Free Download: How Life Imitates Chess

I was surprised to receive an ebook  copy of Garry Kasparov's bestseller, How Life Imitates Chess this morning. Checked it out immediately and realized it was indeed a good output from the former world chess champion of 22 years.  The Grandmaster, in his long reign as a world champion faced more a lot of tough choices on and off the chessboard.


Strategic thinking is a powerful tool in real life and in whatever field of practice you may be in and Kasparov easily mixes wits with genius and came up with the book. 


I copied part of an interview given by Amazon to Garry Kasparov below:

Amazon.com: Playing chess competitively no doubt requires huge reserves of passion, patience, and discipline. For those readers who haven't experienced the kind of rigorous training that competitive chess imparts, can you recommend some good ways to practice strategic thinking?

Kasparov: We all do it every day, the difference is that it takes discipline to become aware of it. In the book I ask the reader to consider all the significant decisions they made that day, that week. You don't have to be a chess player or an executive to benefit from improving your decision- making process. We make hundreds of decisions just to get through each day. A handful are important enough to keep track of, to look back on critically. Were they successful? Why or why not? We can train ourselves, which is really the only way. 

Here is the Scribd format of the book:


How Life Imitates Chess

Least Restrictive Environment 2nd Part

Hello there! We are now in the final part of our post regarding he least restrictive educational placements for children and learners with special educational needs. From our previous post, we dealt with the first five LRE's option for students starting from the least restrictive to the fifth level. Below is the sixth to the eleventh level of LRE:

6. Special Class Placement with Mainstreaming - This placement is for students who need a more restrictive setting for learning to take place. Factors that come into play in the learning process like behavioral and cognitive skills or lack of it are some of the things the special education team must look into. Mainstreaming here is also called as the "push-in".

7. Full-Time Special Class within a Regular School - This is a segregated scheme where students condition or present level of skills do not permit them to participate successfully in the regular class, even for part of the day. These are the students who require a very structured, closely monitored program on a daily basis. These are the students that can handle the rules and structure of a regular school building but not the freedom or style of a less restrictive environment.

8. Special Day School - Think about therapy centers with specialists working together on a specific type of ability or disability. The students in this setting require a more totally therapeutic environment and closer monitoring by specially trained professionals.

9. Residential Schools -   This is the next most restrictive setting. Not only students with disability and special needs receive their education within this setting but usually resides there for the term.The nature and length of home visits depend upon several factors.

10. Homebound Instruction - Homeschooling  due to various reasons: chronic illness, injury and so on. Most of the time, the parents are the ones providing the education part of the "learning" aspect of the student but for the therapeutic side, professionals come in and do the job.

11. Hospital or Institution - The most restrictive setting is used is a hospital or institutional setting. This maybe restrictive but for some it is the only choice.

To sum up our two-part post regarding the least restrictive educational placements for students with special educational needs, we have to keep in mind the following; the settings are not etched in stone, it is something that is normally looked into more than once in a year so that when the student is ready to move into another setting we do give it  go.

School Suspension due to Tropical Storm Juaning

We do not copy and paste materials here but we'd like to make an exemption here as we try to help disseminate the information to everyone concerned. No classes for Wednesday, July 27, 2011.

Read below the announcement of DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali: 

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Department of Education (DepEd) announced that classes will be suspended in the National Capitol Region (NCR), CALABARZON, Region 3 and other parts of Luzon on Wednesday, due to the inclement weather brought by tropical storm “Juaning.”

In a radio interview with radio dzMM on Tuesday, DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said classes in preschool, elementary, and high school—both public and private—will be suspended in the following areas:

• NCR
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Rizal
• Quezon
• Aurora
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Zambales

Classes at the pre-school and elementary levels will be suspended in:

• Occidental Mindoro

Classes at the kindergarten level will be suspended in:

• Isabela
• Cagayan
• Nueva Vizcaya

Umali said the announcement for suspension of classes in Region 1 will be made at 10 p.m. Tuesday. Metro Manila and 16 other areas in Luzon have been placed under public storm warning signal number 2 because of tropical storm "Juaning," weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday afternoon.

Under DepEd guidelines, classes in lower levels are automatically suspended in an area if it is placed under storm signal number 2 or higher.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), meanwhile, has yet to issue a statement for colleges and universities in Metro Manila and other areas. During previous typhoons, the CHED left the decision to suspend classes in the tertiary level to university officials.

Least Restrictive Educational Placements

This post will be about the concept of Least Restrictive Environment which is also know as LRE. The idea behind LRE is simple, we want to place our student with Special Educational Needs in the most advantageous environment suitable for their needs. Although the SpEd literature is rich about LRE, it remains to be one of the most controversial aspect of decision-making for special education teachers and the special education team.

Below is the placements that follows the path from the least restrictive to most restrictive environment for students with special educational needs:

1. Regular Class Placement - This placement is the least restrictive for all non-special ed students. This placement without some type of support from specialists may not be suitable for a special educational needs student.

2. Regular Class Placement with Consulting Teacher Assistance - The student remains in the classroom and is receiving support services from the special education team. The special ed team feels that the child will be better served while remaining in the classroom. No "pull-outs" for the child in this setting.

3. Regular Class Placement with Some Supportive Services - This placement may be the choice for the highly functional student who need supportive services but can stay in within the regular classroom for the majority of the school day. Usually the services needed include adaptive physical education, speech and language therapy, in school individual or group counseling, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

4. Regular Class Placement with Specialist Assistance - One concrete example for this setting is the presence of an itenerant Teacher for the special needs student. The student has the capacity to learn within the classroom with his or her peers but with a shadow. This specialist monitors the student and as much as possible gives the student the leeway to interact with his or her classmates and teachers.

5. Regular Class Placement with Resource Room Assistance - Here is where the "pull-out" happens. The student spend about 51% or more of the time in the regular classroom. The support services are provided in another room.

Sorry but I need to go now but watch out for the next part. There will be six additional entries for the placements.

Until then!

Sacrifices for the Win

Here is another 1 minute game I played over at ChessCube with the black pieces. Watch this" tsambalistik" game that went in my favor. Can't help posting it here, tsamba!

Full Transcript: Noynoy Aquino SONA Speech 2011

Did you watch the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III for 2011? Were you able to catch a glimpse of him on television? Have you read the full script of his speech which his staff made sure no leakage will happen?

Well I wasn't available to watch and listen to his almost a month of preparation speech, which the President's publicists claim and wishes to claim. I was busy working and earning for my family that I didn't have time to waste. Did he talk about wangwang, RH Bill and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Or he did he make sure his speech will sound like a telenovela from ABS-CBN? A speech full of accomplishments or threats? A stand on the Spratlys maybe to show some form of leadership? 

Read on to find out.

Below is the full transcript of the State of the Nation Address 2011 of President Benigno "Noynoy Aquino in Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on July 25, 2011. 

Noynoy Aquino SONA 2011

You might want to compare the SONA 2010 Speech of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III with the 2011.

2011 President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III SONA

It has been a year after the inaugural State of the Nation Address of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and tomorrow, PNoy will take the podium and again try to make everyone listening to him that he did made true to his promise. And what was the promise? Or what were the promises? For all the circus PNoy and his sister Kris made during the presidential campaign and after winning it, Philippines remain to be the same, a poor country continuously abused by the rich countries. And the story of every Juan de la Cruz is the same, they are taken advantaged of every rich businessman and government leaders.

I did not vote for him and luckily I don't have this planet of regret riding on my shoulder. The CBCP is in this planet of regret for sure and that a lot of them are just shaking their heads for the mistake they've made. The Jesuits are surrounding the Presidency and the ShowBiz aren't far behind in making sure the Guy in Yellow  is given the right amount of publicity, no thanks to Kris!

So did PNoy made true to himself and his promise that, tayo ang kanyang boss?



Please visit my post about the 2010 President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III SONA Speech and review everything he lied about.

PYP Teaching and Learning Workshop

Our In-house Teacher Training Services happened last week from July 20 to 22 with workshop facilitators Helen Morschel and Hilton Munro. I came in to the workshop with a relaxed sense of breezing through it and came out of it tired but more in tune with the International Baccalaureate Organization's mission and strategy to create a better world through education.

I have always believed that as teachers, we should be learning the way we are teaching and that was how the facilitators, both certified IBO Workshop Leaders, mirrored to us. Terrific grouping strategies were done like talking clock partners, animal sounds and color coding. Questions were encouraged to be posted on the wall and it was called Parking Lot. Reading and Reflection activities were done in a "jigsaw" manner, very productive for the learners and teachers.

Graphic organizers were used too. These mind map tools are very much available for everyone to use, its just a matter of knowing when to use them. Here is my mind map of what  remember from the workshop:  

I'll post in detail about graphic organizers next time.

Amy Winehouse is Dead

Sunday afternoon and here's my little getaway from the head-cracking weekend with two little 6 and 7 year olds, a blog post.

Amy Winehouse is dead at the age of 27, another member added The Dead at 27 Club. Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin are some of the members of the club.

Sad news, so young, so brilliant and now no more because she's dead. Her battle with alcohol and drugs were just the tip of the iceberg if you compare the demons she had to face in her personal life.

Sad indeed!

Here's a You Tube Video about Amy Winehouse:

Free Download: The Comprehensive Program of Chess Training I

Chess teachers and coaches, most especially those who deal with the beginners and players of the developmental level, here is a book of most importance --The Comprehensive Program of Chess Training I by Roman Pelts and GM Lev Alburt. This is the first book of a seven volume work and is considered by experts on teaching chess to be one of the best out there.

I can tell you so many things about this Volume I but I prefer that you read it yourself and use it during your chess club sessions or for anyone who is interested to learn the game of chess.

CCC Vol 1


  

28th National Children's Book Day

Celebrate the 28TH National Children's Book Day with the following ideas:

1. Conduct storytelling with kids in your neighborhood, your nephews and nieces.

2. Go to a bookstore and buy a storybook for children and read it.

3. Promote reading by giving books as a gift instead of toys.

4. Visit your local library and find out how you can help in their projects.

4. Make sure when you send an email or SMS on your phone, you type in the right spelled words.

5. Join Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation and be part of an organization that helps train the public school teachers in implementing reading programs in the public school.

6. Read!

For further information, you may visit the Philippine Board on Books for Young People. The Board is the lead agency for the celebration of the National Children's Book Day.   Read so that someday you may lead.

Philippine Navy Video Calls for PNoy's Ouster

Well here's the gist: Call for the ouster of the President and be stripped of your post and be restricted to your quarters until formal investigation is given.

The video is seen on the Facebook Page of Oust Noynoy Movement and below:



So what's next after this?

Mr. Mariano, the colonel who had the guts to do the video clip, is set to retire today, Sunday July 17, 2011 at the age of 56. I'm sure he has worked on his retirement papers --- unless GSIS will claim they do not have any money for its loyal soldiers and would rather buy expensive paintings and other "necessary investments".

Philippine National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week 2011

The Commission on Elections has the week July 18-23 set as National Voter's Registration Week for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in coinciding with the observance of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

If you or someone you know has a certain form of disability, you can inform them of this opportunity although I believe the guys from Philippine's National Council for Disability Affairs  (NCDP) have informed the PWD community about this. Your local government will surely be able to help out too so you can also direct them to inquire about this.

The theme for this year's observance is  "Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities" (Isakatuparan ang Karapatan ng Filipinong may Kapansanan).

So how would you observe the week?

Way back in college while I was taking courses for my BS in occupational therapy, we were once asked to take up the role of a schizophrenic in the form of  "taong-grasa". From there we realized how biased we can be against these peeps. It was the start of my life in the field of rehabilitation and special education.

Officially, NCDP has the following activities with their respective dates and venues:

 
33rd NDPR Week Schedule of Activities


 

NAPCA Chess Arbiters’ Seminar July 2011

The profession of a Chess Arbiter is inviting interested participants to attend the “NAPCA Chess Arbiters’ Seminar” to be held on July 23-24, 2011 9:00am at 4th Floor Makati youth Center, JP Rizal St., Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City. The activity is organized by National Association of Philippine Chess Arbiter (NAPCA) in cooperation with Makati Chess Club and Makati Youth and Sports Development Department.

The program is open to representatives of the sports department of cities and municipalities, chess clubs, schools and organizations. The relevance of participation is in accordance with the recent FIDE Laws of Chess that will be interpreted by the local speakers during the seminar.

Seminar facilitator are International Arbiter/National Master Elias Lao, Jr. (currently Chief Arbiter of NCAA and UAAP) with FIDE Arbiter and Instructor / Lawyer Rommel Tacorda and FIDE Arbiter Meinard Pulido. Registration Fee is P 1,500 only inclusive of Meal, Materials with Free Pairing Program, Seminar Uniform and the Certificates.

For details and inquiry please contact event committee Jeffrey Santos at 0948-1337120, 0933-4175951, 0927-5631809 or email us at napca_2006@yahoo.com.ph or to facebook: Philippine Chess Arbiter.

Students Rapid Chess Tournament in Alphaland

Well here's another tournament for the kids lining up along the EDSA Corridor, Alphaland Southgate Mall:

July 31, 2011 • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m
3rd floor, Food Court, Alphaland Southgate Mall
EDSA corner Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City

•Open to all non-titled chess players who are a bona fide students certified by their schools
Women non-masters, non-students may also join in the Women division.
•All participants are required to present their school identification card or school registration certified by their school registrars or principal.
•Tournament mode of play is a seven round Swiss system.
•Rate of play is 25 minutes per player to finish the game.
•FIDE laws of chess shall govern the tournament.

Elementary
Champion - P3,000.00 plus trophy
2nd place - P2,000.00 plus medal
3rd place - P1,000.00 plus medal
4th place - P700.00
5th place - P500.00
Top 10 year old and under - P300.00

High School
Champion - P3,000.00 plus trophy
2nd place - P2,000.00 plus medal
3rd place - P1,000.00 plus medal
4th place - P700.00
5th place - P500.00
Top 14 year old and under - P300.00

Women
Champion - P3,500.00 plus rophy
2nd place - P2,000.00 plus medal
3rd place - P1,500.00 plus medal
4th place - P1,000.00
5th place - P500.00
Top 14 year old and under - P300.00

Registration fee:
Php200.00 (two hundred pesos)
Limited to 200 players (First come, first serve only)

For more details & early registration, you may contact the following coordinators:
Mr. ALEX DINOY Mobile no. 0922-8288510
Mr. GATZ LUZ Mobile no. 0949-1392684
Mr. MILO SAMANIEGO Mobile no. 0915-5541303 / 713-6811
Mr. ALFRED CHAY Mobile no. (0908)754088

Hastings 1895 Chess Tournament

Masters at Hastings 1895

According to World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, The Hastings 1895 Chess Tournament was the most important tournament of the 19TH century.

All the strongest chess players of the generation participated and this was the "super-tournament" of the time. The tournament was a round-robin tournament which took place in Hastings, England from August 5 to September 2, 1895.

The winner of the tournament was then unknown American Harry Nelson Pillsbury with 16.5 points out of possible 21. He won over the likes of world champion Emmanuel Lasker and Mikhail Chigorin. What made this tournament even better was that the organizers and players produced a Book of the Tournament in which the players commented (annotated is the chess term) on their games, a highly valuable instructional tool for any student of the game.

Here is a copy of that book:

Hastings Chess Tournament 1895
    

MCC Kiddies Chess Championship July 2011

All systems go for the staging of the two-day event of the Metropolitan Chess Club Kiddies Chess Championships (Boys and Girls) at 1:30pm July 16 (Saturday) and the one-day event at 10:30am Sunday, July 17, at Eton Cyberpod, Ortigas Avenue cor EDSA.

The five-round Swiss System individual tournament with team awards is divided into two sections: 14-under and 9-under. The 14-under group is open to players who were born on the year 1997 onwards while the 9-under is for those who were born on the year 2002 onwards.

Twenty five elegant trophies await the top five individual winners in both sections plus the top three schools or clubs' teams; the top three unrated or beginners; and best scorers for 7-under; 10-under and 12-under. Cash prizes will also be given to the top three placers in each section.

Participants may join the two-day competition which will apply the 75 minutes time control or the one-day affair which will use the shorter time control in the first three rounds then 75 minutes in the remaining matches.

Entry fee is P250. For other details, call 826-8560; 994-5199 and 0922-822-6319. Birth certificates must be submitted upon registration.

2 Pinoys Qualify for the Word Chess Cup 2011

As of  today, FIDE lists two Filipinos who qualified for the 2011 World Chess Cup.  They are GM's Wesley So and Mark Paragua. Both players are the only Pinoys to reach the 2600 rating and both were prodigies who started playing the game early.

The World Chess Cup is happening from August 26 - September 21, 2011 and the host will be Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. A total of one hundred twenty eight players will be participating coming from almost all corners of the globe.

FIDE has the complete list and details for the World Chess Cup 2011.

Good luck boys!

University of Asia and the Pacific 18th Anniversary Celebration

We've got an announcement and invitation from the University of Asia and the Pacific for the celebration of their 18th year of providing quality education. 

Here it is:

 

The School of Education and Human Development of University of Asia and the  Pacific is a private non- profit institution of higher learning. We will be celebrating our 18^th year of existence on September 2011. We are planning to hold different activities that engage in the empowerment of educational system.

a.             Youth Lens:

The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), through its School of Education and Human Development (SED), actively participates in the examination of social issues, especially those that impact directly on the youth.

The year 2011 marks the 10^th year anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+ 10). Various volunteering organizations across the globe celebrate this event by sharing their experiences and best practices regarding their perspective volunteering initiatives over the years. In the spirit of the IYV+10, the School of Education and Human Development, presents Youth Lens 2011 with the theme- YOUth make it Happen. Be the Solution.

We are pleased to invite your school (teachers and students alike) to attend the seminar- workshop. The forum will be held on September 21 and 22, 2011 at the Dizon Hall of University of Asia and the Pacific.

At the end of the 2 day conference, the participants are expected to:

a.     Explain the concept of volunteerism and its relevance to the young student leaders

b.   Demonstrate the skills needed by young volunteers (i.e. leadership development, strategic planning, project management, and resource development)

c.    Create an action plan for their school/ community addressing a particular problem, in relation to the attainment of the Millennium Development goals that can be solved by the students themselves through volunteering.

The seminar-workshop aims to invite a maximum of 6 high school students per school, specifically, high school student leaders preferably those in the 3^rd and 4^th year levels. Faculty and club advisers are also encouraged to come and participate in a separate workshop. Only the first 120 students to make a reservation on or before September 6, 2011 (Monday) will be accommodated.

The conference fee for each student-participant is PhP 950, inclusive of meals, the conference kit, and the certificate of participation.  The faculty adviser will be charged a conference fee of PhP 1, 450. Advisers from public schools will be given a 50% discount; hence they will only pay Php 725. 

b. Aligning Basic Education, Postsecondary Education, and the Job Market: Human Capital Development Perspectives:

The University of Asia and the Pacific School of Education and Human Development invites all to participate in our conference entitled latest seminar Aligning Basic Education, Postsecondary Education, and the Job Market: Human Capital Development Perspectives. The conference will be held at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) (Ortigas Campus) on September 28-30, 2011.

We expect the following sectors, institutions, and organizations to be represented in the conference: business companies, government agencies, and other employer-organizations; universities and colleges; vocational-technical schools; and public and private high schools, elementary schools, and preschools.

The keynote address will be given by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. Dr. Licuanan will speak on Aligning Basic Education, Postsecondary Education, and the Job Market: A Policymaker’s Perspective. We have asked her to highlight in her address the crucial role of CHED in achieving the desired alignment and articulation of the three sectors. After Dr. Licuanan’s address, a four-person panel will respond to her message. The panel will be made up of the following individuals:

1.         Oscar Torralba, D.B.A. 

            Head, CHED Technical Panel for Business and Management Education

2.         Hon. Carmen S. Pabiton, Ed.D.,

            RGC Member, Professional Regulatory Board for Guidance and Counseling, Professional Regulatory   Commission

3.         Mr. Luis Alberto Anastacio 

            President & Chief Operating Officer

            Career Center of the SFI Group of Companies

4.         Yolanda S. Quijano, Ed.D.

            Undersecretary, Programs and Projects, Department of Education

After the panel members have given their responses, the floor will be opened for questions and observations from the audience. The discussion will end at noon.

Participants to the three day learning sessions will be able to:

1.      Appreciate and strengthen the support for CHED’s critical role in ensuring the proper articulation between basic education, tertiary education, and the Job Market.

2.      Evaluate the long- term benefits of internalizing the human capital development perspective in planning, obtaining and developing their respective human capital requirements that match our Filipino students customers’ performance and learning needs.

3.    Visualize the policies they need to install and programs they need to budget that embrace the human capital development perspective.

The conference fee is P 8,000 (solo), P 15,000 (pair) or P 21,000 (trio).If you pay on or before September 10, 2011, you will get a discount; therefore you will only pay P 7,500 (solo), P 14,250 (pair) or P 20,700 (trio). Take advantage of our early bird rate!

For more information please call 6342828 and ask for Ms. Josephine Teves (mjteves@uap.edu.ph) or Ms. Honeylet Bello (hbello@uap.edu.ph).

Respectfully yours,

signed

Celerino C. Tiongco, Ed.D.

Dean, School of Education and Human Development

University of Asia and the Pacific

Of course I made sure you can download the necessary documents for the series of events. Just click on the links below:

• Program for Conference and Workshop
• Registration for Participants from the University
• Registration for Participants from Companies
• DEPED Advisory No. 325 s. 2011

Lastly, here is the vicinity map of the University of Asia and the Pacific:

 

IM Bryan Smith's Travelling Chess Player Series

Guys if you have time, I recommend you read American international master Bryan Smith's five part series of articles he calls Travelling Chess Player. He shared at chess.com what it is like to be a " nomad" in Europe as professional chess player hunting for that elusive GM title.

He writes in a colorful and dramatic manner which will make you realize that chess is not glamorous at all and that there really comes a point in a person's life when you reach the crossroad, whether you turn around and leave everything you worked for and continue the path you set to walked on.

Wonderful indeed and you don't need to be into chess to appreciate his story as a Travelling Chess Player. He talks about life, passion, hardship and triumph all in the context of the hunt for the Grand Master title.

Here are the links:

1. Travelling Chess Player, Part 1
2. Travelling Chess Player, Part 2
3. Travelling Chess Player, Part 3
4. Travelling Chess Player, Part 4
5. Travelling Chess Player, Part 5

Almost everyone would agree with me that the chess world is overflowing with self-centered, egoistic souls that concerns themselves with what they think they know, proven and about to prove. IM Bryan Smith bared his soul for everyone to learn.

It is one of the greatest chess-related read so far for me and I don't think anyone can match this piece of work in a long time. Great work IM Bryan Smith!   

Characteristics of Learning Disabilites

We now continue our topic on Learning Disability.  From our previous post, I tried to enumerate four umbrella categories on why a child do not have the learning disability. This time, I will share to you the observed characteristics and behaviors of children that might have learning disability. Before I forget, I am reading this wonderful book of Roger Pierangelo called "A Survival Kit for the Special Education Teacher" and it's where most of this post and the previous one were lifted from, with some adaptation.

Let us start with Intellectual Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities usually exhibit potential within the average range and above.  This usually translates into a score of 90 or better. Such potential should only be measured by an individual intelligence test like the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Take note of this guys, when we say exhibit potential, you get this feeling that the child is actually "smart" but just can't seem to get off the ground when needed to do certain academic tasks.

Then the Academic Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities usually exhibit mild academic deficits (6 months-1 year below grade level), moderate academic deficits (1-2 years below grade level) or severe academic deficits (more that 2 years below grade level.) These deficits may exhibit themselves in any one of the following areas:

• Decoding (word attack skills)
• Computation
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Listening Comprehension
• Mathematical Skills
• Oral Expression

Take note of the Exclusion Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities are not retarded, primarily emotionally disturbed, hearing impaired, visually impaired, slow learners or the result of inadequate instructional practices, cultural or economic disadvantages. Check out this post! 

So you have to make sure you know the Background Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities usually exhibit a history of learning, social and developmental difficulties dating back to early grades. Investigate if possible, check out the student's former schools and teachers.

Then there is the Behavioral Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities usually exhibit several of the following:

• Variability in performance across subject areas
• Attention problems - distractibility, poor concentration
• Organizational problems with information, space or time
• Poor motivation and attitude due to repeated academic failure
• Memory problems
• Language deficits in listening, speaking or writing
• Poor motor abilities in fine motor (small muscle) or gross motor (large muscle)
• Inappropriate social behavior - making friends, poor reactions to social situations

Don't forget Processing Requirements.

Children with learning disabilities usually exhibit deficits in the learning process. The strengths or weaknesses in this process are usually measured by process (perceptual) tests such as the Slingerland, Woodcock Johnson, Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitudes or the ITPA.

Guys all these tests must be given by trained personnel and are quite expensive. Try to consult special education teachers and occupational therapists to give you some ideas on what to look for in a students performance and areas of processing.

That's it for now bye!

Learning Disability is Not

Its been ages since I last wrote about a specific case or condition commonly encountered by special ed teachers or occupational therapists. Here goes something which continue to confuse practitioners and the commoners, learning disability.

A student with a learning disability is not a student whose learning problems are primarily due to:

1. Other handicapping conditions such as

• Mental disabilities
• Emotional disabilities
• Visual or hearing loss
• Motor handicaps

2. Limited learning opportunities because of 

• Prolonged absences from school
• Lack of consideration for language differences
• Inadequate instructional practices

3. Limited learning potential in all areas (e.g., slow learners whose achievement is commensurate with their potential).

4. Sociological causes, including environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantages, limited proficiency in English language, or other such conditions that may result in, but are not the result of, a learning problem.

Guys, these reasons if found to be present when you do a background check to your "suspected" student/s must be addressed during the intervention phase and from there we can compare the results before and after your special educational intervention or rehabilitation.

Hope this post helps . If you want to read more about special education or teaching in general, check the right side panel of this blog and click on Special Education Notes or Teacher's Diary under the Blog Topics Section.   

Chess for the Summer Olympics

Surprise, surprise!

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Mr. Prospero Pichay Jr. and the Head of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Mr. Peping Cojuanco Jr. The Philippines signed the first ever, official letter of appeal to Mr. Jacques Rogge for the inclusion of chess in the programme of the Summer Olympic Games. Mr. Jacques Rogge is the Head of the International Olympic Committee which is responsible for the quadrennial global sports event.

Although the chess world has its own Olympiad, I bet inclusion of the game in the programme will usher in a new era for chess. No longer it will be sneered at as just a board game nor be construed as a non-sports entity.

Its a long shot I guess but with the Philippines being the first to request for chess to be in the Olympics, things look brighter.

IM Barbosa Captures Campomanes Cup

Quietly, Filipino International Master Oliver Barbosa captured the Florencio Campomanes Yangon International Open Chess 2011 at the Central Hotel Bogyoke in Yangon, Myanmar. Barbosa snatched the $3,000 cash prize with 7.5 points in 9 rounds. IM Richard Bitoon and FM Joseph Mari Turqueza shared third to ninth places with other players with a score of 6.5 points.

Check out these links for details: Inquirer Sports and Philippine Chess Portal.

Congratulations to you!

June 2011 PRC Examination Official Results Registered Pharmacists

Congratulations to the successful passers of Professional Regulation Commission Examination for Pharmacists! Richard Reymund Ragasa of the University of the Philippines- Manila topped the board exams with a score of 92.20. On second place is also from UP Manila, Danice Romagne Villavicencio Leano. You may visit this link for the complete details of the examination.  

Here is the complete list of the successful examinees:

June 2011 Official Result of Registered Pharmacists Phiippines


June 2011 Official Results PRC Examination for Registered Pharmacists


Watch out for the results of the July 2011 PRC examinations for:

• Registered Nurses
• Optometrists
• Ocular Pharmacology
• Foresters
• Marine Deck Officers
• Physical and Occupational Therapists
• Nutritionists
• Real Estate Appraisers

Special Education Seminars at St. Andrew's School

I finally found the time to post some pictures from our St. Andrew's School Special Education Seminar-Workshop. Together with Professor Sonia Mendoza of College of St. Benilde, we spent three afternoons with the teachers of the preschool, elementary, high school departments. Teachers from the alternative learning system department and after school activities attended the said workshops too. The seventy three non-teaching staff also attended an afternoon with us.

Originally, I thought of sharing the PPT file I used for the seminars but decided not to share it this time. I would make it available to anyone interested but you must send me an email and tell me.

So what were the topics covered?

Special Education Courses we are giving the teachers and other stakeholders of St. Andrew's School is aimed at preparing the entire school for the needs and issues that will definitely come out with the Special Education Department of the St. Andrew's receiving the permit and recognition from the Department of Education in three months time. With this laid out, topics that were covered were:

• Legal Bases of Special Education in the Philippines
• Anti-Corporal Punishment Law
• Introduction to Special Education: Cases, Safety and Security Issues
• Self-Awareness and Ego Bombardment

Next session is scheduled August and I can't wait to see these guys again! Here are some of the photos I collected:

Thanks to Ric of St. Andrew's School IT Department for the photos.

CBCP Under Fire

This is what you get for meddling with the State, says most of the observers and scholars you can find everywhere in the Philippines. After a much publicized stance against the RH bill, our dearly beloved Filipino Catholic priests are under fire. No thanks to the PCSO controversy over funds involving seven Bishops and their supposedly SUV's.

This issue actually hits a lot of birds with one stone. Dragging the name of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into the picture, put in the Damaso's of our land who opposed the RH Bill like it should be, we have a perfect blend now if we add that really problematic issue of power and money in Philippine Society - corruption.

Sadly, these issues do not really help our country and the 85% of citizens living under the economic poverty line. Depressing indeed to see so much economic opportunities move past behind our country. 

If you check the newspapers today, it is Malacanang's turn to accept the apology from the bishops. Tables have turned and the guys who helped in the campaign for PNoy's presidential seat are the one's complaining and regretting.

Regrets do come in way after a decision has been made. While the elite are living it up, the Filipino Masa gets all the empty promises of a better life.

Before I go, let me share this trailer of Hanap Buhay by Henry Frejas which I saw last year at Cinemalaya 2010 and is now an official entry for 2011 Cinemalaya:



A story about making a living out of the dead and the dying, that's exactly how these corrupt politicians and leaders of the country are doing to the Masa.

July 2011 1st Saturday Magnolia Beverages Rapid Chess Tournament

We are now posting the July 2011 Edition of the 1st Saturday Magnolia Beverages Rapid Chess Tournament courtesy of National Arbiter Gatz Luz. If you will remember, last the July 2 and 3 we saw two major tournaments happen on the different venues with almost the same target player population. We had the NCR Leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Tournament with results for Kiddies and Juniors, we also had the AFPI Rapid Chess Tournament.  Not to mention the National Bookstore First Move Chess Tournament which is also a monthly tournament aimed at providing a playing venue for 15 year old and below players.

Maybe that's the reason why the Magnolia Beverages Chess Tourney moved their schedule the weekend after. For this edition, Ryan Dungca claims another championship in this monthly tourney besting the other ninety-two players with 6.5 points.

Here is the Final Standings of the tournament:

1st Saturday July 9 Final Standing_list

Congratulations!   

Free Download: United Nations' Child-Friendly Schools Manual

I've been reading up on international and local legislation on child protection against violence and I found an interesting document produced by UNICEF called Child-Friendly Schools Manual. To protect the future, one must invest in the development of society and the society that you aim to protect is assured of continuity if the Child is placed at the center of this development.

In this day and age when going to school is the norm, it is a must that a global approach is undertaken to ensure that we have certain standards to follow on 'how tos" when dealing with our precious Child. For teachers would-be, administrators, teachers, parents and other interested parties, here below is the UN Child-Friendly Schools Manual:

Child Friendly Schools Manual en 040809

19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship NCR Leg Kiddies

We are posting the Final Standing of the Kiddies Section of the 19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship NCR Leg courtesy of National Arbiter Gatz Luz. For this year's edition, we now have two sections separating the boys from the girls just like in the Juniors Category.

In the Boys section, Kenneth Baltazar won the championship trophy over tiebreaks against Jerad Docena. On 3rd spot is Jhoemar Mendiogarin.

Read below:

Copy of 19th Shell Kiddies BoysRND7 Interim Ranking List
  
In the Girls section, 11 year old Alexis Osena wins the championship with 6.5 points while Jellie Ann Magro places 2nd with 6 points. On 3rd spot is Ynna Sophia Canape with 5.5 points.

Final Standings below:

Copy of 19th Shell Kiddies Girls Interim Ranking List

19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship NCR-Leg

We now have the results of the 19th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, National Capital Region Leg which happened over the weekend at the Skydome of SM North Edsa. In the Juniors Boys division, Jerich Cajeras of the College of St. Benilde took the 1st place spot followed by San Beda's Sherwin Tiu and on 3rd is Rolly Parondo Jr. of Rizal Technology Institute.

Here is final standings for the Boys Division:

19th Shell JUNIORS BOYS Snyacc Final Interim Ranking List

In the Juniors Girls division, we have an unrated player from Ateneo de Manila University, Brena Mae Membrere on 1st place followed by Adamson University's Karen Jean Enriquez and on 3rd spot is Quinna Luis Soler of National University.

The introduction of the Girls Division is a first in this almost twenty years of Shell National Youth Active Chess Tournament.

Here is the final standings in the Girls Division:

19th Shell JUNIORS GIRLS-Snyacc-Final Interim Ranking List

Phl Azkals Win Over Sri Lanka

A 4-0 win by the Philippine Azkals Football Team against Sri Lanka in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers may just be the break Philippine Football has all been waiting for. Footballers of the country would say that this is the sports for Filipinos and nothing else. Football academies all over the Philippines would agree to this and ever since the Azkals came into the scene, enrollment have gone tremendously up.

Although the gears one needs maybe quite a bit expensive and the field to be used in a game maybe quite big, I'm sure entrepreneurs would milk this one out of every wannabe Azkals out there.

Football has arrived! Congratulations to Azkals and good luck to the football program in the Philippines. I'm sure a lot of Fil-foreign players will be given the chance to play for our country. I wonder what happened to the native, home-grown footballers specially those coming from Iloilo.

Here's the video courtesy of ABS-CBN:

Mayor Inday Duterte: "I punched the Sheriff!"

Mayor Zara "Inday" Duterte of Davao City showed us a rare glimpse of what she can do after her life as a public servant in this southern part of the country: the next Manny Pacquiao trainer. Caught on video, she repeatedly punched the Sheriff of Davao Regional Trial Court Abe Andres during a demolition.

Imagine what these public officials can do behind the cameras, just imagine.

Here is the video report from ANC News:

AAI Live Chess Streaming Round 8

Here is the round 8 of the AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2011:

Watch live streaming video from aaichess at livestream.com

GM So Losses in Round 8 of AAI

GM Wesley So slips in round 8 of the AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2011 against GM Krishna Sasikiran of India. Watch the game below: