Staff Blog
The fourth quarter of the school year was about to start and we decided to move up some students who were academically progressing to a new grade level. I was delighted, excited, and yet a little bit nervous thinking that I would have a new student who is intelligent, gifted, and of course, well-loved by everyone both in school and in the shelter.
The first few weeks were filled with many things to adapt to, and I prayed that the new student would not be too overwhelmed by the change. Slowly, with the help of the responsive classroom approach we implemented, it supports the student to have an easy transition to a new environment.
In our school, we usually do our morning routines such as greetings, group sharing activities, reading of the morning message, and praying before we start our classes. One of the best memories of my journey with this boy was when he first greeted me with my name as his "new teacher" and hugged me. He even asked me about my morning. He was so excited!
The first day with him was not as smooth as I hoped for. There were a few bumps. This was the reason why we observed him in the classroom and modifications were made to suit the student's needs. He would always choose to be the first person in the line, but I explained that we have our rules on "taking turns," and he already had his chance. When I checked on him outside the classroom the next day, he sat on his spot and patiently waited for others to come. I realized that firmness and consistency are two powerful tools to achieve successful classroom management.
Another classroom scene that made my day was when we had our group sharing. Knowing that younger students are visual learners, I added fun pictures to make our sharing more interactive and to get their attention. As I flashed some images on the screen, I heard him laugh as if he was being tickled. It went on for a long time, and it certainly gave his classmates a stomachache laughing with him which caused a little bit of chaos in the class. So, I gave him 30 seconds, and he did stop. It was effective, then we began with our sharing. Since that moment, we've been working on calling the name of the next sharer. He was very observant and quick to realize that he needed to do the same to his classmates. To our surprise, he was able to call the next sharer without his classmate's help and use the phrase "Popcorn, student's name." Everyone in the class was shocked and happy, telling me, "Teacher Lyrah, have you heard him saying popcorn? He learns so fast!" Truly, success happens not just because of one person working as "the teacher," but it includes the students and peers who help one another and have a common goal to lift each other up.
Moreover, I have noticed that he is gifted and very clever. I had set aside things each morning and prepared different materials that he would need to stay focused in our class. These things will be given after each class activity. It was essential to remind him that he needed to finish his tasks then he could use what is prepared for him. Well, being firm with expectations and setting classroom boundaries are challenging at times; however, at CCHS we always do it with love and care.
He appeared to be adjusting into our classroom setting over the next few days. He also loves to participate when being asked. Though, he needed some reminders from time to time for him to stay on track. There was one instance in the middle of our discussion he stood up and asked for his dinosaur books. We stopped, and most of his classmates reminded him to ask permission every time he stands or wants to have something. He did go back to his seat and asked permission. But it was not time for him to read a book yet. So, he participated in our reading first and answered all the activities. Then he got the book for him to enjoy. Another strategy that was very effective to him was giving him a time frame before he could get his desired reading materials. These things didn't come easy, it requires hard work, patience, determination, cooperation, and above all, love. We made a lot of classroom modifications to cater for his needs and the rest of the class.
To be successful in the classroom, as teachers, we need to set clear classroom boundaries for our students.
As Colossians 3:23-24 says: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
Precious Water
What do you do when there’s no water?
It was a very fine cold (relatively speaking, of course, because the temperature rarely gets below about 70 degrees) Tuesday morning at Cebu Children of Hope School. Everyone was ready for their classes. Later during our first morning class, one of the Level B2 students asked to go to the bathroom. I said, “Can you wait until 9:25 at snack time?” The student replied, “Yes teacher.” So at 9:25 everyone left to use the bathroom and wash their hands before heading to the snack room. Unfortunately, when they turned on the faucets, there wasn’t any water because one of the float switches wasn’t working.
Instead of getting upset, the kids found other
ways to wash their hands so they could eat their snacks. Thankfully we didn’t have to wait very long
for the water problem to be fixed.
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Let's Eat!
Food is made up of nutrients that are very essential for our bodies. It is good to teach kids the importance of eating nutritious foods.
Every July is Nutrition Month for all schools in the Philippines. On July 28 we had our culminating program for Nutrition Month. Lots of activities were prepared and the kids were very excited. There were coloring activities, preparing and cooking food and classifying pictures of different foods. The kids enjoyed the coloring activities. They also liked being involved in preparing and cooking food. The kids were divided into groups and each group was assigned a food to prepare and cook. The different groups made garlic bread, chicken nuggets, fruit cocktail and calamansi juice.
During the classifying foods activity, the groups cut out pictures of different foods and classified them into three categories: Go, Grow and Glow foods. Then they glued the pictures on a poster explained their work.
One of the students who was reporting for his group kept practicing his lines and asked, “Teacher, sakto ba ko? (Teacher, am I right?) Go foods give us energy, Grow foods give us protein and Glow foods give us vitamins and minerals.” I answered him with a nod of my head and a thumbs up.
At the end of the program, the kids enjoyed eating the food they had prepared and cooked. Yum!
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Kids helping kids
It is always fun when kids reach out to help other kids who are in need.
And it is especially gratifying when in involved kids who were adopted from CSC but want to help those who are left behind. There is power in their prayers and so much love in their giving!
Recently we heard from a family that adopted some of our kids last year. Their oldest son announced that he wants to raise funds to buy hearing aids for his best friend who still lives at CSC. He hasn't forgotten his buddy and his special needs! I don't know if those who are reading this blog can know just how good that makes us feel here in Cebu. This boy has not forgotten where he came from or the needs of his friends who are still waiting for adoption. It is a testament not only to his big heart, but to his parents who have kept kept the ministry in front of him and encouraged him to think beyond his own needs and desires. It warms my heart and brings a tear to my eye.
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Memorial Gifts
I have always appreciated the memorial gifts that come in to
CSC. It is a real honor for us when families designate CSC as the recipient of
memorials given at the funeral or memorial service. It is humbling to receive
those gifts, and challenging to use them in a way that honors the life of the
deceased, and his or her love for our ministry.
Recently I have seen this whole thing from another perspective - from the side of the family designating the memorials for CSC. My dad, Jer, passed in June, and it was his desire that any memorial gifts go to CSC. I know some families have disagreements over such decisions. For us it was easy. Jer loved CSC. Up to his dying day he was proud of the ministry and talked it up with people he would meet or who would visit him. He visited Cebu several times, served on our Board and volunteered as our banquet emcee and narrator on many of our media presentations He and my mom have always been generous supporters of CSC. In the early days of the ministry, when supporters were hard to come by, Jer's colleagues at Bethel College rallied around us out of respect for him. They knew how much he believed in the ministry of CSC. And Jer sacrificed a lot for my decision to leave home to serve on the other side of the world, not having me or my family around much for the past 37 years.
I can tell you that, as a family, we appreciated being able to honor Jer by designating his memorial gifts to a ministry that he and so many people loved. Many of those who gave memorials are regular CSC supporters. Some have visited Cebu. It was a natural thing to do for us. And I believe that the same can be said for lots of families. We can honor the deceased with the gift of life for the childen in Cebu.
Thanks to all who give memorial gifts for friends of CSC.
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Exploring the World Through Reading
Reading is the complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning. Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve problems, and new ways to achieve things. Who knows – you might find a new hobby. Who knows – you might explore something you really like and it may end up becoming your career. Exploration begins with reading and understanding. Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible. By reading, you can explore different ways to look at things and how different actions lead to different results. Books expand your imagination. It’s like a huge spider web, where you link together things you know. You also learn new things creating new solutions and answers.
Last week we had our Reading Challenge Kick-off, a six week reading contest, at Children of Hope School. During this activity we encouraged the students to become broader readers and to appreciate how wonderful and amazing books are.
What struck me the most during the kick-off was the excitement on the faces of the students. Everybody wanted “in.” No complaining here. Instead the kids said, “Teacher, when can we check out books?” “I will not play anymore, instead I’ll keep on reading to earn points.” “I want to earn the highest points!” “I want to read as many books as I can.” These words amazed me because our children were really motivated to read.
Read, read, and read more to learn and explore the world around you. Reading is fun!
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