Teacher-Made Toys

AS A preschool teacher, I utterly enjoy and am constantly challenged in thinking of new and fun ways of teaching academic concepts.  Especially at the preschool level, I always make sure that there’s lots of fun, adventure and discovery added into the lesson plans.  One of the things that we teachers do is to create toys or what we call “manipulatives”, that will creatively teach the little ones the skills that they need to learn before they can move up to the next level in school.  These toys are geared towards teaching math, reading, writing, sorting, matching, fine motor and gross motor skills, among others. As teachers, we have our favorite manipulatives as we see how effective these have been in teaching our students.

T-MATO Loop Bands (Photo by Cat JL)

T-MATO Stringing Beads (Photo by Cat JL)

Last year, I was inspired to “commercialize” these simple teacher-made toys as I realized how it could also bless many other children at home, especially homeschooling families, as well as other preschools.  I invited a co-teacher and good friend of mine, Teacher MM Cusi, to join me in the venture and she wholeheartedly embraced the vision.  Together, we brainstormed and worked on setting up the business and sampling our first products. It was a fun and enjoyable process and we proudly launched in September 2013.

My partner MM Cusi & myself at the Launch

T-MATO's Launch at the Weekend Souk at The District, Ayala

It’s been quite a challenging start for us as our toys are not as animated and entertaining as the products you’ll find at the toy stores.  We have designed our products in such a way that will engage children in long periods of play through the guidance of mothers and teachers.  This is to help them focus and have longer periods of attention span.  

T-MATO Color Beanies (Photo by Cat JL)

In spite of this, we have received so much positive feedback especially from mothers and teachers here in Bacolod, in some parts of the country and even in the US and Australia, who have expressed their interest and appreciation for what we do.  One of the moms who purchased all of our products, expressed how grateful she is for being able to buy these toys and not have to make them herself because she believes in how helpful these are to her child.  Other Moms have told us how engaged their children are in playing with our toys and how they have truly mastered the skills that our toys were meant to teach.

T-MATO Color Popsicles (Photo by Cat JL)

We have also brought back one of the ‘old school’ toys from my generation, the chinese jackstones, which has gotten a lot of attention especially from mothers like myself!  I think it’s great that these old games are brought to life again, although I suspect that the moms play them more than their children.

T-MATO Chinese Jackstones

This business also supports the local community as we have tapped one of the Gawad Kalinga sites to manufacture the goods for us.  These are mostly handmade using materials that are safe, durable and as much as possible, locally sourced.

T-MATO Movement Dice (Photo by Cat JL)

T-MATO Fishing Game

It is my hope that through these toys, many children will have positive experiences in learning.  That through these efforts and through the passion and love of parents and teachers, we will be able to raise a generation that’s capable and well-equipped in facing the 21^st century, with their values strong and very much in tact to guide them.

Teacher-Made Toys (T-MATO)

(Published for Sun Star Bacolod Lifestyle Section, March 27, 2014)

The Blessings of Teaching

I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered to write for Sun Star’s Lifestyle Section.  Being an educator at Lamblight Catholic School, TV Host of GMA’s Isyu Subong Negrense and a mother of 2 wonderful children (yes, I may be biased), I knew this would be a great addition to my varied roles.  I got excited about being able to share my thoughts from the perspective of my simple life, with the hope that somehow it would bless you, our readers.

TV hosts & reporters of GMA Isyu Subong Negrense
Erwin Nicavera, Kat Valencia, myself and Stephanie Azucena

My column is entitled as such because this is my personal conviction.  I try to practice being grateful in every situation to the point of making it as natural as breathing. I aspire for this because I believe that being grateful is the key to happiness and to experiencing the fullness of life.

LCS Toddler students inspecting the growth
of their pechay as they study about plants.

One of the things that I am most thankful for is the blessing of finding my passion in educating children. During my first years of teaching, I was captivated by the charm of my 1-3 year old students.  Year after year, they have given me much joy and seeing them bloom into confident, loving, secure individuals with a healthy love for learning has given me much fulfilment.

LCS Toddlers watering their plants

As I involve myself more with the elementary and high school, I appreciate the school’s effort in finding the most effective ways in truly educating children and preparing them for life.  We are called an alternative school, using progressive education.  There is great respect for each individual and the school acknowledges that each child has a unique learning style and a special giftedness.  We make learning experiential for education to be more relevant to these children.

LCS students, the love and joy of Teacher Gretchen

It is in this little community that I find the miracles that I need to encourage me to keep on being grateful everyday, every moment, every breath.  Moments when I laugh with co-teachers about how adorable and funny our students are.  Moments when we get smothered by hugs and kisses (and we really do, every single day!).  Moments when I see children truly shining, truly growing, truly alive in their learning. 

At the shoot of GMA Isyu Subong Negrense at Bago City

Needless to say, no matter what challenges we are facing, there are countless blessings in our daily lives, if we only learn to be consciously aware and be appreciative of them. 

(Published for Sun Star Bacolod, Lifestyle Section, March 20, 2014)

Loving Oneself

THROUGHOUT the year I struggle to find time for exercise, but with all the roles that I juggle as mom, teacher, entrepreneur and tv host, I could barely get to it.  So when summer break came around, I knew this was the very thing that I wanted to do because I knew how much I’ve been neglecting myself in this aspect.

After the end of the school year, I found myself looking at an empty planner and being able to wake up whenever I wanted.  This was definitely the luxury that I looked forward to after a productive school year, and I love it!

As always, whenever I’ve stopped exercise for a while, I had to condition my mind and push myself to enroll at the gym. 

Eclipse Gym's Work out Facility

Because I tend to get bored with one type of exercise done over and over again, Eclipse Gym has become the perfect solution for me because it offers an unlimited, all-access entry into their studio classes, spinning classes and the use of gym equipment for a flat rate of P1,800.  Not bad at all especially if you were to maximize the use of all the facilities!

Spinning Class with Instructor Mark

I had to try the latest craze in Bacolod, which is spinning. To get a slot in any of the classes, one has to come early to reserve a bike.  Spinning is just simply indoor cycling with variations that allow the different muscle groups to get a good workout too.  I find it very enjoyable with the pumping music and the laser lights, it actually feels like a party!  It also gives me a really good sweat, which is an indicator of a great workout for me as I’m not one to sweat easily.  They say an hour of spinning could burn from 600-900 calories!

I also tried out many of the classes such as yoga, trx, boot camp, taebo and zumba and I find that doing a variety of these classes keeps me wanting to go back everyday.

Yoga Class with Eclipse Gym's Manager & Yoga Instructor, Lally Arceo

For me, the thing that makes a workout effective and sustainable is when it is enjoyable, and that is the blessing that I’m experiencing now.  In yoga class, our instructor, Lally Arceo constantly reminds us to forget about everything and devote that hour to ourselves fully. It reminds me why I am doing this in the first place.  Being healthy and losing weight is a great benefit, but the thing that brings me there everyday is the experience of taking care of myself.

Boot Camp Class with Instructor Buddy

This mundane habit of going to the gym everyday is a big act of love and respect for myself.  In taking care of my body and my health, I am telling myself that I am worthy to be loved and cared for. 

Many times we get too busy with our daily affairs that we tend to neglect ourselves. But it is important to STOP...  and take time off everything that we are busy with to take care of ourselves  before any negative reminder like sickness comes around.

As Stephen Covey's 7th habit says, "Sharpen the Saw".  Stopping to take care of ourselves makes us more effective and more efficient so it is important to do this once in a while.

Eclipse Gym's Bar & Lounge Area

Just as there are different love languages, there are  different ways we need to be loved.  Some of us need to rest, to pray, to go on a retreat, to get a doctor's checkup, or to read a good book.  Whatever it is you need to do for yourself, go ahead and do it.  Love yourself today!

(Published for Sun Star Bacolod, Lifestyle Section, April 24, 2014)

What Matters Most

During my last trip to Manila, I stopped by the bookstore at the airport on the way back home.  Whenever I enter a bookstore and I have nothing on my list to buy, I usually say a prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in choosing a good book to read.  One that will enrich me as a person.  I was led to this book, and while reading the first page, I had no doubt that indeed I was guided.  This book is about developing character, something that should go hand in hand with spirituality.  This is a good reminder of what matters most in life.  I love this book because of its simple yet captivating style of writing.  I was more than halfway done with the book when I landed in Bacolod after the hour-long trip.  This is short, easy reading that has the potential of making us better individuals, if only we apply what it espouses.  Enjoy reading and be better persons! :)

Talking about?

     (This is a super late post... written last March 2013)

Little Jacob, my youngest in class on the right most

  The other day my youngest student, Jacob (a tiny 2 year old boy) came to school early because his yaya said he was excited to come to school.  So while I was preparing for class, he was busily working on some of the materials in the classroom.  Shin, a Kindergarten student was also there, playing with the materials while waiting for his class to start.  I was busy arranging my students' worksheets when Shin asked me "What are you doing teacher?", "I'm fixing my students' worksheets" I replied.  "Fixing? Why fixing?" asked Shin.  Then Jacob interrupted "Wawawawa what you toking bout?" :)

Blog Renovation

My Gabe and Ella with cousins at Cebu

Lamblight Teachers sharpening the saw at  Don Salvador Benedicto

I know, It's been a while since my last entry.  Summer went by, things got busy with the kids and preparations for this school year that I didn't have time to write.  Although it seems that I totally abandoned my blog, I have been thinking about making changes.  I initially put up this blog to document my experiences as a preschool teacher but over the summer, there were some things that I wanted to write about that are not quite related to teaching.  I didn't want to take care of 2 or more blogs as I could hardly keep up with one, so I decided to integrate them all here.  

It was a struggle for me to decide on this and I had a mental debate going on for a few weeks about opening up my life through this blog.  But the strongest contention was my realization that if only one person were to be blessed or inspired by any of my entries, then this endeavor would be worth it.  

It took another 2 to 3 weeks deciding on the concept and title of the blog.  I knew I wanted it to be a personal blog, coming from the perspective of a mom, preschool teacher, TV host and a Negrense, but I didn't know how to encapsulate all these facets of my life into one persona.  

After playing around with the words passion, gratitude and joy, I finally ended up with Breathing Gratitude... peacefully and contentedly.  This is the disposition that I always want to have no matter what my circumstance in life.  I truly believe that happiness follows a grateful heart.  As Madame Blueberry of Veggietales says, "A thankful heart is a happy heart", I pray that this blog inspires us to be more grateful and that happiness would abound.  And in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  Truly the good Lord has given us so much that it is only right that we breathe gratitude every moment of our lives.

Breathing gratitude during the summer break with my Ella

Proud Mom of Bloggers

     Things got busy for me the past weeks that's why I haven't written for quite a while.   But while I have been quiet, my Gabe (11 years old) and Ella (7 years old) got to work.  They have been curious ever since I started my blog and when I asked them if they wanted to write their own blogs, they both said yes.  They found the best opportunity to write their first blog when I took them for an adventure.  I will let them share this with you themselves so please visit their blogs and drop them a word of encouragement or two.  

theunexpectedlifebygabe.blogspot.com

asweetlifebyella.blogspot.com