Christian Homeschooler » homeschooling

Getting to know BLESS (Basic Life Empowerment & Support Services)

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:04:47 +0000

I confess, if not for a very efficient, parent-friendly homeschool curriculum, our homeschooling family would not have thrived beyond a few months in this alternative education system. I am happy to report that we have been homeschooling for two years and we cannot be more glad to have chosen School of Tomorrow’s homeschooling program. I have time and again emphasized in my homeschool blog, Christian Homeschooler, that the curriculum you choose has a lot to do with a family’s success in homeschooling. This explains why I would rave on and on about the effectiveness of School of Tomorrow’s curriculum. Nothing beats vouching for something that you have experienced for yourself on a firsthand level.

What amazes me more is what the people behind this curriculum have also managed to put up, a not-for-profit organization called Basic Literacy Education & Support System (BLESS). Its design is to reach out to the community as it penetrates through its network of organizations. BLESS makes use of the School of Tomorrow system and they put up BLESS Reading Centers to teach children how to read in 18 to 20 weeks. As someone with a child who actually learned how to read with comprehension through the SOT system at four years old, I know for a fact, that this is very doable given the right tool. Our family is beyond sold out when it comes to the SOT’s system.

BLESS kids graduating from the program

Four main goals of BLESS:

Lead souls to Christ (children, parents, siblings and relatives).
Teach children how to read.
Teach children rudimentary math.
Instill godly values by teaching of God’s creation and plan of salvation through Christ.

Rev. Delbert Hooge, president of BLESS with Mrs. Weng Kakilala, director, donating a BLESS Kit for a center in Siocon, Zamboanga

The target groups of BLESS are children between ages five and eight, indigent and out-of-school youth. They conduct daily four-hour sessions. The program is expected to be completed in 18 to 20 weeks. Facilitators are trained and are to complete training requirements and have a passing mark of 100 percent in the post test. This ensures that the underprivileged children will experience quality education, which is otherwise elusive in their regular school environment.

BLESS Student from Zamboanga

BLESS kids in Zamboanga City

Since its inception in 2002, BLESS has led over 5,000 people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Reading Readiness Test in Las Piñas

BLESS is continuing their efforts in reaching out to the community by manner of teaching indigent children and out-of-school youth basic educational foundations. BLESS funds come from corporate and individual donors, church offerings, love gifts from sponsors and fundraising activities. The organization is currently in need of funds as they plan to open more BLESS Reading Centers in the last quarter of this year.

Incidentally, BLESS will be launching a Christmas campaign so they will be able to give their students presents to open on Christmas Eve. The Christmas season is a big opportunity for us to give back and be grateful as more people will hopefully choose to bless the children by way of supporting the advocacy of BLESS.

To send your donations, contact:

BLESS, Inc.

Director: Weng S. Kakilala

Address: MJS Avenue, Levitown Executive Village, Bgy. Don Bosco, Paranaque

Tel: (0632) 822.4433 or 822.9663 Ext. 106 & 111

Email: rsk0909@yahoo.com

*Above is the 9th article I contributed to Philippine Star. Published today, October 11, 2011 – Philstar Unblogged Section.

Some thoughts on our current homeschool curriculum

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:50 +0000

And when I say curriculum, that would be ABCs with Ace and Christi. My son graduated last March from his Preschool with Ace and Christi with honors and we just got done with our first month on this current curriculum. This particular curriculum is designed to be preparatory for the child to shift to Level 1/Grade 1.

I have loved our previous curriculum and I never thought our current program could surpass my “like” for the previous. I am all the more convinced that whoever designed the progression of these programs knew what he or she was doing. It is parent/teacher friendly that I am now able to work in between classes. For someone who is working from home without an assistant in the house, this is one thing I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate.

As my 5 year old son already knows how to read quite well. He goes through his paces, goes through the instructions and does his self tests, all by himself. During exams in between lessons, I get to do my virtual assistant job and also compose random web articles like colon cleansing and even beauty reviews that I post in my beauty blog. I am kind of excited to know how the Level 1 program will be like. I have been reading feedbacks from the homeschooling group I belong to that SOT’s curriculum on Math isn’t that strong. I have yet to see that. My husband is great with numbers and a Mensa member at that. I figured he can well assess if the upcoming programs will be lacking in content. But so far, we’re good with School of Tomorrow and we love homeschooling!

Today’s Word Building Lesson: Leonardo Lizard Story (excerpt)

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:37:11 +0000

Nightingale reads “N”

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:18:12 +0000

I know a new neighbor
We get along so well
“I’ll teach her my new song,” said Nicky Nightingale.

God Watches Over Me
(Nicky Nightingale’s Song)
Knowing that God watches over me
Makes me as happy as I can be
So I’ll sing to God above of His grace and of His love
Knowing that God watches over me.