{PandaMomo Lifestory} "shining as a star ...life is a never-ending journey of discovery learning"

01 February 2006

A day in the life of a teacher @ TKP Feb 2006

This is the first time that I try blogging. Since young, I have been writing diaries with paper and pen. I always thought blogging was a weird idea whereby my deep, dark secrets are viewed by others online. Hmmm..., well, afterall it's the "in" thing to do these days.

Today is the 1st February 2006. This marks my first attempt at writing an online journal entry. I will try to write often, but as a teacher, life is very hectic with so many things to do. It's definitely not easy to be a teacher, much less a responsible and hardworking teacher who is ever so bothered about pupils' behaviour, work attitude and everything else. Sometimes, my virtue becomes my weak point too. I care too much.

Thank God for this year! So far, I am thankful for the class 4 Diligence that I get this year as my form class. The children are all very different individuals. Hee.... I have pupils from almost 8 different countries (Korea, Myanmar, Taiwan, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Singaporeans (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian & others). An interesting combination of pupils .... global citizens. Hahaha. I am dreaming of visiting all my pupils in their homeland one fine day. Hee... if they do not mind housing me for a few days of my holidays when I visit their motherland.

Thank God for this day. Everything went quite well for lessons. I ended my lessons with a "blue face" (one of my colour signals like traffic light system to represent my feelings to my class)
The best part of the day was during the game of wacko that I played with my class Primary 4D today. I modified the game to integrate English with PE. I asked the pupils to do self-introduction by using an adjective to describe each of them. Instead of just calling out the name, they have to remember the adjective (describing word) and call out both the adjective and name of friend for the game of WACKO! It was fun. Nevertheless, there are always a few who are the odd one out who do not follow instructions and keep talking & playing away with their neighbours (on the left or right). On the whole, it was a fun game of adjectives and getting-to-know session.
Nowadays, I start to enjoy teaching. Hee hee... I play some music in my class during DEAR (Drop Everything And Read Time) and activities time. It's just like playing musical chairs. When the music stops, it will be my signal to the class to either stop what they are doing or move forward to sit on the floor for CIRCLE TIME or to change activities. Learning to make things fun for both my pupils and myself. Thank God for the wisdom and knowledge to do all things. Thank God for the love that He gives me to shower on my class of 40.
An amusing thing happened during the intervals of my series of lessons. So Yong was so hilarious with her innocent speech and actions. Hmmm... in a way, like modelling me... ahhaha. It was especially amusing when she remarked, "Oh? Aiyoh." When I asked her to send Yu Yang to the sick bay because the poor boy was having a bad headache, she just called out to Yu Yang, "Come, follow me. (with action of hand signalling to him)" Hahaha... Almost broke out in fits of laughter. After she sent him there, she reported to me that Yu Yang was shedding tears. I simply told her the reason was that he had a bad headache. Guess how our gorgeous So Yong responded? She exclaimed, "Aiyoh! (and shakes her head, followed by tsk tsk action) I was so amused by her child-like mannerism. So cute and adorable. Hahaha. Some of the pupils who noticed her mannerism were also amused by it.
The angriest and meanest thing I did today was to send 2 pupils, Yusri and Sathya to Primary 1 class. Why? Well, they did not follow my CLASS RULE number 1. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS THE FIRST TIME YOU ARE GIVEN. & RULE number 4. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourselves. I gave instructions for them to copy important "TO DO" things in KIDZ ORGANIZER for today. Guess what they did? Yusri and Sathya were behaving like Pri 1 kids pulling and tugging at a liquid paper bottle (I think it belongs to Sathya). I was so angry that I asked Zainuddin and Affiq to send them to Mdm Rita's Primary 1 class for them to learn the basics of FOLLOWING RULES.
Well, after 10 minutes or so, I cooled down and decided to ask the boys to bring the 2 disobedient boys back to class to join us for MENTAL SUMS time. See, I am still very kind to them afterall. Well, but they really tested my patience and level of tolerance.
Even though I did not manage to complete all the plans I had in mind to carry out, I think it was still a rather fruitful day. Just need to work on it to improve things. Praying hard that the pupils will grow to like me and grow to realise their fullest potential. I hope to see them fly and soar high into the skies like EAGLES. Like the Westlife song goes "FLYING WITHOUT WINGS".

I left school around 7.20pm. How amazing! I stayed in class to arrange things and read their journals after the P4 teachers' planning/discussion for tomorrow's Science Discovery Day. Stayed in school for nearly 12 hours. Aiyoyo (my favourite pet phrase)!

I don't know about tomorrow, but today is a gift. That's why it is called the PRESENT! Looking forward to a better tomorrow each day. May God bless my journey as a teacher who seeks to exhibit the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) in words and actions. c.f. Bible verse: Galatians 5:22 & 23.
Pray that I will be a good witness for the Lord and a good role model for the pupils to follow. Hope I can inspire and motivate them to learn, explore and discover new things each day!

9:37 pm;

RESEARCH ASSISTANT & PHOTOGRAPHER

MY PROFILE
momo

*My heart goes all out
to do the best I can,
not for self,
but for God.

*Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

*Always hoping
to touch the lives of people I meet
and light up their lives
like a TWINKLING STAR!

*Love for
photography,
travelling,
cycling,
badminton,
reading,
singing,
listening to music
& doing handicrafts like
friendship bands, paper cranes & hearts n making cross-stitch pictures

*Favourite colour: All shades of blue

{JUST BE who I want to be}

Just Be
Be strong enough to
face the world each day
Be weak enough to know
you cannot do everything alone

Be generous to those who need your help
Be frugal with what you need yourself

Be wise enough to know that
you do not know everything
Be foolish enough to

BELIEVE in MIRACLES

Be willing to
SHARE your JOYS
Be willing to
SHARE the sorrows of others

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed
Be a follower when
you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty

Be the FIRST to CONGRATULATE an opponent who SUCCEEDS
Be the LAST to CRITICIZE a friend who FAILS

Be sure where next step will fall, so that you will not stumble
Be sure of your final destination,
in case you are going the wrong way.

Be LOVING
to those who LOVE you

Be LOVING
to those who DO NOT LOVE you,
and they may CHANGE.

Above all, BE YOURSELF.