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Matagal na ko sa teaching [one year na lang debut na ] pero ni minsan di ko pa naranasan magturo ng beginning reading na katulad ng ginagawa ng mga kasama ko sa grade one. Kase naman nung na-assign ako dito sa school namin, sa intermediate ako napunta at hanggang ngayon nasa intermediate ako.

Reading is a very important skill. Wala ng dapat pagdebatehan tungkol d’yan. May mga batang pumapasok sa grade one na may background na sa reading dahil nag pre-school sila pero mas marami ang nagsisimula sa zero dahil di naman lahat ng batang mage-grade one sa public school eh nakapag-pre-school. Grabe ang challenge sa mga teachers na nagtuturo ng beginning reading. Di ko na iisa-isahin pa ang mga yon. Lets leave it to the RAP [Reading Association of the Philippines, which I'm not a member].

Alam mo ba ang feeling kapag natutong magbasa ang isang bata ng dahil sa yo? Wow… natatandaan ko nung kinder ako, si Mrs. Vargas ang una kong teacher at palagi kaming may writing kaya na-master ko agad ang alphabet. Nung grade one ako, kay Ms Ignacio ko natutuhan magbasa ng consonant blends!! Tandang-tanda ko yon kase tuwang-tuwa ako tapos sinabi ko pa sa ate ko na marunong na ko magbasa ng maraming-maraming words na English! Nasan na kaya si Mrs. Vargas? Si Ms Ignacio naging principal pa sya sa school namin. That was more than ten years ago. Kumusta na kaya sila ngayon…

Saludo ako sa mga beginning reading teachers. Pati na rin sa nagpapatuloy sa mga sinimulan nila. 

To learn how to read is to enter a world of endless possibilities. Observe a child who is beginning to read and understand words and you will sense a great feeling.

Hindi nga ako nagtuturo ng beginning reading sa school pero pagdating sa bahay, merong isang bata na atat na atat ng matutong magbasa.

 Kapag binuksan ko na ang laptop, signal na yan na mag-o-online si Uno para sa kanyang beginning reading lesson. Kahit may ginagawa ako, o may pinagkakaabalahan din syang iba tulad ng pakikipag-wrestling kay Jed at pakikipag-aso’t pusa kay Gatz na kanyang pinsan, lalapit sya sa akin at pipilitin akong i-open ang starfall.com. Ito ay isang website na nagtuturo ng mga simple beginning reading exercises. Nakaka-attract ito sa mga bata kase animated at may ibat-ibang sound na p’wedeng gayahin.

Sa ayaw ko at sa gusto, kesehodang may ka-chat ako, nagche-check ng email, o nage-encode para blog, wala syang paki basta pag sinabi nyang ‘Mommie, b” or ‘tarpol’ dapat imi-minimize ko lahat ng Windows at Starfall lang ang naka-open. Dahil kung hindi, maglulupasay s’ya at hindi titigil sa pag-iyak hangga’t di n’ya nakikita ang Starfall interface. Hindi pa nya nasasabi ang ’starfall’ at mas palagi nyang sinasabi ang ‘b’  kase ito ang natandaan n’ya dahil naaliw sya sa animated na ‘big brown bear’ nang una n’ya ‘tong makita.

Noong mga unang encounter n’ya with Starfall, ako pa ang nagna-navigate ng directions pero nung tinuruan ko na sya kung ano ang dapat i-press sa touchpad, natandaan n’ya at sya na ang nagpapalipat-lipa ng ‘index’ ng letter. Kung minsan hindi n’ya makita ang cursor kaya kailangan hanapin ko at ipakita sa kanya. Pag nakita, alam na n’ya ang kanyan gagawin.

Kapag nakaharap na sya sa laptop, pwedeng-pwede ko na syang iwanan. Pero may instances na talagang tinatawag ako, sumisigaw ng ‘mommie!!!!’ at kailangan kong lumapit kase ipapakita n’ya kung anong letter ang na-press n’ya at mga objects na nakikita n’ya.

Dahil may alphabet poster s’yang nakadikit sa wall, kelangan pang ituro sa ‘kin ang mga letters na alam nyang pareho. In this case, letter Hh.

Sa October 28 ay three years old na si Uno kaya dapat lang naman na by this time eh may alam na sya sa alphabet . He knows how to identify all the letters and objects from A to E ng walang nagtuturo sa kanya. After ng letters A to E, mga random letters na ang alam nya.

Bukod sa starfall at alphabet, paborito naman nyang basahin ang Curious George ni HL Rey. Napakaraming beses na naming nabasa ang mga libro pero wala pa rin syang kasawa-sawa. Minsan pagkagising sa umaga gusto n’ya magbabasa na agad kami ng book o kung minsan naman kung kailan aalis na ako papunta sa sa trabaho saka n’ya sasabihin ‘George, mommie’ sabay bigay sa ‘kin ng libro.

Maraming beses ko na s’yang nakitang may hawak ng libro at narinig na nagsasalita na parang nag-o-oral reading. Maraming beses ko na rin s’yang nakitang nakatulog na at katabi si George.

Si Jed naman, wala pang masyadong interes sa books. Titignan, bubulatlatin, at kapag mag-sawa ay iiwan na lang sa isang tabi o kaya ay ihahagis kung saan. Pero kung minsan pag nakita na n’yang nakaharap sa laptop ang kuya n’ya, makiki-usyoso rin at makikisabay sa mga words na naririnig n’ya. Humahagikgik din kapag nakita n’ya ang ‘big brown bear’.

Parang ang madali ng magturo ng beginning reading kapag ang gamit ay computer at Internet. Hindi maitatanggi na malaki ang magagawa ng technology para mai-advance ang pagtuturo nito sa mga bata. Maraming steps na pwedeng gayahin na talagang mag-e-enjoy sila. Pati ang nagtuturo maaaliw din. Tapos medyo mababawasan pa yung pagod sa pagsasalita ng paulit-ulit kase kapag pinindot ang keyboard, maririnig na yung sound ng letters pati yung name ng objects. Basta ‘wag lang mawala ang power ng kuryente o ma-low bat ang battery ng laptop .

Going back to those who toil to let the sun always shine in the minds of young people. Hats off ako sa inyo. Sa mga beginning reading teachers na hindi tinatantanan ang mga bata hangga’t di sila natututong magbasa, kahanga-hanga ang inyong dedikasyon. Sana dumami pa kayo ng dumami.

May isang phrase na palutang-lutang sa cyberspace. Eight words lang, simple at anonymously written. It says: if you can read this, thank a teacher.

Isang mainit na umaga, araw ng Linggo, sa labas ng bahay…

Mommie: Enough na yan, time to get up!!
Jed: Mommie! buto buto bute!! hihihi!!
Uno: Mommie! hot liligo, hot!! hiiii!!

I have read Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” in 2003 before I began my stint in graduate school, for the 3rd time. I thought I’ve finally found my treasure. I was wrong. For it was the ‘continuation’ of my journey.

I’ve started my (graduate) school hopping in 1993 in a well established university. It was a dream come true for me to be accepted there. But something happened and I dropped the course.

In 1996, I went to a technical school. All I needed were 4 units to get an associate degree but for some strange reason, I again lost interest.

In 2001, I entered in another graduate school thinking that I was equipped to be in a highly technical field of studies. I lasted for a semester and sadly quit.

In 2003, I went back to my college alma mater and enrolled in another graduate course. Inspired by Santiago, I knew nothing will stop me for finding my treasures. I was wrong. I finished just two semesters and a summer. For in 2004, I was in for an adventure of a lifetime.

My journey led me to treasures of different kind. The treasures are called Uno and Jed. Plus the journey itself, the discoveries I’ve made and the wisdom that I’ve acquired.

Now its 2008 and I’m back in gradschool, the one I’ve left in 2004. To continue my search for the other treasure.

There are times I’m not as courageous as Santiago. Most of the time I feel that the needs of my love ones are more important than my dreams.

Sometimes I want to give up the search, the journey. But I know that if I do, its like giving up my dream, avoiding my personal legend, ignoring my destiny.

So I’m moving on. Marching to the beat of my gradschool dream.

I have other dreams too. And to realize them is like moving a mountain from one place to another. I can always look back at Santiago for inspiration. Or wish for an alchemist to help me make it when I’m down or about to give up.

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Originally written as a comment for this post on June 5, 2008.

I have always been a dreamer
Followed visions of my own
I was born to belong
To the lines of a song
And make then my home

I believe in happy endings
Though I’ve only known a few
For as rare as they are
Like a bright falling star
I found one in you

Sometimes
All the world can seem so
Friendless
And the road ahead so
Endless
And the dream so far away
Sometimes
When I’m almost
To surrender
Then I stop
And I remember
I have you
To save my day

Often my imagination
Has me reaching out too far
When I fell you were there
With your hand in the air
You knew from the start

Sometimes
After all you’ve done
To save me
Thru the love you freely
Gave me
Every step along the way
Sometimes
People ask what keeps me
Going
And in truth, it comes from
Knowing
I have you
To save my day

Sometimes
Feeling helpless
When I held you
Wishing words would come
To tell you
I have you
To save my day

I Have You, The Carpenters

Yesterday at SM City-Dasmarinas… the mall was packed because the opening of school is coming very soon. The boys didn’t mind if there were lots of people. They enjoyed the stroll.

Aside from dancing , Jed loves to use his finger to point something. When he does it, he usually utters undecipherable words .

He’s pointing something really argumentative only his imaginary friends know.

In this side, Uno concentrates on the cookies and doesn’t care about the cuddly stuffed toys behind him.

I went to SM City-Dasmarinas to pay a bill and buy some important stuff. As I’ve been doing before, I thought of dropping by BOOKSALE.

Before reaching the book shop, I promised myself that I’ll get just one book preferrably by John Grisham or Stephen King. But when I got there, my plan simply vanished into thin and I ended up getting these:

Last night I read an article about Toni Morrison and upon seeing Paradise I didn’t think twice in buying it. For how much? Php 45.00!! Its unread, in good condition, hardbound with dust jacket.

Since Uno and Jed learned to say the word “book”, I always look something for them. For Jed, a nursery rhyme ‘board book’ featuring The Eensy Weensy Spider with stylish holes in every page and another Curious George for Uno. Too early for a comic book? I don’t think so. Uno is attracted to different reading materials including Jollibee ads so why not a Spiderman comic book? The boys fell asleep with those reading matters beside them. Bed time stories will continue tomorrow.

Oh, the other important stuff is one of these:

By the time I was done with my shopping, i was carrying six bags, the box of the potty trainer plus my backpack. Fortunately, a good looking SM trainee [with emphasis on good looking] assisted me in carrying the bags until I reached the exit of the mall. While we were walking I thought of striking a conversation but he to be in a deep thought. I just thanked him afterwards and he went on his way back to the supermarket.

JODRIAN ALEXANDER

Balik uli sa dating kalikutan at katakawan si Jed. Tinutubuan kase ng ngipin kaya naging matamlay at maselan sa pagkain. Isang taon, limang buwan at apat na araw na sya. Marunong na siyang mag-demand. Kapag may gusto at hindi maibigay, naglulupasay, iiyak ng pagkalalakas-lakas at hindi agad mapatahan. Paminsan-minsan lang naman yon. Most of the time, happy and jolly baby sya with his usual killer smile.

Wet-kisser pa rin si Jed, mahilig sumayaw na parang kangkarot na trumpo. Ang pinaka-nakakatuwa sa kanya ang ang pag-ulit nya ng mga sinasabi sa kanya na tulad ng mommy, daddy, nanay, tatay. Pero pag sinabing ‘kuya uno’, ang sasabihin n’ya ay ‘bebe’. Kahit ilang beses ulitin ang ‘kuya’. ‘bebe’ pa rin ang sasabihin n’ya.

Nagtataka nga kami. Naalala ko nung nasa sinapupunan ko sya, baby pa si Uno. Ang tinatawag ko kay Uno ay ‘kuya baby’ o kaya ay sinasabihan ko syang ‘kuya na, baby pa’. Wala pa kaseng isang taon noon si Uno ay nasundan na. Naisip ko na bakit kaya ganun? Kung naririnig ni Jed ang sinasabi ko kay Uno noon nasa tummy ko pa sya, na-retain kaya ‘yong ‘baby’ sa brain n’ya? Bakit kaya maski ituro ko lang ang Kuya Uno n’ya eh ‘bebe’ pa rin ang sinasabi n’ya?

Mahilig na rin s’yang magsalita ng ‘bok’ sabay turo sa mga libro ko. Kapag nahawakan n’ya ang big book n’ya na halos luray-luray na ang cover, feeling na rin n’yang magbasa at ang favorite picture n’ya ay car. Kapag hawak ni Uno ang crayons n’ya, mang-aagaw pero hindi isusulat kundi titikman! Hindi naman n’ya kinakain pero kapag nakikita naming isusubo na sa bibig ay talagang inaagapan namin.

S’ya pa ring ang unang natutulog tuwing gabi at unang nagigising sa umaga. Kapag nagising sya sa umaga, kailangan gising na rin ako dahil sisigaw sya at maghahanap ng milk.

Gusto na ng lola n’ya na pagupitan ng buhok pero sabi ko ‘wag muna kase gusto kong may bangs. Isang beses pa lang kase sya nagugupitan at kasama noon ang lola n’ya. Walang dalang camera kaya walang souvenir ng first haircut n’ya unlike kay Uno dahil magkasama kami. Pag nagpa-haircut si Jed, gusto ko magkasama kami para may kodak moment sya sa kanyang second haircut.

JOHN BENEDICT

Si Uno hindi nakakatulog sa gabi na hindi katabi ang Curious George Learns the Alphabet book n’ya. Mula nang ibinigay ko sa kanya, iyon na ang naging paborito nya. Ang una n’yang na-recognize na object sa book ay balloon, doughnut, and apple. Gustong-gusto n’yang makinig kapag nagku-kwento ako tungkol sa mga pictures na nakikita n’ya sa mga pages. Na-recognize na n’ya na rin ang picture ng flower dahil minsan ay may ipinakita ako sa kanyang bulaklak sa halamanan ng lola n’ya. Siguro na-retain ang experience na yun sa isip n’ya kaya ng makita n’ya ang picture sa book ay alam n’ya na flower yon.

Kung minsan, habang hawak ni Uno ang book, haharap sya sa Alphabet Chart na naka-post sa pintuan at titingin sa book. Sa obserbasyon ko, kino-compare ni Uno ang mga letters and objeccts na nakikita n’ya sa book at sa chart. Hindi naman s’ya nagtatagal sa ganung eksena. Matagal na ang 15 minutes.

Pag dating naman sa numbers, ang nasasabi pa lang n’ya ay one, two, ‘teven’ [seven], eight, nine, ten.

Binigyan ko sya ng Spiderman coloring book and drawing book, crayons, pencil. Noong unang beses na ginamit n’ya talagang very excited sya. Ayaw n’yang pahawakan sa akin ang kamay n’ya para i-guide ko. Gusto n’ya, sya lang mag-isa ang gagawa. Lines pa lang ang kaya nyang gawin at magkulay ng magkulay na parang abstract. Wala pa syang concept ng space sa papel kaya lahat ng output n’ya ay mistulang kinahig ng luka-lukang manok.

Maselan kumain ngayon si Uno dahil tinutubuan ng ngipin. Kahapon nga ay may sinat mag-hapon. Pero kahit may sinat ay grabe pa rin ang kalikutan. Away-bati sila ng mga pinsan nyang mga babae na sina AC and Gutz. Pagmagkukulitan kailangan laging babantayan kase pag nag-umbagan, talagang may iiyak.

The Boys of Reason

Natutuwa akong pagmasdan ang mga boys lalo na kapag naghaharutan sila. Marunong na silang mag-wrestling at ang saya-saya nila pag ganun ang ginagawa nila. Kailangan ko lang bantayan kase baka magka-daganan. One to two inches lang siguro ang diperensya ng taas ni Uno kay Jed. Mas malaki naman ang body build ni Jed kesa kay Uno.

Di naman sila mapagkakamalang kambal dahil ang kulay ni Uno ay nakuha sa akin samantalang ang kay Jed ay sa daddy nila. Si Uno bilog ang mata, samantalang si Jed eh medyo singkit.

Minsan nakakapagod mag-alaga sa malilikot na boys. Nakaka-tense kapag nadapa, nahulog o maysakit. Pero kasama yon sa role ko. Every night I pray na sana lagi silang okay. Marami akong pangarap para sa kanilang dalawa. Minsan nagkakaroon ako ng anxiety dahil sa uncertainty ng future. Pero dasal ang katapat noon at pagsisikap na mabigyang sila ng tamang ehemplo at magandang kinabukasan.

Uno and Jed are my inspiration and with them, every dream is possible.

Jed was seated on my lap. I was trying to visit starfall.com so we can have our little lesson but he kept on pressing the keypad. He paused every time there was a TV commercial. When I was able to open MS-Word, I just let him do his thing. The result, his first encoded document. I saved it and I will show it to him when he is old enough. I doubt if he can tell me what is it about.

To join, just click the image above

I told Jed that I’ll just get a snapshot of his toys and will return them at once. But I couldn’t convince him so he tried to grab the toys as soon as I put them in the keypad. Can anyone tell me how to cajole a 1-year-and-six-month-toddler so I can get a decent shot?

He is all over the US media and the Inquirer’s Sunday editorial talks about his conquest. CNN gives a comprehensive coverage but its EWTN that appeals to me both on TV and the Internet.

I’m one of the 1.1 billion that he shepherds. A tough mission. But he is ‘tougher’ and it started long before he accepted his current post.

And by the way, Uno’s name, John Benedict came from his paternal grandfather and from Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger’s name.