[Reminder] Haircheck

School is starting on 2 Jan 2008.
Just a friendly reminder, make sure your hair is black and dyed.
Boys, make sure your hair is short.
If you do not pass the haircheck on Wednesday, you will be sent home and your parents will be notified. Word of advice, do not get in trouble for such a small matter.
See you on Wednesday! =)

Merry Christmas!

Spread the joy, love and cheer. Merry Xmas, darlings~

Christmas song sung by cats



6 days to school reopening and the end of my holidays!

[Quote] Yu Dan

可与言而不与言，失人。
不可于言而与之言，失言。
知者不失人，亦不失言。
--- 《论语：卫灵公篇》

看百家讲坛之于丹《论语》心得

Was watching Prof Yu Dan's speech on You Tube, realised that one of my mottoes "Live life with no regrets" is unattainable. I hope to do things right the first time but in life, that is impossible. Life will always have disappointments. In other words, shit happens. (forgive me for putting it crudely)

When shit happens, what should I do?
Grumble, complain, whine, seek revenge so that justice will be served?
If it was the old me, it will be "an eye for an eye" but I am not who I am ten years ago.
Like what Prof Yu suggested and Confucianism preached, maintain an open heart and open mind. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. [Matthew 7:120]
Forgiveness is an undervalued virtue which I hope to seek and cultivate.
What I can do is to bravely acknowledge my mistake and try my best to amend.

"Live life with least regrets. Let go and look forward."

[Reflection] Radio days

最近发生一些事情，有的关于自己，有的是身边的人。
或许脚步缓慢下来，所以注意的事情比较多，也可以聆听别人的意见。
能和自己对话，仔细想想过去，为未来计划。

那天，回电台和旧同事吃饭。淑君硬拉我录节目， 好久没有说华语，有点不习惯。她说当作和同事哈啦，不必字正腔圆。可是上节目，如果犯语病，我真的对不起我的师傅们。

走进睽违已久的播音室，让我回想起在电台的时光。九个月，天天打中文字、说华语。被师傅，老板，听众骂华语说得很烂，一个星期做5个节目，绞尽脑汁想专题，累到爆肝。
我最爱听做音乐有关的节目，听新专辑、看演唱会、访问艺人。喜欢和淑君漫游狮城，发现这座小岛好玩的地方。向往打长途电话给区域的朋友作连线，了解他们的近况。期待和新新人类做接触，拥有最新的资讯和动向。

我不停和时间赛跑，赶节目,忙到身体失调。老板说进度不够快，或许我不适合这个行业。苛刻的环境能让幼苗萎缩，也能成长。无可否认的，我在最短的时间长大了，心理受到的创伤也很重。虽然做播音人的日子很苦，但是很快乐。因为广播是我的梦想。谢谢桂珍姐给我这个机会。梦想实现后，应该梦醒，望前看。

再次听到自己的声音在播音室荡漾，有一种莫名的感动。淑君说有些听众到现在还会点歌送给我，记得我唱《孤单北半球》。谢谢你们的关心，简单的我只希望能为他人带来快乐。听到自己的烂华语，我转行未必是件坏事。话说回来，如果让我重新选择，我的第一份工作还是广播。No regrets！

写中文还是比较顺手。呵呵

My favorite lines from Why Why Love

没有恶意，不代表是做法正确的好意! ~ 江小南
自私的小孩过得比较轻松 ~ 嘉蒂的妈妈
我对你的态度是取决于你对我的态度 ~ 霍彦
没有人应该因为失去一个人而活不下去。想不开，更是软弱的表现 ~ 童嘉蒂
能够改变自己命运的是你自己的决定。不管是好是坏，你都要自己面对。你必须为自己的人生负责。如果你不能够面对你自己的错，那这个错会永远跟着你，它会成为你的梦魇。~ 秦阿姨
克服恐惧最好的方法就是面对它。 ~ 霍达

Quotes from 趙寧

Watched an interview of a Taiwanese professor, Zhao Ning on TV and I am very impressed by his insights on life so I searched for articles on him. After getting his doctorate, he became an university lecturer, author, newspaper columnist, television host, consultant, curator and school principal. His capability and success came after going through many life's trials and tribulations which any normal person will give up under similar circumstances. Below are some of his quotes. I will try my best to translate them so non-Chinese students can understand and gain motivation.

“人生最好不要找到，找到就是句點，句點就是完蛋！你不停地去找，這就是快樂，你一旦找到就無趣."

In life, one should never and should not seek an end. If you continue seeking, that is joy. If you find the end, life will be meaningless.

“人生是平等的，有時你要蹲下，向下一代學習。人生在世要不停地做一件事，推牆和搭橋。親子之間年紀和知識不同，你要從孩子那裡瞭解他們。”

Life is equal. Sometimes you need to lower yourself and learn from the younger generation. As long as one lives, one should break down barriers and build bonds. To overcome generation gap and knowledge differences, one needs to interact with the young to understand them.

“心中有愛，目中有人，耳中有歌”

Love, respect and music

“Never give up no matter how hopeless.（不管多沒有希望都不能放棄）是電影《鐵達尼號》裡沉船後男主角對女主角講的最後一句話，

能把人生的不愉快變成快樂，這才是人尊貴的地方。

Transform life's sorrows into joy, that is where one worths respect .

‘哭泣不但不能夠減少昨日的哀傷，只能消除你明天前進的力量。

Tears not only cannot reduce yesterday's pain, it eliminates tomorrow's motivation.

人生的過程像坐電梯一樣，降到最底下無路可去便自然往上走。

Life is like an elevator. When it is at the lowest level, it will automatically go up. That is. when life can't get any more worse, it will definitely improve.

我喜歡就沒有放棄！一直去做！

I like so I never give up. Just do it!

一直以來，大家都在不停地羨慕別人，移民來移民去，大家都在追逐一個地方只有笑容沒有眼淚。其實世界上任何一個地方都不是，桃花源就在你自己的心裡。”
彩虹是由雨水和陽光構成的，雨水是淚水，陽光是笑容，人生所有的美麗都不會有例外，沒有淚水，就不可能有彩虹。

We always envy others. Migrating here and there; we are seeking a place where there is only smiles, no tears. Actually, no such place exists in the world. Utopia exists in your heart. Rainbow is formed from rain and sunshine. Rain is tears, sunshine is smiles. Everything beautiful in life is the same; without tears, there will not be a rainbow.

人和人交往的時候享受到甜蜜，但你不知道明天會發生甚麼事，分開後最重要是不能說彼此的不好，你要敬重她、祝福她、希望她一切都好。

Enjoy sweet bliss while it lasts as you do not know what will happen tomorrow. After break up, what is important is not saying who is wrong. Respect your partner, give your blessings and wish her well.

成是我運，不成是我命。

If one succeeds, it is luck. If one fails, it is destiny.

人物簡介

趙寧，63歲，美國明尼蘇達大學傳播學／哲學博士，現為佛光山大學校長。他曾任紐約州立大學電視藝術導播副教授、台灣《中國時報》主筆、中華電視台顧問、台灣師大圖文傳播系主任暨視聽教育館館長。

[Holiday job] Interviewers

Would you like to earn some pocket money during this holiday? Please email your particulars (name, IC no., mobile no., home number) by 15 Nov 8.30 am so that I can recommend you.

> Type of Job : Conduct telephone interviews (using a simple survey form)
> (Training will be provided)
> Time & Duration of assignment : 19 Nov to 17 Dec 07 (estimated about 1 month)
> Remumeration : $5 an hour
> No. of students required : About 4 (Prefer those with good language/communication skills and from a mix of the different ethnic groups.)

MI Essay Submission

I reached my 100th post! Milestone for someone who always give up.

Do you want to publish your essay in MI Essays Vol. 2?

You can submit your essay (type-written, font 12, Arial) with your name and class to my email box by 19 Nov (Monday).

Requirements:
1) The essay should be one of your timed assignments.
2) Grammatically correct with improvements made, hopefully.
Look at the comments made and re-write the topic sentences.
Elaborate more by providing concrete examples and link back to the essay question. You may need to research and read more on the topic itself. It is not quantity but QUALITY.
Most importantly, you need to answer the essay question and be focused.
I strongly encourage you to submit your essay. Even if it is not published, at least you tried and took steps to improve your essay writing instead of playing PSP all day long.

I look forward to reading your improved essays.

[Floorball] First Aid Course 12 - 14 Nov

The scheduled First Aid Course from 12 to 14 Nov will be conducted at Lecture Theatre 2.

The course will be conducted from 8am to 6 pm for all three days. Lunch and refreshments will be provided = )

Zaihasrah Binte Nasir
MUHAMMAD REDZWAN B ABD RAHMAN

Zaihasrah, who is the final replacement for you? Please inform me as soon as possible.

We have paid for the course and it is essential that at least one person from the team has first aid knowledge as we often have injury cases. In fact, Coach Sonia wanted to send everyone for the course. First aid knowledge is exceptionally useful as it may save one's life. Any changes, please tag me on the board so I can inform the person-in-charge as soon as possible.

Refrain from calling me on my mobile phone. I appreciate you for giving me space and privacy. Thank you.

How to improve your GP grade

Cautionary note: This is not a guaranteed solution

1. Start to use your brain.
Remember the 5-Whys? No? Basically, it is why, why, why, why and WHY. Think critically. Find out why a certain issue occur. The basics. The core. Develop depth. How to develop depth?
2. Read, read and read some more.
What to read?
The MI library is fantastic. It is always stocked with new arrivals and the librarian is such a great help. Factual books are the best but if you have trouble reading them, you can start with the thinner ones. What to choose? Much depends on your preference. Just refrain from reading chick lit and Harry Potter. Previously, I have recommended books such as Freakonomics and Discover your Inner Economist in class.

If you read The New Paper, it is time to spend that 70 cents on The Straits Times. You get a lot more pages and content. Although the Sports and Life! sections are more digestible,
the Review and Insight are a must-read to develop critical thinking. If you have no idea, get some ideas here from those who have. Do not take things at face-value. Critique.

3. Have an opinion with concrete evidence.

It is not just a baseless view. From the information you gather, you will have some ideas swimming in your head. Organise them and you will have a better argument. Discuss it with your peers, teachers or even your elders. They might even be impressed by your insight! =)

4. Improve your grammar.

Buy the Preston Primary 6 grammar exercise book and practise.

A GP tutor also answered the same question. You can read his post here.

[Floorball] First Aid Course

Please attend the first aid course. Details are as followed:

12, 13 & 14 Nov (Mon, Tue & Wed)
8 to 5 pm
School

Zaihasrah Binte Nasir
MUHAMMAD REDZWAN B ABD RAHMAN

Your role is extremely crucial as our players are always injured during games. If your fellow team mates will like to attend, please tag their names and IC. Thank you.

[Floorball] Nominations for Combined Schools

SFA will be forming the Singapore Schools Floorball Team (Boys / Girls) that will be playing in the Singapore Floorball Association Division 1 Men’s and Women’s League respectively from January to Mid April 2008.

Students nominated please attend the Singapore Schools Floorball training trials and selections on Saturday 3rd, 10th and 17th November
from 9-11.30am (Girls) and
11.30am-2pm (Boys)
at ITE College Central (MacPherson Campus).
All nominated players must report for the first trial on 3rd November.

Siti Suhaila Bte Rahmat
Priya d/o Kakanajothi

MUHAMMAD NADZIR BIN AZMI
MOHAMMAD RIZAL B ISNIN
DINESH RAJ S/O SUPPIAH
SHAWN SYLVESTER SILVER RAJOO

Steps to take if you are counselled to exit

Deepest sympathies to those who are counselled to exit.
I guess you will be extremely confused and lost now as you are unsure of your future.
Take note that the following advice given below does not guarantee success of appeal.

Ask yourself: Are you sure you are suitable for the 'A' Level course?

At this moment, are you ready to study? If you have other pressing matters to handle or not in the right frame to sit down and mug, perhaps you should settle those issues first.
It is not the end of the world if you do not take the usual path. One year's worth of lessons would have enable you to decide whether you are cut out to pursue the academic route.

2. If you decide not to pursue the 'A' Level course, you can consider other routes which are recommended in the hand-out given to you. Some of them include polytechnic, ITE, SHATEC, La Salle and private courses.

3. If you decide to pursue the 'A' Level course, you need to write an appeal letter addressed to the principal stating the reasons why you should be given another chance.

It is not just "I am very sure that I have the potential to do well. If I am given another year, I will graduate the top of the class." or something to that effect.

You need to write down why you performed so badly this year and concrete steps to improve your studies next year.

If it is all talk and no action, you are going to waste another year and you will find youself in the same situation next year which you will definitely be asked to leave.

Bear in mind that you will be using 4 years to complete the 'A' Level course and you might not even graduate with a full certificate.

Are you prepared to take that risk?

Those who are advanced/ retained to submit their application/ appeal form by 25 Oct, 12 pm.
Please attend a briefing by VP on 26 Oct, immediately after assembly, at LR1

Leadership camp 5-7th Nov

Compulsory briefing this Wednesday 24 Oct 07 after HT period from 1:25 – 3 pm at LR2.

Those who do not turn up will not be selected for the camp.

Students who are to be Counseled to EXIT will not be considered. Retained or Advanced Students can still attend.

Nominees from Floorball

MOHAMMAD RIZAL B ISNIN

HENRY IZZUWAN BIN KHAIRUDDIN

Phee Guanting

Zaihasrah Binte Nasir

Nominees from 07A7

Md Zulhimi Zainal [Hockey]
Shimma Bte Abdul Rahim[Hockey]
Patrick Fehroz Shah [Drama]
HUMAIRA BTE ZAINAL ABIDEN [Modern Dance]
H Archana Esther [Band]
Joyce Tan Man Fang [Band]
Gayethiri Devi d/o Utrakumaran [Indian Dance]

My 26th birthday

Felt so weird when so many friends messaged me, "Happy birthday, Mrs Ng!"
Not that I don't like my new title, it seems as though I am not an individual any more - a part of Mr Ng. Anyway, I felt blessed when my friends called or messaged me birthday wishes. Thanks~

[The following is shameless raving about my birthday, totally irrelevant to GP so don't read if you are not interested.]

What I truly wanted for my birthday is a holiday
which I didn't get.

MOE education officers (teachers) need to seek approval from HOD and the principal before going overseas. Anywhere beyond Johor Bahru, I have to seek permission so goodbye impromptu getaway holidays. I didn't realise this after I have signed on the dotted line. It was not even in the fine print. A lot of things are not in the fine print.

What did I get for my 26th birthday?

French dinner

My pre-celebration with my secondary school buddies was at Ma Maison. Fabulous Japanese -Western fusion cuisine. We had cha-soba salad, cheese fritters and garlic butter escargots for appetisers. Their signature hamburger steak and squid ink spaghetti as main course. I strongly recommend this French cottage-styled restaurant for dates. The pricing is similar to Swensens but the food and atmosphere is much better. The first shop is at Bugis Junction and a branch just opened at The Central. If you go to The Central, stop by Paisley and Cream which sells mouth-watering cakes! My ex-colleague from Discovery Channel who learned baking in Le Cordon Bleu (if I remembered correctly) opened this cafe. A chic cafe to chill out on a weekend.
Enough blatant advertising....

Hong Kong dim sum breakfast
I can't go to Hong Kong so we had dim sum breakfast at East Ocean (Lido). This place serves the best custard salted egg yolk bun! The filling flows out like liquid gold. My favourite way of eating it is to suck the salty sweet filling before eating the bun. Another dim sum worth mentioning is the sharks' fin soup dumpling, only $6.50! I know I need to be environmentally conscious but it is my birthday so just let me eat that sliver of sharks' fin....

Chinese Tui-na
My husband said that he wanted to give me a 'relaxing birthday' and my bag of bones is falling apart so we went for massage. I wanted Swedish massage but after prodding my bones, the masseur recommended Chinese Tui-na as my body is severely tense. She warned that as she pressed my congested acupuncture points, I might feel slight discomfort.
What slight discomfort? It was so @#$% painful that I screamed silently and fight not to cry. I need some comfort food.

Japanese teppanyaki
Lunch was at my favourite Japanese restaurant at Far East Plaza. I am not telling you the name because it needs no more publicity. Sometimes, you have to wait for more than 15 minutes because there are less than 20 seats and only one person cooking. The place is so coveted that the chef actually charges $2 for each seat and it is compulsory to order at least one dish! A tiny dinky shop that one will definitely miss. When my journalist pal first brought me there, she said, "It feels like eating in Tokyo."
You sit at the cramped counter, huddling shoulder-to-shoulder with other customers. Slabs of fish meat are displayed in full view. The stoic yet meticulous chef prepares the sashimi right in front of you. Although I have tasted better Japanese food elsewhere, this shop's flavour suits me the most - fresh, simple and claustrophobic.

Hollywood B-grade movie
Balls of Fury is one of the worst movies I have seen but Maggie Q is really hot! The usual serious Christopher Walken dressed in post-Elvis garage sales costumes, acting as a villain is a riot. I was surprised to see Jason Scott Lee acting as a minion beefcake. The hit-to-the-groin jokes are lame, Asian characters are stereotypical, the plot is so bad that I cannot believe that I actually paid $9.50 to watch it. I wanted to watch a comedy so it was between Balls of Fury and Super Bad. Either one provides mindless humour. I chose Balls of Fury due to Maggie Q. She is sizzling hot!

Red shoes, Nail accessories and MP3 player
Being the dutiful daughter-in-law (shameless), I went to pick out kitchenware with my parents-in-law at Plaza Singapura. My husband allowed me to shop at Daiso and gave me a budget of $10 which I only spent $8! He is trying to curb my spending habit.
I bought a pair of red flats within 5 minutes today!
I also purchased magnets from 'Action for Singapore Dogs', doing my part for charity.
Did I mention that I am reading 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' by Sophie Kinsella?
In case you are thinking that I married Mr Scrooge, he bought me a new Panasonic MP3 player which only cost $49; extremely value-for-money.
Mr Ng saves, Mrs Ng spends. Match-made in heaven.

Halal Raspberry Cheesecake
My birthday cake was a slice of Raspberry Cheesecake from Secret Recipe. We are too full from our breakfast and lunch so we just ordered a slice of cake and a cup of mocha latte while our parents ate dinner. I never knew Secret Recipe was a Halal restaurant until my colleagues bought a separate cake here to celebrate the Muslim teachers' birthdays. To celebrate my birthday and be racially conscious, I shall eat a halal cake. Sheesh, I feel so _____ typing the previous sentence. This shows that my brain is infected after marking so many nonsensical scripts.

Oh, I forgot to make my birthday wishes.

1) More money
2) Win 4D
3) Strike Toto
4) Salary raise
5) Huge performance bonus
which will not come true.

so just be healthy and happy will suffice!

Checking of Promo exam scripts

After assembly on 22 Oct (Monday), PU1 students will check their promo exam scripts.

Please make sure you are not absent and turn up punctually.

No changes can be made after 10 am

as I need to update the records by 11 am (deadline fixed by the school Exam Committee)

Therefore, it is your responsibility to check the scripts thoroughly and inform me the necessary changes.

If I cannot attend to your concerns at that particular moment,

take a piece of paper, write down the error, the correct mark and attach the paper to your script.

You CANNOT take the scripts home.

I have more than 200 scripts (Paper 1 and Paper 2) so please understand my constraints and pressures.

Thank you.

Haircheck on Wed

Haircheck tomorrow (Wed 17/10/2007) in home rooms after morning assembly.
Those who fail the haircheck are to sign-out according to procedure to get their hair done.
Parents will be informed.
Don't say I never warn you beforehand

It is the wRITE thing

I am so sick of bad handwriting.
There, I said it!

Day after day, I try to tell myself, "Be professional. There are hundreds, thousands or even millions of netizens reading your blog. Do not write anything that can get yourself in trouble."

At this moment, I just want to say, "This is my space and I just want to write whatever I am feeling right now."

If you are from MOE, I would advise you to stop reading because what you are going to read is not going to reflect well on my work performance and mostly likely, affect my bonus. (if I am going to get any this year after so many mistakes made)

After marking so many sub-standard essays, I question myself and the education system. Are we doing the right thing?

1. Poor, illegible handwriting

Writing is one of basic language skills. Why do some students, at the age of 17, 18 cannot even write proper A, B, Cs? I am not expecting longhand or cursive handwriting, just clear, legible written words which I do not need to decipher. Is that an 'a' or a 's' ?
Boys' handwriting are characterised by chicken scrawls. It seemed that they were upset by the exam questions so they were trying to make the marker's life difficult - write in code. If I cannot read, I cannot mark. Fail-proof strategy indeed. While I was marking such scripts, I was tempted to run to Popular bookstore to buy those Learn-To-Write ABC books so that these 'chicken scrawlers' can learn how to write again.

The most drastic measure I took while marking was to dig out a magnifying glass to read this girl's script because her words resembles an ant's handwriting (if ants could write).

The current trend of tYpiNg cApiTaL lEttErs with sMall lEttErs also appeared in some scripts. Once, I pointed out this MSN-inflicted habit when I was marking a Sec 2 student's work when I was at YISS. She scolded me in her blog and said that her 'long-term' teachers never had problems, why was I, the relief teacher, picking on her.

Why I am harping on such a insignificant issue? Handwriting reflects one's personality. Some human resource departments even select potential employees by handwriting analysis. Although we are moving to a tech-oriented society where one is required to have basic technological skills, handwriting is not going to be obsolete, at least not in our lifetime. One will need to take written examinations, take notes or even write Thank-You cards.

To share an amusing anecdote, during my teenage years, my best friends and I used to read letters written by our admirers and guess the person's personality. Those who chicken scrawled did not even get a date. Boys with flowery handwriting, dotting their 'i's with hearts are usually playboys. We ended up dating boys with clear, upright handwriting and their letters have minimal grammatical errors. This may seem like an irrelevant or superficial example. I thought, to students who care so much about their love life, one will understand why we pick these boys?

Linking back to the topic sentence, writing is the one of the basic language skills. If one is able to write well, it is probable that this person can communicate better. Hence, writing poetry or letters is one of the ways to win a girl's heart. Looking at the bigger picture, one's handwriting can influence one's grades, job prospects and future.

If you cannot decipher your own handwriting, in other words, unable to check your work after you have written it, you ought to consider learning how to write again. It is the Right (write) thing to do after exams.

That reminds me the thing I have to do now is get back to my marking.
MOE, please do not sue me. I'm just trying to de-stress! >_<"

Nominees for leadership camp

In our quest to groom future leaders, the annual Student Leadership Camp will be held from

5 to7th November 2007 . This camp is meant to imbue our (about 140) student leaders with a sense of the schools’ core values and leadership perspectives, an opportunity for working among peers at organizing events.

These students will be likely candidates for Students’ and NE Council.

I have nominated 4 students from 07A7, please inform me if you have prior engagements on the particular dates above so that other students can take your place.

MUHAMMAD ZULHILMI B ZAINAL

HUMAIRA BTE ZAINAL ABIDEN

JAIGANESH PANNIRSELVAM

NURULHUDA BTE ZAYANI

* Final selection will depend on a holistic view of the student with input from the Discipline committee too. ( ie Nomination does not equal Confirmation)

Watch Bridging Minds on Arts Central on Monday 10 pm

Bridging Minds is an English debate for pre-university students and is jointly produced by MediaCorp TV12 and Radio Television Brunei. It was first held in Brunei in 1997 as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Singapore and Brunei Darussalam concerning cooperation in the field of broadcasting.

Bridging Minds 2007 was held in Brunei between the 16th and 24th of Aug. 5 students from AJC, ACJC, MJC, RJC, and VJC represented Singapore. Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (MOE) was the GOH from Singapore. The motion was "The Price of Envy Is Destruction".
The winner of the debate was the opposition team under teacher advisor Ms Jessie Lina Bte Hj Haliluddin from Brunei and theatrical coach Vadi Pvss, an Economics tutor from Raffles Junior College.

Please catch the telecast on 24th September, 10 pm, on Arts Central.

Floorball 2007

Informal 1

My first home class

ICT survey

There will be a survey on use of ICT for teaching and learning. MOE has identified two students per class to participate in this on-line survey.
Students are expected to complete the survey within 30 minutes.
Thank you for your assistance.

Date / Time : Wed 12 Sep 2007 at 1.30pm

Venue : I-Hub for 07A1 to 07A7

13	07A7	CHING SUET YENG MICHELLE
14	07A7	HENG SI HAN HILDA

Things We Steal From Children

Mrs Meya sent this little story about teaching. Remember the IT presentations that you had to do? They are to give you some control over what you and your classmates learn. I hoped you had put in effort to do them. Similarly, the group work, presenting answers on the whiteboard are not to give headaches or embarrass you but to help you learn. Instead of me droning on and on and on, I truly hope that you will learn to take charge of your own learning. 2 more weeks to go. Gambate~~

Things We Steal From Children

One evening on returning from lecturing to my students, my wife asked me:

“And what did you steal from your students today?”

The question rocked me, and as I examined my practice under her skilful questioning, I

Realized how much of the processes I kept for myself.

So we sat down and together we wrote the following:

If I am always the one to think where to go next,

If where we go is always the decision of the curriculum or my curiosity and not theirs.

If motivation is mine,

If I always decide on the topic to be studied, the title of the story, the problem to be worked on

If I am always the one who has reviewed their work and decided what they need,

How will they ever know how to begin?

If I am the one who is always monitoring progress.

If I set the pace of all working discussions.

If I always look ahead, foresee problems and endeavour to eliminate them.

If I swoop in and save them from cognitive conflict.

If I never allow them to feel and use the energy from confusion and frustration.

If things are always broken into short working periods.

If myself and others are allowed to break into their concentration.

If bells and I are always in control of the pace and flow of work

How will they learn to continue their own work?

If all the marking and editing is done by me.

If the selection of which work is to be published or evaluated is made by me.

If what is valued and valuable is always decided by external sources or by me.

If there is no forum to discuss what delights them in their task, what is working, what is not working, what they plan to do about it.

If they have not learned a language to discuss their work in ways that are intrinsically growth enhancing.

If they do not have language of self-assessment

If ways of communicating their work are always controlled by me.

If our assessments are mainly summative rather than formative,

If they do not plan their way forward to further action

How will they find ownership , direction and delight in what they do?

If I speak of individuals but present learning as if they are all the same.

If I am never seen to reflect and reflecting time is never provided.

If we never speak together about reflection and thinking and never develop a vocabulary for such discussion.

If we do not take opportunities to think about our thinking.

If I constantly set them exercises that do not intellectually challenge them

If I set up learning environments that interfere with their learning from their own actions.

If I give them recipes to follow.

If I only expect the one right conclusion.

If I signify that there are always right and wrong answers.

If I never openly respect their thoughts.

If I never let them persevere with something really difficult which they cannot master.

If I make all work serious work and discourage playfulness.

If there is no time to explore.

If I lock them into adult time constraints too early.

How with they get to know themselves as a thinker?

If we force them to always work and play with children of the same age.

If I do not teach them the skills of working co-operatively.

If collaboration can be seen as cheating

If all classroom activities are based in competitiveness.

If everything is seen to be for marks.

How will they learn to work with others?

For if they

have never experienced being challenged in a safe environment.

have had all of their creative thoughts explained away.

are unaware what catches their interest and how then to have confidence in that interest

have never followed something they are passionate about to a satisfying conclusion

have not clarified the way they sabotage their own learning

are afraid to seek help and do not know who or how to ask

have not experienced overcoming their own inertia

are paralyzed by the need to know everything before writing or acting

have never got bogged down

have never failed

have always played it safe.

How will they ever know who they are?

What comprises teaching?

In the second year of celebrating Teacher's Day and the first time in MI, I want to give thanks to
1) my colleagues, especially
Miss Jam for being such a joy to work with,
Miss Catherine Ang who is the most accommodating level coordinator,
Mdm Shamala who is the most experienced and big-hearted GP tutor I have ever met,
Mrs Meya who constantly keeps me on my toes and
everyone in MI who guided and supported me

2) my students who endured my lessons and lame jokes

3) Mdm Ong Chai Hong, my dearest co-home tutor

4) my family and friends who listened to my rants and forgave me for breaking promises last minute due to work commitment

5) God who blessed me for taking on this challenging job

Teaching was the first dream job that I wrote about in my Primary One composition because my mom was a kindergarten teacher. Along the way, I met some great teachers and many lousy ones. One of them, Mr Yip inspired me to write. He wrote in one of my Chinese compositions, "You will be a great writer one day." Hence, I aspired to be in media and learn how to write well.

Never would I imagined myself teaching General Paper as this is one subject which most Singapore students hated. "Think in-depth? I dig show biz and soccer. Hopefully there is an essay question on either beauty or sports in the twelve options." Yes, two came out in 1999 'A' levels ^_^
I was a major annoyance to my GP tutor - interrupting her while she was talking and asking her difficult questions which she needs to reply, "I'll get back to you." The worst I guess was being good friends with her favourite GP student as "I'm a corrupting influence". No idea who is corrupting who but I am going to marry this "corrupted" guy soon.
My fiance said that me being a GP tutor is karma so this reminds me and hopefully, you to start being nice to your GP tutor. Pay attention in class, do your homework diligently and don't irritate her or you might end up being a teacher. Haha... Happy holidays~

What do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest, "You're a teacher, Susan," he said.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a C+ slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best."
"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence."
"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids wonder." "I make them question."
"I make them criticize." "I make them apologize and mean it."
"I make them write." "I make them read, read, read."
"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, and definitely beautiful over and over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again."
"I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final drafts in English."
"I make them understand that if you have the brains, then follow your heart
... and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make,
you pay them no attention."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make a difference."
"What about you?"

(Source: http://www.bpsd.org/williampenn/room103/whyteach.htm)

Subject Verification

Dear o7A7ers,
The promo exam is starting on 24 Sept (Monday) which happens to be GP (woo hoo~)
Please verify the subjects that you are taking by signing the subject verification list which will be passed around.
You don't want to sit for some paper which you never studied for, do you?

P/S Since when do you study? Maybe you should start now...

Talent Development Meeting

Meeting: Talent Development (Academic)

Venue: Classroom 01-02

Date: 27th Aug 2007

Time: 8.30 am sharp

Purpose: To confirm the student group members involved in the programme and disseminate more information with regards to our programmes

07A7	LAM KAR YEE
07B1	NIKKI CLAUDIA LIM SUE YIN
07B2	LEO MING MIN RACHEL
07B2	CHEW SHIH HUI
07B4	HENG MAN TING
07B4	SARAVANAN S/O PANNIR SELV
07S1	SIM YING LIANG
07S2	TONG XUN JIE
07S2	GOH KIEN YEONG TERENCE
07S2	ZHOU YUAN
07S4	MUHAMMAD KHAIRUL B KHAIDI
07S5	CHUA MIN XUAN
07S5	NG WAN NGEE WENDY
07S5	KOH KAISHENG
07S6	KHOO YI HAO
07S6	NOR RAFIDAH BTE SAPARI
07S6	KUEK YU YAN STEPHANIE
07S6	NG WEI SIANG
07S7	GOH JIAN DI SHANE
07S7	MOHAMMAD KAMALRULZAMAN B
07S7	CLAUDIA LIM XUE YAN

National Day Rally Speech 2007

As a conscious Singaporean, I hope that you managed to catch PM Lee's National Day Rally speech last night.
If you did not, you can either watch the video or read the text of the speech.
This will benefit you in answering AQ and the initiatives mentioned will affect you and your family. Hence, please spend some time discussing the speech with your peers or family members. Feel free to tag your comments and views on the message board.

Some of the key points mentioned are:

1) Closing the income gap: More lower income families will also be eligible for the Additional CPF Housing Grant scheme which was introduced last year. The grant will be increased from S$20,000 to S$30,000, and it will give needy families a leg up to buy their first subsidised flat.

2) Upgrading education - setting up fourth university, To encourage more non-Malays to learn Malay in addition to their mother tongue, incentives such as two bonus points for junior college admissions will be introduced to get students to take up the Malay Special Programme.

A Regional Studies Programme will also be introduced, where students will do Malay as a third language, and learn about our Southeast Asian neighbours.

100 scholarships will be offered for this programme a year.

3) Ageing population- living active lives

4) Working longer - more savings for old age: a law by 2012 that requires employers to hire workers beyond the age of 62.

5) Improving CPF - building a nest egg: an annuity scheme and higher interest for their CPF savings (1 percent more).

6) Upgrading and renewal of flats: look at some artists' illustration of makeover old estates, Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, Home Improvement Programme

7) Forging forward - creating a city of possibilities

24 Sep - GP Promo Exam

GP Promo is on 24 Sept (Monday)

I will be available for consultation, first come first serve basis.
Please approach me to sign up.
It is your prerogative to take responsibility for your own learning.

$1.95 for MI Essay collection

GP Reps, please collect $1.95 from your classmates for payment for a copy of MI Essay (collection of essays written by MI students) and pass the sum collected to me by end of this week (13 Jul, Fri).
Do use the class list to indicate the total number of students and total amount collected from each class.

Essay and File checking

Hello all,

Hope that you have a good break and your common tests went well.
I need you to submit the marked essay (timed assignment) you did last term and IRP file latest by next Monday, 9 July.

I need to write a report by Wednesday.
If you did not submit, you will get an immediate zero.

GP reps of 07A5, 07A7, 07B4, please collect and submit by 11 am.

07S1> Please deposit the essays and the files in the box on top of my pigeon hole, Number 12 outside the staff room on Thursday, 5 July.

Please inform your classmate immediately if they do not have the habit of checking their emails. Call or message them to ask them to bring. You are doing them a favour.

Thank you.

@ Conservatorium of Music

Last day in Sydney city. Alighted at St James station. Went to Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney Hospital, Conservatorium of Music, Royal Botanic Gardens, Opera House and Haymarket.

@ Haymarket

Raining again. Went to Haymarket to buy cheap souvenirs and fresh food. Grand ships at Darling Harbour.

@ Bondi Beach

Had pancakes for breakfast! Yes, I went to Pancakes on the Rocks and ordered the Hot 'N' Troppo - 2 buttermilk pancakes with chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, grilled banana with walnuts. Yummy~ Went to Bondi Beach. Not worth going if you are not a surfer. Walked to the Bronte Beach and from there, went to Bondi Junction, Oxford Street to do some shopping.

@ Sydney Darling Harbour

Finally! Sydney~ After 4 days, finally I am in city Sydney. Being the thrifty traveller, I went everywhere by foot. Wanted to go to the Haymarket but it only opens on Thursday so I headed for Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay. Had a quick tour of the National Marinetime Museum and saw different types of ships. Wanna gamble? Visit the casino at StarCity. I'm not feeling lucky so I just went to the Lyric Theatre and check out the prices of Priscilla The Desert Queen musical. Out of my budget. Steal of the day: Lobster lunch at Sydney Fish Market! Only $15.50 and comes with chips and garden salad. Yummy~ Crossed Pyrmont Bridge to get to Sydney Tower. Did window shopping at Queen Victoria Building. It's Sydney Film Festival now so I popped by the State Theatre. Very impressive interior architecture. I walked to the Rocks and visited an art gallery featuring paintings which Nelson Mandela did while he was imprisoned. Saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the famous Sails -Sydney Opera House. Wanted to eat Pancakes on the Rocks which sells all sorts of pancakes but I was still full from lunch. I will be back to eat those humongous pancakes!

@ Symbio Zoo

Went to the Symbio zoo. Fed the kangaroos and got scratched by one >:_( Saw the koalas too!

@ Botanic Gardens & Mt Keira

Went for nature walks today since the weather has turned better. It stopped raining and the sky is clear. First, we went to see different species of plants at the Botanic Gardens. Sadly, most of the flowers in the Rose Garden are dead due to the heavy rain. However, the types of vegation are more varied than Singapore because of the weather here. There are also greenhouses for desert plants and rainforests. Next, we hiked up Mt. Kiara which was punishing initially because I am so unfit. There was a family trimming the trees along the trail. My friend said that a forest fire broke out a couple of years ago and looked like Mt Kiara has a volcano that erupted. The reward for the first part of the hike was a stainless steel scuplture made by the UOW Arts students which resembles a silver inverted ice-cream cone. The spectacular view of the city and the ocean makes the hike worthwhile.

@ Seacliff Bridge

This morning was pouring and windy so the initial idea to run to Seacliff Bridge was scrapped. We had breakfast at Nellie's and mine was deeelicious! Bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, potatoes, sausages, grilled tomatoes and toast with latte! Ed said he usually cannot finish the Big Breakfast and I did :d We drove up to Seacliff Bridge instead and huge waves were crashing against the cliff. Really spectacular sight. It is rare to have a storm in New South Wales and there is a flood at Hunter Valley which is a winery and garden- looked really pretty in the brouchures. The Sydney Morning Herald's headline was "Five swept away in storm. At least four dead in wild weather" There were pictures of stranded travellers sitting up on the top of their cars. It is fine where I'm staying so pray hard!

@ Wollogong

Yes! My first day in Australia involves the daunting task of trying to get to Wollogong from the International Airport. Luckily, the instructions is quite clear so here I am, in Wollogong! ^_^
This is the southern coast of New South Wales , an hour and a half away from Sydney. Today, I learnt to navigate myself around this area so that I can go to the city myself. Spent 3 hours shopping at the local mall, buying chocolates and vegetables for dinner. The fresh produce is cheap and tasty here! I think I can be a vegetarian here. Skin will clear up too ^_<

@ KLCC airport

Whoosh and I'm now at Kuala Lumpur. Eating French Chicken now. Never heard of it? It's from Burger King. Fried checken patty with ham and cheese. Wonder if the French eats it that way. Hehe.... I'm a budget traveller and the cheapest and most filling meal is fast food. At least French Chicken is not sold in SG! Don't think nasi padang will go down well in my delicate stomach either. Wanna eat A&W!!! However, no outlet in KL airport. Sigh~~ Jam, we shall fulfil our cravings one day!~

@ Changi Airport waiting lounge F56

Waiting to board my transit flight to KL. This is the start of my maiden trip to Sydney. Somewhere which I have never been and had no time to research or plan because I had too much to mark!
It has been a harrowing experience. Insisting to embark this trip alone, without the company of any family/friend/ colleague or my ever trustworthy, dependable travel companion - my fiance, has raised a tsunami in my conservative family.

I really pray that everything will be fine and I will grow up to be a more mature and confident person. Of course, refreshed to face new challenges.
I will be back safe and sound. Check this space.