My first day at school has been an interesting one. It was truly an eye-opener. I reached school early in the morning and I saw that the students were already there and some of them were already having fun with their friends. They were so noisy and excited, as how children would behave.
Mrs W introduced the news teachers to the school. I did not expect that she would also introduce me. Afterall, I am only a teacher on attachment. Yet she did. The students were so excited and happy to see new faces.
As there were no specific plans for my attachment, I shadowed Mdm M for the day. When she taught in the class, I sat at the back of the classroom and observed how she managed the class. The class that she is handling for this semester is that of a class of lower ability. Yet, they did not come across that negatively to me. The students still participated actively in class and answered the questions that Mdm M asked with enthusiasm. When assigned written work, the students did it diligently.
Somehow, through the students' behaviour and their eyes, I do not see much of a tinge of sensitivity to the streaming of abilities which have been imposed by adults.
There was just so much to absorb today. The school itself has so many procedures which I only have a vague idea so far. But I think , things would improve as the time goes by.
I also had a chat with the school librarian. She was warm and friendly and told me stories of the children who visit the library. There are instances when the children stay in the library just to avoid certain classes. There are instances when the children stay in the library just for the air-conditioning.
They have this innocent look on their faces, especially when faced with an adult. A tinge of fear yet with a degree of curiosity. They simply melt my heart.
While, I had good experiences today, there is one issue that I have to work it out myself. I have yet to decide on the range of tolerance of the noise level made by the children. Noises can be positive and they can be negative too. HOw much of the negative noise can I accept? I am not as nice as Mdm M. I tend to be a little stricter and I know I am a no-nonsense kind of person. I guess I can only work that out as time goes by.
A prayer of thanks.......
Dear Lord
Thank you for your blessings and guidance today. Although there has not been much of a structure, I tried to work within the constraints. I am glad that somehow, I am able to feel comfortable when among the children and teachers. I pray for your further blessings and guidance that I will soon be able to establish my own style and character and be able to help the children move on and appreciate learning. At the same time, I pray that I will be able to pick up as much as I can during this one month in preparation for the training and NIE and the actual teaching experience that will soon be coming up.
Thank you Lord.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
A prayer
Dear Lord
I pray with the deepest sincerity that my Enhanced School Experience will be a very beneficial and meaningful one. I am now filled with excitement and anticipation of the experience. Yet at the same time, there is also an element of fear because I am worried that I may not live up to the expectations of the school. I want to learn from the teachers and seniors because I know that they have more experience that I have had. Most importantly, I do not want any flaws in the children's journey of learning and development. I know that I should expect some mistakes here and there. But as much as possible, I do not want that to happen because I only want the best for the children.
I pray that I can establish good working relations with the teachers and students and that we can have a good time together. All I wish for is a good experience with the children and teacher, nothing more.I want to do my best.
I pray for your blessings and guidance. Please help me Lord!
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
I pray with the deepest sincerity that my Enhanced School Experience will be a very beneficial and meaningful one. I am now filled with excitement and anticipation of the experience. Yet at the same time, there is also an element of fear because I am worried that I may not live up to the expectations of the school. I want to learn from the teachers and seniors because I know that they have more experience that I have had. Most importantly, I do not want any flaws in the children's journey of learning and development. I know that I should expect some mistakes here and there. But as much as possible, I do not want that to happen because I only want the best for the children.
I pray that I can establish good working relations with the teachers and students and that we can have a good time together. All I wish for is a good experience with the children and teacher, nothing more.I want to do my best.
I pray for your blessings and guidance. Please help me Lord!
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
A lesson learnt
Today is the first day of the Teacher Preparatory Programme. I think it was quite interesting because we did not focus too much on the content. Rather, it was a day of exchange of valuable experience and stories geared towards our Enhanced School Experience. Our trainer is an interesting man in his sixties who, through his actions and body language, shows that he is still passionate about Education. He may not have the energy of an active twenty-year-old, but his fire of passion is sill burning strongly within him. THis is what I want to be when I grow old. My body may not be as agile and youthful, but my mind and heart are as young as they can be. Till I take my last breath, I want to be as productive as I can.
At the same time, I also heard stories of unfortunate incidents which happened to teachers. I feel sad for them. At the same time, the element of fear fills me. I do not wish to get into any trouble. I do not wish to cause any harm or negative impact to my students. Yet, I do not want to be taken advantage of too. FOr a while, I had the impression that parents nowadays are simple too protective of their children. Yet, I know that if I were in their shoes, I would also be very protective. Perhaps, they are not trying to be bad too. They simple want the best for their children and are simply too afraid to let any flaws appear in their children's lives.
Perhaps I should look at things from a different perspective. As long as I try my best and accord the students the respect and be sensitive to their psychological sides, I would not cause any negative impact. I should keep my eyes and ears open to any signs which may actually be telling me that the children need help.
I should be positive. And also hang on to my belief that I want and am able to help others, be it children or adults, take steps in their journeys through life. Simple steps that allow them to find meaning and lead happy lives. Simple steps to help them maximise their potential. Of course, with integrity, honesty and other positive values.
At the same time, I also heard stories of unfortunate incidents which happened to teachers. I feel sad for them. At the same time, the element of fear fills me. I do not wish to get into any trouble. I do not wish to cause any harm or negative impact to my students. Yet, I do not want to be taken advantage of too. FOr a while, I had the impression that parents nowadays are simple too protective of their children. Yet, I know that if I were in their shoes, I would also be very protective. Perhaps, they are not trying to be bad too. They simple want the best for their children and are simply too afraid to let any flaws appear in their children's lives.
Perhaps I should look at things from a different perspective. As long as I try my best and accord the students the respect and be sensitive to their psychological sides, I would not cause any negative impact. I should keep my eyes and ears open to any signs which may actually be telling me that the children need help.
I should be positive. And also hang on to my belief that I want and am able to help others, be it children or adults, take steps in their journeys through life. Simple steps that allow them to find meaning and lead happy lives. Simple steps to help them maximise their potential. Of course, with integrity, honesty and other positive values.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The meaning of teaching
Recently, the information and events at NIE have engulfed my mind. While I work through the registration and administrative procedures, I somehow have lost my focus. What is the true meaning of education? HOw do we manage classes? How can I be an effective teacher? Such questions have been in my mind for some time and I have not found any answer which is satisfactory.
Something struck me as I watched tv a few minutes ago. Education is Love. It is that urge to walk the journey with the little ones and support them as they built their own foundation. It is the urge to want to share their ups and downs that keep me going. WHen they are happy, I share their joy with them simply by standing aside and smiling. When they are sad, I want to lend them my shoulder to cry on and help them get through the challenges and make sense of life. Perhaps this basic principles will help me get through the challenges that are to come?
Something struck me as I watched tv a few minutes ago. Education is Love. It is that urge to walk the journey with the little ones and support them as they built their own foundation. It is the urge to want to share their ups and downs that keep me going. WHen they are happy, I share their joy with them simply by standing aside and smiling. When they are sad, I want to lend them my shoulder to cry on and help them get through the challenges and make sense of life. Perhaps this basic principles will help me get through the challenges that are to come?
Sunday, June 18, 2006
A simple yet sweet weekend
THis weekend has been a simple yet sweet one for the both of us. In celebration of our first anniversary together, we spent a night at Marina Mandarin HOtel. DInner was simple at Cafe Cartel. Nothing expensive, nothing fanciful. We spent some time window-shopping around Marina Square and Suntec. It was a short one as we were both tired from work and other activities throughout the past week. Back in the hotel room, we watched tv and drank champagne. And the usual me knocked out after a few sips. Haha....
This morning, we wanted to go swimming. But both of us fell asleep in the room after buffet breakfast. Haha....
But one thing which made me very contented was that he wore the ring on this finger the entire weekend. Being someone who does not like to wear accessories, he actually made the effort to wear the ring. He knows that I am particular about it. I am happy because it means that this day has a place in his heart. His action assures me that he still has feelings for me, and a strong one. I am very happy and I feel safe for I have found someone who truly treasures me and gives me the security which I have longed for since I took my first breath on this planet.
I gave him the photo scrap book which I made. I spent quite a lot of money on the scrap book and presentation. But the value of the photos in the scrap book far outweighs the monetary value of the paper product. They are pictures of the both of us enjoying our times together. The smiles on our faces as we explore the world simply warms my heart and make me feel like the luckiest person on earth. I know I should not be greedy. But I really love to spend more time with him while I still can. Sometimes, I wonder if I can get on with life without him. I am even willing to give up years of life just to make sure that he is safe and sound and happy. I guess, I have finally come to the point of understanding what love is all about, or am I just reading the tip of the iceberg?
This morning, we wanted to go swimming. But both of us fell asleep in the room after buffet breakfast. Haha....
But one thing which made me very contented was that he wore the ring on this finger the entire weekend. Being someone who does not like to wear accessories, he actually made the effort to wear the ring. He knows that I am particular about it. I am happy because it means that this day has a place in his heart. His action assures me that he still has feelings for me, and a strong one. I am very happy and I feel safe for I have found someone who truly treasures me and gives me the security which I have longed for since I took my first breath on this planet.
I gave him the photo scrap book which I made. I spent quite a lot of money on the scrap book and presentation. But the value of the photos in the scrap book far outweighs the monetary value of the paper product. They are pictures of the both of us enjoying our times together. The smiles on our faces as we explore the world simply warms my heart and make me feel like the luckiest person on earth. I know I should not be greedy. But I really love to spend more time with him while I still can. Sometimes, I wonder if I can get on with life without him. I am even willing to give up years of life just to make sure that he is safe and sound and happy. I guess, I have finally come to the point of understanding what love is all about, or am I just reading the tip of the iceberg?
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Giving thanks for the meaning of life
Life is full of ups and downs. We are happy one moment and we are sad another. I experienced a day of joy today. A few events happened which made today taste sweet and nice. First of all, I met Chee Yong who played the hide-and-seek game with me on the train. Second, Jenny, Liting and I had enjoyed a night of dining and shopping together. We chatted and joked and shared simple and delicious food. There was no need for posh settings or elaboration. Just the simple things in life.
I wanted to buy story books and they accompanied me.
Jenny also gave me a farewell gift. An Adidas watch, a pair of earrings which I believe was made by herself and a Forever Friend pin.
I felt flattered and loved and appreciated. Come to think of it, I only know Jenny and the other temps for a very short period of time. Yet, it is as if we have been friends for a long long time.... And they can accept me as who I am. A person with a different perspective and rather different opinions which are not aligned to the Asian way of thinking and living.
I also met Sze Hua, someone whom I have lost contact with and caught up with recently. Years have passed and we have all gone through different life experiences. But I am really glad that we can still talk like old times and allow each other into our lives and be each other's support....
Although Sze Hua is one year younger than me, she is much more matured for her age. She is a caring and gentle person. Someone who makes you feel safe to be around. She has a special place in my life because we shared memories way back in JC. I did not have many friends in choir then and she extended her friendship to me. FOr that, I am grateful.
Dear Lord,
I offer my prayer in gratitude for today. A day full of surprises and beautiful connections with people I have not met for a long time and with people who I have just got to know. I feel loved and I enjoy soaking in the feeling of joy and happiness. It reminds me of how lucky I am and how blessed I am. Such wonderful feelings wash away any traces of sadness, anger or bitterness that the stress of living in a city like Singapore has brought me.
Lord, I seek your blessings for these wonderful people and pray that love and care will prevail in our world for as long as possible.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
I wanted to buy story books and they accompanied me.
Jenny also gave me a farewell gift. An Adidas watch, a pair of earrings which I believe was made by herself and a Forever Friend pin.
I felt flattered and loved and appreciated. Come to think of it, I only know Jenny and the other temps for a very short period of time. Yet, it is as if we have been friends for a long long time.... And they can accept me as who I am. A person with a different perspective and rather different opinions which are not aligned to the Asian way of thinking and living.
I also met Sze Hua, someone whom I have lost contact with and caught up with recently. Years have passed and we have all gone through different life experiences. But I am really glad that we can still talk like old times and allow each other into our lives and be each other's support....
Although Sze Hua is one year younger than me, she is much more matured for her age. She is a caring and gentle person. Someone who makes you feel safe to be around. She has a special place in my life because we shared memories way back in JC. I did not have many friends in choir then and she extended her friendship to me. FOr that, I am grateful.
Dear Lord,
I offer my prayer in gratitude for today. A day full of surprises and beautiful connections with people I have not met for a long time and with people who I have just got to know. I feel loved and I enjoy soaking in the feeling of joy and happiness. It reminds me of how lucky I am and how blessed I am. Such wonderful feelings wash away any traces of sadness, anger or bitterness that the stress of living in a city like Singapore has brought me.
Lord, I seek your blessings for these wonderful people and pray that love and care will prevail in our world for as long as possible.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
A night without expectations
Just a few hours ago, I had a fun time chatting with a group of new-found friends. I wonder if it was a result of me not having any expections. All of them are younger than me. They each have different backgrounds and stories. One thing in common perhaps is that we are all working for the same company and we possess the same status - temps. No stress. No burdens.
We shared stories of our own experiences at work, made jokes about people and of course exchanged some harmless gossip.
I enjoyed the session. There was laughter and there was bonding. We may have met one another only a few weeks or days ago but the wall of foreigness and fear and suspicions is thining.
Dear Lord
Thank you for the wonderful time I had today. I am grateful that I have made friends with this gorup of people. THey are kind and wonderful. Despite our varied experiences and background, we have managed to connect with one another and I hope that our friendship will carry on into the future.
I pray that you look over them and bless them with good health and joy in their lives.
At the same time, I hope that I have offered a different perspective to them and that they can benefit from my sharing of my experiences and knowledge.
I would also like to pray for Jenny who was not able to join us because of work and health issues. I pray that she gets a good rest tonight so that she has the energy to meet the challenges at work. And for Terisia, I pray that she will be able to do well in her upcoming exams.
Lastly, I pray that the next two days will be smooth sailing so that I can have a peaceful and sweet ending to my stay here.
Lord, I also pray that I can learn to take away my negative perceptions of people and try to see the good in everyone.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We shared stories of our own experiences at work, made jokes about people and of course exchanged some harmless gossip.
I enjoyed the session. There was laughter and there was bonding. We may have met one another only a few weeks or days ago but the wall of foreigness and fear and suspicions is thining.
Dear Lord
Thank you for the wonderful time I had today. I am grateful that I have made friends with this gorup of people. THey are kind and wonderful. Despite our varied experiences and background, we have managed to connect with one another and I hope that our friendship will carry on into the future.
I pray that you look over them and bless them with good health and joy in their lives.
At the same time, I hope that I have offered a different perspective to them and that they can benefit from my sharing of my experiences and knowledge.
I would also like to pray for Jenny who was not able to join us because of work and health issues. I pray that she gets a good rest tonight so that she has the energy to meet the challenges at work. And for Terisia, I pray that she will be able to do well in her upcoming exams.
Lastly, I pray that the next two days will be smooth sailing so that I can have a peaceful and sweet ending to my stay here.
Lord, I also pray that I can learn to take away my negative perceptions of people and try to see the good in everyone.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Wonderful tonight...
Wonderful Tonight
What a lovely song…The tune is so soothing and the story is just so sweet. I wish and pray that one day, I shall have the chance to be as beautiful as the lady in the song is. No one probably has the definite image of how beautiful the lady in the song is or how she looks like. It is up to each individual to conjure up an image of the beautiful lady in their hearts. As the saying goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
I have lived on earth for about a quarter of a century. Could it be my personality, my inhibitions, my sense of insecurity or the choices that I make that placed an invisible glass ceiling on the possibility of having this dream of mine come true? I have yet to experience the feeling of believing that I can be beautiful.
Some people say that beauty is more than skin-deep. Beauty comes from the heart and soul. If that is so, with all the mistakes that we have all made, can we all even be at least a second beautiful? The slightest flaw in our lives may be sufficient to make us ugly. Or am I being too harsh here?
Anyway, I love the Cinderella story. An innocent girl who is pure at heart gets to soak herself in the wonderful moments of love and romance. I would love to walk down the red carpet thinking that I am beautiful and admired by others. I want to be the lady who is elegant and pretty, and at the same time, intelligent and knowledgeable. I want to dance my night away with my Prince Charming to wonderful music. I want to feel special and wanted. I want to waltz the entire ballroom and swirl my beautiful gown all across the floor. I especially love the sensation or the view of soft smooth fabric running across the floor of the ballroom. It is just so perfect.
Dream, dream, dream….this is what I am doing now…….
What a lovely song…The tune is so soothing and the story is just so sweet. I wish and pray that one day, I shall have the chance to be as beautiful as the lady in the song is. No one probably has the definite image of how beautiful the lady in the song is or how she looks like. It is up to each individual to conjure up an image of the beautiful lady in their hearts. As the saying goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
I have lived on earth for about a quarter of a century. Could it be my personality, my inhibitions, my sense of insecurity or the choices that I make that placed an invisible glass ceiling on the possibility of having this dream of mine come true? I have yet to experience the feeling of believing that I can be beautiful.
Some people say that beauty is more than skin-deep. Beauty comes from the heart and soul. If that is so, with all the mistakes that we have all made, can we all even be at least a second beautiful? The slightest flaw in our lives may be sufficient to make us ugly. Or am I being too harsh here?
Anyway, I love the Cinderella story. An innocent girl who is pure at heart gets to soak herself in the wonderful moments of love and romance. I would love to walk down the red carpet thinking that I am beautiful and admired by others. I want to be the lady who is elegant and pretty, and at the same time, intelligent and knowledgeable. I want to dance my night away with my Prince Charming to wonderful music. I want to feel special and wanted. I want to waltz the entire ballroom and swirl my beautiful gown all across the floor. I especially love the sensation or the view of soft smooth fabric running across the floor of the ballroom. It is just so perfect.
Dream, dream, dream….this is what I am doing now…….
Monday, June 05, 2006
Still working on adjustment
It has been about two months since I got back to Singapore. Many events have taken place and they left me with memories both beautiful and not so pretty. The latest event that took place a week ago was Jin and Miwa's wedding where XY and I were the emcees. I have to say that it was an experience that no amount of money can buy. The smiles on their faces, the fun we had etc.
Well, other than this highlight, I have been trying to get used to life in Singapore. The pace and stress in life is forever evident and apparant. Everynight, I go to bed at about midnight and I have to get up at about six plus in the morning. All in all, I probably get about six hours of sleep everynight. THis is unhealthy. I feel tired. Compared to the kind of lifestyle I had in Copenhagen, I had about eight hours of sleep every night. And every morning, I got up feeling fresh and ready to make new discoveries. We did not have to take one hour to travel to work. We did not have to come home late because we had to work late and take our dinner outside. We could cook our own meals which are healthy and spend quality time together.
I never fell sick in Copenhagen. Back in Singapore, I could feel that my body has weakened. Is it because of the air in Singapore? Or is it because of my diet? I wonder. SOmehow, I know that I cannot stay here too long because this environment does not support of element of survival.
Well, other than this highlight, I have been trying to get used to life in Singapore. The pace and stress in life is forever evident and apparant. Everynight, I go to bed at about midnight and I have to get up at about six plus in the morning. All in all, I probably get about six hours of sleep everynight. THis is unhealthy. I feel tired. Compared to the kind of lifestyle I had in Copenhagen, I had about eight hours of sleep every night. And every morning, I got up feeling fresh and ready to make new discoveries. We did not have to take one hour to travel to work. We did not have to come home late because we had to work late and take our dinner outside. We could cook our own meals which are healthy and spend quality time together.
I never fell sick in Copenhagen. Back in Singapore, I could feel that my body has weakened. Is it because of the air in Singapore? Or is it because of my diet? I wonder. SOmehow, I know that I cannot stay here too long because this environment does not support of element of survival.
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