooky students that indeed, I do wear flats too. Haha. Of course I had to invade some other walls to do that because I absolutely refuse to add students to my own account haha….too much drama I swear.

Anyway,  after I did, I kinda regretted it a bit, because I realized I would never live it down, but well, it’s too late now.

And so when I went to class last Thursday I was greeted by that statement:

Oh my gaaaawd she’s human after all. Haha.

Funny, funny things that happen in class I tell ya.

Posted by Teacher Ria in Classroom Escapades, Lesson Plans, Preschool, Teaching Resources | 0 Comments

The Senior’s Seed Experiment

Earlier this month we were discussing plants in our class. In order to supplement the discussion, I decided to have the kids do an experiment. I had them bring several different kinds of seeds and then we went on to do our scientific inquiry.

Here’s what we did:

We started out with an inquiry (a.k.a. creating a hypothesis) in which the children were asked what they think will happen to the seeds if put in a pot with soil and given water and sunshine. To do this I had them chart it on a Manila paper. In this part I had them draw the pots and seeds (although our pots didn’t look like real pots, they were just like dark circles in the middle of the paper with little dots for seeds haha).

Then we did some observations on the seed, the soil and all other materials we used. I asked them to take note of the similarities and differences of the seeds, such as size, color and shape. Some of them even smelled the seeds (which almost gave me a heart attack because they’re so tiny, right???) and one even attempted to taste it. Thank God I saw it on time haha.

After this, we listed the procedures of the experiment (such as put soil in the pot, drop the seeds, etc.) and then actually carried out the procedure.

Of course after carrying out the experiment, we got ready to record our observations and what happens in the experiment

So…after two weeks, the kids found out that:

Teacher shouldn’t plan activities right before we go on a break. Haha. Yes…I had forgotten that the whole week of Feb. 14-18 was not a regular school week because of Paranaque Day, our school field trip, and parent-teacher conferences. Haha.

Seriously though, they did get a chance to see the plants grow

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Teacher's Corner | 0 Comments

The World, All Grown Up

I am taking a break from my usual teacher posts and will just share with you a realization that hit me just a few minutes ago: the world I know has really grown up so much! Yes, I know that is part and parcel of life, but it just dawned on me how everyone around me has grown up so much and at times, I feel like I have forgotten to follow suit.

Where is this thought coming from? Well, for one, it dawned on me today because I’m kinda cash-strapped as I quit my job and realized: I forgot to save. Haha. Yes, I still live like money flows out of a tap and that it is an endless reservoir. And so I feel like a little girl waiting for my next allowance. Or the ax to fall, whichever comes first harhar.

Secondly, a school mate of mine from way back when (um…I was a graduating student and she was barely in high school if I remember it right) posted this wonderfully beautiful wedding portfolio in her photography website and I realized: gosh, these are the same little girls I used to go to school with and now look at them…brides and mothers! Yikes. Haha.

Lastly, it hit me that even my body is not as young as it used to be (duuuh!) haha. I remember back in the day when I would bounce back from long, sleepless nights cramming papers and what-not (lets not forget pumped up on adrenaline, junk food and the occasional happy juice). But now…I need afternoon naps and it takes me forever to get out of bed.

Yes, the world has indeed grown up. It’s good growing up, mind you, but today, it leaves me a wee bit nostalgic. It makes me want to take a time out from life as I know it, because it’s moving oh so fast. So, anybody wanna give me a weekend voucher to some swanky hotel or one of those good cruise deals so I can just be careless and free for a wee bit?

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Teaching Resources, Toys and Playthings | 0 Comments

No More Playtime Boo-Boos with Rubbabu Toys

One of the best learning materials EVER is a good toy. I am a firm believer of that. In fact, whether it is in the preschool classroom or my undergraduate lectures, toys are bound to make a cameo. Today, I got to discover a new brand of toys that will be hitting the Philippine markets in just a few weeks, Rubbabu toys.

So what makes Rubbabu different from other toys in the market? First off it perhaps one of the first toy collections that is not only cute and adorable, but is actually eco-friendly and child-safe. From infants to big kids, this is sure to be a delight. It is made from 100% natural rubber foam with a velvet smooth surface and it comes in such brilliant and captivating colors. The toys are very light and chunky, which is great for little hands to play with (big hands too, actually haha!). The toys are bouncy and soft and just oh-so-lovable, and I promise, I’m not just saying that.

Okay, I can just imagine some eyebrows being raised right about now (correct? hehe). Seriously though, when I first heard about the product (I googled it after all when I first received an invitation to the product launch), I was a little dubious about yet another new toy. However, after getting to play with these cutie patootey and very versatile toys, I was smitten. I loved the texture of the materials and how the smooth velvety finish made me just smile in delight.

Rubbabu comes in a wide array of shapes and styles, perfect for learning at any time of the day. From basic shapes, balls, toy cars, to educational materials such as shape sorters, alphabets and numbers, blocks and the like, kids will delight in this highly entertaining toy all day long. I sure did!

What else makes it different from a typical toy? Well, in my opinion, Rubbabu does remove the boo-boo (boo-boo meaning any form of injury, ouchie, or pain) in playtime. Here, lemme list the reasons how:

No more boo-boo for baby (or mommy, yaya and teacher for that matter!)

• soft, squishy, no corners, no danger of getting injured! except perhaps for those with movable wheels, which is why it is recommended for ages two and up.
• it is completely non-toxic and even the velvet finish doesn’t rub off or get “himulmul” so it cannot be swallowed or eaten, even if the child bites, tugs and attempts to eat (haha, exag!) the toy
• because of it’s bouncy rubbery nature,  even if a Rubbabu toy is thrown at you, it wouldn’t hurt
• also, because it is made from natural rubber, it is anti-microbial, dust mite resistant, mildew resistant, hypoallergenic and flame retardant.

No more boo-boo in learning!

• Rubbabu makes learning fun! No pressure, no difficulty and  highly attractive and captivating
• The tactile material allows for perfect mastery of hand-eye coordination, dexterity and motor skills
• Games like tic-tac-toe, blocks, and other play sets make learning fun

No more (or at least not much!) boo-boos for daddy’s wallet!

• Rubbabu toys, for it’s inherent high quality production and materials, are actually quite affordable. Prices would range from an estimated 300-1000+.
• The long-lasting quality of the toys can withstand years of use and abuse from children who will definitely love these adorable playthings.

No more boo-boos for Mother Earth

• Rubbabu is made from 100% natural rubber foam, with no fillers, and not synthetic rubber
• More so, it is made WITHOUT HAVING TO CUT DOWN TREES!
• It is 95% bio-degradable

No more boo-boos for the heart

• for kids at heart like me, playing with a Rubbabu ball is pure stress relief!
• its soft, velvety texture can help calm and pacify feelings of anxiety and stress
• they’re so cute you can’t help but gush and smile
• it is a great reminder to adults that play is indeed an important part of life and is quite therapeutic

Rubbabu has won countless accolades over the years. It has been recognized as one of  Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Toys for 2010,  and was also given the Parent’s Choice Award for 2010 as well as the Creative Child Seal Excellence Award. Rubbabu is exclusively distributed bu San Giovani Phils. Incd. Corp and is set to hit the stores this March

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Posted by Teacher Ria in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Teacher’s New Best Friend

Yet another sign of aging….

I ache all over Haha. It’s been a few days since our field trip to the zoo and even though I’ve tried to rest, I STILL AM SO DARNED TIRED!!! Haha. Yes, all caps. It’s hard to believe that a few years back, I could go on for days on minimal sleep and rest, but now…egaaad. I even sent my friend a text message not too long ago complaining about how doing three hour lectures have become so much harder now that I am getting older compared to a few years back. While I can still do it very well, I just notice I kinda get winded more easily now. It kinda feels like I’m always trying to catch my breath…sigh. And lets not forget the soreness all over my back, legs, shoulders and more….haha.

So, meet my new best friend:

Meet Precious, my handy, comforting and so darned lovable bead pillow. I pop it into the microwave for a few minutes and OH MY GOOOSH….relief I tell ya. I just kinda wish it was bigger so I can wrap it around my body completely!!! I want my whole back to lie flat on a heated surface, and this only goes on one section at a time. Usually I place it in my lower back and just lay there in complete comfort. The beads, however, can be a little bumpy if I don’t place it down well which is why I’m about a hairs breath from ordering one of those heated mattress pads from my sister in Sacramento haha. I’m not sure, though, if that would be quite practical for here.

I bought this heated pillow over the holidays for about Php 600 if I remember right and it has been worth every peso! Sadly, I did not know I was supposed to keep it in the bag and in the freezer when not in use so now the scent has completely worn off

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