Special educator in Manila

Thursday, February 3, 2011

CREATE and Learning Paths School

Got to visit yet another school today. I was able to go to CREATE and Learning Paths School in Merville and got to observe a class being run by their school head/directress Teacher Tin Canon.

Thanks to Randy and Ting Bello who set up this visit for me :).

In front of the school.

Sandbox with lots of sand toys.

Cubbies with boxes with their belongings.

I have never seen a mat like this before. It rolls out and the kids can crawl or walk on it. Sounds fun for sensory integration activities.

Garage converted into an outdoor play area.

The objective is to match a little figure/toy to the corresponding label and learning to walk on the balance beam at the same time.

From a better angle.

In the classroom.

Circle area and materials on the side.

Pictures on the bathroom door.

Indoor play area

Water tables

Outdoor easels behind the school

A mixture of flour, water and paint = fun! What I've learned as a preschool teacher is that some of the best activities are the simplest and ones involving the cheapest materials around :).

classroom rules

Hallway murals

CREATE has classes for Toddlers (1.6 - 2.5) up to Prep (5.6 to 6.1), as well as Tutorial, intervention and homeschool programs for preschool up to high school students.

Director: Kristin V. Canon

Address: 29 Calcutta Street, Merville Park, Paranaque City

Telefax: 828-83-80

website: www.clpschools.com

email: create@clpschools.com

St. Uriel's therapy Clinic

I just liked the Jack o'Lantern mobile and the spider web art :).

They provide PT, OT and sped tutorials. They share the place with Read-ability, a center that focuses on reading programs.

I observed the OT, Teacher Julie, play a game ala "Pinoy Henyo" (is that how you spell it?) with a kid. It was fun watching him learn social skills, learning about categories and having fun at the same time :). Also realized there is something to be learned from Pinoy game shows and pop culture. I guess I have to start watching TV ;).

St. Uriel's Therapy clinic

Address: Door no. 4, Dr. Teresita Santos Apartments, Kalayaan Village,

San Fernando, Pampanga

email: St.urielstherapyclinic@gmail.com

Golden Harvest Institute of Learning

The second visit was at Golden Harvest Institute of Learning in San Fernando, Pampanga. The school has toddler to Grade 6 classes.

They have a separate classroom for the special ed kids in the elementary school level.

They were working on their Filipino language skills while we were there.

Pangnagdaan and pangkasalukuyan.

Materials in the Toddler classroom.

More toys

They were doing attendance (while drawing the kids) and the kids asked their teacher to draw their baby bottles in too.

The 3's room.

We got to talk to Teacher Bonet (not sure about the spelling of that) but I was impressed about how they work together with other professionals in the field - not necessarily in the same school - Neurodevelopmental pediatrician, OT, PT and speech , to address kids needs. They are not a sped school but when they observe that a child may have concerns, they make the proper referrals and work as a team.

Address: 150 Don Francisco Street, St. Francis Village, San Fernando, Pampanga

Telephone numbers: (045) 961-4912 / 961-7758

Fax number: (045) 961-3319

Email: goldenharvestcsfp@yahoo.com

St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga

Yesterday I got to visit a couple of schools in Pampanga, courtesy of a couple of really good friends and their families (thanks TJ and Say!) who arranged everything for me. We did go food tripping too, but that's another story altogether...

Here are pictures of our visit to St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga.

Wood carving above the registrar's office window.

Shelves with some materials in the K -1 (5 y/o I think) class.

Attendance charts - the kids slide their names to the left to check in.

Our national hero, Jose Rizal and a mural of family members.

These are painted right onto the walls.

I liked the idea of not giving the kids paintbrushes so they were painting with their fingers.

Spongebob makes an appearance. The pictures painted on the walls were very well done and meticulously drawn.

Practicing syllables. Hmmm, no comment on that first word.

Table with recycled materials in the K-2 class (Kindergarten -2 is 6 year olds )

What do you see? :)

More materials. They are used but are covered in plastic afterwards to keep the dust out. The ones in the back are the different sized cylinders from the Montessori materials.

Sandpaper letters (more Montessori materials).

more national heroes

Faculty lounge

I loved that sun

High school area. All the students were so nice and polite - they said "Good morning!" every time they saw us.

High school

kudos to you TJ :)

Covered courts / gym

lunch area

St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga (SAIP) has programs from preschool to high school. They also have kids who are being mainstreamed from the special ed classes to the regular education program.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to observe the special ed program (they have a preschool sped program) - but that gives me another reason to come back another day :). Thank you for a wonderful visit Mrs. Simbulan - I look forward to coming back and observing your energetic and enthusiastic staff again.

School Head: Mrs. Maxima Tan-Simbulan

Address: MacArthur Highway, San Simon, Pampanga

Contact Numbers(045) 302-70-06
Fax Numbers(045) 302-70-06

Thursday, January 27, 2011

German European School Manila

Visited the Eurocampus / German European School Manila in Better Living homes in Paranaque this morning. It had a wonderful small school feel and the classrooms were wonderful :).