INTEGRATED LEARNING – IN TWO DIFFERENT COINS

This is one side of the coin - circumscribing it.

Twice or more, I’ve been to several International Schools including Intentional Kindergartens just to observe the learning environment. Each of these institutions must conform to a standardized curriculum - to keep going; to keep a good reputation; to earn more eventually.

To those who could not afford such an education are threatened financially – in short, it’s very expensive. And lucky are those who could take this challenge in their desperate desire to give the best education for their kids.

Good for you!

And those who could not get into such an institution should learn to be content – in other words integrated learning is way expensive. Aside from sounding fancy and unaffordable, every poor individual has no room for such a thing.

That’s reality!

Every time I happened to pass by any of those prestigious schools, I couldn’t help but ask my self “Why these people are always having the best thing in life?” So back off, and so threatened my self as well. Sad to say though, but if one has no sufficient wealth education is always in the limit.

Integrated learning is a very good thing so to speak, but it will take a lot of money to indulge in such education and to have such an educator.

And this is the other side of the coin – not circumscribing it.

I could demarcate more by giving all the disadvantages for such a learning strategy but I prefer not to – no benefit anyway. And if I did, it would only trigger a thing. Maybe I’d end up believing that integrated learning is only for the rich.

But I don’t think so!

For even poor kids deserve such kind of learning. This always goes back to the teacher himself or herself. Working for this unsustainable organization always put me to the limit - financially wise. I have big dreams and a lot of good programs for the kids. But I am always challenged on how to implement everything just to give them the best education.

Not anymore. I figured out many good things in the process. After designing and redesigning the curriculum, they too can now have an integrated learning. Happy to say, even the less privileged kids can now study this standardized program without leaving the center.

The second two pictures above are explicit example to this. Instead of learning new vocabulary in a very old-fashioned way or remembering all the words through a spelling, I had them used the word factory. As I say the word, the first player picks the letter to form the word. If one picks the next letter wrong, another player continues. So on and so forth. When one forms the letters correctly, he/she gets the point. And then I explain the meaning of the word and its proper uses.

This breaks the norm.

Playing UNO for instance – this is one way to help learners remember colors; even learn to follow sophisticated instructions such as draw four, reverse, skip, change color, say UNO, pick a card, etcetera. Instead of doing the norm like present the vocabulary, you can do a twist or a change. And then assured that an integrated learning takes place.

This is when learning aside from banking method strategy or a traditional way becomes fun.

I believe that familiarity or mastery is one of the goals in integrated learning. And there are like hundred ways or more to attain this goal. And this is what I usually do to my kids – creativity.

This time I followed the amazing race strategy. It’s a corporate task finding each clue and doing every order. Instead of doing a normal routine reviewing previous lesson, I had a shift (as always). For example, in one of the tasks given was to explain each part of speech. But the leader must see to it that each member in the team had understood the lesson by heart before performing the task corporately.

Again, instead of giving a usual worksheet, I had them do it by group (one of the tasks in the amazing race) so they will learn to contribute ideas among themselves. Most importantly each one can learn from each one specially these new kids at the center.

It helped a lot. But I leave it to you to predict the rest of the benefits for they are too obvious. This is when learning aside from rote style or memorization becomes absorbing.

Well, I don’t need more highlights to give my defense. This is not my intention!

For now, I would like to encourage each educator that integrated learning is not always associated with sophisticated technology, with an air-conditioned room, with International schools, and the like. You can use whatever simple resources you have in your hand right now. Nature for instance - it’s free but you can take a wonderful lesson experience out of it. That’s what it makes an integrated learning.

Which of these coins would you prefer? Up to you!

SIMPLY FATHERING

Not a parent yet, but having a huge responsibility more than one parents can do. Every moment with these kids not my own is but facing different challenges. And who would have thought I would end up my life here – not in my wildest desire. That’s why I am still single.

I used to call it a forced parenting. For some reasons – at first, I came here to train teachers (TESOL) and not family planning; secondly, I was only asked to help revised the curriculum, nothing else; finally, I was hired as an Organization Consultant, then as a Program Director but not a Daddy. None of these responsibilities is at least closed to the definition of parenting.

I used to call it this way, a forced parenting - not anymore.

Now I’m having the privilege in the world, when no one is willing to do so. Life in here is undeniably bittersweet but that’s when I learned generosity and fathering after all. A lot of times I asked “why me?” when I don’t have all the wealth and riches. But then I am reminded of things I have basically – my love for the children, and the love of the Father. And so here I am simply fathering.

Not a parent yet, but it doesn’t take marriage to be a father. Marriage is not the ultimate guarantee to raising kids. Sad to say there are lots of failed marriages out there which also affected their own children. Explicit examples to this are my kids – many of them are growing up having no father around them.

Now I’m joyfully sharing my life for a challenging task – simply fathering. I am so blessed to know that each kid calls me daddy, and that each one of them respects me this way.

Not a parent yet, but I have knowledge to share.

I may not be one of those fathers constitutionally decreed or declared, but I know what a parenting is. I know for sure the importance of not abandoning any child. I know very clear the ultimate purpose of raising-up children in the why they should grow as exhorted in the book of Proverbs.

Not a parent yet but I am simply fathering.

SMILE

Eight years ago, I wrote an article about “LIFE WITH A SMILE” exemplifying the life of Filipinos facing every crisis creatively. Amidst all these seemingly awful economic upheaval and political controversies, we have learned to stand strong and face each issue - with an endless smile.

Two days ago, a friend commented on one of my recently uploaded photos on facebook expressing her amazement about the simplicity of life in the village. There my kids enjoying what she called a simple snack (a papaya fruit) without grumbling, and yet so satisfied - with an endless smile.

The world nowadays is so tough. This can be valid reason for not smiling. But if we consider every situation optimistically, it’s going to be another story. It’s going to be a day full of smile still.

Look at these kids for instance. Do you think they are exempted from all these problems? Kidding me! They have more serious issues than ours. But they always look at the bright side of what life can offer…with a sincere smile. And I am challenged, myself.

Sometimes I wonder what future has in stored for them. But even if I keep worrying on what lies ahead, I would not have any answers to that. For now, I am focusing on what help I can offer. I am encouraging each one to learn chase their dreams with a hopeful attitude. With this they will understand that no one is a loser.

And for now, I am teaching my kids how to face obstacles with a smile. With this, they’ll learn that crisis is just part of life. And with this, they’ll learn to work diligently with smile on their faces instead of sitting at the corner downcast.

I live with them.

I take care of them.

And so I am in the right perspective commenting about their situation – these kids are living in a small basin of no opportunity but not hopeless. All I could do is to pray for abounding grace as I set myself an example in diligence, in happiness - a life filled with smile.

Look around keenly, and you’ll not miss to see a lot of greedy people - so discontented, so unhappy, and yet they have every thing they needed.

Listen attentively to the cries of greedy people, and you’ll hear but their endless complaints- so envious craving for more; so desperate to have all the world has to offer.

Now look at these kids. Have them remind us that even with a simple thing; that even with a simple lifestyle; that even with a simple snack on the table (a papaya maybe) - life can still be beautiful, full of smile. It’s your call.

Be blessed and keep smiling!