Spelling using Visuals

En Xi's Spelling List (10 words) every Week for each Term in K2

At the start of K2, we started revising your spelling using the Shichida method.  The 'flashcard' method seems to work in the beginning until the number of words jumped from 5 to 10 and each word becomes longer and seemingly more complicated.  Learning soon became a chore and laborious.  It was no longer fun and the treats no longer motivates you anymore.

As always, mummy to the rescue.  She thought hard about it, stared at her birthday gift and asked........  Mr Google on her Samsung Note 3 answered.  There were many sites that offers alternate means of learning for the right-brained child.  The Visual Way.  By using different colours to write the letters of the word to differentiate the phonics sounds and drawing related objects within the flashcard should work.

Daddy's best shot

Daddy tried, but somehow it didn't feel right.  You were still not intrigued.  Often, you pointed out that the picture should look otherwise.  We spend more time discussing about how the flashcard should look, than learning the words.  So, we let you do all the drawing instead.

It is tough to decipher what your drawing is all about.  They all look fascinating, filled with imagination, full of flavour.  Yet, we can't really figure out the story behind the drawings until you tell us about it.  At times, the stories are beyond the ordinary folk tales.  Sometimes, its about your day in school.  We still spend more time talking about your drawings than practising your spelling.  But the outcome cannot be more different.  Your spelling results have improved tremendously.  Self confidence has been regained and you are much more engaged.

En Xi's favourite "Damsel in Distress" theme

Another Day in En Xi's Life

Perhaps, the best part behind all the drawing and learning is the time we spend together bonding.  The story telling from you connects us and allow us to know you much better.  To understand why you do things the way you do.  To understand the way you think and what matters to you most.  To know the little things that occurs everyday in your life.

I take back my words

A week ago, I commented on En Xi's K2 English Teacher being "wayang".  Instead of commenting, I should have commended your teacher, Ms Norijah for her efforts to build your confidence in spelling.  Meet "Tom", the tiger puppet.

Tom and Pinky fighting for attention

You see "Tom" is Ms Norijah's way to reward her students for doing well in class.  You get to bring "Tom" for adventures and see the world, bring him home and play with him.  But sometimes he get's irritating.  Irritating when you insist us to role-play as "Tom" instead of us being your parents.

Chinese New Year just breezed past and we are now in Feb.  What a mad rush in Jan.  2015 will be worst, with CNY pushed earlier to 16 Jan.  Oh my, we will be so tired, but look on the bright side.  Since the festive period is all one after another from Xmas to New Year to En Xi's Birthday to CNY, we can quit pretending to lose weight and postpone exercise all together.  Now wait, there's Valentine's Day, then the Mar School Holidays, then Good Friday in Apr and there's Labour Day in May, not forgetting En Jun's Birthday in May too.....Ehh.... Go figure...

Was browsing through mummy's Facebook page and saw a couple of well taken photos from her Samsung Note 3 mobile that I never quite did capture with my bulky DSLR.  Posted here for memories sake.

2014 CNY outfits

Mummy bought us all a pair of trendy converse sneakers from Korea

Its not always with you guys ok, we need a break once in awhile you know

How scary is that with those pink shades?

Finger in Cheek, I must

Its either Ironman or Superman, definitely not the National Pledge

Check out that hand on the hip pose

En Xi's K1 Year End Concert

Halloween 2013

En Jun sure knows who to cajole (Ah Zhor 90th Birthday)

Lady with crossed legs and Man with arm over her shoulders.  Classic.  Just Classic.  Love the smiles.  Lovey Dovey

My very first time....

When you have 2 kids and don't employ a domestic helper, you spend most of your time with logistics, cleaning, washing, bathing, packing and administration.  It is very different when you have only 1 kid where parents can take turns to care and play with the kid, while the other handles the rest of the stuff.

About En Jun

Just a couple of days back, En Jun was asking to do some painting, which very naturally (given the messy nature of painting) I brushed you off with my standard line, "Maybe, we can do this another time."  Then, it struck me when I couldn't recall when you actually did your last painting at home.  Wait.... Actually, you haven't tried painting before.  Felt so bad for neglecting you again.  Your sister has pretty much experimented things early in her toddler years.  Fortunately, you are independent, a very quick learner and not a fussy chap (You had to don En Xi's Dora themed apron and sleeves).

En Jun with "Dora" themed apron and sleeves

The 'SOP' finger on the cheek camera pose

About En Xi

You did great in School for this month!  Full marks (5/5) for your Chinese Spelling TWICE!  Kudos to your hard work and Mummy's creative efforts to help you.  English spelling is coming up soon and your teacher actually changed the spelling list from 5 to 10 words!  We were shocked by the daunting task at hand and Mummy subsequently send an irritated, but cordial email to your teacher demanding to know how we can actually achieve all these without killing your interest in learning.  Somehow, (we think) your teacher actually 'wayang' and had you learn the word "Ambulance" and had you spell it in front of your classmates in class.  Then, had you spell it to us at home.  Ok, sure, wayang or not, we don't really know, but you are looking very much happy and confident; and that is what it really matters to us.

Your rewards lucky dip box

Full marks! (5/5) for Chinese Spelling

Scary stuff awaits