"Yes, Queen!"

Sometimes, whenever we call Sarah, she will either "buat bodoh... tak dengar..." or if she responds, we make sure she responds and says, "Yes, mummy!" or "Yes, daddy!".

Few days ago, I called her and she replied, "Yes, queen!" So funny lar this gal! :D

Ms Keh-Poh-Chi

"Phwah! Very nice, man...."

These were the words uttered by my lil Princess when she saw her cheh-cheh Reanne - walking out from the room with her new pyjamas.

I couldn't help but to blog about it! So keh-poh-chi this gal! LOL! :D

Keirsey Temperament Sorter

Heard of Keirsey temperament sorter?

What's your personality type? Ever wonder? Perhaps you have done so many personality tests... or at least once in your life. Right? Right? Right?

Personally, I've done a few... but lately, I thought perhaps my personality has changed over time, or has it?

I was browsing through the website about dono-wat :p and found this site http://www.keirsey.com/ by accident. I took a free test (answer 70 very short questions) and got the result almost immediately.

Check this out...

Custom Keirsey Temperament Report for: Rachel Yeo

Your Keirsey Temperament Sorter Results indicates that your personality type is that of the

Guardians are the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services--from supervision to maintenance and supply -- and they use all their skills to keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses.

Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. Guardians also believe in law and order, and sometimes worry that respect for authority, even a fundamental sense of right and wrong, is being lost. Perhaps this is why Guardians honor customs and traditions so strongly -- they are familiar patterns that help bring stability to our modern, fast-paced world.

Practical and down-to-earth, Guardians believe in following the rules and cooperating with others. They are not very comfortable winging it or blazing new trails; working steadily within the system is the Guardian way, for in the long run loyalty, discipline, and teamwork get the job done right. Guardians are meticulous about schedules and have a sharp eye for proper procedures. They are cautious about change, even though they know that change can be healthy for an institution. Better to go slowly, they say, and look before you leap.

Guardians make up as much as 40 to 45 percent of the population, and a good thing, because they usually end up doing all the indispensable but thankless jobs everyone else takes for granted.

Guardians at Work
As a Guardian, you enjoy working as a valued member of a team, whether you are leading it or following a credible leader. You like to work with people who carry their weight. You appreciate having clear-cut responsibilities and being recognized for your dedication and achievements. Your natural traits are those that employers have traditionally valued - and that successful companies still respect. You are responsible and loyal to an organization once you've signed on.

Establishing and following a familiar daily routine is critical to your well being. In your ideal job, you and your coworkers would all share information so that everyone could remain "on the same page” as projects move forward. Because you genuinely care about the people you work with, your colleagues and your customers appreciate your unassuming kindness.

All Guardians share the following core characteristics:

• Guardians pride themselves on being dependable, helpful, and hard working.
• Guardians make loyal mates, responsible parents, and stabilizing leaders.
• Guardians tend to be dutiful, cautious, humble, and focused on credentials and traditions.
• Guardians are concerned citizens who trust authority, join groups, seek security, prize gratitude, and dream of meting out justice.

Ahem! Ahem! That's the results of my personality test. Sounds like me alright! Hahahaha! Perasan! :p

Have you taken yours? :)

Happy Teacher's Day 2011_my thoughts

A mother made these colourful muffins for all the teachers. I managed to capture some photos before they entered our mouths :D They tasted great (less sugar I'd say)! Then, the child gave each teacher a cute "Teacher's Day" coaster as well. Another child gave a rose with ferrero rocher chocolate.

It's my 2nd year celebrating "Teacher's Day" in my life as a teacher. At first, it wasn't easy to respond to that "call". It sounded and felt weird. But after some months, I got used to people calling me, "Teacher Rachel" :)

Here's me sharing with you what it is like being a preschool teacher. It is not very easy being one, especially when the kids under your care are not your own and when it's not just about handling one or two or three of them! When the number of students increases, it does good to the centre but not-so-good to the child and care-taker. Every child needs attention, and some need more than others. When you cant give them what they need, you basically putting your head on the chopping board. They could be crying, or some would even hurt themselves or other children just so that they get your attention. And then, it's about disciplining the class and at the same time loving them, teaching them and making sure that their parents are also satisfied with the "services" rendered to them and to their children. It's a pretty tough call to be a teacher, but when you do get into this position and when you see your children learning new things everyday, and when you hear your children say "Yay!" when they see you coming into the class, the satisfaction is guaranteed! :D

Happy Teacher's Day to all the GREAT TEACHERS out there!

Happy Teacher's Day 2011

To all the teachers out there....

Blue moon arrived for.... KFC!

Last Saturday, after work, Sarah & I went to Jusco to have lunch and do some window shopping. I asked her the usual question, "What would you like to eat?"

Sarah : McDonalds!

Mummy : No...

Sarah : KFC?

Mummy : Hmmm... Yes, we'll be having KFC later for dinner. Daddy wants to eat with girl-girl and mummy later. OK?

Sarah : Oh... now KFC blue moon ar?

Mummy : Yes, but only later at night.

Sarah : Oh....

And so... we reached Jusco! We walked pass McD....

Sarah : Mummy, why so many people eating McDonalds? But it's yellow moon worrrr......

Mummy : Yes, but for us, we need to wait for blue moon then only we eat McDonalds OK?

Sarah : McDonalds yellow moon, KFC blue moon ar?

Mummy : Yes, girl... :)

Sarah : Oh....

Sometimes, kids at this age would repeat... and repeat... and repeat words after words. And of course mummy have to be a lil patient to listen, to explain, and sometimes to repeat.... and repeat... and repeat the same answers over and over again. Haha... Just something to go through when we have a kid like tht! :)

Read previous post on blue moon.

Doe, a deer... oh dear! :)

Doe, a deer, a female deer

Ray, a drop of golden sun

Me, a name I call myself

Far, a long long way to run

Sew, a needle pulling thread

La, a note to follow sew

Tea, I drink with jam and bread

That will bring us back to do...oh oh oh

Sarah : Mummy, what is "doe, a deer"?

Mummy : Doe is a female deer. A deer is an animal. Deer is the boy and doe is the girl. (Haha! Ain't sure if i am making sense to this lil 3 year old! :))

Sarah : Oh.... Then, daddy is "deer" ar? Dear, wake up! Dear, wake up!

Mummy : (LOL!)

Mummy calls daddy "dear" and sometimes she hears me calling him to wake up (like how she said it!) It was really fun to have conversations with her at this stage. She is a real darling and she really makes me laugh out loud! :D

We used to sing a lot together. One of the song is "Do-Re-Mi", but lately, every song we sing will have a question that follows. She is really an information digger. Hahaha.

A beautiful morning at school....

Today is Saturday and I am on duty again at my centre. Sometimes, I'll bring Sarah with me and she'll be spending half her day on her own - playing "masak-masak", puzzles, doing writing, drawing, cutting & pasting, etc etc...

Well, she was exceptionally in her best behaviour this morning! I was at the office and she was just beside me in the Playgroup room. After an hour plus, she was still playing on her own (of course, after toilet break & biscuit break in between time). She tidied up her kitchen first before she started playing puzzles. Very quietly, I took some pictures of her playing puzzles and I was just thinking to myself how blessed I am to have this little princess as my dear daughter... an apple of my eye indeed.

Once finished, she ran to the office to show me the completed 40-pcs puzzle.

Well done, Sarah! :)

An accident happened....

It was on 20th April in the wee hours of the morning that my car met with an accident. No, it wasn't me that drove... it was hubby!

I got his permission to blog about this incident, so definitely I am not here to "condemn" him! :*

This was my car after the accident:

Thank God it didn't look like this:

When the accident took place, all that matters was his life. It could have been worst, but the LORD's hand was upon him. I also thank God that the accident happened NOT with another car but with a tree. So, that alone was a blessing too. Else, things could get more complicated.

Also, thank God that my sister-in-law loan me her car. Else, I will not be able to go to work as usual too. Some other arrangement has to be made. And again, things could be more complicated too!

All in all... we all learn one thing here, in one way or another. We learn to appreciate the things and people around us. We learn to be more careful and always pray for God's protection. It is more often than not that we take our lives and our belongings for granted.

My car is now in the workshop and I will only able to get it back some time next week. Looking at a brighter side, I will get a brand new car by next week! :)

Sarah, the online game player

Sarah : Mummy, can i play barbie doll game? the one can change dress one? got hairband one, got bag one, and can change shoes one, got high shoe one and sports shoe one.... got sooooooooooooo many things one.... also can spin, and dance one? can or not, mummy?

Mummy : No, I must finish my work.

Sarah : Mummy, I good girl.... can i play or not?

Mummy : I said "No!" You rest a little while first. Mummy wants to do work.

And Sarah being Sarah.... being sooooooooooooooo persistent made mummy here angry and shouted at her to stop. :p

She cried a little while before she continued her act of persuasion.

She walked around me and said....

Sarah : Mummy I want to play game? Please? Can or not?

... while singing some nursery rhymes..... To Market To Market.... followed by Mary Mary Quite Contrary.... then followed by Row Row Row Your Boat.... Hickory Dickory Dock.... Three Blind Mice.... and then back to our conversation....

Sarah : Mummy "Three Blind Mice" is what? Huh, mummy? It's what? Mummy?

Well.... I just kept quiet all the while... hehehe... this mummy ar! I was actually blogging all these down while she talks.... :p

OK-la... i think she's been really a good girl.... so, the reward is... she can now play her Barbie doll game which she's been waiting for.

Well, this is the online game she plays...

http://icanbe.barbie.com/games.html#

... and the one with the "change clothes one" is.... http://www.barbie.com/activities/fashion/

hmmm.... maybe not.... how about.... http://www.barbiegirls.com/

Sarah : Why cannot find one?

............ ok, u know what? looks like as per this blog post, there were some changes made in the website. We couldnt find the page that she likes.... ie the "changing clothes one". So, she has to look for other favourites. Poor girl... :/

Actually... there are lots of free online games for kids, and even Barbie doll games are not just any games. They consists of matching games, sorting games, and lots more. It does educate the child, but of course, as parents, we must minimize the time for playing. Thus, the child learns to "wait", learns about following house rules as well as getting rewards when they behave well.

McD in a blue moon....

I had this conversation with Sarah in the car last night...... and this time, it's about McDonald's.... or is it?!

Mummy : Girl girl, from now onwards, we have to eat less of McDonald's you know? We can eat-la... but only once in a blue moon, OK?

Sarah : (after pausing for a while...) How about pink moon?

Mummy : (giggling...) pink moon? No pink moon. Once in a blue moon means you can eat it once in a long while. Not too much. Understand?

Sarah : Ohhhhhhhh....... then what now?

Mummy : Oh, it's yellow moon now!

Sarah : Ohhhhhhh..... not blue ar?

Mummy : No, it's not blue moon, it's yellow moon so we cannot eat McDonald's now ok?

Sarah : OK! :)

Well, why we had this conversation about McD? Cuz we realized lately that we've been giving in to our "craving" for McD. And it's not just Sarah. I have to admit, I too been eating that. Sometimes on a weekend, when we ask Sarah what she wants to eat, she'll reply either McD or KFC. Oh my... check out how kids can get so addicted with fast food... and even us adults!

Just writing for writing sake... :p

It has been about 1 and half months since I really shared about my life. I wouldn't dare say that I've been busy because I actually do have my own personal time as well, which I chose to do other things than to blog.

Why did I stop writing? In all honesty, I am a little lazy... especially when I do not need to wake up early to do my assignments now that I've completed my studies. I chose the extra time to sleep a little bit more. And sometimes, I just lost for words... to blog something which is deep and part of my life depends a lot (or mostly) on my emotions and my thoughts at that particular time. Sort of... no inspiration, then... just too bad-lah! :P

As I am writing this, I am actually suffering a little bit of a headache, and thought that blogging would just be the "cure" for now... maybe a bowl of cendol later too! kekeke....

No inspiration whatsoever, so I wont be writing anything "heavy", but just writing something to get my blog "alive" a lil. There are tonnes of folders of photos for me to filter and tell stories from (well, of course, mainly about my little princess), but sometimes procrastination wins the battle, sadly to say.

So anyways, "HI" to all my friends! Wish everyone a great weekend ahead and also great weeks and months ahead! :)

Teaching Alphabet Letters

Taken from : http://www.atozphonics.com/alphabet-letters.html

Frequently asked questions on teaching alphabet letters are:

• What is the ideal age to introduce the alphabet?
• What letters to teach first?
• Do I teach letter names or letter sounds?
• Should I teach capital or lower case first?
• Is it a good idea to teach the alphabet in alphabetic order?
• How do I actually teach alphabet letters?

So let's look at these individually, because the odds are there is at least one question above that you would like to know the answer to!

What is the ideal age to introduce alphabet letters?

This really does depend on your child. I would love to give you a definite answer, like - 'when your child is 3yrs and 45 days you may begin.' You know as well as I do that life just isn't like that! Some children will be ready at 2yrs while others are happy to wait until 5 or 6yrs. What I can say, is that if you follow the advice in'step 1' about what to teach BEFORE the alphabet, then it will happen naturally - you will instinctively know when you have 'reached the ideal' time to begin the formal introduction of alphabet letters. The decision ultimately lies with your child and not you! Just immerse your child in books, rhymes and phonemic awarenessactivities and the progression will be a seamless one. Most typically, a child is able to begin learning the alphabet around the age of 3 or 4yrs.

Do I teach capital or lower case first?

I have met teachers who swear by teaching capital letters first and yet others who insist on teaching lower case and then another group who insist on teaching both at the same time! Personally - I advise on teaching lower case first. Why? Because capital letters only account for about 5% of all letters in the written word and so it seams to make sense to pay more attention to the teaching of the lower case letters as these are the ones children will be introduced to first in their environment. After you have taught your child to recognize lower case letters, I would put up an alphabet frieze with both capital and lower case letters and talk about them. Let the child see them and compare them, play games of matching up lower case with their capital letters. Notice the importance of fun here - always make learning fun! While teaching my own children - I would use games to discreetly assess if they had grasped a phonics principle - there was no pressure of 'tests' so it was a win win situation. My children particulary enjoyed looking at the Letterland books.

Do I teach letters sounds or letter names?

I teach both at the same time. I would remind my children that animals are called by different names, such as a 'pig' or 'cow' but that they all make different sounds eg, 'oink' and 'moo'. So it is with alphabet letters, each has a name but also a sound. I would say "this is the letter 'S' it says the /sssssss/ sound as in sssun." Model the sound to copy and use words that are meaningful to your child. If you need a quick reminder of letter sounds here is a quick check list in the box to your right - some words end in the sound to help you isolate the sound you will be modeling for your child. Some letters have more than one sound, but at this stage we just introduce the first sound of a letter.

What letters do you teach first?

Here are some examples of how others teach letter order:

Alphabetical Order: Although knowing letters 'in' and 'out' of order is important, the main disadvantage of this method, is that a child is waiting a long time before they can start to read words with the letters they have learnt. You really can't read or write many words with the letter a,b,c,d,e

Random Order: For example, choosing letters of a child's name or family members can help give meaning to letters

Vowels: These are the letters, 'a,e,i,o,u and sometimes y'. Vowels are considered important because every word contains a vowel

Mixture of vowels and consonants: Consonants are all the letters which are not vowels. This way is often taught by phonic reading programs, such as Jolly Phonics. For example they start with the letters 's, a, t, i, n, p'. One of the benefits of this method is that a child is quickly able to 'read' and spell three letter words. These 6 alphabete letters make the following words:

Sat, tin, pin, pat, tap, tip, pit, sit, nit, nip, nap, pan

I personally choose to introduce a mixture of vowels and consonants, alongside teaching the alphabet song, so that they can see 'where in the alphabet' the letter they are learning fits into.

"I want means I want!"

Sarah : I want!

Mummy : No!

Sarah : I say I want!

Mummy : No!

Sarah : I say I want means I want means I want!!!

Yes, sometimes I have to go through this kind of conversation with my little girl. And sometimes I (and daddy too!) can be shouting at her at the top of my lungs! Can you imagine my day with this girl? That's only few hours at night. How about Yeh-Yeh & Nai-Nai with her during the longer hours of the day? Hmmm... Nai-Nai says she behaves worst when mummy is around. (Sigh...) She'll be following me to school one day to join the playgroup. I sure hope and pray that things will get better!

On being obsessed with PINK!

Not too sure whether to be worried of this... but my girl is really really obsessed with the colour PINK!

There were times when she just refused to wear any other colour pajamas except her pink colour one and I will just get so mad at her that I put her pink pj aside and lied to her that her pink pj is in the washing machine (just to get her to wear other pjs!)

She loves the colour pink and I dont think there is anything wrong with it. In fact, I am so happy to know that my lil girl is a decision maker and I am truly proud of her. She knows what she wants and she knows what she likes and there seem not a shadow of doubt from her about it too.

It's just that... sometimes, it just feels a lil "too much". Sometimes I feel so "stress" about it. Why? Because her other clothes were abandoned and seemed so "wasteful". Well, that's just about clothes.... but you aint seen it all yet! She's just obsessed over PINK that everything she owns has to be pink. Well, I cant deny that sometimes I too gave in to her "wants". sigh...

I got her a dress this evening... and because it is not pink (according to daddy), she rejected it. My heart a bit broken la, but... what to do?! I thought it was a sweet and pretty-looking dress and probably perfect to be worn for her coming birthday. Well, it has some pink elements on it, but it's not like a really pink dress. Hmmm... I guess I have to learn my lesson. Looks like I cant make her like what I like. As a child, she has every right to decide what she likes and what she doesn't. I can, to some extent, make some decisions for her and guide her to make the right decisions too, but in understanding her (as an individual), I know she has some very important rights that I must respect! So, OK... looks like more pinky stuffs are coming her way... (of course I will also teach her the beauty of all the colours so she will accept them too! :))

In loving memory of my daddy who is in heaven...

Happy 10th Anniversary to Daddy!

It has been 10 long years and in those years, i graduated, earned my own living, got married and have a family of my own. Sometimes, i wished i could just be "daddy's little girl" again but life goes on.

I will always love you and cherish the moments we spent together. My children will learn and know that their grand-dad was a great man on earth! :)

The pix above was taken when he was a young college student (i think! hehe...). It's the only soft copy I have of him from my blogsite. Will hope to put up one of his latest photos later on :)

"OK, Thanks!"

Mummy was tidying up the room a little when suddenly, lil Sarah came in, gave me an angry look and said sternly....

Sarah : Mummy, cheh-cheh spoil my pin! (As always, the little ones at home will have their usual rounds of accusations and "fights"... just part & parcel of being kids!)

Mummy : Hmmm....

Sarah : Mummy, fix for me OK? OK? Fix for me OK?

Looking at how determined she was, I just went along with the flow of things and said....

Mummy : Mmm! OK!

Sarah : OK! Thanks! (Yup! That's what she said... I normally taught her to say "thank u", not "thanks"... but, she learns it well just by listening to our daily conversations!)

She walked out, still looking a lil angry but glad that mummy was there to mend things for her....

I just smiled to myself. It was really such a funny sight. She just looked so cute and "kepo"! Wished I could record all these actions on video. Hehe!

"Because of Christmas Day....."

Well, not a post about last year's Christmas or anything near that.... hehehe!

This is what happens when I ask Sarah (any) questions at all:

Mummy : Why you do that?

Sarah : Because of Christmas Day.... (singing to the tune of "Mary's Boy Child")

Mummy : Why are you so naughty?

Sarah : Because of Christmas Day....

Mummy : Asking questions that starts with "Why..."

Sarah : Because of Christmas Day....

Not too sure where she learn to answer like that, but it was really funny to get response like that from a 3-year old (soon to be :))!

And then I asked her...

Mummy : Where do you learn this?

Sarah : There.... the church one... outside the church one...

Mummy : O? You mean the song we sang in church?

Sarah : Yes! Outside the church one.... with cheh-cheh Andrea, cheh-cheh Ashley, Aunty Marilyn one.... wear the bear-bear one....

Okaaaay.... she has a really great memory! We had Christmas caroling last year and what she can remember, she explains it with her own words to me. At this stage, she understands that when you ask her a "why" question, the answer will bear a "because" at the beginning of the statement.

This lil princess is really growing up! I enjoy every bit of our conversations together. I was just thinking, we will both share a lot together later on when she grows up. I pray that our relationship will not stop at any stage but to grow as not just "mummy-daughter" but as "best-of-friends"! :)

Final Results Out!

Jeng! Jeng! Jeng! "Roll the drums!"

The time has come when I got my final results for the course I took, ie Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Very "professional" indeed! Hehehe! :)

2 months ago, I shouted out, "Merdeka!!!" cuz i completed my final exams and all my projects. I did not need to burn the midnight oil anymore to study and also to find time to complete my assignments which were always due week after week. It was almost hard to breathe at that time!

But now.... I turned and looked back and just breathe a sigh of relief. I am more happy now when I got my final results. I'm just beaming from ear to ear right now... :) Don't wanna boast but I think I did great! I'm undoubtedly happy that it's "sorta" over and I praise the LORD for being with me through it all!

Praise the Lord for an excellent results. My final result shows a CGPA of 3.75 and "Pass with Distinction" --> This will definitely appear on my cert later on! Looks like all the hard work pays off! :D

Neh... no mortar board for me this round... but it sure feels great to graduate from this course! :)

To God be the glory!

Journey to Learning Headstart Checklist

Hi everyone!

I came across this interesting checklist for parents! Use this checklist and try not to miss any of them out as you journey your way as a proud parent of your child this year. Let us all move on to a greater year of parenting and I truly wish you the best! :)

Parents, do you:
 Read with your child daily?
 Play word games with your child?
 Encourage your child to speak clearly and avoid baby talk?
 Encourage your child to express himself/herself?
 Encourage your child to count things around the house
(i.e. spoons or forks on the table, cars on the street, etc.)?
 Make time to listen to your child?
 Monitor your child’s television viewing habits?
 Help your child learn about the following:
 Bathroom habits
 Putting toys away
 Hanging up clothes
 Getting dressed independently
 Listening and following directions
 Eating a good breakfast each morning
 Knowing when and how to use a tissue
 Fastening clothing and putting on boots
 Accepting responsibility by doing small tasks
 Going to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep

Does your child know:
 His/her first and last name?
 His/her address?
 His/her parents first and last names?
 His/her phone number?
 The shortest, safest way to the centre or the number of bus he/she takes to the centre?
 Safety habits - crossing streets, obeying traffic signs, not getting into cars with strangers
 Common courtesy and manners that promote the development of friendships and sharing?

Does your child know how to use the following fastening items:
 Zip?
 Tie?
 Button?
 Snap?

Last but not least, a little write-up by Robert Fulgham that clearly defines the true meaning
of early childhood education:

All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten