April 18, 2009

Ms. Tina and Ms. Betty Sy conducted an orientation, all about how to handle children with special needs. Honestly, the orientation was not at all super interesting considering that what they were discussing were just our lessons since 1st year. :o Okay okay. I'm not saying I know everything. I still listened, though felt a bit sleepy coz I was just imagining hearing my SpEd major professors over and over. =)) Though I was refreshed with some information.

So there. After the orientation thing. I was given to shadow teach my student with speech delay. :D

A week-long volunteer work for us SpEd majors had just begun.

DAY 1: ORANGE DAY

I got at CCF early, free ride courtesy of Kuya. :)) Honestly, I feel excited to meet my student already! :D I was wondering how challenging could he get. Because I read about his condition from a couple of sites on the internet just to equip myself with how to handle him in case he throws tantrums and all.

About at hour had passed since the start of the class itself. And still my student was not around yet. So what I did was to contact his mom and ask if he was coming or not. And really! It was funny to hear the mom's reaction about the start of this summer activity.

*I texted Jarvy's mom. Then I called but she didn't answer. After a minute or so, she returned my call. FINALLY! :D*

Me: Good morning po. I was just going to ask if Jarvy will be able to come here at CCF today.
Mom: Kelan ba ang start nito?
Me: Today po.
Mom: What time?
Me: 9am po. *checks watch. time check: 9:15am*
Mom: Ay ganun ba? Akala ko on Wednesday pa ang start. Kasi may iba pa siyang classes this summer. Oh. Sige sige. bukas na lang siya papasok. Late na rin eh.
Me: Okay po. Thank you.

*end of call*

Instead of staying on the Sandbox-Prep classroom, I helped Denise keep an eye on Angela, her student with Down Syndrome.

DAY 2: BLUE DAY

The picture was taken after the assembly, otherwise called the Backyard Bash.

Ms. Betty Sy and her sister Ms. Bonnie are such cuties! :D

And so it shows. My student has not yet arrived on DAY 2!

But wait! Teacher Michelle, my co-shadow teacher came running to the 5th floor looking for me! Jarvy was already at the classroom! His yaya brought him straight to the room after the Backyard Bash.

And my shadow teaching has begun! :D

DAY 3: YELLOW DAY

This time, Jarvy was always present already. :D

As seen... Yes! I had 2 children to guide, Jarvy (on the left) and Elvis (on the right).

FYI, only Jarvy has special needs. Elvis is very much on the right track of development. :)

Jarvy is a 5-year-old boy who has speech delay. Well, this delay maybe taken as a condition wherein he doesn't know much words yet., compared to anoyone of his age. When he talks, it's a bit choppy. And as what I have noticed, he understands and replies to me if he was spoken to using Filipino.

DAY 4: RED DAY

This was the official class assignment I saw when I entered the room that same day. This made our class even more organized. :D

Honestly, handling the 2 boys was not as simple as anyone would think. Well, both understood English and Filipino. :) What made it complicated was the fact that Jarvy understoods things better if you talk to him in Filipino, while Elvis in English! :o It was a total "windang" moment for me coz I had to talk to one first about the directions in English, then the other in Filipino...or vice versa.

Just to make things clear.... I am not complaining with the tasks assigned to me. :D

DAY 5: GREEN DAY

The assembly place is spacious. It was able to accommodate all the students enrolled for God's Big Backyard summer activity. :)

And the songs!!! ALL ARE LOVE! :D

Oh here! A picture of all of us inside the Sandbox-Prep classroom! plus Ms. Betty Bee! :D

DAY 6: GOD'S BIG BACKYARD DAY

Fairy Betty Sy speaks! I love her being an advocate of children with special needs! Her speech made me teary-eyed, because she was talking about how people should be aware of these kids existence and not to treat them unjustly because of their conditions! :')

YES! She is a mother of a cute little daughter with Down Syndrome! :D

Lastly, this shot is taken by one unknown being. :)) kidding. :p
All the UST Special Education majors/ volunteers with Ms. Betty Sy

******************************
This volunteer activity made my summer more interesting. I have learned a lot from here--from the moment I first set foot on a weekday morning in MRT *laughs* 'til the moment I had to take my hands off Jarvy who was wanting to bring me home with his family. :')

I LOVE KIDS.
I LOVE MY CHOSEN PROGRAM.
I LOVE TEACHING.