2 more weeks left before Term 1 ends. As each week passes, I feel the joy and relief of rest during weekends. Yet I know that there is not much time I've left with them.
12 weeks left : (
Dummy's Guide to Flag Days
My last minute efforts of some spring cleaning has paid off. I fished out my journal that I wrote in Secondary 4 and I'm proud that I gave the impression (and was!) a goody-two-shoes. : ) I'm kinda bored, my jogging plans postponed by the threatening weather. So I'll post a nonsensical entry as well haha.
The Dummy's Guide to Flag Days
by Daphne Tan
Have had nerve-wreckingly frustating experiences pestering people for their 50cents and 20cents? No fear! These tried-and-tested tactics will leave you contented with tins of cash overflowing.
1. Approach people who either have wallets in hand, or are digging for something in their bags and pockets. They'll feel quite obliged to give you money.
2. Once the target is spotted, pretend to look around while advancing towards him. Only give him eye contact within approachable distance, so he cannot run away.
3. Sneak from behind!
4. Approach for people stuck in queues - they can't run away!
5. Choose your targets wisely. If you're good-looking, try looking for older folks of the opposite sex. These ah peks and aunties will be inclined to give money for the sake of your mesmerising smile.
Someone! Help me, I'm very very bored. Two more days without work? It's driving me crazy.
Bias
After doing some reflection, I realised how I've become biased against certain classes and certain students and am in danger of becoming the idealist-turned-cynical teacher.
When Class A misbehaves slightly, eg: chit-chattering in class, it seems perfectly fine to me as the commotion will die down and I don't get very bothered. However, if Class B does the same thing, I would flare up and start reprimanding them. Class B is academically weaker than Class A. I'm biased.
At the start of the year, I was able to abandon any stereotypes of students based on their academic streams. I could see the potential and equally good nature in everyone. But my callousness has now caused me to revert back to believing in stereotypes, that certain stream students will always be misbehaving and not do well. :(
In my school, students who join Lion Dance are people who are in the academically weaker streams. They are the ones who are 'trouble-makers' and 'naughty students'. But today, I saw another side of them. I saw how they were so willingly and happy to put in their heart and commitment to putting up a good performance. It is a pity that society puts down such talented people just because they're not well-enough performers in the academic area.
This holiday season, I want to get rid of my biased way of teaching and start rediscovering every student as a beautiful human being.
By the way, good news guys! Rekha is TRULY going to become my colleague from next week onwards. Yippee!
When Class A misbehaves slightly, eg: chit-chattering in class, it seems perfectly fine to me as the commotion will die down and I don't get very bothered. However, if Class B does the same thing, I would flare up and start reprimanding them. Class B is academically weaker than Class A. I'm biased.
At the start of the year, I was able to abandon any stereotypes of students based on their academic streams. I could see the potential and equally good nature in everyone. But my callousness has now caused me to revert back to believing in stereotypes, that certain stream students will always be misbehaving and not do well. :(
In my school, students who join Lion Dance are people who are in the academically weaker streams. They are the ones who are 'trouble-makers' and 'naughty students'. But today, I saw another side of them. I saw how they were so willingly and happy to put in their heart and commitment to putting up a good performance. It is a pity that society puts down such talented people just because they're not well-enough performers in the academic area.
This holiday season, I want to get rid of my biased way of teaching and start rediscovering every student as a beautiful human being.
By the way, good news guys! Rekha is TRULY going to become my colleague from next week onwards. Yippee!
Expressions
Yes, that's the title of the weekly journals my students write for English. I thought 'journal' would turn the kids off and remind them of yet another weekend chore, so I changed the name for novelty's sake.
Do you remember all the rantings and problems that you wrote down on your journals for catharsis? I remember not letting my guard off even I wrote the journal, fearing that it might cause disagreement amongst others who peep into my book.
Thankfully, the kids have written wonderful stuff. What they write really touch my heart and I thanked and thanked and thanked and thanked and thanked them for writing Expressions. They felt happy and special when I did that. :)
There is this Sec One kid who is training very hard to be a better basketball player for the school, so he plays during every break and even after school. He honestly and sincerely admitted this problem of neglecting his studies and the dilemma of a student really comes through. He drew this big face with a droopy mouth which was crying. How many students would be so honest to himself! To admit that one is playing too much and seeks help requires much courage and maturity, especially you are admitting it to a teacher. :)
Then there's this other kid who writes about her family background. She comes from a single-parent family and feels uneasy about making her uncle's financial burden greater as she is living in his house now. Then she goes on to tell how she would sometimes question her lot in life, why others have a mother but not her. She envies her friends who can enjoy the love a mother has to offer. Am I able to offer sisterly love that can hopefully make her happier?
Then there's this other kid who has come from PRC with his mother. It seems as if he is always trying to seek attention. When I cared for him personally, I think I could see the sincerity in his eyes which was usually replaced by indifference. Am I able to offer some sort of maternal love for him too?
There's this other adorable kid who, in his entry, thanked God for every single member of his family. He understands the rationale behind the his parents' actions and loved being in the same primary school as his sister. I hope he will remain like this even as he grows up to be an adolescent.
On a lighter note, I also have the conventional ones that inform me about the details of celebrities such as Rain and Show Luo Zhi Xiang. It's back to the time where kids idolise Chinese music culture so I feel a bit weird but it's okay. Now I know that the Taiwanese pop singer, Show, is going to be at Bugis Junction for an autograph session at 2pm tomorrow. Haha.
Kids are so innocent and aren't defensive of themselves -at least most of them are. What an admirable spirit to learn from! I feel very encouraged to be equally honest and sincere when I treat people too, which is something I hope to do more of. This reminds me of what Jesus said, 'Let children come unto Me', because we must be as innocent as children on evil things to be fit for heaven. Start regretting if you are or have not become a teacher. You learn a lot from kids!
Do you remember all the rantings and problems that you wrote down on your journals for catharsis? I remember not letting my guard off even I wrote the journal, fearing that it might cause disagreement amongst others who peep into my book.
Thankfully, the kids have written wonderful stuff. What they write really touch my heart and I thanked and thanked and thanked and thanked and thanked them for writing Expressions. They felt happy and special when I did that. :)
There is this Sec One kid who is training very hard to be a better basketball player for the school, so he plays during every break and even after school. He honestly and sincerely admitted this problem of neglecting his studies and the dilemma of a student really comes through. He drew this big face with a droopy mouth which was crying. How many students would be so honest to himself! To admit that one is playing too much and seeks help requires much courage and maturity, especially you are admitting it to a teacher. :)
Then there's this other kid who writes about her family background. She comes from a single-parent family and feels uneasy about making her uncle's financial burden greater as she is living in his house now. Then she goes on to tell how she would sometimes question her lot in life, why others have a mother but not her. She envies her friends who can enjoy the love a mother has to offer. Am I able to offer sisterly love that can hopefully make her happier?
Then there's this other kid who has come from PRC with his mother. It seems as if he is always trying to seek attention. When I cared for him personally, I think I could see the sincerity in his eyes which was usually replaced by indifference. Am I able to offer some sort of maternal love for him too?
There's this other adorable kid who, in his entry, thanked God for every single member of his family. He understands the rationale behind the his parents' actions and loved being in the same primary school as his sister. I hope he will remain like this even as he grows up to be an adolescent.
On a lighter note, I also have the conventional ones that inform me about the details of celebrities such as Rain and Show Luo Zhi Xiang. It's back to the time where kids idolise Chinese music culture so I feel a bit weird but it's okay. Now I know that the Taiwanese pop singer, Show, is going to be at Bugis Junction for an autograph session at 2pm tomorrow. Haha.
Kids are so innocent and aren't defensive of themselves -at least most of them are. What an admirable spirit to learn from! I feel very encouraged to be equally honest and sincere when I treat people too, which is something I hope to do more of. This reminds me of what Jesus said, 'Let children come unto Me', because we must be as innocent as children on evil things to be fit for heaven. Start regretting if you are or have not become a teacher. You learn a lot from kids!
Tired
Hi
I'm tired. I'm like this industrial plant that is beginning to reap diseconomies of scale. On the average, I work for almost 12 hours daily - 7am to 6.30pm in school. I get more amibitious by the day, trying to finish marking more and more work within the same day it is being submitted.
Sometimes I can't help it. You see, the Sec 1 kids are so adorable and the Sec 3 kids are a pleasure to teach. The way they look at you with wide eyes, raised eyebrows, rosy cheeks and high socks and high pants, or their candid laughter when you tell them guy to guy contact is 'unhealthy' simply melts your heart away and you feel that the diseconomies is worth it.
Problems aside, I really love teaching. And if I want to continue to teach with vigour, I need more sleep. JC life is over and I shan't have an excuse to sleep late. My eyelids are heavy....
I'm tired.
I'm tired. I'm like this industrial plant that is beginning to reap diseconomies of scale. On the average, I work for almost 12 hours daily - 7am to 6.30pm in school. I get more amibitious by the day, trying to finish marking more and more work within the same day it is being submitted.
Sometimes I can't help it. You see, the Sec 1 kids are so adorable and the Sec 3 kids are a pleasure to teach. The way they look at you with wide eyes, raised eyebrows, rosy cheeks and high socks and high pants, or their candid laughter when you tell them guy to guy contact is 'unhealthy' simply melts your heart away and you feel that the diseconomies is worth it.
Problems aside, I really love teaching. And if I want to continue to teach with vigour, I need more sleep. JC life is over and I shan't have an excuse to sleep late. My eyelids are heavy....
I'm tired.
Hola!
- Daphne Tan
- Singapore
- One day, I want to lie down on the grass under a beautiful blue sky with ten thousand cats.
I'm reading
