Elle Marie loves going to Toddlers Unlimited because...

Elle Marie loves going to Toddlers Unlimited because...

Finally, Toddlers Unlimited Moving Up Day...

It is every parent's dream to see her daughter graduate. I remember the day when I completed my undergraduate degree from De La Salle University. My parents stood very proud of me as I went up the stage and get my diploma. It inspired me so much that I took up and completed my masters in economics (on my own). Just imagine how my parents become prouder of me when I completed it.
Although having a masters degree has its own merits, i will not force elle to get one. I just want her to choose the right course, complete it and make use of it. She can be a lawyer, an economist or an accountant if she wishes. I just want her armed with a diploma as she continue to face life's challenges.So, what is this blog all about? It is about Elle's first step in accomplishing my dream for her. (i still have nursery, prep, elementary, high school and college!!!) It is about Elle's moving up day. It is about Elle moving up to junior nursery next school year...Finally, not working full time for almost nine months have paved way. All the patience and understanding translated to improved vocabularies, positive perspective of life and simple smile. I am so proud of my daughter as she went up the stage with her classmates and dance to the tune of "Hot Potato". I am so proud of her as she join her friends and eat lunch. I am so proud of her as she sings her alphabet song, count one to ten and identify the colors of things I show her. I am so proud of her smile every time I ask her if she wants to watch Barney or eat ice cream.

Congratulations My Elle Marie! Mama and Papa are so proud of you!

Toddlers Unlimited Narrative Report

Today, we had our Parent-Teacher Conference with Teacher Lisa and Teacher Lei. We are quite happy with Elle's progress. Although she is not as "talkative" as we want her to be, her improvement is impressive. It's good to hear her talk about colors, alphabets, numbers and just anything under the sun.

In this blog, I would like to showcase the narrative report that Teacher Lisa prepared for Elle Marie. It specifically talks about how Elle is inside the Yellow Room. I am so proud of my daughter.

---------------------------

Toddlers Unlimited Narrative Report on Elle Marie
by: Teacher Lisa Bernardo
March 16, 2009


Elle Marie always seems soft-spoken, reserved and shy. She quietly enters the room with her mon right behind her. As soon as she sees her friends and Teachers in the room, she immediately takes off her shoes and joins them to see what they are up to. Elle Marie did not have a hard time adjusting to her new environment and surroundings. She was happy to be in school right from the start. Nowadays, not only does she say goodbye to her mom by the door but she also makes sure to close the door once she is in the room. This independent little girl can move around the room on her own and keep herself busy with all the materials as well.

Elle Marie usually starts her day at the Manipulatives Area. She enjoys working with some of the animal puzzles we have. Although she chooses the puzzle herself, she still needs some encouragement from her Teachers to put back the puzzle pieces where it belongs. With a little support, she is able to follow and put them in its proper place. Another favorite here is the shape sorter, She dumps out all the wooden blocks from its basket and then gets the box where we can put the wooden shapes through the holes. She also enjos the inch cubes. She lines them up on the table until she has used up everything there is from the basket. After spending some time here. Elle moves on to the Blocks Area. Here she plays with the duplo blocks building towers, making houses for the animals with the magnetic blocks and making tracks for the train set we have. Other times she will use the vanity set we have and pretend to put on some make up in front of the mirror. Whatever it is, Elle Marie is busy as a bee during Free Play Time.

When Circle Time is called, Elle needs to be reminded to pack away the toys she has played with. Once she sees her friends going towards the mat, she happily joins them and finds her place, which is usually right in front of Teacher, so she can easily and excitedly grab a paddle while we sing our routine songs. In the beginning, Elle would just sit and watch her friends and Teacher as they sing the songs and fingerplays. Now, Elle joins in by following the actions! Although, she is till quiet, there are times when she will say a word or two, esecially when we make animal sounds when we sing our 'Hello" song. She also gets very excited when her friends are beside her. She sometimesgets distracted but with a little reminder from her Teachers, she goes back to her place.

During Art Time, Elle Marie will try any of the materials presented to her. Painting, pasting, scribbling and stamping are just some of the things she enjoys. She is willing to try them but is a little hesitant when things get messy. When Teacher tell her that it is okay to get messy because she will wash hands after, she is fine. And when she has decided she is done, she waits for Teacher to take her to the bathroom to wash hands.

Everyone's favorite time of the day is Romp Time! Elle Marie is all over the place. She runs around the area, goes in and out of the house, up and down the jungle gym and into the play garden. But her most favorite thing to do here is play "Ring Around the Rosie". She happily holds hands with her friends and Teachers while together they jump up and down and giggle with delight.

It truly has been a pleasure learning and growing with Elle Marie this year. She has developed friendships in the Yellow Room. This caring little girl is sensitive enough to her classmates' feelings. Whenever she sees somebody crying, she quietly approaches them to give them a pat in the back as if to say everything is going to be okay. She is always looked for by her classmates and as soon as she enters the room every morning, she is greeted by all her friends. We wish her all the best and look forward to another year of learning and laugher.

Toddlers Unlimited Anecdotal Reports

Can't believe how fast time flies. School will end in March 26 and Elle Marie has few days left with her classmates and teachers. I kept on saying that i will document Elle's progress in Toddlers Unlimited but did not have time to actually do it. Would not want the school to end without documenting and reviewing Elle's progress. Hence, I dedicate this entry just for Toddlers Unlimited Anecdotal Reports on Elle...

September 16, 2008

Elle is independent in the classroom. As soon as she enters, she chooses what she wants to play with. She usually goes to the manipulatives area first. She likes to play with the pegboard and animal puzzles

*Yes, Elle Marie is so independent that the moment she enters the room she totally forgets about me. It is like she wants her space from me and the yellow room is her own personal space away from me. I like the idea that Elle has developed to be an independent girl. She needs it in order to survive life's challenges. Noy and I will not be here for her forever. I am so proud of my daughter.


November 18, 2008

Elle Marie is starting to do puzzles on her own. She chooses a puzzle from the manipulatives shelf and brings it to the table. She then removes each piece. She still needs encouraging in returning the pieces to its right place.

*I recently bought Elle a number puzzle and she loves playing with it. She would remove each piece and she make her own puzzle at the back of the board!! Funny but as they say, let them be. Kids at times have their own way of playing that adults can never understand. For now, what is important for me is that Elle knows how to count.


November 25, 2008

Elle Marie seemed to enjoy the activities we presented her on the colors - red and orange! She tried everything from tasting apple sauce, pasting different shades of orange paper, washing apples during apple play and mixing red and yellow food coloring to make orange.

*Just this morning while taking a bath, I asked Elle about the colors of her balls. She said yellow, orange, red, blue! to the green ball and green to the blue ball! Haha but it's a good start to learn the colors.


December 5, 2008

Elle Marie still needs some encouragement from teacher to say what she wants. Although she is starting to say some words already, teacher still has to remind her to use her words instead of hand gestures.

*I am just so proud of my daughter. After this anecdotal report, I saw to it that I stimulate her to talk at home and now she is improving.

Field Trip: Manila Ocean Park

Little Lamb class went to Manila Ocean Park today. The Manila Ocean Park is the country’s first state-of-the-art Oceanarium, open water marine habitat, boutique mall, restaurant row and function facilities all located in one complex at the back of the Quirino Grandstand.The class were asked to wear something white so that it will be easier to spot them among the crown. It was a bit crowded in the park that day. I saw a lot of students ranging from kinder to high school from different schools who were also having their field trip. Elle also missed her friends Lili and Max. Both did not go because they have been there before.
Elle especially liked the area where they keep the clown fish. She screamed "Nemo" the whole time and would not leave him!!! (see photo below) I was sooo happy to see Elle recognizes Nemo among the fishes in the Park. She should... she loves watching Finding Nemo:-)

This Little Light of Mine...

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine let it shine let it shine Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine let it shine let it shine

Call me a stage mother, a bragger or whatever suits you but nothing can stop me from saying and boasting that I am soooo proud of my daughter! During their christmas program in school, she walked to the stage on her own while her other classmates were carried by their yayas! She shaked the flashlights and swayed her head as the song was being played! She neither cried nor screamed for me or Noy!!!

God, I am so proud of my daughters' milestones! I hope she knows how elevated (as if in cloud nine) I felt while watching her perform on stage with her friends. Again, I had mixed emotions. Ecstatic because of my daughter's achievements, very grateful to God for giving me Elle and very in love with Noy for without him, I would not have Elle... I was almost in tears but this time I did not freeze... but my unreliable rechargeable battery did! I almost grabbed the camera of the person beside me so that I can take Elle's photos but good thing we had a back-up, the camera with noy which was supposed to be used in taking videos. One big lesson learned from this experience is to buy a new camera, new rechargeable batteries and and keep the old one as back up:-) who knows!

Elle Marie goes treat or tricking 2008

After the program, Elle and her classmates went treat or tricking in the nearby establishments. They first went to Bel-Air public clinic where they were given plastic bags of goodies... then they went to Mini Stop along Tordesillas and for the last stop they went to Banco de Oro. Elle was so excited. She walked the whole time!!! She did not cry and just smiled despite the heat and exhaustion (from all the walking).



I never experienced "treat or tricking" in my entire life. I never had it in Iloilo nor in Quezon City. Sooo this is how it feels to be in a "costume", walking outside and asking for treats. Thank God, I had Elle or else I never would have experienced doing treat or trick.



Elle's teacher Lei looked very beautiful in her Little Mermaid custome! Everybody who sees her really stopped and stare. Next year, I think I'll buy Elle a little mermaid costume for halloween:-)

Elle Marie's first performance on stage

It all happened so fast. I prepared for that moment but when it came, all I could do was freeze and just watch my daughter. When I finally came back to my senses, I remembered to take pictures of her latest milestone: performing in front of her school mates, teachers, parents and friends for Toddlers Unlimited Halloween program.

I am not familiar with Barney’s rainbow song but Elle was supposed to be “yellow” in the rainbow that is why she made her wear a yellow shirt, black tutu-like skirt, and black stockings. Honestly, I was hoping that Elle can dress up as a ballerina or princess or something “Halloween” but being “yellow” is okey with me… because Elle looks good in yellow, she likes the "sun" and she loves singing and dancing the “Mr Sun” song of Barney.

I am so amazed by my daughter’s independence. She went in front all by herself while her classmates were crying and being carried by their moms. Funny though, when the rainbow song was played, Elle just stood in front holding her ribbon and froze (like mother, like daughter). Yes, Elle just stood there the whole time it was being played!!! I guess she was overwhelmed by all the eyes looking at them; overwhelmed by the flashes of the cameras; or plainly overwhelmed. Noy attempted to make her dance by going in front of her and dance to the tune of the rainbow song (yes, just like Elle, Noy was also wearing a yellow polo! Talking about stage parentsJ) but failed. Elle just stood there and when the song ended, she shouted yehey! Clapped her hands and gave me a very big smile!

And that’s another milestone in my daughter’s life.

Field Trip: Gonuts Donuts, Fort Bonifacio

The Little Lamb Class went to Fort Bonifacio today to visit Gonuts Donuts and learn how to make donuts. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. It was gloomy when we arrived in Gonuts and just a few minutes after, it rained so hard that we thought the field trip will be cancelled. Good thing, I made Elle wearher new pink barbie jacket over white shirt and jeans.

To aggravate the condition, the area was so crowded because there was another school who brought 14 buses loaded with students! We are talking about students from grade 1 to grade 6! and they were roaming around and talking loudly... God! they were so big compared to my daugther .The mom in me wanted to go and complain as I don't want my daughter to be subjected to such condition. But, good thing teacher Lei was quick to explain that there was a misunderstanding between Gonuts and Toddlers Unlimited. The trip was supposed to be exclusive for the Little Lamb Class but Gonuts got confused and booked the other school as well.

Following that, I was surprised that the "baking lesson" was done outside Gonuts. I thought that they will let our kids go inside and see beyond the glass window how they make donuts. I thought... One of the things that Elle and I enjoy so much is hang out in Crispy Creme (also in Fort Bonifacio) and eat as many donuts as we can. What's so special about this field trip then?! since we get to look at the Crispy Creme crew prepare the donuts outside their glass window?
Anyways, I don't think Elle will even remember their "baking lesson" with Gonuts. The important thing is that she got to play with her classmates and she is happy.

Barney in Toddlers Unlimited

Today, Elle Marie celebrated her 2^nd year birthday with her classmates in Toddlers Unlimited. They had a Barney Day in class! Elle blew the two pink candles on top of her Barney Cake and they all had Barney cupcakes! Elle Marie was wearing her light pink, polka dots jumper while her classmates wore their Barney party hats! Elle especially enjoyed distributing her giveaways-Barney stuff toys to her classmates.

Elle may not completely comprehend everything that is happening to her right now but, I know that someday she will remember and appreciate her “Barney in Toddlers Unlimited Day”.