Take one...
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Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
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Proudly presenting her homeschool co op project. Do u like the grass hair style?
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Sunday, March 27, 2011
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She is having fever but still planting grass as part of her sis homeschool activity
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Self motivated
Indy had a playdate recently with one of her homeschoolers buddy. A girl age 9 , just a year older than her. They had a great time together.
They did all the "girl talks " and just being a girl at their age. Indy shared her diary , her first crush ( YES!! I KNOW!! HAHAHA) , and they were dancing in Indy's room with a door closed , and with blasting music of Taylor Swift, Justin bieber etc. A typical girls day !!! I love to see Indy had so much fun!!
Her friend, is home schooled for all of her live,never go to any formal school and somehow you can tell that she is a home schooler.^_^.
However, it is very impressive for me to see, that this young girl, learn Mandarin , on her own. She took her Mandarin book, and I saw her neat writing. Of course, I did ask her : is this your homework that your Chinese tutor gave you? Her answer surprise me the most : oh I dont have any Chinese tutor. My older sisters have but I dont. Those Chinese Characters I wrote it on my own. I just copied from a book, and learn by my self.
I was like " REALLY?? WOW!!!"
When we decided to homeschool our girl, our goal is not to make her the number 1 academically . But to have a different view on learning than most of the schooling children. I think to witness that , another homeschooler, at age 9, could be self motivated, it's something we want for our children. I don't see this often in any other children. Mostly. the parents need to nag, push to let them study, do their homework and so on.
I do hope , self motivated will be one of the skills my girls will have.
Have a great weekend.
XOXO
S.R
They did all the "girl talks " and just being a girl at their age. Indy shared her diary , her first crush ( YES!! I KNOW!! HAHAHA) , and they were dancing in Indy's room with a door closed , and with blasting music of Taylor Swift, Justin bieber etc. A typical girls day !!! I love to see Indy had so much fun!!
Her friend, is home schooled for all of her live,never go to any formal school and somehow you can tell that she is a home schooler.^_^.
However, it is very impressive for me to see, that this young girl, learn Mandarin , on her own. She took her Mandarin book, and I saw her neat writing. Of course, I did ask her : is this your homework that your Chinese tutor gave you? Her answer surprise me the most : oh I dont have any Chinese tutor. My older sisters have but I dont. Those Chinese Characters I wrote it on my own. I just copied from a book, and learn by my self.
I was like " REALLY?? WOW!!!"
When we decided to homeschool our girl, our goal is not to make her the number 1 academically . But to have a different view on learning than most of the schooling children. I think to witness that , another homeschooler, at age 9, could be self motivated, it's something we want for our children. I don't see this often in any other children. Mostly. the parents need to nag, push to let them study, do their homework and so on.
I do hope , self motivated will be one of the skills my girls will have.
Have a great weekend.
XOXO
S.R
Disadvantages of Home Schooling
What are the disadvantages of home schooling?
Despite the many benefits of educating one's children at home, there are some disadvantages to home schooling. The most significant disadvantage is the amount of sacrifice it takes, physically, emotionally, and financially. Time is needed to prepare and teach lessons, organize outside activities and field trips, and schedule opportunities for the home schooled child to nurture his friendships and develop his interests. Home schooling parents do not have the luxury of having time for themselves while their children are at school. This almost-constant time together can at times seem suffocating, and may not work for some families.
Another disadvantage of home schooling is the cost. Parents who choose to home school, as opposed to free public schooling, are primarily responsible for purchasing the curriculum needed, which can cost, on average, approximately $400 per child each year. This includes costs for field trips, computer software, and materials for projects, as well as the many other resources available to parents. The cost is even higher for those families in which one parent has given up his or her full-time job to home school. For those families who had previously relied on two incomes, this can be a serious disadvantage.
In addition to the additional financial burden of home schooling, another disadvantage of home schooling involves the development of social skills. Most home schooling parents are glad to get their children out of the not-so-positive social environment of age-segregated classrooms, but this means that they are now responsible for the social development of their children. Social skills are learned through everyday interactions, such as trips to the supermarket, libraries, malls, parks, church, field trips, and visiting with neighbors. These ways alone are not completely sufficient for teaching a child proper social skills. All children need to learn how to have relationships with their peers, and home schoolers are sometimes at a disadvantage in this area because they do not have as many opportunities for forming friendships. This is not necessarily a problem for most families, but it takes more effort for home schooling parents to be diligent in making sure their children have ample opportunities to be with other children. Most communities today offer home school support groups within driving distance for almost all home schoolers; these groups usually schedule times weekly or monthly to get together for "park days," home school skate groups, and even gymnastics or swimming classes designed especially for home schoolers.
Many communities also offer co-ops for home schoolers, giving children the opportunity to learn from a variety of adults in addition to their parents. Sunday School, dance classes, 4-H clubs, sports teams, Scouts, and other organized activities like these offer children the time to learn side-by-side and socialize with other children. A disadvantage to this, however, is that some of these groups can be costly.
Because the majority of children attend public or private school, home schooled children might have the desire to start attending school. They may wonder what they are missing out on, especially if their parents don't take the time to make sure they are involved in outside activities. This is difficult for parents who are committed to home schooling and are convinced that this is God's plan for their family.
The most important factor in deciding whether or not to educate one's children at home is trusting in God's leading. Most home schooling parents find that the disadvantages of home schooling are somewhat insignificant in comparison to the benefits of raising and educating their own children.
Taken from : all about parenting site
Despite the many benefits of educating one's children at home, there are some disadvantages to home schooling. The most significant disadvantage is the amount of sacrifice it takes, physically, emotionally, and financially. Time is needed to prepare and teach lessons, organize outside activities and field trips, and schedule opportunities for the home schooled child to nurture his friendships and develop his interests. Home schooling parents do not have the luxury of having time for themselves while their children are at school. This almost-constant time together can at times seem suffocating, and may not work for some families.
Another disadvantage of home schooling is the cost. Parents who choose to home school, as opposed to free public schooling, are primarily responsible for purchasing the curriculum needed, which can cost, on average, approximately $400 per child each year. This includes costs for field trips, computer software, and materials for projects, as well as the many other resources available to parents. The cost is even higher for those families in which one parent has given up his or her full-time job to home school. For those families who had previously relied on two incomes, this can be a serious disadvantage.
In addition to the additional financial burden of home schooling, another disadvantage of home schooling involves the development of social skills. Most home schooling parents are glad to get their children out of the not-so-positive social environment of age-segregated classrooms, but this means that they are now responsible for the social development of their children. Social skills are learned through everyday interactions, such as trips to the supermarket, libraries, malls, parks, church, field trips, and visiting with neighbors. These ways alone are not completely sufficient for teaching a child proper social skills. All children need to learn how to have relationships with their peers, and home schoolers are sometimes at a disadvantage in this area because they do not have as many opportunities for forming friendships. This is not necessarily a problem for most families, but it takes more effort for home schooling parents to be diligent in making sure their children have ample opportunities to be with other children. Most communities today offer home school support groups within driving distance for almost all home schoolers; these groups usually schedule times weekly or monthly to get together for "park days," home school skate groups, and even gymnastics or swimming classes designed especially for home schoolers.
Many communities also offer co-ops for home schoolers, giving children the opportunity to learn from a variety of adults in addition to their parents. Sunday School, dance classes, 4-H clubs, sports teams, Scouts, and other organized activities like these offer children the time to learn side-by-side and socialize with other children. A disadvantage to this, however, is that some of these groups can be costly.
Because the majority of children attend public or private school, home schooled children might have the desire to start attending school. They may wonder what they are missing out on, especially if their parents don't take the time to make sure they are involved in outside activities. This is difficult for parents who are committed to home schooling and are convinced that this is God's plan for their family.
The most important factor in deciding whether or not to educate one's children at home is trusting in God's leading. Most home schooling parents find that the disadvantages of home schooling are somewhat insignificant in comparison to the benefits of raising and educating their own children.
Taken from : all about parenting site
Advantages of Home Schooling
What are the advantages of home schooling?
It is reasonable to ask, given advances in education over the last century, what are the advantages of home schooling? What on the surface may look like an old-fashioned teaching method is increasing in popularity across the nation. Why is that? As it turns out, there are many good reasons for parents to home school their children, not the least of which is the fact that one-on-one tutoring has been widely recognized as the most effective method of education.
In a large classroom setting, even the best-trained teacher is incapable of giving the individual attention necessary to help each student excel. Parents are not only able to devote much more time to their children, but they also know their pupils on a personal level. They are able to tailor their curriculum and teaching styles in ways that are most conducive to their child's productivity. This individualized attention is one of the advantages of home schooling.
Because of the variety of curriculum choices available to home schoolers, parents have several options when it comes to the material used for instruction. Not only are they given the freedom to teach core subjects from a biblical perspective, but they can also incorporate their child's interests into the curriculum. Skills such as woodworking, cooking, managing money, and shopping for healthy food on a budget can be learned through real-life interactions and projects. The advantages of home schooling are both personal and practical.
The majority of time children spend in school is not spent focusing on academic subjects; it is spent waiting in lines, waiting for other students to be done with their work, waiting for the teacher to move on to another subject, waiting for recess, waiting for lunch. Home schoolers can cut out all of this unnecessary waiting, and get their work done within two or three hours. They can move at their own pace and still have time left over in the day to explore other interests.
Despite shorter schooling hours, home schoolers have consistently scored at or above average in virtually all subject areas on standardized tests. Studies have shown that children whose parents are directly involved in their education are more apt to excel in academics. Indeed, a home-schooled child is aware of the dedication of his parents to his educational success.
In addition to this, extended periods of time together strengthen family relationships, not only between the child and his parents, but also with his siblings. As they get to know each other, the family members form bonds that last a lifetime. Children tend to adopt the behaviors and values of those around whom they spend the majority of their time. Therefore, it stands to reason that home-schooled children are more likely than their classroom-schooled peers to value the views of their families over the views of their friends. They will find it easier to resist the pressure they get from their friends to break rules because they won't be spending hours of idle time together.
A home schooler's social experiences tend to be more positively influenced; they have the opportunity to spend time with children and adults of various ages, rather than thirty or more same-age peers.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the many advantages of home schooling, but just because the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages does not mean that home schooling is for everyone.
There is more than one way for parents to educate their children; we should not assume that home schooling is right for every family in every situation.
Taken from : all about parenting site
XOXO
S.R
It is reasonable to ask, given advances in education over the last century, what are the advantages of home schooling? What on the surface may look like an old-fashioned teaching method is increasing in popularity across the nation. Why is that? As it turns out, there are many good reasons for parents to home school their children, not the least of which is the fact that one-on-one tutoring has been widely recognized as the most effective method of education.
In a large classroom setting, even the best-trained teacher is incapable of giving the individual attention necessary to help each student excel. Parents are not only able to devote much more time to their children, but they also know their pupils on a personal level. They are able to tailor their curriculum and teaching styles in ways that are most conducive to their child's productivity. This individualized attention is one of the advantages of home schooling.
Because of the variety of curriculum choices available to home schoolers, parents have several options when it comes to the material used for instruction. Not only are they given the freedom to teach core subjects from a biblical perspective, but they can also incorporate their child's interests into the curriculum. Skills such as woodworking, cooking, managing money, and shopping for healthy food on a budget can be learned through real-life interactions and projects. The advantages of home schooling are both personal and practical.
The majority of time children spend in school is not spent focusing on academic subjects; it is spent waiting in lines, waiting for other students to be done with their work, waiting for the teacher to move on to another subject, waiting for recess, waiting for lunch. Home schoolers can cut out all of this unnecessary waiting, and get their work done within two or three hours. They can move at their own pace and still have time left over in the day to explore other interests.
Despite shorter schooling hours, home schoolers have consistently scored at or above average in virtually all subject areas on standardized tests. Studies have shown that children whose parents are directly involved in their education are more apt to excel in academics. Indeed, a home-schooled child is aware of the dedication of his parents to his educational success.
In addition to this, extended periods of time together strengthen family relationships, not only between the child and his parents, but also with his siblings. As they get to know each other, the family members form bonds that last a lifetime. Children tend to adopt the behaviors and values of those around whom they spend the majority of their time. Therefore, it stands to reason that home-schooled children are more likely than their classroom-schooled peers to value the views of their families over the views of their friends. They will find it easier to resist the pressure they get from their friends to break rules because they won't be spending hours of idle time together.
A home schooler's social experiences tend to be more positively influenced; they have the opportunity to spend time with children and adults of various ages, rather than thirty or more same-age peers.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the many advantages of home schooling, but just because the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages does not mean that home schooling is for everyone.
There is more than one way for parents to educate their children; we should not assume that home schooling is right for every family in every situation.
Taken from : all about parenting site
XOXO
S.R
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Maya's first fashion show
From last shoots that she did, someone suggested to put Maya and Indy to children modeling agency. So I did.
Then I got a call last week , Maya was picked to be a fashion show model . When I asked to the agent, what is the fashion show all about, the timing, location etc, she answered me : oh the fashion show is from a local shoes brand, they will present the new collections for this year to their distributor and wholesalers. What came up in my mind is that the show will be done in a warehouse, dusty place, full of workers ( I worked part time before in Guang Zhou for shoes factories , so the memories are there with me :D ) .
I asked Maya , if she wants to do it. She said , of course: I WANT! So I tried to explain it to her in a simple way that she could understand : she gonna walk in the stage, maybe with some other children too, and she needs to be there from morning, then she will need to wait for many hours before the show.
So we arrived on time on the location that I was given. I saw a big SKECHERS signs outside the building. There were a lot of people setting up the place, I saw skechers signs every were ( FYI : I LOVE SKECHERS SHOES, the boots, the shape ups etc) . I was thinking that we are absolutely in a wrong location. So I asked around is this the building. They said correct. And one guy approached us and said : are you here for the children model? I said yes , my daughter is. He then pointed me to another lady, and she asked me : Hi ! are you Maya's Mom? Come right in..
And we saw the stage, the light. the people, the music... I was like " the show that suppose to be from a local shoes brand is for SKECHERS???" WOW ... I didn't expect it at all.
So then Maya did the practice , rehearsal, outfit fitting and all... She went back stage and stay there on her own. And she was doing great. She played with the adult models, and called them her new friends. She is friendly , cheeky, talk active , everybody seems to like her .
Then we had a long break , like 3 hours, and we just had lunch and wandered around the location, I did some homeschooling with Indy ( she is following) and let Maya's do some coloring and writing. Then go back to the location, she then went backstage on her own from 2.30 pm. and her turn was on 6.10 pm. She stay alone without me backstage, playing, stay with the models, and crew all by her self. She was tired, I was worry she will be cranky by the time she is on, and I worry she needs to go toilet. But she was just fine. She inform her"friends" when she needed to go to the bathroom, grab some cookies when she was hungry ( from her bag) and she didn't throw a fit because she is so tired. ( Even me I was tired !)
So when her turn is on. She walked like a total pro, moving to the music, smile, strike a pose and all!
People literally cheers when she was on stage! Clapping and took her pics. When the show over, some people still asked her to stay and took picture with her.
Beside all of the fun experience for her. Just a side note for everyone : she is enjoying to "model" , her fave game before doing the real thing is to take blankets, pegs, crown, heels, she and Indy "designed" her outfits and she needs to walk on the "stage" with music. So the real fashion show yesterday just like a "playground" for her in grander scale with "more" audience. :P
Despite what people say and think about children modeling. I am very aware the pros and cons.I won't let anything take my girls' childhood away too fast. I won't let the superficial stuffs took control.
My parenting style won't be affected by the amount of money she has earned or will earn. Characters is still the number one, Academic too.To model or not to model is just not on our priority list . I am still let the option open. If that is what she loves and want to do, I will let her do it .
Some more of the pictures
XOXO
S.R
PS: on the world's news. My heart sink for Japan. And my prayer is with all the victims and family in Japan.
Then I got a call last week , Maya was picked to be a fashion show model . When I asked to the agent, what is the fashion show all about, the timing, location etc, she answered me : oh the fashion show is from a local shoes brand, they will present the new collections for this year to their distributor and wholesalers. What came up in my mind is that the show will be done in a warehouse, dusty place, full of workers ( I worked part time before in Guang Zhou for shoes factories , so the memories are there with me :D ) .
I asked Maya , if she wants to do it. She said , of course: I WANT! So I tried to explain it to her in a simple way that she could understand : she gonna walk in the stage, maybe with some other children too, and she needs to be there from morning, then she will need to wait for many hours before the show.
So we arrived on time on the location that I was given. I saw a big SKECHERS signs outside the building. There were a lot of people setting up the place, I saw skechers signs every were ( FYI : I LOVE SKECHERS SHOES, the boots, the shape ups etc) . I was thinking that we are absolutely in a wrong location. So I asked around is this the building. They said correct. And one guy approached us and said : are you here for the children model? I said yes , my daughter is. He then pointed me to another lady, and she asked me : Hi ! are you Maya's Mom? Come right in..
And we saw the stage, the light. the people, the music... I was like " the show that suppose to be from a local shoes brand is for SKECHERS???" WOW ... I didn't expect it at all.
So then Maya did the practice , rehearsal, outfit fitting and all... She went back stage and stay there on her own. And she was doing great. She played with the adult models, and called them her new friends. She is friendly , cheeky, talk active , everybody seems to like her .
Then we had a long break , like 3 hours, and we just had lunch and wandered around the location, I did some homeschooling with Indy ( she is following) and let Maya's do some coloring and writing. Then go back to the location, she then went backstage on her own from 2.30 pm. and her turn was on 6.10 pm. She stay alone without me backstage, playing, stay with the models, and crew all by her self. She was tired, I was worry she will be cranky by the time she is on, and I worry she needs to go toilet. But she was just fine. She inform her"friends" when she needed to go to the bathroom, grab some cookies when she was hungry ( from her bag) and she didn't throw a fit because she is so tired. ( Even me I was tired !)
So when her turn is on. She walked like a total pro, moving to the music, smile, strike a pose and all!
People literally cheers when she was on stage! Clapping and took her pics. When the show over, some people still asked her to stay and took picture with her.
Beside all of the fun experience for her. Just a side note for everyone : she is enjoying to "model" , her fave game before doing the real thing is to take blankets, pegs, crown, heels, she and Indy "designed" her outfits and she needs to walk on the "stage" with music. So the real fashion show yesterday just like a "playground" for her in grander scale with "more" audience. :P
Despite what people say and think about children modeling. I am very aware the pros and cons.I won't let anything take my girls' childhood away too fast. I won't let the superficial stuffs took control.
My parenting style won't be affected by the amount of money she has earned or will earn. Characters is still the number one, Academic too.To model or not to model is just not on our priority list . I am still let the option open. If that is what she loves and want to do, I will let her do it .
I know the limit and the cons to expose my girls to modeling world. This is just for fun and to let her"energy" out . I'm not sure if she gonna have more offers but the most important is to build up her characters to be a strong, confident ..., kind, creative girl. I don't want to focus on the superficial stuffs. And that is what I told her yesterday when she asked me " Ma why everybody like me so much? they said im cute" i said yes u are cute, but if u are rude, and not polite and not kind, no matter how cute u are, people wont like u anymore. and trust me she will hear that a LOT more from her mamma!! :D
Some more of the pictures
XOXO
S.R
PS: on the world's news. My heart sink for Japan. And my prayer is with all the victims and family in Japan.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
There she is
Cant be seen in the pic but her skechers is all bling up! So glam :p
Sorry for the blurry pics, this is a teaser, will upload the others one soon ( finger crossed)
Sending from my Nokia device
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