It has been several weeks since C borrowed the book from the Library and as I was able to spare some time today, we went to the Library to return it.

C insisted on going to the Library at Pasir Ris because that was where her teachers had brought her then but I said we could return books at any library and brought her to Tampines instead. Hmm... The spot where the Library used to be was now a retail shop and I looked at C regretfully and told her that we had to go to Pasir Ris after all. She went all "I told you so!" Hahaha.

Then I confessed that I didn't know the way to the Library at Pasir Ris and C said it was alright as she knew.

 She led us up to the Library all right! :) I was pretty lost actually but thankfully she knew her way around. I was rather proud of her because it meant that she was actually paying attention during her excursion.

 The "Book Drop" Got to return the book before we get fine.

Then she headed out to the computer and did a search for the books she wanted. I was so amused because she needed no instructions and knew exactly what she had to do at the Library.

When she had picked out the books, we went to get them checked out. She had initially wanted 6 books but I told her that 4 was enough for now. Then I realised that she had borrowed books of very different genres; there was a folk tale, a fairy tale, and then information books on how rain is made and why blizzards happen.

Cheryl kept reminding me that there was a note in her bag and that I must get it signed. Upon inspection, I saw that it was a notice from Josiah informing us that C's teachers would be taking the children out on an excursion to the Zoological Gardens.



Of course we gave consent. :) Precious loves such outings with her classmates and we are certain that she will have a whale of a time with her peers.

Definitely a good way to end the school term. :)

Because Christ rose on the third day, we are consoled and comforted that life can be renewed, that hopes can be as well, that we will not live out our lives in disappointment nor be defeated.

Cheryl and her friends practised for this performance and on Easter Sunday, they took stage and sang their song.

(The video works... just that the thumbnail doesn't show.)

Lately, I have been rather intrigued and was hunting for more learning aid to help C with her spelling.

You can tell that I am very determined to throw out the traditional method of learning to spell new words. So while shopping for some presents, I was also on the lookout for something that C could use and this caught my eye.

Cheryl was terribly excited when she saw the tub of letters and literally begged to start. :) This was definitely a good sign and I am positively sure that our nightly spelling routine would be more fun.


Update: posted on 8 May 2011

I was extremely pleased that this method of Spelling works. :) Learning new words has become a more manageable task in the evenings and more importantly, she doesn't get tired out from the endless writing and drilling. She doesn't give me down-cast looks or frowns anymore and we are both happy! :)

Cheryl worked on this for a long time. In fact, Daddy and I had been asking her when she was going to come back with her art piece.

Well, she did today and we were shocked at the size of her latest piece of work.

Daddy and I called it 'a tree' much to Cheryl's annoyance. Haha.

Traditionally, spelling of words was a tedious task of writing out the words repeatedly. We used to do that and it would be a painful and extremely slow process.

Often, after spelling exercise, there wouldn't be much time left to do anything else and C would complained that her hand ached.

I was so certain that there must be another way... Daddy also didn't agree to this rote-learning and commented that we must apply alternative methods.



There you have it. I broke up long words into their syllabus and colour code them. C is to look at the word as a whole, we tell her that it's a picture and she is encouraged to take a picture of the entire word instead of parts. Then we ask if she can recall the picture of 'environment'. If she unable to, then the word is shown to her again.

So far, it has worked. :) I will use this method for more spelling exercises.

Noticed anything different about the girls here?

Yes, they are without their little tutus. Now that C has cleared her examination, she is officially in Grade 1. 

And here I am, waiting for her class to end. Each session now is an hour long and while waiting, I try to catch up on some reading, marking and blogging. Her class now is also an hour later; this I realized when I brought C for her class at 6. Ms Blue gently reminded me that she made known this information during the last Open House yet it slipped my mind. I have been preoccupied these days... .

When Coach Philip teaches the children under his charge, he does it in very practical manner in which the children can easily understand him. This afternoon, he did some theory practice with C and her mates.

C likes her lessons with Coach Philip and Sunday afternoons are always fun.

Cheryl's weekly homework included English, Mathematics, Spelling and Ting Xie.

Besides this, Ms Novelle writes me an update of what has happened in class and gives an account of what has been taught. In addition, C's progress is also noted. I learned that C is now doing Adverbs.

Then I saw the homework that she had to complete this week. I was surprised that at her level, she has been taught to identify Adverbs of Place, Time and Manner. Well, surprised because I teach these to pupils in secondary school, that's why. Hahaha! But if children can manage, then why not? Age should not be a barrier for learning. :)

Mathematics is also more complex now as she has to figure out the answer now that word problems are asked. 

As for Mandarin, she has been taught different occupations. There is also exposure to hanyu ping ying and I must say, she is doing well. C doesn't have much of a problem blending the sounds for these sounds in Mandarin.

Yes, it is no secret. I have learned that I need to do more than my regular work to make extra income so that I can gain financial freedom early.

This big idea of "financial freedom" has been on my mind a lot these days because I am feeling the demands of the other aspects on my life and I am not liking any bit of it. I can slog my life away, spending more than 12 hours a day or I can invest in something else and see it work for me instead. Hence my sign-up with SAB and now, Vemmabuilder.

Take baby steps, it can happen and I am happy that I did.

Last Friday, Josiah brought Cheryl and her classmates to the Pasir Ris Library. it was their O2C experience for this term.

Several weeks back, I had to fill up a form for the application of her library card and then last Monday, C had to hand her teacher her EZLink card as they would also be learning how to use her travel pass on public transport.


She had story-telling time there and was even brought on a tour around the library. The librarian on duty also took pains to explain the work they do there and gave the children there a hands-on on how to scan and check their books out.

C borrowed this book:


C loved the book very much indeed and was reading some of the pages to me. :)

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Every once in a while, C returns with a Reader and she always enthusiastically reads to me. She was given this Reader last week and since then, reading it has become a nightly affair. Though she isn't very accurate with the pronunciation with some of the characters, she remains undaunted. :)



That's the kind of spirit and attitude we want her to cultivate towards her learning and studies: to never give up and never give in.

Apparently this set of routine is known as "Practice 6".

C has to swing her arms like a pendulum and Coach Philip placed the golf balls on alternate swings for her to hit them.

I was very impressed when I saw her do it. In fact, I was full of praises for her and took this video to show her how much progress she has made since starting the game 6 or 7 months ago. 

C returned from school and enthusiastically told me that she had to write a letter.

I simply nodded my head and thought nothing of it because C was always writing little notes to her friends and classmates and I thought that this was just one of those love notes that she wrote Radhika, Regina and Renee. It wasn't later when I checked her bag that I understood.

I saw that C was taught how to write the address on an envelop and that she had to write a letter to a cousin. After much thought, C thought she would write a letter to Asher. :)

Today, 6 years ago, C breathed her first and her birth marked the beginning of our lives as a family. 

She told me that she wanted a cake for her friends at Sunday School too so a week ago, I scouted around the neighbourhood near our Church for a cake.

A lovely "Hello Kitty" theme cake for her friends and teachers.

Then in the afternoon, we checked into the chalet where her birthday bash would be held. And at 4 pm, our guests started streaming in for a lazy afternoon swim. :)

 This is a very nice shot of Uncle Ben, Aunt Di and Baby Asher.

While the Daddies were in the pool with the children, Mummies posed for some shots of our own.

It wasn't long before Izzy arrived and she started setting up the place for the craft that we had in mind...

The children did batik painting! :)

Besides, batik painting, the children also had face painting and balloons from a balloon sculptor.

Uncle Desmond also displayed his artistic skills. :)

These are Cheryl's classmates from Josiah and Cheryl was very happy to see that they could join her at her party.

The masterpieces! They were so beautifully painted, it was quite unbelievable that young children did them.

Buffet for our guests.

We have to apologise... the food wasn't fantastic. But they were really sweet because they ate all of it.

More pictures of the Pretty Mummies.

After dinner, it was time to reveal the cake.

This year, C requested for a Tinkle belle theme and there ... .

 Precious with her lovely cake, which she was extremely pleased with.

Us!

Baby Brycen and Asher joined in the fun too! :)

And we all wished Precious a Happy 6th Birthday!

It was only much later, around 9 pm when the party was long over that Precious suddenly remembered that she hadn't eaten her dinner and she was famished. Well, Daddy and I figured that the party must have been a success for her to completely forget to eat. Hahaha! (Okay, we are sorry)

Back home and after a quick shower, it was time for Precious to open her gifts.

 A rooster pendant from Aunt Di, Aunt Margaret and Aunt Juliana

Grand Mummy would be guilty of this one here.

Precious picked this out herself and this was our gift for her this year.

 "Thank you Aunt Karen and family."

"Thank you, Zinnia, Yeva, Xandra and Jordon."

"Thank you, Uncle Kam Meng, Aunt Esther and Jun Zhi."

 "Thank you, Uncle Eugene, Aunt Chloe, Joshua and Janelle."

 "Thank you, Aunt Juliana."

 "Thank you, Zinnia's Grand Mummy."

"Thank you, Aunt Sandra."

"Thank you, Grand Aunt Monique and Grand Uncle Joe."

 "Lovely card from Regina! Thank you!"

"Thank you Aunt Joan and Aunt Angie for these gifts!"

"Thank you Aunt Maggie!"

C wasn't sure who got her these but she was very happy nevertheless and still wanted to say "Thank you for coming and thank you for the presents."

 "Thank you, Jordon."

"Thank you, Uncle Gary and Adrina."

 "Thank you, Aunt Maureen, Victoria, Allegra and Uncle Desmond."

 "Thank you Aunt Xin Xin and family."

 "Thank you for the ang baos and gift vouchers too!"

 "Thank you, Aunt Jenny and family. I started reading them just before bed time."

"Thank you, Renee."

It was close to 11pm when all the presents were unwrapped even then, Precious wasn't quite ready to retire for the night though Daddy and I were rather beat ourselves. We were glad that everything went well for the party, and thanked God for the fine weather. 

Last of all, we would like to thank our friends and family members for making this day so special for Cheryl. The craft session would not have materialised had the Aunts and Uncles not brought along their desks and chairs so we were truly grateful and we hoped you had a good time.