CNY deco

A CNY classroom decoration competition was organized by the ASCF(C) earlier this year in January in conjunction with the then, upcoming CNY celebration.

Most of the classes took part in the competition. Some went all out and decked their classes in red; hanging lanterns, spring couplets, rows upon rows of folded red angpau packets. There was also the God of Prosperity with the golden nuggets and all.

One such well-decorated classes was 5I. I thought that the students had done a great job in cleaning and sprucing up the class on their own.

I just could not resist taking snapshots of the class... while they were having exam!

Yellow and red pineapples hanging from the beams.

And after that particular paper, I snapped photos of the students too.

The proper pic:

The siok pic:

Soon after the school had reopened (after CNY break), the class was announced as the winner of the competition for the upper form category.

I'm glad my prediction came true. They deserved to win. Congrats!

But don't play too hard, yeah... Do study harder... :P

U61

After a gap of not teaching Form Sixers, I was tasked to teach a group last year. This group of students came in sometime in May 2008 and I started teaching them officially in June.

Initially there were 27 of them but the number slowly tapered down to 21 this year. Initially I did struggle because of the change in syllabus and the students' mixed ability. It was hard to find an entry point.

However, this was soon overcome and I find them enjoyable to teach. It is more relaxing to teach Form 6 students because they are more mature and the class is smaller. I do not have to deal with disciplinary problems and poor manners.

Sometimes, I do find myself crawling up the wall when they could not apply what I have taught or I did not get a more positive response from them.

It is quite seldom to get them all together during a lesson because there is bound to be one absent.

However, there was one day when they were all in class, all 21 of them, because (terpaksa) the MUET exam was approaching and I was going intensive.

So I gathered them together, took out my phone and snapped a few pics.

The proper pic:

Front to back, L - R:
Yeoh Lei Kun, Toh Pei Cin, Connie Wong, Sharon Hoh.
Vervienny, Lo Kai Li, Khaiyartika, Norfarhanah, Lim Yee Yen.
Dg. Najeeha, Marlina, Farena, Siew Lin Lih, Karyn Ku, Jumrianah, Christabelle.
Lim Fong Ho, Wong Jun Yin, Ralston Henry, Victor Yong, Sharon Wong.

Another proper pic:

The siok pic:

Good luck U61!

Study harder... :P

Pig... ^@^

i was trying to guide or 'force' my weakest class to memorize short literature essays. This class is the weakest of the lot and i have three boys who could barely read. Yes, read. And nope, many of them can't converse in English.

So, to ask them to write a paragraph that makes sense requires Herculian effort, what more to write an essay.

Since mid-year exam is just around the corner, i whipped up my last 'rescue' plan - instruct them to memorize simple, prepared, really short literature essays and hope that, if they are lucky enough, one of the essay questions would pop up during exam. All they need to do is just regurgitate the three short paragraphs.

i tested them today.

Original phrase: "...Kino could not let go of the big pearl..."

Student's memory bank: "...Kino could not let go of the pig pearl..."

+_O

i think i will be getting gibberish... or blank papers from this class.

Happy marking... to me.

ManaSiok :(

Over & Done With

Woohoo! And the bunch of singers did not suck!!! Yay!

A huge burden is lifted off my shoulders today. The 55 kids trained, rehearsed, rehearsed, trained, practised, bought all the correct attires, came early this morning, put on make-up and accesories, warmed-up their voices, walked up the stage, waited for the curtain to open, smiled, sang the first song, sang the second song, bowed, the curtain closed... and it was all over.

After two weeks of training and coaching, it was all over in less than ten minutes.

Yeah, that's how it is with performances. Artists, singers, dancers, musicians could train for weeks and months on end and everything would be over in a few minutes, hours or so...

So much effort and yet how quickly everything ends.

This got me thinking about life. How the human race strive, work hard, build their life, accumulate wealth, upgrade their homes, cars, possessions, etc... Striving for perfection, for the best, in their life. And when the end comes, everything would be over in a blink of an eye.

What are we working for? What are we striving for? What are we stressed out over for?

And i will have to constantly remind myself to be careful and not lose sight of what i believe in, what i am convinced of...

Yours carefully,

SS -.-'

Tone Deaf

How do you teach a bunch of high school kids to sing properly and perform in two weeks' time?

When time is too short?

When they love to sing but not all are gifted?

When some are tone deaf and some others just couldn't carry a tune?

How do you get the group going and not suck big time on performance day?

Only one more week to go...

Haiz... stressed out... very, very stressed out...

The choir teacher's stress level has gone up a notch higher.

Her head is on the chopping board...

Someone... please save me...


Yours fearfully,
MatiSendiri ='(