When the World Began

We now have a routine going for Spelling, I'm happy to announce. Every morning, Jed sits down cheerfully to write down 25 words. We also indulge in Math lessons via Time4Learning. Yes, indulge like in a chocolate. 

To this, I add the wonderful practices of reading out loud and writing. There is no better place to learn than from the Bible. I asked my mom to dig up a series of 10 little books that I owned as a little girl. I added these to Jed's library, and this is what we are using now for Bible, Reading and Writing.

We begin at the very beginning, a very good place to start!* "When the World Began". I ask Jed to read the story out loud. 

Then, I give him a question, or several, to answer. In this way, he practices writing.

I do not correct his punctuation, capitalization or spelling. There will be time for this later. For now, I simply want him to feel the satisfaction of writing his thoughts down, so that he can read them at his own leisure later on. 

At first, many weeks ago, Jed would read out loud only after much complaining, whining and negotiating. We  quickly moved past that in just a few days and he has now taken to this new "lesson" cheerfully. 


The days pass placidly amidst so much joy and learning. We are blessed! 

Salad Corner

I now have a perennial salad corner at my dining table. Here, I make sure I always have raisins, apples, grapes, cheese, fresh milk and salad macaroni.

Don't you just love the juxtaposition of the fresh apples beside the glazed counter top with apples? 

Jed (and his cousins who visit) can ask for a snack anytime, and I'll whip up a healthy go-grow-glow fruit salad for them in less than 10 minutes. I avoid the heavy cream and mix in fresh milk.

Jed no longer asks to buy those foil-wrapped junk foods. He has made the supreme sacrifice and given up his "Turkish delight"- bacon.

He reminds me when we buy groceries --- "only healthy food, mom!"

Note: Turkish Delight is used in reference to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Pink Cupcakes and Red-bowed Puppies

At the corner grocery store today, my muse led me to spontaneous dig through the floor rugs haphazardly displayed at the corner. I found these two gorgeous babies waiting for homes. At just P60 apiece, these 2-feet diameter rugs are plush and comfy, perfect to keep our feet cozy while we study and work online. 

A delightfully pink cupcake  pattern in chocolate brown for me!

And this fiery find is perfect for my young man who likes puppies & the color red!

We are both so delightfully thrilled! 

First Spelling Lesson

Jed & I enjoyed our first spelling lesson. Jed is a visual learner so, for hard words, I remind him to "take a picture with his the camera inside your mind". Balloon is an easy word.   

Here's our completed list for the day.

He repeated "because" and "believe". Jed needs to make friends with words with two vowels beside each other; otherwise known as dipthongs.

I love his cheery attitude, don't you? 

Pattern Master

After last week's shallow dips into each subject, we decided to get down to business this week. We started with Math, as this is one of Jed's favourite & strongest subjects.

Jed chose to open the chapter all about Patterns, through Time4Learning.com today. He loves the videos and online games.

I just had to psyche him through the quizzes and exams. He was dawdling through them and avoided some of the others altogether, probably a carry-over from school.

I taught him to take each question slow, because there is no time pressure. I never made him feel bad about the wrong answers and we discussed them instead.

Soon, he was saying, "Yey, here comes another quiz" and proudly showing me his grades. He averaged 4/5 for the quiz and got 18/20 for the chapter quiz.

I dubbed him "Sir Pattern-Master", and told him to get dressed for ice cream as his reward.

In a delightful surprise, he decided to dress up in a (red-blue-red-blue) pattern!

Smart kid!  He totally outdid himself!

Ready for A New Week

All the art supplies tidied up and ready for use.

All Set for Sunday School

We have a Sunday morning routine. After breakfast is done, I tidy up the kitchen table, Jed runs to the guardhouse to tell them to call a taxi. Then, he climbs back up to our 3rd floor apartment and reads while waiting.

We love Sundays!

Joyful Noise

For breakfast today, we read aloud from Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. 

Jed read the left column; I read the right.

The best parts are the parts we read together.

Violin practice

Jed treated me to an impromptu violin number. A lovely beginning, we hit a rough middle and then we ended with a flourish.

When the song ended, he stood on the dais while I remained on the lower floor. He then took my hand and spun me around the room. What a pity I could not take photos of that! These are the memories I will treasure forever. 

Mom, Where did I Come From?

I found this old gem, from when Jed was just 4 years old. I had my laptop on and took notes as he started his story. Here it is below, slightly polished for readability.

He asked me to post this picture, to prove he was once an alien. I love how he twists the ending to try and get away from doing his studies. Smart kid!



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First, I was an alien. I came straight from the Vinacle in the Purple Planet. But, the Purple Planet got broke by bad aliens. It was almost going to crack. I tried to save my planet but I cant. The weapons are too big and there is only one small gun for me. We fired those bad aliens with our abomination gun.

Then, I fell from the purple planet. My eyes were closed. I almost bumped into the sun. After that, the bad aliens destroyed my purple planet. I never got to see my planet and my alien mommy named Januarika ever again.

Everyone was dead. The bad aliens were dead. Only one kid was left, a little alien named Jerald. 

I crashed to earth. But, my spaceship got burned up.

So, papa God caught me and made me into a spirit and placed me inside my mommy's tummy.  And he gave me a new name and called me Jed.

Now, this is my home. I am Jed. And I love you, Mommy.

But, I had fun in the Purple planet. I did not study there. I only took a bath and ate.

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Cousin Jace

Last night, we went to visit 3-month old Jace who is back from a 2-week vacation to his other-grandmother.

Jed loves little kids and is always extra gentle with them.

Happy Independence Day

“Mamamatay ako na hindi man lamang nakita ang maniningning na pagbubukang-liwayway sa aking bayan, kayong makakakita, batiin ninyo siya at huwag kalimutan ang mga nalugmok sa dilim ng gabi"

My translation:
I will die without seeing the bright dawn of my country. Those of you who see it, greet it and do not forget the ones who perished in the darkness.

Written by: Jose Rizal, our national hero, during the 400 years of captivity under the Spanish regime.

Over 100 years later, Google reaches out across the world to celebrate Philippine Independence Day. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Long live the Philippines!

Mice Twice

Every day, I put off dish washing until right before bedtime. (My hands crack & peel because of the soap.)

Last night, Jed "treated" me to a story read-out-loud. The dishes and the story are done much too-quickly.

I love this. I will ask him to make it a nighttime tradition.

We Make Easy Happen

Memorizing the multiplication table.

I remember sitting down on my dad's office couch as he threw out random numbers and I did my sums as fast as I could.
It will be many days of toil for Jed and then, fun!

Apple & Grape Salad

Apple, cheese, grapes sliced by Jed.
Arranged over a bed of salad macaroni prepared by me.
Dressing of Nestle cream, condensed milk & evaporated milk
Go, grow & glow food in less than 30 minutes.

I like mine with some green tapioca balls (sago) to balance the red grapes. It looks pretty!

Mr. Picky-Eater asks for a separate bowl without any pretty balls.

I love that we no longer have to do the early morning rush to school.

I Excel

For Jed's Math, we are using a variety of materials. One of them is IXL.
Jed loves doing the online exercises on his laptop.

We Choose Virtues

For Bible & Character Education: We Choose Virtues

Excited to put up this and 11 other Virtues posters on the bedroom/ schoolroom wall.
I'm particularly excited for him to learn the Attentive virtue.

Time 4 Learning

Finally, after sleepless nights of research, we found the perfect Math and Language Arts curriculum for my our self-confessed nerd: Time4Learning

Jed devoured the demo lessons of Time4Learning, staying up late into the night to watch the animated short cartoons. There are a lot.

It blesses my heart to see him so engaged. A far cry from last year's struggles.

We've signed up!

Welcome to Our Cozy Corner of the World

Meet Jed. He loves cartoons & internet games. And now he can indulge in both while doing online homeschooling.

I love that there's no early morning mad rush, and lots of time for healthy food & bonding.