Mommy Moments 6 – Chore Time

Ate Cres has been with our family since I was 6 years old.  I’m 37 now and after taking care of me, she now helps me take care of Butchoboy, while I’m at work.   Despite having helpers, my parents made sure we still knew how to do chores,  as early as 4th grade.  Not much during the school year,  but  I did everything during summer vacations, when Ate would go on her annual vacation for a month.  The older I got, the more responsibilities were being added. Eventually I had a chance to learn and do everything.

Butchoboy is now 6, and his major responsibility is to fix his school bag for the next day.   However,  early on, we taught him to ” pack away”  his toys after playing or return his books/things to its proper place or else, he won’t see them the next time.

He does “help” around the house once in a while:

Butchoboy actually likes to help in the kitchen, especially when you have things to prepare.

When we’re in Malaysia during breaks,  its just  me, Daddy with our little one.    Butchoboy always helps me during cooking time.   He takes pride in serving food he’s cooked (with assistance of course)

See where the ham went? Expression says it all

What about you, what “work” does your child / do your children  like best?

More  working entries at Mommy Moments, hosted by Chris, here.   Happy Weekend!

Tired

Here’s how I want to be at work today…

But I had two (2) long meetings.  So I became like this…

ZZZZZ…

 

Math Word Problems

Given:  Butchoboy is in 1st grade at LSGH.  Math lesson this trimester now includes simple multiplication and word problems.

Given:  I give the Butchoboy math drills everyday, those worksheets you can print from internet so he can practice his multiplication skills, instead of  just memorizing the tables.   He’s good at this.   He has tables 2-5 down to pat.

Problem:  Butchoboy can’t convert what he knows during problem solving.   He can mulitply yes, but if you you’re multiplying the wrong factors, then your solution would be wrong, right?

Solution:  HELP! 

Ako mismo, I don’t like Math.  I never did.   Now that I’m assisting my son in his homeworks, I’m really praying that my natural dislike for the subject won’t be passed on to him.    I’m doing what worked for me then, practice and practice.. I memorized key words that lead to certain solutions and tried making my son understand.

I am now at my wit’s end.  We reviewed his test paper today and I found that all answers to the word problems were incorrect.   We’re bracing for a 6/10.   

I’m not worried because of the grade.  I’m worried and I want to help him now before the word problems become more difficult in the coming years.

Here’s what I found online from Let’s Play Math..

How to Solve a Tough Problem

Ask yourself these 4 questions:

1. What do I know?

• List the facts or information given in the problem.
• Underline or circle any key words, such as factor, multiple, area, or perimeter.
• Watch out for mixed units!
• Express the facts in math symbols, if you can.

2. What do I want?

• Describe the goal, what the problem is asking you to find.
• Underline or circle any key words, such as sum, product, next, or not. (Small words are easy to miss!)
• Express the goal in math symbols, if you can.

3. What can I do?

• Combine the given facts. Can you get closer to the goal?
• Try a tool from your Problem Solving Tool Box.
• Do one little step at a time.

4. Does it make sense?

• When you get an answer, always look back at the original problem one more time.
• Does your answer make sense?
• Do you have the correct units (inches, cm², kg, etc.)?
• Can you think of a way to confirm that your answer is right?

and here’s more:

Problem Solving Tool Box

• Draw a diagram or picture.
• Act the problem out, step by step.
• Make a systematic list, chart, or table.
• Look for a pattern.
• Simplify the problem.
  (Try it with smaller numbers.)
• Restate the problem in another way, or look for a related problem.
• Think about “Before” and “After” situations.
• Work backwards.
• Guess and check.
  (Try something and see if it works)

and a quote…

Solving problems is a practical skill like, let us say, swimming. We acquire any practical skill by imitation and practice. Trying to swim, you imitate what other people do with their hands and feet to keep their heads above water, and, finally, you learn to swim by practicing swimming. Trying to solve problems, you have to observe and to imitate what other people do when solving problems, and, finally, you learn to do problems by doing them.

—George Polya
How to Solve It

Boy, do I need help.   Any suggestions?

 

News

A Filipino is again in the news, as Efren Peñaflorida was named one of CNN’s Top Heroes  for 2009.  Yahoo!     

Teaching is hard, as I personally experience it with Butchoboy.   I find it difficult doing it for a loved one, imagine teaching a total stranger, and no fee at that.  My hat’s off to you  Mr. Efren. Its a calling that not everyone can do.   I hope with the US$100,000 he won, his project will flourish and help more street children.  Here’s to more kariton full of books. 

Efren Peñaflorida started the pushcart classroom with his co-volunteers in Dynamic Teen Company in Cavite.   It is nice that one is actually doing something to uplift the state of  the street children in our country.  Hooray for the other nationalites who also voted for him online.    (I think we Filipinos really have a knack for this).   

Such great news, not your everyday serving of news.   But the hoorah is such shortlived when another, more alarming news came up.  The Maguindanao massacre. 

I listen to the news and opinions, but I have not personally read on the topic.  I won’t even put a link as I refuse to learn the gory details.   Its such a sad and real reminder that powerful clans still lord over some provinces.  And they will do anything to stay in power.

Wasn’t there a saying? No news is good news?   I often tell “stories” to Butchoboy on current events.  I will gladly share the first one, especially since he tends to disregard some of his books after reading.  But totally keep mum on the next. 

Piled!

I was out of the office last Friday.  The team and I were in San Fernando, Pampanga to visit our developer office.  This is what greeted me in the office this morning…

My Desk..

Look at those new folders.  A folder is a loan applicant, hoping to purchase a house and lot… a home.  And all of them hoping to hear good news because “its Christmas”.  And I already have existing accounts (in the drawers).  And there’s another Pending file I wasn’t able to get a photo of.

I thought the Philippines was in a crisis? But, I’m still thankful I have a job hehe..

Nako.