GUG Term 3 - X'mas Party

It's the year end holiday potluck party and gift exchange at GUG. It's also my last day of class with GUG. Every one of us are invited to bring along a snack of food to share with our friends in class and a gift exchange with our classmates. Mummy baked some yummy winnie cookies and hello kitty puddings for my friends and teachers. All of us enjoyed the potluck and me especially with my first taste of Amos chocolate chips cookies.

GUG Term 3 - "N"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "N" and is introduced to Nigel the Night Owl. N for Nine, N for Numbers!

Teacher Najma (the relief teacher) wrote 4 numbers on our hands each. Mummy betted $18 on it but no strike =p

For story telling time, Teacher Najma read us a book titled "Scruffy teddy goes to the park" by Barnes, Kay.

A new rhyme we learnt today:

Wind wind wind the bobbin,

Wind wind wind the bobbin,

Pull, Pull, Clap, Clap, Clap.

Point to the ceiling, Point to the floor, Point to the window, Point to the door

Put your hands on your knee

Clap your hands - 1, 2, 3!

It's "Track the Wheels" project today. Each of us are given a toy car to roll the wheels over some colorful paints. Mummy and I had fun marking the wheel tracks prints on a piece of blank paper. Pix up soon.

n - Nigel Nightowl:

Using thumb and index finger of each hand, make round nightowl eyes and say the letter sound, "n" (sustained sound).

GUG Term 3 - "M"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "M" and is introduced to Missy the Mouse. M for Macaroni, M for Meals!

We made a macaroni shaker today. Pix up soon.

m - Missy Mouse:
Place your hand close to your mouth as if you are a mouse nibbling on a small piece of cheese. While signaling, say the letter sound, "m" (sustained sound).

GUG Term 3 - "L"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "L" and is introduced to Lizzy the Lizard. L for Lick Lollipop and L for Lemon!

It's "Shake that Lime" project today. Each of us are given a lime to smell. We then roll the lime in colorful paint and place it in a container following by.... a shake shake here and a shake shake there, here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake shake! Voila! A little artwork is created. Pix up soon.

l - Lizzy Lizard:
Place your hands under your chin (palms down) with your elbows lifted up, level with shoulders. Say the letter sound, "l" (continuous sound). Make sure to keep your tongue in your mouth to keep a pure "l" sound.

GUG Term 3 - "K"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "K" and is introduced to Kayo the Kangaroo. K for Kite and K for Kick!

For confidence builders, we kick balls around the class.

k - Kayo Kangaroo:
Make two fists and pose as if boxing. Give a little punch with both fists, while at the same time saying the letter sound, "k."

GUG Term 3 - "J"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "J" and is introduced to Jerry the Jellyfish. J for Jellyfish, J for Jungle and J for Jar!

It's sensory project today and we mix a plate of 3 different jam - strawberry jam, pineapple jam and kaya jam. Next, teacher Kharin poured some hundreds and thousands onto the plate and I mix it further. I get to feel the sticky texture of the jam.

We learnt a new rhyme today.



Jerry Jellyfish goes "J-J-J"
"J-J-J", "J-J-J"
Jerry Jellyfish goes "J-J-J"
All day at the zoo.



j - Jerry Jellyfish:
Move your shoulders, arms and fingers in a wiggly, jelly-like fashion and shake like jelly!? Keep hands and arms in front of your chest, not to the sides of your body, as you say the letter sound, "j."

GUG Term 3 - "I"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "I" and is introduced to Inny Inchworm. I for Igloo, I for Insects!

i - Inny Inchworm:
Using your index finger, bend it up and down, then move your hand forward suggesting the movement of an inchworm. While signaling, say the short letter sound of "i." as in "inchworm." (You can "dot the 'i' " by touching the tip of your nose with your index finger (Inny's head).

GUG Term 2 Lesson 6 - "D"

I am taught the letter "D" and is introduced to Deedee the Deer. D for Dots, D for Dogs!

During project time, we use fork and toothbrush with some paint and we scratch like the chicks on a piece of drawing paper.

d - Deedee Deer:
Use two fingers of each hand to form deer antlers on your head and say the letter sound, "d."

GUG Term 2 Lesson 5 - "C"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "C" and is introduced to Catina Cat. C for Cat, C for Car and C for Comb!

For confidence builder, we played ball popping with a big mouthed clown which is made from a box. We are given coloured balls and each take turns to put the balls into the clown's mouth.

Daddy and I work together to complete our sweet candy floss.

c - Catina Cat:
Pretend you are a cat washing your face with your paw, and say the letter sound, "c."

GUG Term 2 Lesson 4 - "B"

Today's class at Growing Up Gifted, I am taught the letter "B" and is introduced to Bubba Bear. B for Biscuits, B for Ball!

We kick balls and eat biscuits. For project, we get to eat banana sprinkled with condensed milk. Yummy!

Back home, mummy drew a banana and we finger painted it.

b - Bubba Bear:
Reach either arm above head to an imaginary honeycomb. Bring the honey to your mouth, as a bear might do and say the letters sound, "b."

GUG Term 2 Lesson 3 - "A"

It's our 3rd lesson of the 2nd term today at Growing Up Gifted.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 10 of us in the class today. We sang our special song, hello and high five to one another.

I am taught the letter "A" and is introduced to Allie the Alligator. Allie Alligator. A for Arrow, A for Anchovies, A for Apple!

For body coordination and confidence building, we pull a zoo animal in a box and walked around the class.

We learnt a new rhyme today:

Ten Little Firefighters (fingerplay)

Ten brave firefighters sleeping in a row. (Fingers curled to make sleeping men)

Ding, dong, goes the bell (Pull down on the bell cord)
And down the pole they go. (With fists together make hands slide down the pole)
Off on the engine, oh, oh, oh! (Pretend you are steering the fire engine very fast)
Using the big hose, so, so, so. (Make a nozzle with fist to use hose)
When all the fire's out, home so slow.

Back to bed, all in a row. (Curl all fingers again for sleeping men)

Off to the music room we go!

Title: Little Arabella Miller (tune of "Twinkle Twinkle")

Little Arabella Miller,
Had a stripey caterpillar.
First it crawled up on her mother,
Then upon her baby brother,
They said, "Arabella Miller! Put away your caterpillar!!"

Title: Furry Caterpillar (tune of Incey Wincey)

Furry caterpillar,
Curled up on a leaf,
Spun a chrysallis,
And then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamt that she could fly,
And later when she woke up,
She was a butterfly!

Title: The Butterfly

Fly, fly, fly,
The butterfly!
In the garden,
Its flying high.
In the meadow,
Its flying low.
Fly, fly, fly,
The butterfly!

Allie Alligator goes "A-A-A"
"A-A-A", "A-A-A"
Allie Alligator goes "A-A-A"
All day at the zoo.



It's project time today. Teacher Khairin drew an arrow on my hand and an apple on my foot and here's me during break time and side track.. my new hair style. The nerdy look ...


a - Allie Alligator:
Extend arms forward one over the other to form an alligator mouth, fingers becoming teeth. Open and close arms from the shoulds and say the short letter sound of "a." as in "alligator."

GUG Term 2 Lesson 2 - "Z"

It's our 2nd lesson of the 2nd term today at Growing Up Gifted. Daddy's got to work this weekend so mummy attended class with me alone.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 7 of us in the class today and Teacher Aze drew 7 balls on the whiteboard to count. We sang our special song, hello and high five to one another.

I am taught the letter "Z" and is introduced to Zeke the Zebra. Zeke Zebra has black and white stripes on his body and just the day before, we were at the zoo and we saw four zebras grazing. Z for Zipper, Z for Zig Zag, Z for Zoo!

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Kharin read us a book titled "The Very Lazy Lion" by Jack Tickle. It's a peek-a-boo pop-up book. Lazy Lion likes to sleep, he stretches out and snores. But if you dare to wake him up, he pounces and he roars!

Mummy found many other titles by Jack Tickle. She'll try to see if we can find these titles in the library for me.



We sang "Just like Me" (to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down")

Make your hands go clap clap clap
clap clap clap
clap clap clap
Make your hands go clap clap clap
Just like me

Make your head go side to side
side to side
side to side
Make your head go side to side
Just like me

(Try shoulders go up and down / body go side to side)




Did you ever see a zebra, a zebra, a zebra?
Did you ever see a zebra go this way and that?
Go this way and that way,
And this way and that way...
Did you ever see a zebra go this way and that?



Zeke Zebra goes "Z-Z-Z"
"Z-Z-Z", "Z-Z-Z"
Zeke Zebra goes "Z-Z-Z"
All day at the zoo.



It's project time today. Teacher Khairin drew zig zag lines on our arms. Mummy and I walked along a zig zag line and together, we traced a toy car along the zig zag track.

z - zeke zebra:
Place your hands together and lean them against your cheek to suggest Zeke catching a few "z's" (sleeping). While signaling, say the letter sound, "z" (sustained sound).

GUG Term 2 Lesson 1 - "Y"

It's our 1st lesson of the 2nd term today at Growing Up Gifted. As usual, mummy and daddy take turns to attend the class with me.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 9 of us in the class today. There are new friends too. We decided to draw 9 stars on the whiteboard to count. We sang our special song, hello and high five to one another.

I am taught the letter "Y" and is introduced to Yancy the Yak. Yancy Yak has two horns and a thick white coat of fur. He lives high up in the mountain and use a handphone to "Yak"?! He goes "Y-Y-Y" when he's on the phone. Y for Yellow, Y for Yo-Yo!

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us a book titled "Above Us, In the Sky" by Eric Carle. I like Eric Carle books. Must ask mummy to buy me more. Uh... or is it mummy who likes it more?!

Today's class a bit boring as we sing the same songs and do the same rhyme. Well, a recap it shall be then!

The teachers taught us a Finger Play Rhyme: Grandma's Glasses.

Here are Grandma's glasses, (Make little circles with fingers over eyes to resemble glasses.)
Here is Grandma's hat, (Circle head and pretend to be tying ribbon underneath chin.)
This is the way she folds her hands and puts them on her lap. (Fold hands sweetly on lap.)

Here are Grandpa's glasses (Make circles bigger than grandma's.)
Here is Grandpa's hat (Make a big hat overhead with hands and arms.)
This is the way he folds his arms and sits just like that (Fold arms across chest, lean back in chair and cross one knee over other.)

Off to the music room we go today! My favourite session where I danced around the room and amuse the teachers with my special squatting dance.

We sang "The Bubble Song" (to the tune of "Sing a Song of Sixpence")

Sing a song of bubbles
Floating in the air,
Filled with rainbow colors
Swirling here and there.
Blowing lots of bubbles,
I don't want to stop.
What fun it is to catch one,
And touch it with a POP!



Yancy Yak goes "Y-Y-Y"
"Y-Y-Y", "Y-Y-Y"
Yancy Yak goes "Y-Y-Y"
All day at the zoo.



It's making cotton candy today. Teacher Khairin showed us how to stick light and fluffy wool onto a candy stick. Daddy helped me with my art work today.

Back home, mummy drew a big letter Y and let me finger paint it.

y - Yancy Yak:
Form a "y-shape" with your thumb and little finger of your left hand, place your hand next to your ear, as though you are holding a telephone. While signaling (talking on the phone), say the letter sound, "y." as in "yak."

GUG Term 1 Lesson 6 - "X"

It's our 6th lesson at Growing Up Gifted today. As usual, mummy and daddy take turns to attend the class with me.

I am taught the letter "X" and is introduced to Xavier the Fox. X for Fox, Six and Box!

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us a book titled "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".

The teachers taught us a Finger Play Rhyme: Grandma's Glasses.

Here are Grandma's glasses, (Make little circles with fingers over eyes to resemble glasses.)
Here is Grandma's hat, (Circle head and pretend to be tying ribbon underneath chin.)
This is the way she folds her hands and puts them on her lap. (Fold hands sweetly on lap.)

Here are Grandpa's glasses (Make circles bigger than grandma's.)
Here is Grandpa's hat (Make a big hat overhead with hands and arms.)
This is the way he folds his arms and sits just like that (Fold arms across chest, lean back in chair and cross one knee over other.)

Off to the music room we go today! My favourite session where I danced around the room and amuse the teachers with my special squatting dance.

We sang "The Bubble Song" (to the tune of "Sing a Song of Sixpence")

Sing a song of bubbles
Floating in the air,
Filled with rainbow colors
Swirling here and there.
Blowing lots of bubbles,
I don't want to stop.
What fun it is to catch one,
And touch it with a POP!



Xavier fox goes "Ks-Ks-Ks"
"Ks-Ks-Ks", "Ks-Ks-Ks"
Xavier fox goes "Ks-Ks-Ks"
All day at the zoo.



Weather Song (to the tune of "B.I.N.G.O)

There was a time when it was hot,
And sunny was the weather!
Sun, Sun all around (3x)
And sunny was the weather!

*You can change the weather to:
1- Windy = Cold, Windy
2- Cloudy = Dark, Cloudy
3- Rainy = Wet, Rainy




It's sensory time today during the creative arts and crafts. Teacher Khairin showed us how to stick a bunch of strings as a tail on the picture of a fox and how to finger paint it. What a mess and what fun it was!

x - Xavier Fox:
Crossing your index fingers, move them as if you were knitting. Say the letter sound, "x" ("ks"). (Xavier Fox is the only sound which comes in the middle - as in boxes, or at the end of a word - as in fox. "X" at the beginning of a word = the sound of "Z" as in Xerox.)

GUG Term 1 Lesson 5 - "W"

We went for our 5th lesson at Growing Up Gifted today. Mummy stayed with me during the class while daddy spent time with me during the music class.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are only 5 of us in the class today. We decided to draw 5 watches the whiteboard to count. We sang hello and high five to one another.

I am taught the letter "W" and is introduced to Willy the Weasel. Willy the Weasel has a very long body. W for Watch, W for Water, W for Wet. Teacher Yanni drew a watch on all the babies.

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us a book titled "Scruffy Teddy goes to the Farm" by Kay Barnes. Scruffy Teddy and his mouse friend visit the farm. Scruffy Teddy shows mouse where the animals in the farm live and shows him how they look like. He introduces mouse to the pig, lamb, duck, and horse. Mouse learned the difference between himself and the farm animals.

The teachers taught us a Finger Play Rhyme: Grandma's Glasses.

Here are Grandma's glasses, (Make little circles with fingers over eyes to resemble glasses.)
Here is Grandma's hat, (Circle head and pretend to be tying ribbon underneath chin.)
This is the way she folds her hands and puts them on her lap. (Fold hands sweetly on lap.)

Here are Grandpa's glasses (Make circles bigger than grandma's.)
Here is Grandpa's hat (Make a big hat overhead with hands and arms.)
This is the way he folds his arms and sits just like that (Fold arms across chest, lean back in chair and cross one knee over other.)

Off to the music room we go today! My favourite session where I danced around the room and amuse the teachers with my special squatting dance.

We sang "The Bubble Song" (to the tune of "Sing a Song of Sixpence")

Sing a song of bubbles
Floating in the air,
Filled with rainbow colors
Swirling here and there.
Blowing lots of bubbles,
I don't want to stop.
What fun it is to catch one,
And touch it with a POP!



Willy Weasel goes "W-W-W"
"W-W-W", "W-W-W"
Willy Weasel goes "W-W-W"
All day at the zoo.



Weather Song (to the tune of "B.I.N.G.O)

There was a time when it was hot,
And sunny was the weather!
Sun, Sun all around (3x)
And sunny was the weather!

*You can change the weather to:
1- Windy = Cold, Windy
2- Cloudy = Dark, Cloudy
3- Rainy = Wet, Rainy




Teacher Yanni showed us how to make a watermelon during creative arts & crafts. She cut a hole through a paper plate and we painted it green. Next, we sticked a red paper over the plate and we added some seeds to it.

Back home, mummy and I drew a big watermelon and we had fun coloring it with the new non-toxic crayons she bought.

w - Willy Weasel:
Place your arms in front of your chest, elbows up and hands clasped with palms down. Move your arms in a wave-like motion. This suggests what Willie Weasel looks like when he is running. While signaling, say the letter sound, "w."

GUG Term 1 Lesson 4 - "V"

We went for our 4th lesson at Growing Up Gifted today. As usual, Daddy begin the first half of the class with me while mummy took the second half.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 8 of us in the class today. We decided to draw 8 vases of flowers on the whiteboard to count. We sang hello and high five to one another.

I am taught the letter "V" and is introduced to Vincent the Vampire Bat. Vincent Vampire Bat can hang himself upside down when he sleeps. V for Van, V for Vegetables, V for Voilin.

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us the book "Walking through the jungle" by Julie Lacome; followed by a singing session to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus.

Vincent Vampire Bat goes "V-V-V"
"V-V-V", "V-V-V"
Vincent Vampire Bat goes "V-V-V"
All day at the zoo.

Teacher Yanni taught us the shape circle. We use cut carrot and cucumber to print circles on a piece of paper cut into a shape of a circle.

Back home, mummy and I drew a vase and we added a flower in it.

v - Vincent Vampire Bat:
Bend and raise your elbows horizontally with your hands near your mouth. Form little fangs with your index fingers that come together to form a "V." Flap elbows up and down, say the letter sound, "v" (continuous sound).

GUG Term 1 Lesson 3 - "U"

We went for our 3rd lesson at Growing Up Gifted today. Daddy begin the first half of the class with me while mummy took the second half.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 7 of us in class today. We decided to draw 7 umbrellas on the whiteboard to count. We sang hello and high five to one another. After our good morning song, we sing the finger family song again.

I am taught the letter "U" and we met Umber Umbrella Bird. Umber is a bird with large crest. It is a bird of the cotinga family with a large umbrella-shaped crest and has a long feathered wattle. Umber feeds upon fruits and insects and is native to Central and South America. U for Umbrella, U for Under, U for Unhappy.

Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us the book "Barney's Rainbow".

Simple and beautiful a rainbow
So pretty for the eyes to see
There's red, orange and yellow
green, blue and purple
And it's curved like this you see.

Somebody told me that a rainbow
Has a pot of gold at the end
I don't really know if that's so
But it's kind of fun to pretend
It was made for you and me.

We had lots of fun in the music room today. I was giggling away when mummy lift me, swing me as we sing along to the The Grand Old Duke of York.

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.



Next, we had fun singing The Wheels on the Bus.
Umber Umbrella Bird goes "U-U-U"
"U-U-U", "U-U-U"
Umber Umbrella Bird goes "U-U-U"
All day at the zoo.



Today's topic is on body coordination.

One little finger,
One little finger,
One little finger,
Tap, tap, tap.
Point it to the ceiling,
Point it to the floor,
And lay it in your lap.
( then sing two little fingers etc)



We did an experiment today. We learnt the difference between light and heavy. A balloon and ping pong ball is light. A bottle of water is heavy!
Light objects like balloon and ping pong floats in water. Heavy objects sink in water.

Back home, mummy and I drew an umbrella and we gave it many colours just like many colours in a rainbow.

u - Umber Umbrella Bird:
Place your hand over your head to suggest holding an umbrella. Tuck your other hand under your upper arm to create a wing. Then flap that arm as if in flight, saying the short letter sound of "u." as in "umbrella."

GUG Term 1 Lesson 2 - "T"

We went for our 2nd lesson at Growing Up Gifted today.

Having some fun exploring the "no coin inserted" Barney ride before the class starts.

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 10 of us in class today. We decided to draw 10 trees on the whiteboard to count. We sang hello and high five to one another. After our good morning song, we sing the finger family song again.

I am taught the letter "T" and we met Timothy Tiger. Timothy Tiger is orange and has black stripes on its body. Timothy Tiger eats meat. I am taught T for Turnip, T for Tree. Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us the book "The Enormous Turnip". Most of the class are getting restless cause they do not like the story as it is not as interactive as "Dinosaur goes to School". Most of us started roaming around the class while I sit still on daddy's lap listening attentively to the teacher. I love stories and mummy has been reading to me occasionally. Please read more to me, mummy.

Next, off we go to the zoo....

Old Macdonald had a zoo, E-I-E-I-O
and on his zoo he had a tiger, E-I-E-I-O
with a "T-T" here and a "T-T" there
Here a "T-T", there a "T-T", everywhere a "T-T"
Old Macdonald had a zoo. E-I-E-I-O

Today's topic is on Confidence Builders: Just Like Me; Skill Focus: body awareness, coordination and listening skills. Young children like to mimic, and this activity is a fun way to introduce them the names of their body parts.

Make your hands go up and down,
up and down,
up and down.
Make your hands go up and down,
All day long.

(shoulders, chest, legs, head, body)

Time for some creative arts & crafts. Daddy and I worked together to complete our little artwork. We painted a piece of drawing paper orange and pasted lots of black strips onto it. We then stick a picture of a tiger onto our masterpiece.

Back home, mummy and I drew a tree and we colored it green. We then paste it on the wall along with my little star artwork.

t - Timothy Tiger:
Extend your arms in a "t" shape to suggest a tiger holding onto the bars of his zoo cage. While signaling, say the letter sound, "t."

Check out this ABC rap

GUG Term 1 Lesson 1 - "S"

We went for our 1st 1.5 hr lesson at Growing Up Gifted today. GUG emphasise on Zoo-phonics sign & phonic play.The term had started when we signed up, hence we missed 2 classes but the fees was pro-rated. This term's theme is "My Family".

We started the class with saying hello to all our friends and counting attendance. There are 9 of us in class today. We decided to draw 9 stars to count.

Next is music & rhythm. We sang some songs and we learnt the finger family song. It goes like this:

This is mama, kind and dear
This is papa, standing near
This is brother, see how tall
This is sister, not so tall
This is baby, sweet and small
This is a family, one and all.

I am taught the letter "S" today. Teacher Yanni introduced Sammy Snake to us. She said Sammy the Snake eats rabbit and can also eat her up. She showed us how Sammy moves and hiss and how Sammy curled herself up to sleep. Next, she introduced some words like Sun, Star and Snake to us that starts with S. Next, it's story telling time. Teacher Yanni read us the book "Little Dinosaur Goes to School" by Sandra Davies. I am all attentive and enjoy the story very much. We also sing a song about Sammy.

Old Macdonald had a zoo, E-I-E-I-O
and on his zoo he had a snake, E-I-E-I-O
with a "Sss-Sss" here and a "Sss-Sss" there
Here a "Sss", there a "Sss", everywhere a "Sss-Sss"
Old Macdonald had a zoo. E-I-E-I-O

Next, we head for the music room. We dance and sing to the songs "The Wheels on the Bus" and my favourite "Incy Wincy Spider" (click for a role play) and we went to the a imaginary playground!

Incy wincy spider climbed up the water spout,
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out,
Out came the sun shine and dried up all the rain,
And Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again.

We head back to the classroom for some creative arts & crafts. I am introduced to the shiny 5 pointed star. Mummy and I worked together to paint the star, paste crinkling shiny foil paper bits on the star and sprinkle shiny powder on it.

My little masterpiece!

s - Sammy Snake:

Move your hand forward in the serpentine manner of a snake, saying "sss" (sustained sound).