Math Student Teacher @ MariSci

Last week, our daughter was chosen by her Math teacher (adviser as well) Ms. Rafaela Arlene Gupit to be her “Student Teacher” for 2 days (October 2-3) in celebration of the “World Teachers’ Day.” Preparations were indeed painstaking but enriching for her. She made her PowerPoint presentation for the 2 topics: Laws of Exponents and Scientific Notation. It seems to be an old topics for her but needed to explore deeply so that she can efficiently and effectively deliver the facts. She made some exercises as well. For 2 days she experienced again how it is to be a teacher especially in Math wherein many students find it hard to deal with but many thanks to the guidance and support of her teacher and she managed to perform her task.

Monday, October 7, surprisingly they had a short program to recognize the Student Teachers. Fortunately, our daughter Ysabel got 2 recognitions for her performance. She got the BEST STUDENT TEACHER for Grade 7 Level and for MATH DEPARTMENT as well. She’s indeed very happy for the recognitions and once again experienced the hardships but rewarding of the noble profession of teaching.

Our heartfelt congratulations to you our dearest daughter! Keep up the good work, keep reaching for your dreams and job well done again. Maybe someday you’ll be a Math teacher. What do you think?

@YsabelNicoleTaruc
@Marikina Science High School

Scientific Notation

I am guiding my daughter in preparing her PowerPoint presentation for her 2-day duty as Math Teacher in celebration of the World Teachers’ Day. One of the 2 topics is she was tasked to discuss was Scientific Notation. Find it easy or hard? I guess pretty easy because you just need to remember simple things in converting numbers from standard form to scientific notation and vice versa. Recall the following:

* Scientific notation is a method of writing numbers as the product of two factors where the first factor is a number greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10 and the second factor is an integral power of 10.

* When the decimal is moved to the left the exponent gets larger, but the value of the number stays the same. Each place the decimal moves, increases the exponent by one (1). If you move the decimal to the right it makes the exponent smaller by one (1) for each place it is moved.

Pointers:

* In writing numbers in scientific notation, you must remember the 2 factors wherein the first factor is equal or greater than 1 but less than 10 & the second factor is an integral power of 10.

* When it comes to decimal point, going LEFT the exponent gets larger and so going RIGHT the exponent becomes smaller. Add 1 to the exponent each place the decimal moves. Going LEFT the exponent is POSITIVE and ergo going RIGHT the exponent is NEGATIVE.

Now get a pen and paper and try the following problems: 1.)  6.8270 x 10^7 ;  2.)  0.000728  3.)  6 271 973 000 000

REMEMBER! The essence of Math education is to make complicated things simple, not the other way around.

No classes because of Maring

While spending Sunday at home with the family, my kids and I are guessing if there will be classes or none by Monday, August 19. It seems that since Friday we were experiencing constant rains and heavy ones especially this day. Then not so late, my daughter's friend gave her a call and told her that Marikina Public Information Office declared no classes on all levels, public and private, in Marikina. That includes their school, Marikina Science High School, so calls and text messages began to spread about the so-called "good news." It so happened that there are no classes in Rodriguez, Rizal too so her brother will be at home too.

Still need to guess what will keep them busy on Monday? I don't think so. Be safe everyone. God bless.

Rachel Donaire saved drowning boy

Even on her 9th month of pregnancy Rachel, wife of ESPN’s Boxer of the Year 2012 Nonito Donaire, did a heroic act by saving a drowning boy. The incident happened in the 4th of July when a friend’s son disappeared. Rachel, not minding the risk to her pregnancy, jumped to save the boy but injured herself in the incident. She suffered from a strained ligament but the yet unborn baby, a boy, is safe according to tests.

It just shows how great as a mom Rachel would be, and as a person indeed. God bless you.

Source: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/487283/20130708/heroine-very-preggy-wife-filipino-boxing-champ.htm#.Udw1bTtwr44

Math Topic: Integers

My Grade 7 daughter Ysabel who is currently studying in Marikina Science High School have her Math assignment checked by me. Integers??? Well kind of easy coz it's still in my memory and I hope my memory serves me well.

For me, this is one easy topic among the others :) There is zero then comes the positive and negative integers as shown in the above image. Just like whole numbers, integers have their own operations and properties. You can check out this link, http://math.tutorvista.com/number-system/integers.html, for information and online tutorial.

You just need to focus on the operation sign and the value of the number whether it is a positive or a negative in performing a certain given problem. In order to determine the final value of a number before solving the problem you just need to remember this: addition sign multiply by positive integer and minus sign multiply by negative integer the final value of the number will be POSITIVE, addition sign multiply by a negative integer and minus sign multiply by a positive integer the final value of the number will be NEGATIVE. After knowing all the values of your numbers in the problem you can proceed now in solving it. The value of your final answer will depend which one, positive or negative numbers, has the higher numerical value among the given.

Good luck!

Marikina Science High School admission process for Grade 7

My daughter Ysabel Nicole Taruc is currently a Grade 6 student at St. Matthew College in San Mateo, Rizal. We have plans of transferring her to another school where she will continue her studies. I think it was December last year when I got an application for her in Marikina Science High School. Other parents and guardians from different parts of Rizal where among those I met while filling the form.

It's been a common knowledge that many parents and students are aspiring to pass in a Science High School like one in Marikina. Ysabel took her written exam last January 19 together with hundreds of students from different public and private schools. There were 300 questions regarding Math, English, Araling Panlipunan and Science.

She was really nervous as we all awaits the result of that exam. Come January 30, all her hardships paid off. She passed the written exam and scheduled for an oral exam last February 2. That day she was told to read a passage or composition about "Dunes." Afterwards she seated in front of a teacher, answered 10 questions  about it and some personal questions as well.

She, together with other applicants, will all wait for the final announcement of who among them pass the admission process. February 15 will be a memorable day especially for those who will be able to make it. I hope and pray that my daughter Ysabel will be one of the lucky students to make it.

UP Integrated School admission for Grade 7

One of the schools my husband and I is considering of transferring our daughter who is an incoming Grade 7 is the University of the Philippines Integrated School in Katipunan. Next week I will be getting an application for her so that she can be able to take the entrance exam scheduled on March 9, Saturday.

For those interested, you can visit the school and personally get the application forms needed or download it here http://www.upis.upd.edu.ph/Grade7AdmissionTestForm2013_2014.pdf.

DepEd's K-12 Program

Next week private schools will commence their classes for the SY 2012-2013. Part of the orientation of these schools will be the implementation of the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Salient points on the enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program

• K to 12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.
• The model that is currently being proposed by DepEd is the K-6-4-2 Model. This model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12). The two years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.
• Features of K 6-4-2: (1) Kindergarten and 12 years of quality basic education is a right of every Filipino, therefore they must be and will be provided by government and will be free. (2) Those who go through the 12 years cycle will get an elementary diploma (6 years), a junior high school diploma (4 years), and a senior high school diploma (2 years). (3) A full 12 years of basic education will eventually be required for entry into tertiary level education (entering freshmen by SY 2018-2019 or seven years from now). 
• What is Senior High School? It will be a 2 years of in-depth specialization for students depending on the occupation/career track they wish to pursue. Skills and competencies relevant to the job market. The 2 years of senior HS intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies. The curriculum will allow specializations in Science and Technology, Music and Arts, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sports, Business and Entrepreneurship. 

I am pretty sure that there are still confusion on this new program so I guess it is advisable to all parents to attend the orientation to be properly informed on how this K-12 program. Read the links below for more information.

Briefer on the Enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program
K-12 Program

Bizarre Creature: Aardvark

My son enjoys reading this “Weird Animals Dictionary,” an A to Z of the world’s most bizarre creatures, and he really appreciates the pictures of animals inside the book. The first bizarre animal I want to share with you is the AARDVARK. It is also known as the ant bear, and this unusual mammal is found in Central and southern Africa and has no close relatives. It has a pig-like snout and strong teeth in its jaws, but it hardly ever uses its teeth to bite or chew food. It prefers to gather up ants and termites with its long tongue and swallow them whole.

It has a maximum length of 1.6m (5 ¼ ft). The AARDVARK is one of the best diggers in the animal world. It uses its powerful claws to make burrows that are more than 10 meters (33 ft) in length.

Budoy

I must admit I got addicted with ABS-CBN’s newest Primetime Bida offering “Budoy.” Since it first telecast last October 10, I got to feel the pain of Zsa-Zsa Padilla (Luisa) as the mother of a special child who got lost and admire the character of Elena (Janice de Belen) who despite the child’s case wholeheartedly loved and took care of him as one of her own.

I am a mother and my kids are both normal, and thanks God for that. Having a child like “Budoy” is really a big test of motherhood, so difficult and painful. Not all people understand their situation and accept them as what they are, and to make it worst even the family of special children at times is the first one to belittle them.

“Budoy” may only be part of our evening schedule to watch but together let us all learn and apply the moral lessons of this to our daily lives.

Homemade cookies & cream

One of the desserts I made at home and a fave to my 2 kids is my homemade COOKIES & CREAM. It is so easy to prepare. In a container, add 2 boxes of Nestle Cream and 1 box of condensed milk. Mix the 2 together. Then add 1 pack of pounded pieces of Oreo cookies to the mixture. Mix well until the cookies are perfectly scattered in the mixture. Place it in the fridge and presto, instant dessert for my kids.

Math shortcut: Sum of 3 & 5 consecutive whole numbers

My daughter will be attending her 6 Saturdays MTAP sessions beginning on July 16. We paid 300 pesos for that but I am sure the sessions will help her enrich her mathematical abilities. I do understand that most of the kids find Math a bit hard but I always told my daughter that whatever you needed to study just take time, so give it time kids.

One Math topic which I may share to you is how to get the sum of 3 and 5 consecutive whole numbers without having so much computation, the shortcut should I say.

Examples:
* 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 The sum of three consecutive whole numbers is thrice or three times of the second addend. In this case 2 is the second addend so 2 x 3 = 6. If you have 4 + 5 + 6 it will equal to 15 or 5 x 3.
* 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15 The sum of five consecutive whole numbers is 5 times of the third addend. In this case 3 is the third addend so 3 x 5 = 15. If you have 10 + 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 it will equal to 60 or 12 x 5.

There’s this MTAP question that asked for 5 consecutive whole numbers that equal to a certain number wherein you can apply this concept.

Example: Find 5 consecutive whole numbers that equal to 110. First, you need to divide 110 by 5. Why 5? Because you are looking for 5 consecutive whole numbers. The answer will be 22 and it will serve as the third number or middle addend. To get the 5 numbers, get the 2 numbers before 22 and 2 numbers after 22 and that is the answer (20, 21, 22, 23, 24).

BF-GF commercial of McDonalds

I’ve seen the report about this 30-seconder “BF-GF commercial” of McDonalds but not the commercial itself. So I searched the YouTube to find it and had it posted for you. I agree with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines or CBCP on their resistance on the said ad. It may look cute but indeed shallow, cheapens human relationships and teaches nothing good among kids. Glad that McDonalds acknowledged and respected the position of CBCP and pulled-out the ad immediately.

It’s still good to know that despite differences people learned to listen and acknowledge mistake. It is high time that we mold kids today with good values with the best way we can because they are the future of our country.

McDonald's pulls out "BF-GF commercial" after CBCP called for them to stop airing ad

Senator Pangilinan's tweet on Willie

After several major advertisers pullout their advertisements on Willie Revillame’s “Willing Willie” being aired over TV5, and criticisms from his co-celebrities like Jim Paredes, Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, Bianca Gonzales, Tuesday Vargas, Aiza Seguerra and Lea Salonga, it’s now husband of Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who called Revillame as “unrepentant, arrogant and incorrigible.” The senator made such statement after Revillame considers of filing libel cases against his fellow celebrities who criticized him. As for Senator Pangilinan for the possibility of being included in the libel case, he quipped: “Sue me, too.”

* Willie threatens to sue his Twitter critics
* Celebrities react to Willie's tirade
* After ad pullout, Willie announces leave from show
* MTRCB members inhibit from Willing Willie probe
* CBCP-NASSA condemns 'Willing Willie' incident
* More firms pull out ads from 'Willing Willie'

Congratulations Justin!!!

 

I just got my son’s report card today for the SY 2010-2011 and got a chance to talk to her adviser. Her teacher told me that he is smart and if will add some focus on his stuff he will make it to the top. Actually, he even told me that he is within the Top 5 of his section. The only problem aside from the focus is that he is a sort of talkative. I guess that’s no wonder because even at home he is a sort of talking and talking and talking. But the teacher noted that he gradually change as to his talkativeness.

I am so happy and proud of you my son. You finish your pre-school with high grades (no grades lower than 90) since Nursery and you never sent mommy to the principal’s office. You won first place in your declamation contest and I am so glad to hear that you are one of teacher’s best students.

Congratulations baby and we love you so much!!!

Year End Recognition Day of my daughter

The family is so tired but we’re all happy as well. Today is my daughter’s Year End Recognition Day at St. Matthew College. Students from Grades 1-5 will be honored with medals and certificates for garnering high grades during the school year. My daughter, Nicole, was in Grade 4 and she got 2 gold medals: 1 gold for overall Rank 1 (First Honors) and 1 gold for co-curricular activities.

As she started her schooling way back her Nursery time, I could say that she’s a dedicated and active kind of student. I heard nothing but good words and praises for her coming from classmates, parents and her teachers as well. Although at times we quarrel when she loses her time management and focus because of her young age and influence around her, she’s still in the stage of listening to our words and discerning things we used to tell her.

Again, my heartfelt congratulations to you baby! Keep up the good work and we’re so happy and proud of you.

SY 2010-2011 about to end

End of classes is nearing. My son who is a graduating student from Preparatory Level just finished his final exams last week and practicing for the graduation this week until next week. Their graduation was set on March 26 at Maria Rafols Hall of Virgen del Pilar School, while my daughter who is a Grade 4 student in St. Matthew College will have their finals next week. Their Year-End Recognition was set temporarily on March 30.

I am thankful that the 2 occasions do not coincide on the same date and at the same time congratulates both of my kids for another school year they are about to finish with flying colors. Love you both.

Art Activity: Fruits & Vegetables Mobile

Right now, my daughter is making this Art Activity #29: Fruits and Vegetables Mobile. Her teacher allowed them to make different objects aside from fruits and vegetables. Since she does like fashion, she decided to create different apparel like casual wear, gown, cocktail dress, and office wear. If you want to make the same at home, here are the materials and procedure:

MATERIALS

• White cartolina
• Used cardboard
• Coloring materials like colored pens or pencils, crayons, water color, cray pas or any medium
• Strings or chains
• Puncher
• Glue, pair of scissors

PROCEDURE

• Choose/Decide what fruits or vegetables you would like to draw.
• Sketch your design lightly on the cartolina.
• Using a black pen, ink your sketch.
• Cut the design using your pair of scissors.
• Duplicate the design by tracing it again on the cartolina.
• Paste the design on a cardboard. Cut the cardboard following the design.
• Paste the duplicated design at the back of the cardboard.
• Color the design – both front and back portion.
• Assemble all the fruits and vegetables to create a simple mobile by using strings or chains.
• Balance all designs.

You can arrange your designs horizontally or in the X pattern.

Swim with Milo Swimming Clinic: SWIMMAN AQUATICS

The sun is in an enthusiastic gleam once again! People of different walks of life are in the rush to plunge into water and soothe them of the temperature rise.

Swimming is one of the most popular leisure activities not only in the Philippines but also around the world. Its popularity can be attributed to the necessity of the skill and the benefits one gain from engaging to such physical activity.

Swimming is an activity enjoyed by all ages. Recent studies show that children as young as two years of age can learn how to swim with the proper supervision of trained personnel. Facts would also show that drowning is one of the leading causes of death to children aged 1-14 years old. Since it is an active sport it helps maintain weight and exercise cardiovascular functions of a person-- a totally enjoyable work out.

Swimman Aquatics, a group of highly qualified instructors sponsored by MILO Sports Clinic, offers a wide range of swimming lessons that everyone can avail all year round. Whether it is swimming for recreation or competition there is a sure course that will fit you.

• Basic Course (7-17 years old) Fundamentals of Freestyle stroke, Diving = Php3,500.00

• Advanced / Individual Medley Strokes - Butterfly, Back Stroke, Breast Stroke, and Competitive Freestyle = Php 3,000.00

• Adult Fitness Swimming Program / Personalized drills to enhance certain areas you need to work on = Php 3,500.00

• Competitive / Training drills, competition endurance and techniques = Php 3,000.00

Come, Learn, and Enjoy with us in the following Venues:

• Portofino, Daang Hari Road Alabang (7:30-8:30 am  &  8:30-9:30 am)
• Splash Island, Biñan Laguna (7:30-8:30 am  &  8:30-9:30 am)
• Partylandia, Katarungan Alabang (2:30-3:30pm, 3:30-4:30pm  &  4:30-5:30pm)

 

Here are some of the testimonials of clients:

• “I've seen how my boys, Inaki (6) and Inigo (4) progressed. Coach Kriza knows how to handle them effectively incorporating fun into the teaching process. I'm proud of my boys. Thanks to you Coach!” - Walter Francis K. Torres, Ateneo Faculty (LSPE Department)

• “I believe that having a regular sport helps the body become fit and healthy, that's why I've always wanted my kids to get into sports. Thanks to Milo Swimming Clinic, they are now active and knowledgeable in swimming. They also met new friends who share the same interest. My kids are now encouraged to be more fit and active, Thanks to Coach Kriza and to Coach Mark.” - Mary Elaine Grenas

For further information:

Call/text 02.407.0171 or 0905-221-9802, 0949-411-8599

or visit our website: http://swimaqua.net/ & Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/swimaquatics. 

Myth of the Human Body @ Taguig

This Saturday, March 5, my daughter will have an Immersion Activity. She together with the other 55 participants will visit the MYTH OF THE HUMAN BODY EXHIBIT at The Fort Taguig and the SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTER in Pasay. I researched about the exhibit and found it very educational for my daughter to witness. The real human body samples were made possible thru “plastination” which was developed by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens. It is an innovative anatomical technology where specimens are permanently preserved while retaining the texture of the skin tissues and the microscopic capillaries as if they were alive.

The MYTH OF THE HUMAN BODY EXHIBIT has become the most phenomenal and successful exhibit with over 20 million viewers all over the world. It will run until April 17, 2011.