tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59986377804458997412011-07-31T14:30:04.870+08:00This is a compilation of my thoughts and stories as I journey in Food for Hungry Minds School, a non-government organization committed to providing education to underprivileged children. This blog contains my views and opinions and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the organization.Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.comBlogger191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-46792095677637889762010-10-12T13:51:00.012+08:002010-10-12T14:11:07.911+08:00

If I would choose my favorite fairy tale it would be Cinderella.  I love the triumph of the good, the happily-ever-after ending, and the glass slipper!   Those who know me know my love affair with shoes, sandals, and slippers.  I love trying them out and finally getting THE one.  I don't really get the most expensive ones.  My style is more Spartan and Havanas (notice the spelling), instead of

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-63324570074777483702010-07-22T10:15:00.000+08:002010-07-22T10:15:29.909+08:00

If asked exactly how I would want to start my day, I'd probably say a good breakfast, steaming-hot coffee, and some music would hit my sweet spot.  Today, however, I was reminded of how the children of Hungry Minds start their school day.  I joined the Morning Meeting of the fifth graders of FHMS Malolos.  Children sit around in a circle then start with their chosen Morning Greeting.  Today it

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-62636785919962025762010-07-10T21:47:00.000+08:002010-07-10T21:47:04.055+08:00

It doesn't seem too long ago when in 2004 we organized Saturday morning tutorials for our first Grade 4 batch. Employees from our donor company volunteered to conduct them.  The kids needed assistance especially in their English, Math, and Science subjects, so extra help was extended. This morning, on another Saturday, students from the same batch who received help now gave back.  Those 4th

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-67809951597271915832010-06-18T10:30:00.000+08:002010-06-18T10:30:40.440+08:00

This school year is the first year that we have students in the University of Santo Tomas Education High School (UST- EHS).  Yesterday was their Orientation Day and I was so happy to hear that one of the Hungry Minds Scholars was awarded the Rector's Honorific Scholarship.   Sam, who graduated last March from FHMS Makati, ranked 5th among all those who took the entrance exam in UST-EHS.  

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-56738619269605648192010-05-13T20:45:00.000+08:002010-05-13T20:45:48.858+08:00

After several years of not teaching regularly,I taught a Creative Writing Class to our High School scholars for almost five weeks this summer. Participants were incoming Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores from different public and private high schools.  Forty students attended classes every morning from Tuesdays to Thursdays. Today, we celebrated the writing achievements of each student.  We went

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-59360386131264848872010-03-17T15:53:00.000+08:002010-03-17T15:53:12.885+08:00

I don't need a calendar for me to know that it's that time of year once again.  The flurry of exam preparations, submission of projects, and computation of grades tell me that the school year is drawing to an end.  Graduation is just around the corner. I look at our Sixth Graders and remember how they started in Hungry Minds three years ago.  They seemed so tiny, timid, and shy.  I certainly hope

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-5710180718920228692010-02-01T14:11:00.012+08:002010-02-01T22:06:07.266+08:00

How could it be February 2010 already? My last entry was in October of 2009, many moons ago. Since then, so much has happened. Typhoon Ondoy hit our country and Hungry Minds homes were not spared. When I asked parents whether we should collect relief goods and clothes for their families, I was told that they were fine. Help should be given to those who need it most, those whose homes were

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-51725009521117888012009-10-19T11:53:00.006+08:002009-10-19T12:08:41.078+08:00

I had fun during lunch today. I sat with some Sixth Graders and they told me that their last class was Social Studies. We had a lively discussion on citizenship. I was told that one can become a Filipino citizen either by birth or by naturalization. We had several combinations of parents and different examples of ways one can become a Filipino. Then I asked, "If you had a chance to be born

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-6532301987996464442009-08-18T11:13:00.003+08:002009-08-18T11:29:05.898+08:00

As I write this I am in a hotel room in Honduras (on-du'-rras). I am writing to remember that today, I had the privilege to orient the Academic Director of Food for Hungry Minds School Honduras, Fernando. He had so many good questions. Thankfully, I had some answers. More than five years ago, I would not have thought of being in a country in Central America telling someone my Hungry Minds stories

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-14713754853858635172009-07-02T15:45:00.002+08:002009-07-02T15:47:54.432+08:00

Ayi's mother was in school today, so I was able to send her my response.July 2, 2009Dear Ayi,It was such a treat to receive your letter. :) Thank you very much!!! I admire your courage in facing these challenges in life. I can only imagine how difficult it is to start out in a new school. Yet, you have done such a great job so far! I hope you keep up the enthusiasm and zest for learning.

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-28381824149945045162009-07-02T10:03:00.014+08:002009-07-02T10:46:10.669+08:00

One of the best things that could spell utter joy to a teacher is when a student comes back and tells how much difference you have made in her life. Today I am blessed with such joy because of a letter from one of the scholars of Food for Hungry Minds in its High School Program. Ayi graduated Elementary in Food for Hungry Minds School - Makati last March. She is in now in first year high school

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-88085650494945283672009-06-12T09:51:00.012+08:002009-06-22T12:22:59.365+08:00

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

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-41907158637533977782009-06-12T09:37:00.005+08:002009-06-16T16:43:11.025+08:00

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,

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-1952774003236021122009-06-08T19:48:00.005+08:002009-06-08T20:44:12.087+08:00

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,

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-45017634328713836392009-03-20T16:22:00.012+08:002009-03-24T13:43:08.238+08:00

A Fifth Grade English class taught by Teacher Annie talked about the global economic crisis. When asked what the children can do to help make things better, Raffy (not his real name) introduced a new way of doing Math. Here's what he said:Add Consuming Subtract WastingMultiply SavingDivide ConsumingLet's make the world a better place to live in. Let's do Raffy's Math!Photo credit -

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-77513174786404025642009-03-18T09:11:00.007+08:002009-03-18T09:34:32.134+08:00

The school year is almost at its end. We are all busy preparing for graduation and donor hour. To plan for these events and to fill our tanks, the faculty and staff of both Food for Hungry Minds schools had a plenary meeting. Everyone was present for the first time the whole year.We reflected on what was most significant to us. One teacher said that hearing the children speak in English was very

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-13050158709774489302009-03-11T09:18:00.004+08:002009-03-11T09:28:47.946+08:00

Since she started in Hungry Minds, Beth (not her real name) has always been at the top of her class. In fifth grade, she started taking lessons for sixth grade Math. She consistently ranked number 1 every quarter since Grade 4 until now that she is in Grade 6. However, Teacher Lia (not her real name) noticed that lately Beth's projects were being turned in late. Her scores in Science were also

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-41506880150473092192009-03-05T12:27:00.005+08:002009-03-05T12:55:44.026+08:00

As part of cultivating a culture of innovation and creativity in Food for Hungry Minds, teachers were asked to come up with something different this year. They could choose to do any project as long as it is in line with their work. Teacher Kristal, one of the FHMS Malolos teachers, decided to put a Freedom Wall. This is was a venue for the children to express their thoughts. There would be an

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998637780445899741.post-2341185976166798602009-03-02T09:14:00.006+08:002009-03-02T09:27:38.841+08:00

I finally got down to writing a blog. Maybe it is timely since today I celebrate my fifth anniversary as a member of Food for Hungry Minds. It has been such a journey. We started out with 28 children in our school in Makati. There were three teachers, myself included, and a social worker on staff.Today, five years later, Food for Hungry Minds serves 155 Elementary students in two schools, Makati

Teacher Candynoreply@blogger.com12