Ivy's Site

Ivy's Site http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:08:09 -0000 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:02:35 -0000 Ivy's Site http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/logo http://ivymarquez.multiply.com 100 100 THEATER CAN TEACH YOU CHARACTER,TOO <a href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SHrBoAoKCCkAACnQHLM1"><img border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SHrBoAoKCCkAACnQHLM1/DSC_0038.JPG?et=O1cddMX509DeDgG7YVVGWA&nmid=0"></a><a href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SHrBeQoKCCkAACLKBFU1"><img border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SHrBeQoKCCkAACLKBFU1/DSC_0015.JPG?et=mPTexXdB%2CWhQTXqJnq87zw&nmid=0"></a><a href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SHrBUgoKCCkAACASd2Y1"><img border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SHrBUgoKCCkAACASd2Y1/DSC_0004.JPG?et=K4LDWze6l6uqWZSoJAz68w&nmid=0"></a> This year, Gabe enrolled in a Theater Class of Audie Gemora called ‘My Talent”. Part of their culminating activity was a performance in a full length play to showcase the talents of the participating kids. At the start of the summer, the teacher made plans of having a casting and audition session for the roles in the play. It was a big deal for the kids. It was as big a deal to them as auditioning for the American Idol. Compared to the rest of the group, Gabe was a neophyte and the youngest. She pitted talents with some of the finest youngsters I have ever seen. The sang well, danced well and exuded such confidence on stage. Most of them were already veterans on stage. They joined theater musicales like this every year. I saw Gabe’s enthusiasm for the auditions that she really prepared well. She even asked Talent’s Inc choreographer Ria Lianto to coach her on her movements. Auditions day came and everyone managed to give their best shot at the roles that were offered. Even Ga... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/33/THEATER_CAN_TEACH_YOU_CHARACTERTOO Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:02:35 -0000 TEACHING CHARACTER THROUGH SPORTS <a href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SGMBugoKCCkAAHZIN9Y1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SGMBugoKCCkAAHZIN9Y1/P5310247_2.JPG?et=LtY%2BN4DV9j%2BqCghUSTNRAg&nmid=0" border="0"></a> <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SCkTPQoKCCkAAGx8KCU1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SCkTPQoKCCkAAGx8KCU1/IMG_0001.jpg?et=COdp3ArzCaJ1I8ogczuIjw&nmid=" border="0"></a>Summer is a great way to teach kids lessons on character through sports. My two older kids learned a lesson that only life can teach – a lesson on fairness, justice and that the world is not all that. I enrolled David, 14 and Gabrielle, 12, last summer in Badminton. At the end of that summer program, they were to compete with other students at SM Megamall for the championship tournament. David and Gabe were not really what you call “sporty” when it comes to physique and skills but what they lack in skills, they compensated in wisdom. I saw them try very hard to study the sport and master the moves that will keep the opponent on their toes. That month, Gabrielle’s heart and mind was not on the tournament but on her missions trip to China and her Boot Camp which took her time away from her precious tournament practices. David, on the other hand, literally kept his “eye on the ball”. He practiced very hard with his coach and classmates and will not let up for just a bit.... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/32/TEACHING_CHARACTER_THROUGH_SPORTS Tue, 13 May 2008 04:05:28 -0000 Fun Ways to Love & Memorize the Word Here's a fun, meaningful and stimulating way to make the Word stick. It's called a mindmap. It helps children (and adults) visualize and rememberr concepts and ideas with colorful drawings. Thanks David, Gabe and Daneila for sharing your art works. http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/album/11/Fun_Ways_to_Love_Memorize_the_Word Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:19:40 -0000 Homeschool Blog: Facing Your Inadequacies <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R5P8jQoKCCkAAH8NWNw1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R5P8jQoKCCkAAH8NWNw1/CIMG0018.JPG?et=cRZc6LIZL%2BQwHI6gKNNFLg&nmid=" border="0"></a>    Most of the time, people approach me asking about homeschooling. It’s a topic I’m very excited to talk about and will be willing to spend hours on. My only regret is that I’m not always available to talk because my time is committed 8 to 5 to teaching my kids.  So, for most of you who want to know more about it, I’ve created this multiply to somehow give you a picture of what it is about. This may not be the model or the perfect picture but hopefully, you’ll see that if a mom like me with no education background can do it, you can too! I have been homeschooling for ten years now since David was in grade one. He is now in grade 8, Gabrielle is in grade 6 and Daniela is in grade 4. MY DILEMMA When I decided to homeschool my kids, the first fears I faced was the feeling of inadequacy. I was not an education degree holder and I was inexperienced in teaching. I only taught in Kids Church, I dont know if that counts. I felt I was putting on a hat that was way too big for ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/30/Homeschool_Blog_Facing_Your_Inadequacies Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:00:01 -0000 Homeschool Blog: What is a good education? <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R5VA1goKCCkAAE-BcvI1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R5VA1goKCCkAAE-BcvI1/Supplies.jpg?et=3AIjdMKLjHJEJk7edZ4Z1g&nmid=" border="0"></a>  “I just want to give my kids good education.” We hear this quite too often. As parents, we will work hard and earn a living to make sure we provide the best education for our kids. But what do we really mean when we say education? What is good for one family may be different from another. For some, it may mean learning to read and write. For others, getting good grades and graduating top of the class. Some would be glad to just get a diploma for their kids. Other families will want to add the arts and sports. For some, it should have character and morals. You see, we define “good education” subjectively depending on our perceptions, past experience, the way we were brought up and what we think is valuable. When we talk to couples wanting to homeschool their children, we ask them these questions before we give them a rundown of the homeschool process. First, we address the “what” then the “how”. <ul><li>What is your goal as a family?</li><li>What is important to you?</li><li>What are the knowledge, skills a... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/29/Homeschool_Blog_What_is_a_good_education Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:06:20 -0000 David's Miracle <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/RzxwlAoKCm0AAEpU55Q1"></a><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/RzxxqgoKCm0AAFdGsMk1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RzxxqgoKCm0AAFdGsMk1/baby2.jpg?et=Ej4vjKJe0BJAYQtuVVAymw" border="0"></a>I got so inspired reading the story of <a href="http://sarsiwarsi.multiply.com/journal/item/5/My_ACET_Essay">Sarah Bulahan</a> and how God saved her from sickness that I decided to write David’s story.<a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/RzxwAgoKCm0AADZPFr01"></a> This is for you, son. I hope you will always remember how truly special you are in God’s sight that he has destined you to live a purposeful life. <a href="http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/RzxwlAoKCm0AAEpU55Q1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.ivymarquez.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RzxwlAoKCm0AAEpU55Q1/boy.jpg?et=2kiWUBHZRHIwFjc1OwtutA" border="0"></a> Fourteen years ago, I was diagnosed with stones in my gall bladder that the doctors recommended immediate surgery to remove it. Bernard and I were just newly married and we were looking forward to our first chilld then. The operation was not a problem. The doctors successfully went on with the surgery and removed my gallstones. It  was a very fast procedure but I needed a lot of  x-rays, tests, anesthesia and ultrasounds. What I did not know was that I was two to three weeks pregnant with David. We did not know it up until a month later when my doctor confirmed that indeed, I was on the family way. My happiness, after having found out  I was pregnant, was not shared by my OB doctor.&nb... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/20/Davids_Miracle Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:17:40 -0000 Green Eggs & Ham and How Kids Learn Children learn more when they are having fun. Dr Seuss of “Cat in the Hat” knew the power of fun and laughter as the way to demystify reading and grammar. He taught it with green eggs and ham. "I do not like them,Sam-I-am.I do not like green eggs and ham. Would you like them here or there? I would not like them here or there.I would not like them anywhere." The part of the brain that controls emotions also controls the memory. When children are having fun learning, it is usually remembered thus producing long term recall of lessons. There is a scientific basis for using art, music, games, color, manipulatives, emotions in educating children. When the brain is in a state of positive emotional arousal, it releases a chemical called “endorphins” that triggers the brain cells that make learning more effective. In simple terms, a brain enjoying itself is functioning more effectively. Before I became a teacher to my kids, I first became a student. I try to put myself in their shoes and see if the ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/19/Green_Eggs_Ham_and_How_Kids_Learn Thu, 8 Mar 2007 03:12:08 -0000 MY TOP 10 MOMMY BOOKS These books helped me a lot have my peace and my joy in a world that seemingly churns you to a circle of undending demands of a Mommy life. “A man’s wisdom gives him patience…Prov 19:11. Another translation says, “With understanding comes patience.” If you understand what you are going through, you will have more patience. If you know that God is in control, you will be at peace. This one is for the Mommies who probably have no time to even sit down and read a book but are desperate for something that will help them with everyday life… from the mundane task of house chores to the all important task of parenting. Devotionals: OUR DAILY BLOG by Pastor Jim Laffoon Its short but it’s meaty. It talks about bible principles and truths that are applied through the characters of the bible. As you read about the familiar and unfamiliar stories, you will gain insight and wisdom from long ago. It’s also good for nightly devotionals with kids. MOMENTS WITH THE SAVIOR by Ken Gire I am more of a Bible stor... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/18/MY_TOP_10_MOMMY_BOOKS Mon, 5 Mar 2007 01:33:19 -0000 We're All in This Together! This year, we learned the power of synergy – the power of efforts put together to produce a common goal. We set up what you call a “Cooperative” where homeschool moms can bring their kids together and do team teaching. We set it up for the purpose of letting the kids do things together and learn other Life Skills such as the discipline of time management, speech & presentation skills, team work. It was fun and the kid’s enthusiasm soared high when they saw “classmates” of the same level. We meet every Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 10 am to 5 pm in one place. Two hours were given for each subject. One mom teaches Math, the other Science, and so on. We designated Mondays and Wednesdays as the kid’s time for homework and research. This way, each mom gets to focus on one subject area and maximize her time by teaching other kids also. The whole idea of Cooperative started two years ago when we had arts and sports together. We got one teacher to do art classes in Alabang. Last year, we got ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/17/Were_All_in_This_Together Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:54:23 -0000 AN EMAIL FROM STEVE JOBS David, my 13 year old son, came to me this week and was ecstatic that he received a reply to his email from Steve Jobs of Apple. David has been an avid fan of the Mac gadgets. Being a “techy” guy, he believes and promotes Apple and will not settle for anything less.(...I wonder who discipled him here?) He said he had a dream of Apple releasing the new product called “Leopard”(Would you believe he even dreams of Apple!) so he decided to go and e mail Steve Jobs to ask him about it… And he wrote back. To me, it isn’t much about the email response of Steve Jobs that thrilled me. (Mind you, I don’t even know him apart from David introducing him to me. I even thought he had an odd name!) What I found amazing was the fact that David had the courage to write a popular personality without a bit feeling intimidated. I don’t know if I will have the same audacity to even write Steve Murrell! (that’s the more famous Steve I know) I learned courage from David that day. I learned that... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/16/AN_EMAIL_FROM_STEVE_JOBS Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:32:55 -0000 Caution: Daughters at Work My girls have a cookie business. The whole kitchen is in a flurry. Egg shells and butter splattered all over the counter. The oven is on round the clock. Neighbor kids are on our kitchen counter eating the last remaining crumbs….. It’s a lot of mess, yes, but in the heart of a mom, this is a picture worth treasuring. I feel so proud that Gabrielle and Daniela had taken homeschool to the next level. No, I do not bake nor am I a good cook. This is not something I model quite well to them (maybe they got the skill from their Tita Shirley). Maybe they learned the art of baking because of desperation. They wanted a snack every afternoon and they saw mom still busy so they took the initiative to bake. I even got shocked that they know how to advertise it in multiply! To a mom, there is no kitchen mess that can take the place of seeing your children rise to a level of responsibility. Whether they burned the cookie or spilled the oil, I will always treasure the sight of a messy ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/15/Caution_Daughters_at_Work Tue, 20 Feb 2007 14:44:32 -0000 Why Homeschool? “Train up a child in the way he should go for when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The first reason we had for homeschooling was to disciple our children. We feel we could not do it when they are in school and are not physically present to get mentoring from us. From the time they get up from bed to the time they do their work, a lot of impartation is already happening in our household in terms of training and molding of character. Training for us is planned, consistent and deliberate. Everyday, there are skills, attitude and habits that need to be developed and enhanced. Homeschool allows us to work not only on the academics but character and life skills as well. http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/12/Why_Homeschool Fri, 5 Jan 2007 05:34:20 -0000 What about academics? Homeschooling has a lot of advantages in terms of academic training. First, it has the advantage of one-on-one instruction. Because you are able to give them the curriculum that’s best suited for their learning style, your child has a greater chance of absorbing and mastering the material because it’s tailor fit to his pace, needs and abilities. Second, you are insured that your child is maximizing his time and effort for learning rather than just using it for unproductive hours of traveling and waiting. You do not have the problem of regular school where the child has to wait for the teacher to control the disruptions in class before learning takes place. Third, you are able to train them on what is important in life. On the one hand, we want them to know as much as possible about all their fields of study. But more than that, we want them to develop a thirst for learning, a sense of responsibility to own their learning and a character to pursue that ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/11/What_about_academics Fri, 5 Jan 2007 05:32:30 -0000 What about curriculum? There are now a lot of schools in the Philippines that accredit homeschooled children. The Dept of Education itself supports the call for homeschooling. These schools will be willing to train you as a Homeschool teacher, give you a curriculum to follow  and even give you a report card at the end of the year.Schools I know that are DECS accredited Homeschool organizations are: Victory Christain School, The Master's Academy, ICA, Learning Heritage, Phil School of Tomorrow... too many to be mentioned. In this age of high technology, there are now countless resources available to homeschoolers – from computer programs, videos, books and hands-on manipulatives. There is virtually no end to the help from which we may draw to better educate our children http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/10/What_about_curriculum Fri, 5 Jan 2007 05:27:59 -0000 What about socialization? This is probably the most common question asked about homeschooling and our children laugh when they hear it because to their mind, they feel they are even over-socialized.  Homeschool groups abound aside from the numerous Children’s Church activities that they can be are a part of. Homeschooled children, very often, are more independent and better adjusted to real life situations because they know how to relate both to adults as well as children of different ages. http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/9/What_about_socialization Fri, 5 Jan 2007 05:23:11 -0000 Would you recommend homeschooling to everyone? I would recommend but it may not be the set up for everyone. A lot of things have to be considered before you make this all-important commitment. From what I know, it takes a full-time focus. It will be hard to work a full time job and do homeschooling at the same time. The children’s time is precious. Every hour counts and they have in them a lot of capacity to learn and absorb. It will be counterproductive for the child to wait for the parent to come home from work because their most absorbent time is in the morning. http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/8/Would_you_recommend_homeschooling_to_everyone Fri, 5 Jan 2007 05:20:29 -0000 What if I Don't Have the Patience? If that was the qualification to become a teacher, I don’t think we’ll ever have enough of them. I don’t think anyone will even pass the criteria. Everyone has some level of impatience that really need to be addressed anyway. Now is the best time to deal with it. Yes, I’ve shouted. Yes, I lost my temper countless times and yes, my children have seen their own mom humble before them to apologize countless times.  I think, even without homeschooling your children your patience will be tested. My approach is to deal with this monster called “impatience” and ask God to transform me. Whether I homeschool or not, it's still bound to come out so might as well deal with the attitude. This way, the student is no longer my children – but me. Everyday, I come to God and ask him for these things: First, that He will be Lord of my life and my homeschool. Second, that the Holy Spirit will empower me to do what I have to do. Third, that he will give me the  ... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/7/What_if_I_Dont_Have_the_Patience Fri, 5 Jan 2007 04:52:30 -0000 How do I start? What I try to do with my own Homeschool is to understand first what this is all about. What are the things I need to equip myself on to have a better grasp at teaching? The first thing I did when I made the step to home school was to equip myself with the skills needed to become a teacher. With the internet and limitless books available on education, I first took on the role of a student and learned. I took hold of a scope and sequence guide that tells you what knowledge and skills a child should be learning at a certain grade. Next, I visited international schools and looked at the publishers of the textbooks they are using and tried to get a hold of it. I just tried to follow the topics in the book, and the rest is just reading through it with them.Most schools that have homeschooling accreditation will sell you a curriculum that's ready to use, just add faith! It's simple enough to follow and is divided into bite-size information.It will be very helpful to find a hom... http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/journal/item/6/How_do_I_start Fri, 5 Jan 2007 04:47:00 -0000 New Album 3 http://ivymarquez.multiply.com/photos/album/3/New_Album_3 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:27:27 -0000