The school conducts quarterly Parent-Teacher Conferences so parents know how their kids are doing at school.  The conference is a one-on-one talk for 30 minutes where the teachers will show the parents the art works, school works, and tell them the strengths and weaknesses of the child.  It is indeed a good practice because kids behave differently at school.  So here are the salient points of our first PTC.

1.  Ria likes sit-down activities (and not physical activities)

Ria’s teachers said she likes sit-down activities such as tracing, writing, doing puzzles, coloring, etc.  Anything that will let her work on the table, she will do it.  Her teachers also said she can color the correct area (her classmates do scribbles and doodles).  I told her teachers that we do some writing activities at home, maybe that’s why she likes those activities than physical activities.  She’s also afraid to do something new (the ones she has not tried before, which are mostly physical activities), which we have to workout on her, because in their school, cognitive is not the only area that’s stimulated and enhanced, their emotional and psychological aspects too.  That’s why we were given some tips on how to develop her self esteem.

She has progress line in running without falling, walking along straight line, catching a ball with two hands, throwing a ball few meters away, but she has a happy face in jumping (the thing she really likes).

2.  Ria likes puzzles

She’d rather sit down and do puzzles than play with her classmates.  Her teachers showed us one puzzle that she patiently tried to do every day.  It was a blue wooden blocks with holes and the kids should insert the string in the holes (just like necklace!)  She did not stop until she did it.  And when she finally did it, she showed it to her teacher and her teacher said they’ll make it a necklace.  So she put it on Ria and every day when Ria finishes the puzzle, her teacher put it on her.

Other than that, there are also other puzzles that she likes.  I remember, on her first day, she played some puzzles instead of mingling with her classmates or playing with other toys.

3.  Ria did not exhibit separation anxiety

Yes, she was trained during summer.  So during her first day, she did not even looked at us and went straight to the classroom…without saying goodbye or anything.  We, particularly I, were the ones who had that issue.  So since she was the “brave” girl, when her classmate, Nikkilyn, still cried even after a week or so, they asked Ria to sit beside her and put her arms around Nikki’s shoulders.  She did, and for more, she saw Nikki’s hanky and she wiped her tears. awww, such a cutie lil “big” sister..hehe

4.  Ria knows her letters and numbers (even before the lesson)

Her teachers were surprised that she knows letters and numbers even before the lesson.  They understood it when I told them we have workbooks at home.  So what they do, sometimes they ask Ria what the letter or number is then they will start their lesson.

5.  Ria is VERY shy and shows aloofness BUT…

This is our main problem, her social skills.  She doesn’t want to mingle or talk with other kids.  In play places, she would rather play alone than be with other kids.  During her first tries, she would not go to an area where there are kids.  She would also move when there are kids in her place.  Clearly, she doesn’t want to socialize with kids.  The same thing with adults.  But now, she would rather talk to adults or kids older than her than those of her age.

That is still what’s happening in school.  She shows a little bit of interest in communicating with other people, especially adults (her teachers, teacher aides).  We were advised to expose her more to kids. Ok, more McDo play place?.or spend some money for those paid play areas.

But still, she is gradually changing.  Like during game when the other class had a birthday party, she was the last junior nursery standing and the others were senior nursery.  She also sang “bahay kubo” during their classroom activity on Buwan ng Wika (we practiced that the night before and forced her to sing..haha).  And she knows how to tell her teachers what she wants like going to the bathroom to pee.  She also tells her teacher/s when she likes a toy that her classmate is holding.  Things like that, those simple things that we are happy to hear.  At least, she’s not that “anti-social” anymore..haha

6.  Ria doesn’t know her full name and complete birthday

Ok, this one was our fault.  Since Ria has a very long name, we practiced her saying just Ria Orzales for her full name and Ria for her nickname, not knowing that we had to teach her her FULL name.  So i said to her teacher, “mahaba kasi yung name nia”.  And her teacher was like, “why is her name so long?” but of course she did not tell us that.  Her teacher said that we have to introduce her full name as she will ask why is her name so long on the paper that she is tracing but she only knows Ria?

And for her birthday, we did not know we have to teach her the year! My goodness, this is just junior nursery, she’s just 2 years old. 😐 But then again, we are already trying to teach her the year.  But she keeps on telling us PESOS. She thought since its 2000+, it’s money.  Hahahahaha

7. Ria listens to the stories and can comprehend them

What her teachers like about Ria is that she will just sit down on the bench while they read the books.  She listens, they know it because she can answer the questions about the story.  Good job! At least she has this interest in physical books (not ebooks).  I was amazed to see how she answered her work sheet for that story.

8.  Ria is territorial

One time, the teacher texted me to call the school.  I had this odd feeling that this is something that happened in school.  And so I was correct, her classmate bit her because she pushed that classmate because she said she was the first one on the chair and her classmate was trying to get it (yeah, it was a chain that started with a chair).

We found out that Ria likes the blue chair (it’s her favorite color) and every day she will sit down on that chair.  That might be the cause of the fight, maybe her classmate sat on that blue chair but Ria wanted to use that.  And yes, she was the first one on that chair, maybe starting months ago? 🙂 So I guess even if that classmate was the first one  on that day, she will still say she’s the first.

9.  Ria is Ms. Volunteer

Her teachers joyfully told us that Ria likes to volunteer.  Whenever the teachers ask someone to do something, she will say “ako rin!” She is Ms. Ako-Rin..haha. Her teachers said that she wants to be the first in line, but there are schedules on who will be the leader.  So when it’s not her turn, she will be the second!

10.  Ria knows how to take turns

Connected to number 9, at least she knows how to take turns.  She accepts it when her teachers tell her that she will be the next.  She patiently waits for her turn.  Why is it that when she’s at home, she should be the first ALWAYS??. hmpf, kids. 🙂

I also asked on her pacing on grasping the lessons.  They told us that she’s not slow naman.  I also asked if she’s magulo inside the classroom.  They told us, it’s normal for kids to be like that, but there are worse than her.  Thank goodness, she’s not the naughtiest!

I clarified how the home notes should be done, after or before the class. They told us they are completely optional.  I told them that we really do them and they appreciated it.  So I asked, “there are other parents who do not do their home notes?” and they told us yes, there are, that’s why for the show and tell activities, some kids do not have what they need to bring.  It’s sad.  I told them that home notes are our bonding time (with, of course, the ever present niece).  I hope that parents do them too, it’s for their kids.

We saw her seatworks, one of which was naming the pictures.  There was a blackboard, Ria said it was a TV..hahahaha. I don’t have time to scan all her works but I bought a folder where I put them all.  It was great seeing her works.  I was amazed she can do it, without our help.  Usually at home, she will tell us “di ko kaya” but we encourage her to do it anyway.  To encourage her, we tell her “very good” or “see, kaya mo naman”.  She really has issues on her self esteem. ehem.

It was really nice talking to her teachers.  We get to see a picture on how she’s doing in school.  She is “behaved” there, but at home, she’s indescribable.haha..she puts our patience to the test, to their limits. But then, after scolding her when she did something wrong, my heart melts when I see her angelic face while sleeping. I really love her so much.