We enrolled Ria in two summer programs this year.  This is to develop her social skills since she is very aloof, more of afraid, with other people, even with kids. We hoped before the start of summer that she will change and will learn to socialize with other people.  That was our main goal.

When we learned that UA&P will offer summer activities, we decided to enroll her there instead of Lincolnshire.  But Lincolnshire’s program director texted me why Ria was absent on the first day.  So I talked to Dann if we could enroll her in Lincolnshire too.  And so we did.  Her class in UA&P was in the afternoon while Lincolnshire in the morning.

So let’s see what happened to her summer…

April 3, 2013: Start of UA&P CDC children’s club

We had a hard time leaving her.  She didn’t want us to leave her.  We tried but she kept on crying and crying until one of her teachers carried her outside the room to look for us.  She just won’t stop crying.  So we stayed inside the classroom just so she would stop crying.  She did stop but I was not happy because our goal was to let her socialize with other people.

After the class, we talked to Ms. Lexie about Ria.  Ria was not like that during the free trial.  That’s the reason why we enrolled her.  She was independent during the trial.  So Ms. Lexie told us to just stay inside the room with her since she’s still very young.  She was actually the youngest in the class.  And so we decided to stay with her until she can be independent without us.

April 5, 2013: Start of Lincolnshire’s  Reading Room Nursery

Since we missed the first day, we expected the worst in her first day in Lincolnshire having seen her experience in UA&P.  And yes, she cried all the way until she left the school.  Sigh. Although there were other kids who cried too.  The teachers expected it to be that way.  I’m just worried that she might dislike going to school.

We asked her teacher if we can join her in her next class so that she won’t cry.  We were allowed but one day only.  And so I said to Dann, I’ll accompany her inside the classroom.

April 8, 2013: She was absent due to fever

We didn’t have any choice but to let her rest at home.  She had a fever for two straight days during the weekend.  Maybe because of the weather.  But we just let her rest.

April 10, 2013: Joined the class in Lincolnshire and UA&P

So when she finally came back from her fever, I accompanied her inside the classroom, just like what we have agreed with the teachers.

Here’s what she did while I was there (Lincolnshire):

She’s listening to the teacher.  She might look like absent-minded and not participating, but she participated.  What I like in this class is that the teacher can capture the attention of the kids.  Maybe because of her voice.  She was always excited when telling something to the kids.  The kids will really look at her and listen to what she was saying.  She has this joyful voice and tone that capture kids’ attention.

For UA&P, I also stayed inside the classroom.  She was participating but constantly looked for me and check if I was still there.  I never left the room.  I wanted her to trust her surroundings so she can stay there alone next time.

She’s really a loner.  She’d rather do something by herself than to do it with others.  She prefers to sit alone or with some space around her.  But at least she’s participating.

Look at the distance she has here in the picture.  She was sitting slightly far from her classmates.  She’d rather sit with her teacher than to sit beside her classmates.  Teacher’s pet in the making?? 🙂

April 12, 2013: Alone

She was left alone inside the room in Lincolnshire.  When we fetched her, she was not crying during dismissal. Good job! Although we were told that she cried during the first part of the class.  At least she did not cry for 1 1/2 hour.

For UA&P, Dann was with her inside the classroom.  UA&P teachers were more lenient so we were allowed to stay until she’s already adjusted.  I watched through the viewing room and saw how she participated in the class.

She did participate but then, she was still a loner.  During their free time, she will go to a place where no one was playing.  So when her classmates go there, she will go to the other areas of the room.  Same with the toys.  When her classmate/s grab the toy she was playing, she’ll just look for another toy.

April 15, 2013: Improvement

There was an improvement in Lincolnshire.  She didn’t cry in since the beginning of the class until the end.  We were so happy she’s finally adjusted.  Her teacher was also happy and told us she did a good job.

In UA&P, Dann was with her inside the room.  Again, I observed her through the viewing room.  She’s still the same.  She didn’t want to socialize with her classmates.  She has classmates na nagwawala talaga sa loob ng room but she didn’t care.  She did what she had to do and when she was done, she’ll play alone.

April 17, 2013: Alas!

And so, the day we have waited finally came.  She was all alone in the room and she didn’t cry at all.  We were so happy! And Teacher Shelesh and Ms. Lexie too! It took her several days to adjust.  But at least she did.

April 24, 2013: Culminating activity in Lincolnshire

Just when she was really adjusted, she had to say goodbye to her teacher and classmates.  Here are the pictures as summary of what happened to her culminating activity:

The culminating activity was entitled “A Box is not a box”.  It was actually a storybook.  They were required to bring a boxy brown outfit.  We tried to come up with a costume but when we saw her other classmates, we returned her costume to our office.  Sayang, kasi her classmates have costumes pala.

During the culminating activity, Dann was asked to join the class.  As their activity, they made “something” out of the box. Anything that the child and parent want.  So as for Ria and Dann, they made a “truck/car/taxi/bus” (the upper right picture)..

They also gave us all her works.  I was amazed that she did all those works.  Although I know she was guided by her teacher or the teacher aide.  Lincolnshire also gave her a storybook titled “Corduroy”.  She also received her certificate of completion.  We were also given the chance to take a class picture.  So sad that they were not complete.

We were very happy with the outcome.  Both her teachers said that she was so independent like she can return her place mat to where it belongs, she knows where to put her bag and she knows where to put her sign in folder.  The teachers also said that she was really shy.  She will join the singing and dancing activities pero small actions lang.  But nonetheless, she participated.

Her progress report in Lincolnshire:

She got 3.38 out of 4..most of her school works were also done with little help from the teacher.  She was cooperative and listened to teacher during story time.  She got positive assessment points. Proud mommy! 🙂

Every kid knows Mr. Sun. (i guess) 🙂

April 29, 2013: UA&P CDC Culminating Activity

For UA&P, they had a swimming party during class.  They were asked to bring their swimwear and a for-share snack/s.  I was not able to join the culminating activity because I was busy that time but I peeked for few minutes and when I saw her enjoying, I went back to our office.

I know she really enjoyed her swimming party but she was sick that time.  She has colds and cough but we decided to let her swim because it’s once in a lifetime experience.  She was the first one to leave the pool.  Maybe she was really not feeling well.

They also gave us her works.  They were all abstract! But at least there’s the willingness to do the school works.  We did not expect her to excel at all.  We just wanted her to loosen up a bit around other people.

She traced the title of the book/folder.  Hahahaha..You can’t understand it, even her name. But at least her sign in folder showed her progress.  Although we didn’t get any progress report, Ms. Lexie talked to us about Ria before the end of the summer activity.  She gave us some ideas on how Ria was during classes.  And I’m proud she was not a bully (just because she’s the youngest) and not pasaway (because she’s still shy).  Not yet, we’ll see. 🙂

OVERALL

She learned different colors, shapes and fruits.  Although we were already teaching her shapes and colors before her summer school, her classes helped her learn fast and she was able to retain these things until this day.  Our main goal was surpassed.  It was unexpected that she would learn those  basic concepts in just a matter of days.

We’re happy with the results.  She’s not that aloof anymore, although a bit, yes.  She has improved. And we hope this will continue.

Say hello to regular schooling!!!! 🙂