CNY

CNY mood has been declining over the years. Less firecrackers, less gamble, less noise, less everything except cars. My first day is quite fruitful. Gathered with family members from both sides of the family. My girls have a whale of a time and get closer to their cousins.

Anti-social?

It's 23rd January today. Finally have the time and mood to write about this.
So, are my kids anti-social or rather, is my Jesslyn anti-social? Not exactly. I use this term because her teacher told me that she needs social development. In terms of studies, she has no problem catching up with other kids (as she is a December baby). However, her teacher commented that she doesn't like to study in groups. If the teacher teaches her individually, she is fine. She doesn't like to play with other kids too.
I was quite taken aback as this is exactly what I had in my mind the day before this conversation took place. I was worried that Jesslyn cannot mix with other kids. She is self-centred and pampered like a princess at home. She doesn't like sharing. She likes to be the centre of attention. Thus, I know that she won't be able to play with others unless they treat her like a princess.
I told her about her teacher's comment (she doesn't want to study in groups) and asked her why. She said that she wants the teacher to teach her only.

1210

I was clearing my photo folder for more space when I bumped into this photo. I tried and tried to recall what was the joke. I remembered posting it on Facebook but I don't have the record here in blogger. I gave up thinking about it as the more I think, the more I have less chances of remembering.

Only a few hours later, when I showered, it suddenly came to me.
I asked Jerilyn to write from 1 to 10 and she showed me this 1210.

I must jot it down before I forget again.

Feedback

After their first day at Montessori on Tuesday, Jerilyn succumbed to fever, which means she hasn't been attending classes since Day 2. To my surprise, Jesslyn is willing to stay in school when the principal requested my dad to take Jerilyn home. According to my dad, she did look slightly unhappy being left behind. She waved goodbye unwillingly. At least, she didn't cry her heart out.

Here is the feedback from Ms Ling, the principal.
Day 1: Jesslyn is fast (in counting). She can count up and down.(Yup. She knows counting backwards since 2months ago) However, she is confused in writing certain numbers eg 5, 2. (What the teacher meant was she writes certain numbers in the opposite direction).
Day 4: Jesslyn has low attention span. She likes to play with apparatus but doesn't like to sit and listen. For December baby , she is fast. She can read a few words. Jerilyn is good. She is very steady.

Below is the feedback from my girls:
Day 1: Both said that they are very happy there. They like it there.
Day 2: Jesslyn could tell me what she did that day which Jerilyn couldn't do although she was near 4yo when she started schooling. She demonstrated how she danced and told us that the teacher held her hands and twirled around. When she wrote number '2' that night, it is clearer that normal. Apparently, she practised in school as well.
Day 3: Jesslyn applied her knowledge from Montessori when she read to me 'OFF' from one of her toys. She showed off "Mummy, see 'OFF'. I can read OFF." She was also humming one of the tunes she learnt there. (I wonder why/how teacher teaches this word during the 1st week).
Day 4: (Morning, when I sent her to school) Mummy, I don't want to go to Montessori. (Why) because I don't like it. (Afternoon, after school) Ms Ling commented that she isn't very happy today. When I asked her, she denied "No. I am happy." The topic 'OFF' was brought up and she explained that she taught Opposites. (Ahh... my question is answered).

I was pleasantly surprised that Jesslyn could adapt and apply what she learns in school the very same day at home. In conclusion, I am satisfied with Ms Ling's sensitivity towards her students' needs and capabilities. This is what I have been looking for and I found it. Each student has a different learning style and pace and it is important that teachers are aware to it. I am sure my girls will benefit from her.

* Although Jerilyn had only have 1 day of lesson in Montessori, she shows great interest to study there as she was quite depressed when she was sent back home due to fever.

Bottle Free

All this while, feeding from bottle had never been an issue for me. I don't mind if they have to use the bottle 'til.... well, older. Did I mention that I hate cleaning up the mess they make while drinking from cups?

Anyway, as Jesslyn had ulcer on her tongue last month which caused difficulty in drinking from bottle, she refused to drink. She sipped from cup 'til she got better and started to drink from bottle again. I wanted to stop her from using the bottle. Unfortunately, she wasn't drinking much water from the cup, thus I had to revert back to bottle.

As for Jerilyn, there is no trouble in weaning the bottle. It wasn't a plan thing but since Jesslyn didn't use, naturally, I didn't give Jerilyn too. So, for 3 full days, Jerilyn didn't use the bottle. I even threw away her bottle on the 4th day. However, that very same day, I had to work and she had fever. That gave Gong2 excuse to open another new bottle for her. He complained to Jerilyn that I like to throw things. Sigh!! So, now, with him, she uses the bottle but with me, she uses the cup. If I were to tell him, he would say 2 things:

1. she doesn't drink much with cup.
2. she is still young, thus, she has the license to drink from bottle.

I did ask her why didn't she tell Gong2 that she can drink from cup. She said that she did tell him but he wasn't listening. :-(

Token of Appreciation

The above are little gifts for Jerilyn's teachers at Rainbow Kidz Childcare.

We had no idea what to buy. Daddy came home early from work on Wednesday night(28/12/2011) to shop for gifts at Parkson Grand. Daddy and I were busy finding for the right presents but these little musketeers were busy scouting presents for themselves esp Jerilyn. Jerilyn was pointing at all the unsuitable gifts like doraemon piggy bank, decorative hour glass, clocks, stationery etc.... As the time was running out (the shops were about the close), we settled for these cute pegs which we both like from the very beginning.

That's not the end. We went home and taught Jerilyn what to write and how to write. As she had to write 8 sets of cards, it wasn't an easy task. Daddy was in charge of writing on the small little bubble speech (as you can see from the picture above). We spent more than an hour to complete writing until Jesslyn dozed off. It was already more than 11pm. The reason why we spent more time than we should is because Jerilyn was giving us different and more names that came up to more than 8. We didn't buy enough thus we had to sacrifice 1 teacher; the teacher that she doesn't like. I asked her many times if she was sure she didn't want to give that teacher and she was 100% sure. Moreover, she wasn't sure of the spelling eg teacher Koo or teacher Khoo.

Oh! The teachers retuned her thoughtful gestures by giving her a card and daisy duck key-chain. Let me see when can I take a photo of it and upload.

Jesslyn's 1st Day @ Montessori

Jesslyn started schooling today, together with Jerilyn. This time around, there isn't as much anxiety as it was last year with Jerilyn. For 2 reasons, 1st, Jesslyn is quite a sociable person, so she can adapt easily. 2nd, she is not alone unlike Jerilyn who had to go to a strange place all by herself. Of course, having had the first experience, I know what to expect this time.

This time, I had the opportunity to linger longer at the montessori. I watched as the teachers urshered the kids to their respective classrooms. It was quite chaotic with children wandering around aimlessly. Teachers themselves looked unsure with what to do. A few parents were also seen waiting for their turn to have a word with the principal. I stood far away from my girls, away from their sight so that when it was time for me to go, they won't make a scene. As it is the first day, the children were given toys to play with, including my girls. Two of them were sitted together on the floor. They looked kind of bored. They were more interested with what was going on with another two boys who were playing with the guidance of a malay teacher. They are newbies in this montessori. I wasn't happy with the teacher who ignored my kids who were showing interest with what they were doing. The teacher should have invited the girls to construct whatever it was together. When it comes to my girls, I am more out-spoken. So, I got a teacher's attention and told her what I thought. She went over to my girls and talked to them. I think she asked the girls to join the boys. However, shouldn't she talk to the teacher instead? Anyway, I went home shortly after talking to the principal.

Spent 3 long hours spring-cleaning the house. I couldn't wait to hear about their first day at school. Picked them up at 12pm with grandpa. The principal commented that Jesslyn is quick in learning. She can count up and down (as in 1-10 and backwards). They have also tested her writing and commented that she was writing 'terbalik' for certain numbers.

So, in conclusiong, do they like the new learning environment? It's a big YES from Jerilyn and Jesslyn.

Phew!!!

2012 First Joke

The below is my first New Year joke:

I permed my hair this afternoon and Jerilyn likes my highlight. This is the first time she compliments my hairdo. Later in the evening, I scolded Jesslyn for being mischievous and this was what Jerilyn had to say "You are so beautiful, still want to scold people." This shut me up.