Hopes and Dreams

The 4th graders voiced out what they wanted in life in a session on Hopes and Dreams that I had with them. Some of them told me they don't know how to speak in English. I assured them they would learn. Here's what some of them wrote:

• I wish that my old classmates and friends are safe.
• I want to be an "accounter" in a bank someday.
• I want to have new friends in school.
• I wish we could have a new house because our old one burned down.
• I hope I can finish College so I can send my brothers and sisters to school.
• I wish that Food for Hungry Minds can teach more children about good manners.

Most of the children asked for help in saying what they wanted to say, but this last one, surprisingly, was written without any help.

"I want to be a principal like Teacher Candice so I can lead all the children and the teachers."

This definitely made my day! Yippeee! :)

Photo credit: http://www.reneedecator.com/blog/uploaded_images/rdecator_dream-737276.jpg

Priceless!

We have just started with formal classes in school. Since I love teaching and I want to get to know the new children better, I have been teaching Grade 4 English for the past two days. As I met the children, most of them seemed as if they were sizing me up. Was I to be trusted? Would they dare speak in front of the Principal?

After telling them about who I was and letting them know that I, too, am human, most children warmed up. I noticed someone in the back, though. He was one of the tiniest boys. He didn't want to make eye contact. He wasn't responding. I was cracking jokes and making everyone smile, everyone except him. I asked him to sit up front since I knew we weren't making too much progress. I made it a point to look at him when I discussed what we were to do.

Later, as I asked the children to write, he was the first to have his work checked. He was also the first to finish the whole task. I gave him extra strokes for his hard work. He beamed at me! He even helped his classmates put up their work on the board. His confidence level was up. He even had the courage to compliment me on the work I did.

How priceless it is to have made that connection!

Photo credit: http://www.millstone.k12.nj.us/teachers/camposl/teecher.gif

As We Begin

When I was a little girl, I was always excited to start a new school year. I loved it that I had new shoes, new notebooks, and new uniforms. I was also very proud of the fact that either my Mom or Dad would take me to school. It was more than 20 years ago when I was in Grade School, yet these memories are so vivid to me.

Tonight, the night before we begin school in Food for Hungry Minds - Makati, I feel like a school girl once again. Just a few minutes ago, I got my uniform from the cabinet, arranged the things I needed in my bag, and even prepared the shoes and socks I will wear. I feel giddy thinking about beginning school tomorrow not because of new shoes, or new clothes, or being brought to school by my parents the next day. My excitement stems from the anticipation of what is to come as we embark on a new chapter in Hungry Minds history.

This year, there will be 61 new 4th graders in FHMS Makati and Malolos. We will also welcome back our 5th and 6th graders, now taller and more confident than they were last year. The teachers prepared well for this school year. We had in-house training in Math and reviewed SIOP teaching strategies. We also had meetings tweaking our curriculum in light of the lessons we learned from using this last year.

As we start another academic year, I know that things will not be easy. They have never been. Yet, I welcome this challenge just as I welcome all our new students and families in FHMS Makati and Malolos. Together, we will write this story of how lives are enriched and transformed in Hungry Minds.

Photo Credit: http://www.gilgenart.com/gallery/transformation-s.jpg