Art Journey: Washes and Doodles

@djahjumma #waterbending with @STUDIO.Badelles ♬ Secondary Painting - DJ BAI

Author Meet and Greet at Robinson's Place Las Pinas

@djahjumma I am at Robinson’s Place Las Piñas this afternoon for a Meet and Greet thw Author event. Organized by the National Library of the Philippines in partnership with @robinsonsmalls, familes and their children are in for a treat - a joyful afternoon of listening to stories, art and reading! #storytelling #booksandreading ♬ original sound - TitaZee

Book Signing at the PBF: Malaki na si Tere!

 

ReaDiscover at the BA Library: Memoirs

 

Book Review: I Can't Wait to Love You Forever

Any child has reason to feel a range of emotions when his or her family is expecting the arrival of a new baby. From excitement to worry; joy and apprehension; each family member will go through a roller coaster of emotions brought by this change. To walk with children in this journey with compassion and love can be tough for parents. 

In  I Can't Wait to Love You Forever, Patricia Eckerman Ambas, writes about a young mother easing her child, Benjamin, into a life changing event. He is in a state of emotional distress because of a baby on the way. This is expressed in the colors of the  illustrations. A pewter colored blanket, a gray backdrop, pink and cream colored clothes are indicative of such emotions. Needless to say, the child who will soon become an older sibling is need of care, attention and a safe space to be as much as the new born baby.

In Filipino, the word "kuya" for older brother and "ate" for older sister come to mind. Being a kuya or ate entails a big responsibility as well as honor, especially in Asian families where birthright is a position of pride as well. Having a new baby in the family and siblings assuming new roles can be a lot to take.

Eckerman Ambas took care of these issues in a loving and playful manner. This is her first book for children and she has already shown respect for the emotional and mental health of children. Congratulations and Mabuhay!

About the Author

Patricia Eckerman Ambas loves sharing stories - everything is a story waiting to be told! Her interest in languages led her to become a teacher and she has been striving to instill her love for reading with youth for over fifteen years in that role. As a mom of three, bedtime and really, anytime-stories fill her world. She also shares stories with her community in Oshkosh, WI as she showcases the stories of her husband's family heritage while teaching guests at their family restaurant about Filipino food. 

Displaying beautiful multicultural families in her book, illustrations is at the forefront of her goals as an author in order to allow her own children, and others like them, a mirror of mixed families and a window for other children to see into a different lifestyle from their own. I Can't Wait to Love You Forever is her first children's book and she hopes you have as much fun with it as her second child had inventing the actual game played. Look for more heartfelt books coming soon.

Find her online:

PatriciaEckermanAmbas.com

https://www.instagram.com/patriciaeckermanambas/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090573001629

I Can't Wait to Love You Forever

Publisher: WordLife Press

ISBN-10: 1958497010

ISBN-13: 978-1958497012

ASIN: ‎B09W69TT11

Print length: 36 pages

Little Readers' Day

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𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗣𝗕𝗕𝗬-𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲

Ahjumma Reviews: Kdrama Wrap Up 1st Sem of 2023

Over the past six months, I have finished watching five Kdramas namely, The Alchemy of Souls Season 1; The Alchemy of Souls Season 2; In the Interest of Love; Crash Course in Romance and Hometown Chachacha. Yes, mostly romantic comedies. I am a romcom junkie. 

Here are my three sentence review for each.

1. The Alchemy of Souls Season 1 - The first part of the drama treaded familiar grounds. It combined the genres of fantasy and mystery set in a fictionalized Joseon era. It gained its own identity in the middle part when the lead characters unmasked themselves and fell in love. 

2. The Alchemy of Souls Season 2 - Taking off from Season 1's huge success, the season's opening was exciting but the thrill fizzled out towards the end. The story could have used two episodes more to explore the sacrifices and triumphs of the "Four Seasons." The series had a good cast and fans like myself can extend patience to know the back stories that were never told. 

3. In the Interest of Love - Social class and peer pressure affected the relationships of the KCU Bank squad. This is a pretty messy drama with very little joy or comedic turn. I miss Moon Ga Young's quirky portrayal of the girl next door in True Beauty and the squeaky clean Yoo Yeon Seuk in Hospital Playlist.

4. Crash Course in Romance - Hahahaha! Hahahaha! What convinced me to get a haircut with bangs.

5. Hometown Chachacha - This one is too good to be true. Three things that won me over: the ahjumma squad; the halmeoni gang and the seaside town of Gongjin. Friendship; Family; Community.

Right now, I am watching Dr. Romantic Season 3 and Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938. One is a medical drama while the other is a campy urban fantasy set in 1938 Korea.  

ReaDiscover at the BA Library: College Prep

 

Aklatan Ko'y Kanlungan Resource Page

ReaDiscover at the BA Library: On Writing the Academic Essay

 

Step by Step with Teacher Zee: Summer Writing Workshops

 

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In Memoriam: Ruben "Totet" De Jesus (1961-2023)

May interbyu ako kay Totet sa blog. Taong 2016 ito. Na-publish na ang aklat naming “Big Sister” ng Lampara House.

Taong 2016 din ng mapiling finalist ang “Big Sister” sa NCBA Kids Choice Award. Hindi namin iyon inasahan. Isang sorpresa!

Maraming salamat, Totet. Nagkaroon ng kabuluhan ang kuwento ni Ate dahil sa mga drawings mo!

Tulad ni Dianne at ni Bernie, hindi ka lamang isang kaibigan. Ikaw ay kakampi; kapatid; kasanga sa pakikipaglaban para sa pag-unlad ng pambatang panitikan.

Isang payapang paglalakbay, Totet!

Ruben de Jesus (1961-2023)

@djahjumma

Padayon, Totet!

♬ Beautiful Memories - Lux-Inspira

Ahjumma Reviews: Dr. Romantic Season 3 (First Half)

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Step by Step with Teacher Zee: Books and Texts for Teaching and Instruction

Posting here the questions I asked colleagues and co-teachers from CRAIN for our discussion on Books and Texts for Teaching and Instruction.

Teacher Y

            Is it possible for our kids to choose, on their own, the books to read and                        discuss? If so, when's the best time/age to let them do that.

When we go by the principles and foundations of human rights, yes – children can choose for themselves. The UN Rights of the Child proclaim this liberty. As adults, it is our responsibility to create the space and the environment to actualize this liberty.

When is the best time / age -> Kindergarten; the moment they begin school 😊provided that, the school environment has designed and created a space for children that foster and support their developmental needs.

Having said this, there are psych and educ theories that can be the  basis for creating a child centered learning environment where in choice and agency are fostered and promoted:

Jean Chall’s Stages of Reading Development; Jean Piaget’s; John Dewey; Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

Is there a strategy to teach them how to choose the best reading materials for themselves?

  Model the habit, routines and the behavior of making good, informed choices – even discernment 😊

 

Teacher R

I tend to use a variety of reading resources: short stories, chapter books, novels, worksheets (ReadWorks), etc. Is there an ideal profile for each of those resources?

It would be good to always remember that categories, genres, labels and levels are guides. It helps us keep things in order, allowing our thinking to be disciplined and it leads us to productivity. What we can do is to review, examine and be informed of our student’s progress, strength and weakness as well as his/her assessment in selecting sources, texts and literature for instruction.

When should we use a child's interests? When should we push them to read beyond their usual interests? 

This is my BIG problem too, with some of my students.

When reading books set in WW2, I tend to give a background on the Holocaust beforehand. Is it better to let them experience the story organically first, so that they can figure out themselves what the Holocaust is through the story? Should I save the background information for later?

The framework of pre-reading, during reading and post reading works wonders, but also, be open to non-linear ways of thinking and thought processes. It is always helpful to take notes, use metacognitive thinking, reflect and take insight.

Book Blog Tour: I Can't Wait to Love You Forever

I am participating once again in a book blog tour. Thanks so much to WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR for including me in the group of book bloggers, readers and writers who love reading and sharing about this experience.

Last February, I wrote a review of Hope and Fortune by Marissa Bañez which was followed by an interview where she generously shared writing tips and advice. This month, I am featuring the book I Can't Wait to Love You Forever by Patricia Eckerman Ambas (WordLife Press, 2023) on the 26th of May.

For the meantime, here is information about the book and its author, Patricia Eckerman Ambas.

Book Summary

A new baby in the family is so exciting! But what do you do if YOU are the “baby” of the family? Will Benjamin be ready to be a big brother when it’s time?

Full of playful love, follow Benjamin on his daily adventures with Mommy, which just might prepare him to be a big brother. 

Publisher: WordLife Press

ISBN-10: 1958497010

ISBN-13: 978-1958497012

ASIN: ‎B09W69TT11

Print length: 36 pages

Purchase a copy of I Can't Wait to Love You Forever on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author

Patricia Eckerman Ambas loves sharing stories - everything is a story waiting to be told! Her interest in languages led her to become a teacher and she has been striving to instill her love for reading with youth for over fifteen years in that role. As a mom of three, bedtime and really, anytime-stories fill her world. She also shares stories with her community in Oshkosh, WI as she showcases the stories of her husband's family heritage while teaching guests at their family restaurant about Filipino food. Displaying beautiful multicultural families in her books' illustrations is at the forefront of her goals as an author in order to allow her own children, and others like them, a mirror of mixed families and a window for other children to see into a different lifestyle from their own. "I Can't Wait to Love You Forever" is her first children's book and she hopes you have as much fun with it as her second child had inventing the actual game played. Look for more heartfelt books coming soon. 

Find her online:

PatriciaEckermanAmbas.com

https://www.instagram.com/patriciaeckermanambas/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090573001629

The Lighthouse Diary #47: The Harkness Table

We have adopted and adapted the "Harkness Table" in the Academy. I remember how we struggled and grappled with the idea, concept and methodology of it all since it was introduced in 2010. A decade and a few years after, I can say we are sitting around the table more comfortably. 

Still stoic and critical of the approach and the methods, there is openness and courage. Mistakes are welcome. Failures are recognized. We use them as points for reflection and review to inform us of actions to take to learn and to move forward.

We all sit around at the Harkness Table bringing our imperfections, flaws and vulnerabilities. We all know that. Who is perfect among us? No one. At the Harkness Table we are all allowed to liste; to speak; to learn about ourselves and of others too. As one alumna of Phillips Exeter wrote, students are given the chance to create themselves in dialogue at the table. 

And this is what I bring with me from here on moving forward.

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A Day at Net 25 with Love and Everythaaang!

Will make more kuwento in the coming days. 

@djahjumma

Nood tayo! Will be on Love and Everythaaan! https://fb.watch/ko82sUTFRB/

♬ original sound - TitaZee

MAGIS Deo Kids Mini-workshop: Creativity and Finding One's Voice

The participants of the MAGIS Deo Kids activity this morning had a mini-workshop on fostering creativity and active listening. The children built animals from Lego blocks. Most of them worked individually except for two kids who collaborated on making their own. This free hand exercise on creative thinking was followed by a short writing activity on the animal they made and/or a description of the process they went through building the Lego blocks.

Two of them wrote a poem. One wrote a short story. The rest continued building Lego animals. 

To cap off the session, we had a storytelling of Beybi Bibe who went out looking for companions to sing with only to be disappointed since there are different personalities and sounds of her animal friends in the farm. It was Nanay Bibe who reminded her to sing confidently in her language and that the home and the family will always hold a space for her.

In response, the children made mini-books and/or letters to and about their mothers and family.

IPR and Copyright Violation Alert on Dear Nanay

 This is disturbing.

My essay on the backstory of our book, Dear Nanay was used as the "story" analyzed by the author/group of students (I presume?).

How difficult is it to check us out online? Responsible use of information and media includes asking permission and communicating with authors and content creators of sources and text materials. My illustrator Liza Flores and publisher Lampara House / Segundo Matias have socmed accounts. Not only did the author of the PPT misuse information, he/she relayed the wrong information.

Group 2 Dear Nanay by Zarah Gagatiga.pptx from HannahHerreria

PBBY & PASLI Panel @ the PH Book Festival: Aklatan Ko'y Kanlungan

As learning communities ease back into a relatively new environment, out of their homes and back into society, libraries are systems of support offering services and programs that are empathetic to the learning child and the family.

 In Aklatan Ko’y Kanlungan, a PBBY-PASLI panel for librarians, PBBY board member Zarah Gagatiga will share current research and trends in developing library services that promote safe space; and programs and activities that are inclusive and respectful of diverse and multicultural backgrounds. Children’s Librarian of the Year Awardee, Troy Lacsamana will present the Quezon City Public Library’s best practices in creating inclusive and safe spaces for children while Mr. Brian Ballesteros of the Coordinator of the Media Center, Junior High School ADMU will provide perspectives and processes involved in managing diverse and multicultural school library programs. 

This round table discussion aims to inspire and prompt librarians in the school, public and research sector to review, assess and evaluate existing library services and programs focused on children and their families in a time of prodigious change. 

Questions that will be answered/discussed in the panel or round table discussion: 

1. What is safe space; inclusion and diversity? 

2. How are the concepts of safe space, inclusion and diversity present and applied in the school library and in children’s library services? 

3. What are evidences of safe space, inclusion and diversity in libraries – in general?

 4. What is the “ideal” safe space for children? 

5. How can libraries create, manage and sustain a library collection that is inclusive and diverse?