One of the events that I look forward every quarter is the Scholastic Warehouse Sale in Pasig City. Among that I attended, what made it extra special this time was I spent it with a good friend, Kat Agdeppa Santiago of Petite Momma's World blog.
Like me, she advocates raising readers. Above all means of learning, we patiently teach our kids to read and love doing it. We are so blessed that our kids are growing up as bibliophiles despite the advent of the advancements in technology.
Kat and I started teaching our kids the love of reading while they were still very young. We would find time story reading aloud and expose them to the different kinds of books- cloth or felt, board (especially the Peek-a-board books), and those who were hardbound or paperback. We experienced frustrations when our kids tore the precious books that we provided them. We didn't mind because it was part of growing up. We just didn't stop exposing them until they learned to read by themselves with a little assistance depending on our kids' capacity. It was such a pleasant sight to see them reading on their own and manipulating their books. It became a habit. I know even if there are eBooks, like us, they would go back to reading books made of paper that they could touch, feel, and smell. There is no greater experience of having books that are tangible. The texture and scent of their crisp pages can be imprinted on the reader's memory. This feeling indeed is part of learning through reading that can't be replaced by any other reading materials uploaded in gadgets.
Kat and I enjoyed our brief stay in Scholastic Warehouse. Aside from being excited of bringing home new books for our kids to read and enjoy, we shared the same feeling of nostalgia by just being surrounded by books. Books gave us bliss at that moment. Even by just standing in the middle of the warehouse, we felt peace.
Both of us availed the famous Box-All-You-Can Book Buffet. For only Php799.00, in my case, I was able to place 75 paper back story books for children and most of them are Caldecott Honor medalists or written by famous authors like Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, and Leo Lionni. I chose mostly books for reading starters because most of the kids that I know are included in that group. I included some for Kuya too. I only paid Php799.00 for all the books in the box with the original total amount of Php7,820.00. I had a huge discount worth Php7021.00! Yay! These figures were all reflected on the receipt.
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| My Box-All-You-Can Book Buffet Haul |
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| These were my top picks. |
I've bought those books not just for my kids to enjoy but other kids as well. I always give books as gifts because they never get old in benefits. They can be passed on from one generation to another if well-taken cared off. Learning from books is boundless and endless.
As an educator and mom, I believe that reading is the foundation of all subjects. If kids don't know how to read, how can they understand different concepts? If they are not capable of reading, how can they be motivated to write and draw if they don't understand the purpose of what they are doing?
I have this eagerness to share my love for reading and teaching kids how to read and their benefits to other teachers and parents especially to those who have students or children with speech delay. There is joy and beauty in reading aloud with kids and pointing the words to them so that they can eventually know how to read words in the story and say them loudly by themselves. When kids are already hooked in reading aloud with their parents, it can be noticeable that they themselves can be motivated to mirror what their parents are doing that's why it is very important to read to them properly. In my five years of teaching and 12 years of being a mom I have noticed that kids learn best when they confidently know how to read aside from giving them other activities to do that can enhance their holistic development.
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| They were all discounted up to 70% OFF! Kuya was so happy to see these hardbound Harry Potter Books. I didn't forget to choose one for Paps too. Like me, we both love Paolo Coelho. Thank you, Scholastic Asia for these! This Mama is kilig to the bones until now! |
In line with this, because some parents find books very expensive, I always suggest that they should visit Scholastic Warehouse Sale and avail the Box-All-You-Can Book Buffet to start their mini library at home. Not just parents, I also encourage teachers to start collecting books which they can use as tools in teaching their students.
I started my collection of story books for kids whenever there was a Scholastic Sale in the school where I used to teach. I used those books in teaching my former pre-school students and for my own reading pleasure as well. Who would have thought that those books would benefit my own children? Amazing, isn't it? My collection keeps on growing through Scholastic Asia through the years without breaking our tight budget to sustain my family's love for reading.
There is still a chance for you to visit the Scholastic Warehouse Sale until June 18! There are so many books available from different genres. Your visit will be super sulit, promise! You may find all the complete details about the sale and location HERE.
If you can't make it, fret not because according to the friendly and lovely Scholastic staff members, Miss Cathy, Miss Darren, and Sir Ryan, they will have a huge sale again in NOVEMBER 2017. Instead of two months, they will have it for only two weeks. There is still time to save for it! I hope to see you there on November.
Do you have your own Scholastic Warehouse Sale book haul? I am so excited to see it! You may tag me on Facebook and Instagram at @allaroundpinaymama.
