The Finland Education Phenomenon

About two weeks ago, I read about Finland's education system through Chuvanesss' blog post Why I don’t pressure my kids to get the highest grades.  The video below shared on the post got my attention.

This got me curious and I did my own research on Finland's graduates and how successful they become. I learned that Finland's education system consistently ranked as one of the best in the world the past years.

 

Here are some key ideas from their education system that are noteworthy for me.

• Very minimal to no homework
• Shorter class hours. In the above video, the school being interviewed only required 20 class-hours per week. That is about 5 hours of class-hours per day, inclusive of one lunch hour.
• Small class size, averaging 20 students per class
• Average starting school age is 7 years old
• Teachers facilitate the class and let the students do the knowledge work. They support the individuality of their students
• Free tuition fees and school materials
• Free lunch for all students
• Free health and dental care for all students

I am happy that a lot of schools in the Philippines are now adapting most of the abovementioned ideas, save for the free tuition fees and lunch, and veering away from the traditional teaching methods fostered years before. I can also see how most teachers are now regarded highly within the communities.  They are now respected by the students instead of simply feared.

 

While I believe that different methods work for different countries, I also believe that we can always learn from our global counterparts and apply ideas locally, where relevant.  Who knows? Maybe we'll see the Philippines on the global educational ranks very soon.

 

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Pylones is French Like the Eiffel Tower

Last week, the SoMoms were invited to visit the Pylones store in Glorietta. Each time i walk past the branch in Powerplant, i am immediately drawn and are often tempted to go inside and check out their products. I often think of Pylones as a colorful wasteland. But truth is, their items are not only cute, they're also very useful!

Here are some facts about Pylones that i learned during our recent visit:

• First things first - Pylones is pronounced as "Pee-loans"
• It is a French word meaning 'A steel tower supporting high-tension wires' or 'A large structure or group of structures marking an entrance or approach' ...and yes, the Eiffel Tower is a Pylone!
• Pylones started in Paris in 1985 and opened their first store in 1988
• The first Pylones product was the animal latex bracelet

• The barrels used for display in the stores are actually containers of the latex (raw materials) used.  

• Pylones was started by a French couple and is still 100% owned by the founding family to this day.
• All products are designed in France and manufactured in both France and China. The Pylones Group is very involved in the production process in both locations.

 

• The China factory has obtained BSCI and ISO 9001 certifications in 2013. They are very conscious of maintaining high standards and ensuring all materials used are safe and non-toxic

 

 

Pylones Philippines has a back-to-school promo for all your little (and not-so-little) kids out there! They have assembled a variety of happy packs containing everything from pens to fashionable tumblers suited for to fit your child's personality. Buying the happy packs will give you savings of up to P700. How cool is that?

Nerdy Pack: For that whiz-kid that is oh-so-techy! The pack comes with a cool laptop sleeve, a mouse, mouse pad, and a stylus pen. 

Girly Girl Pack: This is for perfect for my little girl who loves all things pink and pretty! The pack comes with a bee pen with post-it petals, cute hair clips, notebooks and pens with cases.

Artsy Pack: Calling all budding artists out there. This pack is for you! It contains fashionable pens, small magnetic scissors, crafty punchers, and a graphic A5 pouch to put all your art stuff in.

Boyscout Pack: Now my son isn't exactly a 'boyscout' type but he is sporty and loves the outdoors. So i got this for him. It comes with an eye-catching thermos, an umbrella with a Pylones character on the handle and an LED flashlight. Great for my little boy who loves adventures!

So what are you waiting for? Get a happy pack for each of your kid now and get them excited to go back to school!

SM AURA

Upper Ground Floor, 

SM Aura, BGC

Tel +63 2 808 5329

Mobile +63 905 809 5454

POWER PLANT MALL

R2, Power Plant Mall,

Makati City

Tel +63 2 846 8023

Mobile +63 917 849 4139

GLORIETTA 5

Ground Floor,

Glorietta 5, Makati City

Tel +63 2 846 1611

Mobile +63 917 538 1903

Facebook: facebook.com/PylonesPH

Instagram: @pylonesph

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Living the Dream

I had a dream.

As a child, there are two things that i have always loved.  Writing and dancing. Through the years,  it has taken a backseat and would only show up once in a while but never permanently.  The past years have made me realize that life is to short to procrastinate.

On Writing...

I started writing at a very young age.  When i was 10 years old, I'd write in my diary almost every night.  Stories were recorded and locked safely with this little key hidden in a secret drawer in my room.  I remember writing my own pocketbooks back in high school.  I was able to finish writing three [note]books from cover to cover and had my cousin edit them for me.  I wanted to take up journalism as a college degree but never really pushed through for various reasons.  In 2006, i started writing in my personal multiply site about my journey as a mom. In 2011, i decided to write again and this time in a public blog. This is where i am now. Sharing my thoughts and experiences on this blog. Somehow living my writing dream.

On Dancing...


Ever since i was little, i had a passion for dancing. I love to dance. I have enrolled in various dance schools - from ballet to street dancing.  Though my skills are far from exceptional,  dancing has always made me feel happy.  I've dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer ever since i was a child. My mom enrolled me in a summer program when i was about 5 years old and I just fell in love with it.  However, since my mom was concerned that continuous ballet would ruin my feet, that dream had to be set aside. After graduating from college, i wanted to enroll in ballet school once again. Enrolling in ballet meant not being able to work at all since the schedule was very rigid. I felt that it was not the most responsible thing to do at that time so i decided to join the corporate bandwagon instead.

15 years and two kids later, i wondered if i will be able to pursue my love for dancing. Then i thought, if i don't do anything now, i may never really be able to do it anymore. I am very well in my 30s and some people have asked me 'Why now?'...well, i thought to myself 'If not now, then when?' Today is the youngest i will ever be.

I had a dream. And after over 30 years, i am now on my way to living the dream. In a few hours, i will be putting on my pink ballet shoes and dancing to my heart's content. Life is too short to waste another day just dreaming. It's time to step up and make your dreams come true. I just did.

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Crayola and T-Pencils: Safe School Supplies (SSS)

Every parent is so worried about toxicity these days. Why not? It's constantly on the news the past years. From the paints used on imported toys to the chemicals that some plastic bottles emit. It's really a valid concern.

Two Saturdays ago, the SoMoms were invited to an art workshop at the Shangri-la branch of Gymboree. The event was orgaznized by the Amalgamated Specialties Corporation (Amspec), makers of Crayola products and T-Pencil.

As a child, I have witnessed classmates chew on pencils and crayons in class (true story!). It's weird but not uncommon for kids actually. They sometimes do it when they need to think or when they are stressed. Sometimes it can also be just out of curiousity.

Since i cannot monitor my children's activities 100% of the time, it's comforting for me to know that they're surrounded by products that are safe for them. During the event, i found out that Crayola and T-Pencils are 100% nontoxic

It was a fun event of storytelling, art, and play for the SoMoms and the SoKids. After the craft session, the kids were allowed to enjoy the play area in Gymboree while the parents chatted over the yummy merienda that was served.

Lion puppet from a paper plate

The smaller kids waiting for their turn to do the crafts

Mr Wood of Amspec talked about Crayola and T-Pencils



Training on shading techniques using T-Pencils

Even the moms enjoyed doing the crafts

SoMoms with the people from Amspec

Play it safe and make sure you get safe and nontoxic school supplies for your kids!

I end with these cute animations on how TPencils and Crayola crayons are made.

TPencils - http://amspecial.com/How_TPencils_are_made.html
Crayola - http://www.amspecial.com/main/crayola_ph/howarecrayonsmade.html

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Increase Your Faith!

As with most parents, I felt really concerned and disturbed about last weekend's school shooting. Before going to bed on Sunday night, I started to think about the implications of sending our son to a 'big' school next year. I researched frantically about the school's security and even looked up on homeschooling options. Needless to say, i felt anxious and stressed and I almost lost sleep over it. I finally fell asleep at 2am.

Then i had a dream. I dreamt that a lady approached me (i wasn't sure if it was my sister or a stranger) and told me that she had a message from the Lord. She said 'The Lord wants me to tell you to increase your faith'  - and then i woke up!

I wondered about the dream for a few minutes as i've never really had any dream before with a clear message from the Lord. Then i remembered my worries the night before about my child's school options. So i prayed and asked God if my dream was really a message from Him. Did He really want me to be still? Is He asking me to just go with the plan (i.e. school of choice) and increase my faith? I prayed and asked God to send me a confirmation of His message.  So I opened my devotion for that day and saw God's confirmation.

I was anxious for nothing. I should have known that right from the start of our school hunting days that God has made his choice to me very clear. I was just being stubborn and fretting unecessarily because of my own desires and worries. God reminded me to trust Him and to 'Increase my faith' in Him. Sometimes, all of us need that reminder, don't we?

Whatever you're going through right now, increase your faith in Him. Worry is not of the Lord. Trust that He will see you through.

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Our Little Matador: A UN Day Costume

Ole! Yaya Jovy did it again! Remember Troy's UN Day costume last year (If you don't, click here)? Well, his costume this year is once again designed and created by non-other than our resident costume-maker, Yaya Jovy.

Our first hurdle was the plain white long sleeves. Troy didn't have any! I was ready to purchase one already but Jovy had a better idea - she used Troy's white sweatshirt that had a design in front and topped it over with a white sleeveless inner shirt (sando)...and viola!

Next, we were able to borrow a formal black vest from Auntie JoKoo's nephew. Taped some gold foil trimmings on it to make it more 'Matador-ish'. Then we got some red crepe paper for the bow-tie ribbon and used red felt paper for the belt.

Finally, the hat...it's beautifully done using old paper bags and an old black t-shirt. Jovy is just really talented.

We're almost done...except that how can a matador fight bulls without his red cloth? Enter Auntie Chiqui's red shawl...we just made it a little smaller and pinned it on Troy's pants so that he doesn't lose it.

Presenting...our little matador from Spain!

Happy United Nations Day! Toro!!!

Blog Update: I just found out Troy won Little Mister UN again this year! Woo hoo! Back-to-back winner! Congratulations to my little matador and his costume designer :) Great job!

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Lessons from a Birthday Cake

This morning we were on our way to bring our excited little birthday boy to school when Troy accidentally sat on the box of his cake while going up his car seat.  This was how it looked like afterwards.

I held my breath for a few seconds. I wasn't sure whether to go home and come up with a remedy or rush to the nearest bakeshop and buy a new one. Both ideas were not really feasible. We were running late so fixing the cake at home was not an option...and at 7 in the morning, all the commercial bakeshops were still closed.

I panicked and said 'Oh no, Troy, your cake is sira na! Later your classmates will ask why your cake looks like that'. Troy responded with 'No, they will not say that naman.  And it's okay, mommy, it's only a cake. It's still yummy!'

Today, my son turned four years old. But today he proved to be a bigger person than I was. He kept me calm while i was stressing over something so trivial. He gave me perspective on what is truly important. The icing may be partially gone and the design ruined. But hey he's right - the cake is still yummy.

As i walked Troy to school, i recognized a dad who recently lost his 2-year old daughter to dengue. And I thought of the blessing of being able to celebrate Troy's 4th birthday with him today. So what if the cake is ruined or things did not go as planned? It wasn't so important after all.

I watched my son excitedly head to his classroom with joyful anticipation of celebrating with his classmates.  I smiled at the thought of the funny birthday cake and prayed that my son will have the time of his life.


**Troy already came home from school as of this writing. And yes, the pictures that his teacher took proved that God did answer my prayer. Troy had a blast :)

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Happy United Nations Day!

Last friday was United Nations (UN) day in Troy's school. All the kids were asked to go to school in a costume that would represent a nation. The memo was given just 4 days before the celebration. Being the competitive/OC mom that i am, i panicked!

I started asking around for costumes or costume ideas. I received a few suggestions but none (for me) were 'winner material' :) So i searched the net and found this:

taken from http://cdn.babble.com

So i thought, what would be a better way to represent the United Kingdom than to dress up as the prince?  I started this little project by printing some photos of the prince and borrowing a red long sleeves polo from a friend (i didn't have time to go out and purchase anymore). Next step was to buy blue and black felt paper and some gold foil. Then we're all set.

I got home and discussed the idea with our resident 'designer' a.k.a. Yaya Jovy. And I said both of us can work on it the next day. But lo and behold, Jovy was more competitive than I am. She practically finished Troy's costume while everyone was sleeping that same night!

I was so amazed at the details of the outfit. Check out the hat she made out of white cartolina that she got from previous project scraps.

Troy was so excited with his costume. He even had a golden sword but i was not able to take a picture of him wearing it. He came home that day with a sash that says Little Mister UN :) He won first place! You're the best, Yaya Jovy!

HAPPY UNITED NATIONS DAY, EVERYONE!

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