The Lord looks after the dogs.

So the second thing I'm really thankful to the Lord today, is because near my home,  there is an abandoned house. 

What happened is some people came to fence up the house to prevent people and vagrants from using the house, and to prevent people from coming through to the house.

 So what actually happened is because they have fence around the house. No one can enter. No one can go.

But as it turns out, I saw some dogs in the house. There are dogs.

I thought that these dogs cannot leave the house or exit or go out, and then I found out when I was driving past today that the bottom of the fence had been either, cut or being mangled so much, so the only the dogs can enter the house or exit the house because for a moment. 

I thought that these dogs would  die of hunger but apparently they managed to find a way to enter the house for a sanctuary, for a place to cover themselves.

So the dogs have found a way to to enter and get out. 

Book Review: When the Lion of Judah roars

Sorry for the lousy printscreen of the book... 

This is a book written by a christian faith based author. I found this book When The Lion Roars on Kindle last night.

It is the story of a mother, Rebecca Clayton in England, who has three young children who had ADD, food allergies, as well as autism. This book details the challenges she faced, and how she overcomed these challenges through her Christian faith. 

Announcement: Charis Tree Family Day Care

Alas, sorry I've been away since Oct .. but with good reason.

As of date, I've applied to South West Childcare to start my family day care as an educator.
I've:
- attended two interviews,

Going independent for my childcare business.

Just watching this Franchise Show on Channel 7.

About two months ago, I had attended the franchising expo in Melbourne Exhibition Centre. They had a childcare franchise from Malaysia as one of the participants.

I thought to myself, should I ever want to started a childcare related business in Melbourne, I would indeed start my own, write my own curriculum and use the capital to buy the learning equipment and teaching resources that I had sourced myself.

It would not be a rational decision to pay foreign  company (never mind that I'm from Malaysia) when I've been working in the local industry of the country I am living in as I have a better understanding of the context. 

Hence, I then decided to put in an application to a local Family Day Care scheme. I had just finished my interview with two of their Coordinators. 

Later on the same day of the interview, the coordinators informed me that they will come to my house in Truganina for a physical inspection. I have since arranged for them to come in tomorrow on Monday morning. Two fingers crossed and all the best!

2016: Renewal of Victorian Teacher Institution (VIT)

Since coming to the state of Victoria (in Australia), I've had to maintain a registration as an ECT or Early Childhood Teacher with the VIT (Victorian Institute of Teaching).

Start your own childcare to make money

Today I went to a social mixer hosted on Meetup in Melbourne CBD. It was a mixer for entrepreneurs.

I knew we all had to socialise, but I actually was not prepared to answer when they asked me which line of work I was in. 

Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy Level 3 and 4.

The Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy, Level 3 and 4 is the newest offering from MCI.  This qualification is replacing the former Int.Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy as offered by MCI, UK.

Salary of Montessori Teachers (8 years later)

Recently I reread an old post that I wrote in 2008.
It was an article I wrote about teacher's salaries when I was working in New South Wales.

Has much changed since then?

Home made budget Montessori teaching resources

You can guess the direction where my daycare is heading towards.

The learning program will be drawing most of its inspiration from Montessori teaching method, and some from play based programming for the sake of accreditation in Australia.

Due to my previous work experience in a Montessori long day care centre in Narwee, I do have some understanding how the accreditation process for preschools here work.

Here are some links for budget and making Montessori teaching materials and resources from scratch.

http://www.montessoriathomebook.com/Home.html/book/materials/

http://www.homeschoolmontessori.com/MandPh/MustHaveMontessoriMaterials.pdf

http://livingmontessorinow.com/2010/08/10/how-to-add-godly-play-to-your-homeschool/

http://www.confessionsofamontessorimom.com/2013/03/how-many-montessori-materials-do-you.html

Comparing Bank Service Wait Time

After lunch today in Manmaruya at Campsie, I went to two different banks to gather more information on business bank accounts. This was around noon time.

At the first bank I went to, Commonwealth Bank, within one minute of stepping in, and just browsing at the brochures, a lady walked towards me and asked if I needed any help.

I told her I was looking for information for business bank accounts. In the wait time of less than ten minutes, I was referred and seated with another consultant. She took down some of my details and updated my home address, etc.

The consultant, Phoebe, told me that I would need to speak to a tax accountant to get my paperwork and details done before coming in, and business accounts have a service fee of ten dollars a month.

The meeting was over in less than ten minutes.

Next, I went into NAB which was a short walk away. I had to join a queue which took about ten minutes wait time. When it came to my turn, the consultant then told me I will have to wait for my turn to another lady who was speaking to other customers.

As I looked at her, I wondered how long further would I have to wait...  So i went and browsed at the wall where there were some information kit on banking products arrayed, took some brochures, and left the bank.

I was just thinking, if a business person only had a short one hour for lunch, and she had to choose between both the banks, all things being equal, she would definitely choose Commonwealth Bank for the short wait time to speak to a consultant.

I concur.

Busy researching for starting a Family Day Care

Doing research for starting a home based family day care needs so much time..  This is how my schedule is like...

Monday
- did my laundry
- applied for full licence letter verification  from Malaysia high commission
- called Integricare
- emailed CCA and Infants Home
- looked up car models on Nissan and Honda website. (my dad thinks a new 1.5 litre car requires less maintenance and is fuel economic).

Tuesday:
-  download app for Knowledge Test.
- go to NAB and Commbank in Campsie to enquire about business bank accounts (morning)
- collect letter from Malaysia high commission (after 2.30pm).
- to study for Road Knowledge Test.
- Shark Hotel (Aaron's last Tuesday in Sydney) in the evening.

Wednesday:
- start looking for a tax accountant (anyone good?)
- probably visit either CCA in Eastwood, and Infants Home.
- start looking at booking test date for Knowledge Test.

Busy. Busy. Busy.

Working out a Family Day Care Business Plan

God may give you a vision...

But it is up to us to work out the vision.

The Season for a Vision

It's amazing when God gives you a vision at the right time and at the right place....

Perhaps how I envisioned it was a little more like how Joyce Meyer received hers, but perhaps God works differently with every person. 

Book: Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming EC Environments

Book title:
Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments

Author: Deb Curtis, and Margie Carter

Publication Date: 2003

Publisher: Readleaf Press, MN United States

So recently in the last few months, I've been working with a new childcare employer, I shall call Employer O., or EO for short. They aren't an recruitment agency, and shall be deemed as such.

After having been to a number of their campuses, I've had a feel of how their different schools prepare their environment. 

I found this book a couple of months back, in March, and only remembered now that I had wrote a short post on it. 

When I saw this book, Designs for Living and Learning, at the TAFE library, I thought it was an apt moment to borrow it. 

Notes taken from this text: 

Elements to consider when planning EC spaces:

- Connections and a sense of belonging

- Flexible space and open ended materials 

- Wonder, curiosity, and intellectual engagement 

- Symbolic representations, literacy, and the visual arts.

Pg21: The lives of today's children are filled with plastic, concrete, metal, electronic media, and other materials 

Co-Sleeping With Baby

I had an interesting conversation with two preschoolers about Baby Hannah yesterday. 

In my current household, there have been  some domestic discord. As such, Baby Hannah's father had been relegated to the sleeping quarters in the hall.

Are your shoes Pretty or Macho?

So today I had an interesting episode with some children at a centre on Coogee.

We were outside at the sandpit with with a couple of toddlers (2-3 year olds).

Girl A: Are my princess shoes pretty?

First shift with a new employer!

So today is my first ever shift with a new Childcare company. For the sake of brevity and future blog posts, I shall refer to them as E.O, short for 'Employer O' in future posts.

Just earlier this week, I went for an interview in this not for profit company , E.O, that manages their own Childcare centres.

Assignment in Brookvale again.

Today I went to do a four hour shift at this centre in Brookvale. It was the same one I visited about two weeks back.

This time I was sent to the babies room. It wasnt the hardest of routines, but you basically fed the babies, made sure the older toddlers sat up and ate their lunches, wiped off their hands and shirts, and played with them. It reminded me a lot of Baby Hannah, who is my friend's nine month old baby who l live with

Two ECT job interviews today

Montessori Preschool 1:
So I just finished an interview at a privately owned Montessori preschool on the Newcastle line.

I dont think the boss is willing to pay much coz he flinched when I told him of my previous pay rate. He also insists on not bringing in agency staff.

I was surprised to find out that I was to be interviewed by the Director's husband. He said that if I wanted to find out if I were going to be a fit for the school, I should come in for a voluntary basis (meaning unpaid) for about a week at the school to observe
the school.

Ok, you know what, I am not too keen to do that. You can reserve that position for someone else.

2) Montessori Care Centre in CBD-

This centre is located right in the middle of the CBD.

This is a very interesting interview with two different ladies, one being the owner, and another the supervisor.

I was interviewed more on the Montessori ideologies, and differences between play based curriculum and Montessori.

This centre opens from 7 am to 7 pm. Very long hours indeed, but I do believe they do not have that much cleaning work or outdoor play set up.

What I like about this centre is the employers are willing to sponsor foreign qualified staff, which speaks volume on what they are willing to keep good staff.

Stay tuned.

Preschool shift at Mosman

Today I went for a 8- 3.30pm shift at this preschool in Mosman. The preschool was managed by a non for profit association.

It was a most interesting shift as the experience was the most different from the last two centres I went to, and very different from the centre where I last held a permanent position near Beverly
Hills.

The Cert3 Assistant, and who is now doing her 2nd year of a BED (Primary School) part time, was very well informed and a very capable teacher.

She was able to answer the questions I asked her, and had a very open mind in managing and disciplining children.

The experience today basically proved that no matter what sentiments my ex boss had about children having a run outdoors was, it was not going to hurt if they had a fall as that was how they learnt.

I also observed that the children also helped to pack away indoors with the teachers just assisting. Group times was good too as the children enjoyed waiting patiently and quietly and it was pleasant reading a book to them.

Last but no least, there was not much administrative or cleaning duties. This basically took up the bulk of my work previously. Perhaps the only work was the curriculum planning, the prparation
for the art activities, and some general cleaning.

I also liked the fact that the centre was willing to bring in casual staff from the agency for RDOs or sickies, as it really gives the staff the rest they need as when they need to, instead of overworking staff on a weekly
basis.

As much as I love the Montessori philosophy, I believe there must be a balance of reality, practicality, and imagination to make work bearable, enjoyable and most importantly pleasant to wake up to everyday.