Raising Boys

Dylan finishes third grade March 31, 2008

Two years ago, it was unthinkable he’d ever go down from first to fourth. But he did, in second grade. A year ago, we had worked hard to improve his standing in class. Apparently, not hard enough. Dylan finishes third grade at seventh place in his class of 33. He still gets a medal, though.

The Science and Technology Education Center (Stec) awards medals to all those in the top 10 of the class. That’s probably because it’s a close fight and the differences in the grade averages are only a few points or less than a point in some cases.

It would a lie to say that I’m not disappointed. I think though that I’ve understood enough to accept that my son did his best and if he’s still seventh–despite high scores in the periodical exams and quizzes for most subjects–then he’ll never be first despite his achievements and efforts in class. Those are really my last words on the subject, despite the temptation to say more. From now on, I’m putting emphasis on what he’s learning and not on how he’s graded in school.

Dylan finishes third grade also with these awards: High in Naturalist Intelligence (Stec’s equivalent of the science award) and High in Mathematical/Logical Intelligence (or a math award).

The recognition rites is scheduled for tomorrow.

Summer learning for Dylan April 4, 2007

After some urging from me, my son Dylan agreed to set aside a fraction of his time during the summer break to improve his handwriting.

Since I have for so long wanted to teach him how to write but wasn’t quite able to find the time, I’ve decided to hit two, no three, birds with one stone by having him write about something that interests him on his notebook and type and save this in our PC afterwards.

This way, he’ll improve his handwriting, learn how to write, and familiarize himself with some computer applications.

We’re starting with the basics in writing and I told him to think about the five Ws (who, what, why, when, where) and one H (how) of his chosen topic and try to answer these questions in his composition.

He chose to write about his family and below is the product of his first writing assignment. He has written about two other topics since this one. Later on, we will be improving his writing outputs and I will also be posting those here.

My Family

My family is small. There are four people in it. My mother, father, brother, and I make up our family. My mother’s name is Marlen D. Limpag, she’s a writer. My father is Max Sherwin T. Limpag, he’s a writer. I have a little brother who is four years old. His name is Lennon and he makes me frustrated and angry most of the time. But I love him because he is my brother. My name is Max Dylan and I am eight years old. I would like to be a scientist because I would like to study space and animals of all kinds. I was named after my father and my father’s favorite musician.

That math contest again February 12, 2007

My 8-year-old son Dylan hates Math contests or he hates the intense reviews that accompany them and complains at how he has the bad luck of again being chosen to represent the second grade in the competition.

The dislike probably stems from that time in first grade when he was among three pupils picked as contestants for the Math Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) contest and had to cram for the elimination exams.

They reviewed like crazy for two days–from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., it was enough to make a 7-year-old cry. One of the contestants, not my son, did cry, probably because he looked out the window while solving around a hundred review problems and saw that it was getting very dark.
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School closing ceremonies April 2, 2006

The awarding ceremony for the elementary undergraduates of the Science and Technology Education Center (STEC), held yesterday at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base Ampitheater in Lapu-Lapu City, was delayed for over an hour but nobody was complaining. Least of all me.

My son Dylan received four medals during the awarding: three gold medals for finishing first grade on top of his class, a certificate of recognition for being High in Mathematical Logical Intelligence, and a silver medal for placing second in a math contest that pitted contestants from some 20 schools in Lapu-Lapu City.

Below are the pictures my husband and I took of the event. I’ve also updated by son’s resume to reflect his first grade awards.

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Top of the class March 30, 2006

You stood up when your name was called, a mixture of surprise and gladness on your face. You did not expect this, although you had hoped it would be so and it was. We clapped and urged you on. Overcome by shyness, you did not look at us but proceeded to your rightful place, buoyed by our cheers.

You basked in the spotlight of our praise. You delighted in the acclamation of your peers. You are undoubtedly the best of them all.

My son, I’m proud of you. Congratulations.

(Dylan completes first grade with first honors. The first grade teacher called out one by one the pupils in the honors list during a get-together this morning in school. School closing rites will be this Saturday at 4 p.m.)

Of cheaters and cheating March 17, 2006

I’m fuming mad. I’ve been this way since 4 p.m., when I went to Dylan’s school and found out that his English testpaper for the third periodical exams had been switched with another’s. It was so cunningly done, I would have to give credit to the person behind it. He or she is the ultimate cheat.

I don’t usually go to my son’s school in the afternoon but I thank god I did. I would never have found out that someone took his testpaper and left one in its place, one with the name of the owner erased.

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