Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Moving
Hi, I have decided to move to wordpress. Feel free to visit my blog at http://sakuratrees.wordpress.com
Monday, March 9, 2009
Where are my golden eggs?
I know that I have been MIA. It has been a long long time since I last blogged. I just do not feel the motivation to note down my life anymore. It has been really really quiet....no excitement....
I handed in two job applications today. I doubt that I will hear from them since they seem to be looking for someone more experienced. I might be more qualified when compared to others but I do not have enough experience. Sometimes I just wonder..is experience or qualification more important? What is the use if you have to qualification but no job experience? Vice versa...
I am actually enjoying my long holiday at home...which might be a surprise to some people. It has been ages since I have felt so rested. It would be good to have some money though. If only you could rest at home and yet get income. If only life was that blissful. I have been going to the parks with Gil and I enjoy lying on the picnic mat and looking up at the blue skies and feeling totally at peace. Perth can be really peaceful and beautiful at these moments.
Yet, reality hits me. I need to get a job...I have got to wake up. I have to work because we need to pay the rent. There are bills to pay. I am already 27, I need to earn for my future. I get angry and frustrated. I get demotivated. I hate the signboards where they say that WA is in need of teachers. I think what the hell? If you are in need of teachers, why aren't we getting jobs? Why are we still waiting and hoping? What is the department doing? Will they really give us a job in April? To wait or to apply for other jobs?
Tomorrow Gil is coming for a visit. It will be 36 degrees tomorrow. I have told Di that I will be switching on the aircon while Gil comes to visit. Yes, we are too stingy to switch on the aircon and it can get quite unbearable in the noon. It feels like a sauna, worse...it feels like going into a car after you have parked it in the sun for 2 hours. I think that while Gil is here, I would try to make some phone calls to the dept as well as some schools...
Maybe life will be better in April? Maybe April will be the month where everything begins...a new chapter in my life? Maybe the golden eggs Ah Ma says will start hatching then? What do you think??
I handed in two job applications today. I doubt that I will hear from them since they seem to be looking for someone more experienced. I might be more qualified when compared to others but I do not have enough experience. Sometimes I just wonder..is experience or qualification more important? What is the use if you have to qualification but no job experience? Vice versa...
I am actually enjoying my long holiday at home...which might be a surprise to some people. It has been ages since I have felt so rested. It would be good to have some money though. If only you could rest at home and yet get income. If only life was that blissful. I have been going to the parks with Gil and I enjoy lying on the picnic mat and looking up at the blue skies and feeling totally at peace. Perth can be really peaceful and beautiful at these moments.
Yet, reality hits me. I need to get a job...I have got to wake up. I have to work because we need to pay the rent. There are bills to pay. I am already 27, I need to earn for my future. I get angry and frustrated. I get demotivated. I hate the signboards where they say that WA is in need of teachers. I think what the hell? If you are in need of teachers, why aren't we getting jobs? Why are we still waiting and hoping? What is the department doing? Will they really give us a job in April? To wait or to apply for other jobs?
Tomorrow Gil is coming for a visit. It will be 36 degrees tomorrow. I have told Di that I will be switching on the aircon while Gil comes to visit. Yes, we are too stingy to switch on the aircon and it can get quite unbearable in the noon. It feels like a sauna, worse...it feels like going into a car after you have parked it in the sun for 2 hours. I think that while Gil is here, I would try to make some phone calls to the dept as well as some schools...
Maybe life will be better in April? Maybe April will be the month where everything begins...a new chapter in my life? Maybe the golden eggs Ah Ma says will start hatching then? What do you think??
Saturday, November 22, 2008
My days in Year 7
Finally the five weeks are over. Five daunting weeks of lesson planning, teaching, observations, and criticisms. It is hard to believe that I am officially a teacher in Perth now and that I will never have to sit for a test or attend classes again. Instead I will be the one giving the classes and setting the exams. Hehehe!
Year 7s, how will I describe them? I was terrified when I first discovered that I was teaching Year 7s. However after a while, my students did not seem so bad. In fact I discovered that despite the fact that they were way taller than me, they were still rather childish. They still liked things like High School Musical, Hanna Montanna, Hello Kitty etc. After all they were only 12 years old. The students were at this weird stage where they thought that they are cool because they are going to High School next year and there is this slight streak of cheekiness or naughtiness where they think we can do anything they want. I have had a student who comes to school with her hair dyed pink in the front. Some wear makeup and paint their finger nails black or bright red. They wear laces in their hair. The boys are cheeky where they tell me that they are allergic to colours so they cannot colour, they have arthritis so they cannot write, or they have a terrible headache that is why they are writing so terribly. You just get all sorts of excuses. Sigh. You just have to learn to live with it as a teacher. You get remarks like "You are so little, Miss Ting", "Miss Ting, please let us do something fun, not boring old Maths" and if you say that they are doing Maths, they start groaning and rolling on the floor and making puking sounds. My students know that I am not too good in Maths and sports and once we had a tennis training section, and the coach got me and G to team up against some students in my class. I kept hitting the ball outside the line and the coach finally said "Er....Miss,no offence but would you like to change your partner, sir?" Later as we were walking up to our school, L came over and said "There, there Miss Ting, you aren't that good in sports and Maths, I think that you should just stick to teaching". So cheeky!
I grew to love my students over those 5 weeks. There were students who refused to go out for recess because they knew that I liked to stay in the classroom to read and they wanted to stay in with me. My students could be very very naughty but there were times when they would cooperate because they liked you and they wanted you to be happy. I remember once they were chatting and making so much noise and I was standing in front with a book and waiting for them to shut up and two or three students suddenly went sssssshhhhh...keep quiet for Miss Ting...and the whole class went quiet. My students love playing Hangman and Hangman has become part of our class when they cannot guess words. I have students who are so pretty that you cannot take your eyes off them. Everytime I looked at them, I would just think to myself "so pretty". These students are actually child models where they advertise for magazines and catalogues. So pretty...
Year 7s consisted of so many different characters that it was hard to cater for them. For example, M. He loved Maths so much that he could just do Maths everyday. He even based his art project where we did a hanging mobile on Maths equations. K loved art so much and she asked me every week "Miss Ting, what are we doing today? Are we doing art? I love your art lessons". J just wanted to be on computers all day long. E as well. If there were Maths whizz, then she was a computer whizz. She could do all these amazing animations using the computer. Everytime G (mentor teacher) had a problem with his computer, he will look for E. Now thinking of it, not only J and E loved computers, all my students did. They requested for things to be done with the computer such as typing out their essays instead of writing them. They loved doing power points because they can put movie clips, or music in them to enhance their power points and they loved putting animations etc. Every morning, when they walk into the class, they will fight over the computers at the end of the classroom because they wanted to play this game called The World's Hardest Game. They were really hooked on this game. Seriously very hooked.
Yesterday was my last day in that school. I was given plenty of presents and cards. My students are in charge of the PA system (ringing the bell) and as they rang the bell for lunch that day, I was thinking to myself "What a long tune" and suddenly I heard this little voice "Miss Ting is cool and fun. Miss Ting is leaving today and we are very sad. We love Miss Ting and we are going to miss her. Goodbye Miss Ting". L later came over to me and said "Miss Ting, Miss Ting, did you hear that message? Did you like it?" hehehe. So cute lah. A kept asking me "Do you really have to go? Please don't leave". S joined in saying "You are the coolest teacher ever, come teach *****where I will be attending High School". Anyway, we had a multicultural party yesterday where there was Dutch food, Mexican food, Indian curry, Thai green curry, Chinese dishes etc. There was so much food that we had to bring them over to the next class. I was later given a handmade card made by G and E from the whole class. There were three pics of me, wearing three different outfits (ballerina, hippy and evening gown). Inside were messages from all the students in the class. Later, I was given hugs and kisses by all the girls. Sigh...so sad...it is amazing that I was elated that everything was over yet I was so sad that I would probably never get to see these kids again. Is this how teachers feel all the time everytime they leave their students or when the students leave her or him? Or do you become immune to the feeling after a while because you are so used to having different batches of students all the time? I really felt that they are my own children and I felt that I had to protect and care for them.
My year 7s will be graduating on the 17th of Dec but I would not be around then. They were really disappointed when I told them that I would be back home then. I hope D remembers to send me a copy of their graduation. The year 7s have been working hard at their backdrops, dancing, writing scripts, their blurbs, video filming etc. They only have like a month left before they go their separate ways to different High Schools.
I had ups and downs in Year 7 (Room 8) however I am glad I stuck through the prac. There were moments where I asked myself why the year 7s and I really wanted to quit. However now thinking back, I am really glad that I stayed and made a huge presence in that class. I still loved my kids even though they were so naughty and cheeky. In fact I liked them so much that G had to tell me that it is a normal situation, that you have to learn to get used to the fact that these kids might not remember you after a month or so. Does that really happen? Because I know that I would remember them....Sigh.....it was so hard to say goodbye.
Year 7s, how will I describe them? I was terrified when I first discovered that I was teaching Year 7s. However after a while, my students did not seem so bad. In fact I discovered that despite the fact that they were way taller than me, they were still rather childish. They still liked things like High School Musical, Hanna Montanna, Hello Kitty etc. After all they were only 12 years old. The students were at this weird stage where they thought that they are cool because they are going to High School next year and there is this slight streak of cheekiness or naughtiness where they think we can do anything they want. I have had a student who comes to school with her hair dyed pink in the front. Some wear makeup and paint their finger nails black or bright red. They wear laces in their hair. The boys are cheeky where they tell me that they are allergic to colours so they cannot colour, they have arthritis so they cannot write, or they have a terrible headache that is why they are writing so terribly. You just get all sorts of excuses. Sigh. You just have to learn to live with it as a teacher. You get remarks like "You are so little, Miss Ting", "Miss Ting, please let us do something fun, not boring old Maths" and if you say that they are doing Maths, they start groaning and rolling on the floor and making puking sounds. My students know that I am not too good in Maths and sports and once we had a tennis training section, and the coach got me and G to team up against some students in my class. I kept hitting the ball outside the line and the coach finally said "Er....Miss,no offence but would you like to change your partner, sir?" Later as we were walking up to our school, L came over and said "There, there Miss Ting, you aren't that good in sports and Maths, I think that you should just stick to teaching". So cheeky!
I grew to love my students over those 5 weeks. There were students who refused to go out for recess because they knew that I liked to stay in the classroom to read and they wanted to stay in with me. My students could be very very naughty but there were times when they would cooperate because they liked you and they wanted you to be happy. I remember once they were chatting and making so much noise and I was standing in front with a book and waiting for them to shut up and two or three students suddenly went sssssshhhhh...keep quiet for Miss Ting...and the whole class went quiet. My students love playing Hangman and Hangman has become part of our class when they cannot guess words. I have students who are so pretty that you cannot take your eyes off them. Everytime I looked at them, I would just think to myself "so pretty". These students are actually child models where they advertise for magazines and catalogues. So pretty...
Year 7s consisted of so many different characters that it was hard to cater for them. For example, M. He loved Maths so much that he could just do Maths everyday. He even based his art project where we did a hanging mobile on Maths equations. K loved art so much and she asked me every week "Miss Ting, what are we doing today? Are we doing art? I love your art lessons". J just wanted to be on computers all day long. E as well. If there were Maths whizz, then she was a computer whizz. She could do all these amazing animations using the computer. Everytime G (mentor teacher) had a problem with his computer, he will look for E. Now thinking of it, not only J and E loved computers, all my students did. They requested for things to be done with the computer such as typing out their essays instead of writing them. They loved doing power points because they can put movie clips, or music in them to enhance their power points and they loved putting animations etc. Every morning, when they walk into the class, they will fight over the computers at the end of the classroom because they wanted to play this game called The World's Hardest Game. They were really hooked on this game. Seriously very hooked.
Yesterday was my last day in that school. I was given plenty of presents and cards. My students are in charge of the PA system (ringing the bell) and as they rang the bell for lunch that day, I was thinking to myself "What a long tune" and suddenly I heard this little voice "Miss Ting is cool and fun. Miss Ting is leaving today and we are very sad. We love Miss Ting and we are going to miss her. Goodbye Miss Ting". L later came over to me and said "Miss Ting, Miss Ting, did you hear that message? Did you like it?" hehehe. So cute lah. A kept asking me "Do you really have to go? Please don't leave". S joined in saying "You are the coolest teacher ever, come teach *****where I will be attending High School". Anyway, we had a multicultural party yesterday where there was Dutch food, Mexican food, Indian curry, Thai green curry, Chinese dishes etc. There was so much food that we had to bring them over to the next class. I was later given a handmade card made by G and E from the whole class. There were three pics of me, wearing three different outfits (ballerina, hippy and evening gown). Inside were messages from all the students in the class. Later, I was given hugs and kisses by all the girls. Sigh...so sad...it is amazing that I was elated that everything was over yet I was so sad that I would probably never get to see these kids again. Is this how teachers feel all the time everytime they leave their students or when the students leave her or him? Or do you become immune to the feeling after a while because you are so used to having different batches of students all the time? I really felt that they are my own children and I felt that I had to protect and care for them.
My year 7s will be graduating on the 17th of Dec but I would not be around then. They were really disappointed when I told them that I would be back home then. I hope D remembers to send me a copy of their graduation. The year 7s have been working hard at their backdrops, dancing, writing scripts, their blurbs, video filming etc. They only have like a month left before they go their separate ways to different High Schools.
I had ups and downs in Year 7 (Room 8) however I am glad I stuck through the prac. There were moments where I asked myself why the year 7s and I really wanted to quit. However now thinking back, I am really glad that I stayed and made a huge presence in that class. I still loved my kids even though they were so naughty and cheeky. In fact I liked them so much that G had to tell me that it is a normal situation, that you have to learn to get used to the fact that these kids might not remember you after a month or so. Does that really happen? Because I know that I would remember them....Sigh.....it was so hard to say goodbye.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tagged!
Got tagged by Janet and she has been pestering me to do it. Oklah, here goes:
1. Last movie you saw in a cinema?
Batman: The Dark Knight. I enjoyed it though it was really really long. Di and I kept looking at one another and saying "Still got somemore har?". Lots of suspense, very exciting. Could hear Di going "Oh Jesus" and covering her eyes as usual. ^__^. Thought that Heath Ledger was really good as the Joker, very scary looking. I could not believe it when Di told me that Heath Ledger was the hunk in Ten Things I Hate About You! He was so good looking then. Hehe. I want to watch Wall-e or that movie by Will Smith next...I forgot what it is called.
2. What book are you reading?
Not reading anything at the moment. Read a few pages of The Fengshui Detective by Nury Vittachi, a book Di told me to read. It is very funny but I haven't had time to finish reading it yet.
3. Favourite board game?
Err....I like Uno, Pictionary and Boggle. I like playing Uno Snap, was it Uno Snap? The one where you have to put the numbers down and then hit the least card pile? Used to play Pictionary with Jan, Di and Dar. Was terrible in drawing. Used to get comments such as "Was that what you were trying to draw?" or "Har, what is that?" Hehe. Boggle is a game that I played with my students in Year 3. It is a word game.
4. Favourite magazine?
I hardly read magazines. Err....Used to like Seventeen when I was in my teenage years.
5. Favourite smells?
Definitely baby smells, when they are smelling nice and clean...not when they puke...yew! I also love the smell of Ah Ma's cooking. Used to sniff the air and think to myself "Ahh, curry today". Miss those smells. I love smells of flowers too and clean laundry.
6. Favourite sounds?
I love the sound of children laughing and singing. I also like the sounds of waves, Jan on the piano playing Richard Clayderman and Ah Pa on the organ. I love it when Ah Pa plays "Growing Up"-so nostalgic. I also love the sound of a saxophone or flute. Really regret not playing the flute.
7. Worst feeling in the world?
I agree with Jan, having a tummyache when I am driving. I was driving the other day and I had a huge tummyache. Wanted to go so badly that I was shivering all over. I could stop and go to any public toilets but I do not like doing big business in a public toilet unless it is a really clean toilet like in a 5 star Hotel or a nice shopping mall. I only like doing it in my own toilet. Are you like that?
Hate having period pains where you just curl up and lie in bed, wishing that you weren't a girl. Yucks! Hate the weak legs and back pains that come with it.
8. First thing you think of when you wake?
If it’s a school day- I normally just get up. Hehe. Very guai.
If it’s a weekend - I just fall back to sleep.
9. Favourite fast food place?
I love roadside burger....mmm.....special one: beef, chicken, egg, cheese....yummm. I also love McD in Perth.
10. Future child’s name?
Err....a bit too soon right?
11. Finish this statement - “If I had a lot of money…….”
I would buy a house in Perth, give half the money to my family, go to Japan for one whole month with the whole family!
12. Do you drive fast?
I don't. I try hard not to.
13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Yes, lots of them. Have Junior 1 and 2, Elizabeth, Strawberry, Blue Bear, Ariel and Koala.
14. Storms - cool or scary?
Cool but they can be quite scary too. I do not like thunders and lightnings. I know, I know, I am a scaredy cat.
15. What was your first car?
Hehe, my second hand Wira, black. It came as a surprise from Ah Pa and Ah Ma. Stuck hello kitties all over the dash board with Jan's help and drove Dar mad. He took them all off when he started using the car. Hahaha.
16. Favourite drink?
I like teh c peng, bubble tea, chrysanthemum tea. I also like Iced Chocolate. It is something that I always drink in Perth. Oh ya! I also like Frozen Coke and Raspberry from McD.
17. Finish this statement - “If I had the time, I would………”
travel around the world, spend more time with my family and loved ones.
18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Yes, I love the stems on broccoli but hate stems of other veges.
19. If you could dye your hair any colour what would it be?
Maybe brown? I like my natural hair colour leh.
20. Name all the different cities in which you have lived.
Kuching loh, Perth.
21. Favourite sport to watch?
Table tennis, Badminton, diving, swimming, gymnastics.
22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you.
Hehe! Very intelligent, gives good advice, great listener, very good in languages, buys the best presents, very fashionable.
23. What’s under your bed?
A huge box filled with bags and plenty of dust. hahaha.
24. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Yes, I know that I will definitely like to be born in the same family. Hehe!
25. Morning person or night owl?
Morning person. I can wake up really early in the mornings and be hyper. Always tend to be sleepy and grumpy by eleven in the night.
26. Over easy or sunny side up?
Sunny side up.
27. Favourite place to relax?
In my bed with tvb dramas blaring in the background. At the park or beach.
28. Favourite ice-cream flavour?
I love rum and raisin. Still my favorite flavour after Jan got me hooked on it.
I tag:
Jaya
1. Last movie you saw in a cinema?
Batman: The Dark Knight. I enjoyed it though it was really really long. Di and I kept looking at one another and saying "Still got somemore har?". Lots of suspense, very exciting. Could hear Di going "Oh Jesus" and covering her eyes as usual. ^__^. Thought that Heath Ledger was really good as the Joker, very scary looking. I could not believe it when Di told me that Heath Ledger was the hunk in Ten Things I Hate About You! He was so good looking then. Hehe. I want to watch Wall-e or that movie by Will Smith next...I forgot what it is called.
2. What book are you reading?
Not reading anything at the moment. Read a few pages of The Fengshui Detective by Nury Vittachi, a book Di told me to read. It is very funny but I haven't had time to finish reading it yet.
3. Favourite board game?
Err....I like Uno, Pictionary and Boggle. I like playing Uno Snap, was it Uno Snap? The one where you have to put the numbers down and then hit the least card pile? Used to play Pictionary with Jan, Di and Dar. Was terrible in drawing. Used to get comments such as "Was that what you were trying to draw?" or "Har, what is that?" Hehe. Boggle is a game that I played with my students in Year 3. It is a word game.
4. Favourite magazine?
I hardly read magazines. Err....Used to like Seventeen when I was in my teenage years.
5. Favourite smells?
Definitely baby smells, when they are smelling nice and clean...not when they puke...yew! I also love the smell of Ah Ma's cooking. Used to sniff the air and think to myself "Ahh, curry today". Miss those smells. I love smells of flowers too and clean laundry.
6. Favourite sounds?
I love the sound of children laughing and singing. I also like the sounds of waves, Jan on the piano playing Richard Clayderman and Ah Pa on the organ. I love it when Ah Pa plays "Growing Up"-so nostalgic. I also love the sound of a saxophone or flute. Really regret not playing the flute.
7. Worst feeling in the world?
I agree with Jan, having a tummyache when I am driving. I was driving the other day and I had a huge tummyache. Wanted to go so badly that I was shivering all over. I could stop and go to any public toilets but I do not like doing big business in a public toilet unless it is a really clean toilet like in a 5 star Hotel or a nice shopping mall. I only like doing it in my own toilet. Are you like that?
Hate having period pains where you just curl up and lie in bed, wishing that you weren't a girl. Yucks! Hate the weak legs and back pains that come with it.
8. First thing you think of when you wake?
If it’s a school day- I normally just get up. Hehe. Very guai.
If it’s a weekend - I just fall back to sleep.
9. Favourite fast food place?
I love roadside burger....mmm.....special one: beef, chicken, egg, cheese....yummm. I also love McD in Perth.
10. Future child’s name?
Err....a bit too soon right?
11. Finish this statement - “If I had a lot of money…….”
I would buy a house in Perth, give half the money to my family, go to Japan for one whole month with the whole family!
12. Do you drive fast?
I don't. I try hard not to.
13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Yes, lots of them. Have Junior 1 and 2, Elizabeth, Strawberry, Blue Bear, Ariel and Koala.
14. Storms - cool or scary?
Cool but they can be quite scary too. I do not like thunders and lightnings. I know, I know, I am a scaredy cat.
15. What was your first car?
Hehe, my second hand Wira, black. It came as a surprise from Ah Pa and Ah Ma. Stuck hello kitties all over the dash board with Jan's help and drove Dar mad. He took them all off when he started using the car. Hahaha.
16. Favourite drink?
I like teh c peng, bubble tea, chrysanthemum tea. I also like Iced Chocolate. It is something that I always drink in Perth. Oh ya! I also like Frozen Coke and Raspberry from McD.
17. Finish this statement - “If I had the time, I would………”
travel around the world, spend more time with my family and loved ones.
18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Yes, I love the stems on broccoli but hate stems of other veges.
19. If you could dye your hair any colour what would it be?
Maybe brown? I like my natural hair colour leh.
20. Name all the different cities in which you have lived.
Kuching loh, Perth.
21. Favourite sport to watch?
Table tennis, Badminton, diving, swimming, gymnastics.
22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you.
Hehe! Very intelligent, gives good advice, great listener, very good in languages, buys the best presents, very fashionable.
23. What’s under your bed?
A huge box filled with bags and plenty of dust. hahaha.
24. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
Yes, I know that I will definitely like to be born in the same family. Hehe!
25. Morning person or night owl?
Morning person. I can wake up really early in the mornings and be hyper. Always tend to be sleepy and grumpy by eleven in the night.
26. Over easy or sunny side up?
Sunny side up.
27. Favourite place to relax?
In my bed with tvb dramas blaring in the background. At the park or beach.
28. Favourite ice-cream flavour?
I love rum and raisin. Still my favorite flavour after Jan got me hooked on it.
I tag:
Jaya
Friday, July 4, 2008
Last day of school..
Today was the last day of the school term. Usually people are happy during the last day of school as it meant holidays but funnily, I was really sad, really really sad. I woke up this morning with a heavy heart because today was my last day in the school, with my year 3s. Before the school bell rang, I was already receiving gifts from the students. Many made me cards and strings of hearts. Some drew me pictures.
I was to conduct my very last lesson with my students, sports however the weather wasn't promising. It started drizzling after Mass in church and M (mentor teacher) turned to me and said "Would you mind if we cancel your lesson this morning as it is raining? I am really sorry Joanne..." We ended up watching Mr Bean and eating snakes. I had some students helping me doing some laminating and sorting flash cards into piles. Students simply love doing chores for you. I had children coming up to me every minute and saying "Miss Ting, do you need help? Can I help you clean this and that?"
We had sausage sizzle for lunch. We always have sausage sizzle during special occasions. I stayed in the room finishing my laminating for M and eating my lunch. She kept asking me to go to the staffroom for lunch but I just felt that I should help her as much as I can before I left. It was nice though staying in the classroom for lunch, with my 2 to 3 students hovering around and chatting to me. N kept saying to his little friends "Hey Miss Ting set me that job, I am to help her!" Hehe. The rest kept saying "Miss Ting, what can we do? What can we help?".
As I did my duty during the second bell of lunch, E ran up to me and gave me a hug and said "Do you have to go? I really do not want you to go!" Another came and said "Can't you come back next term? Tell your uni you wish to come back here". The girls were extra "manja" today, clinging onto me and giving me hugs. After lunch, I got ready to go to my class but as I entered my class, C pushed me towards the door and said "Miss Ting you aren't allowed in". Such cheek! I had to get into my station anyway so I left. That afternoon, our school was having a games carnival and teachers were to go into different stations to main some games. I was in charge of the musical dots! I do not know whether it was more fun to see children turning round and round to the music and saying "Miss Ting we are getting giddy going round and round" or my children running towards my spot after each bell and saying "Yay, we have Miss Ting this round! The weather as I said earlier wasn't promising. It started raining really heavily and all the children had to go under the cover area. All games were cancelled. As we gave out ice lollies to each child, T came to me and said "Miss Ting, you are leaving soon?" Another asked "Are you leaving now?" E and S and L came and flung themselves on me and said "Miss Ting, hug us, we are cold.....". It was weird, 4 of us, walking back to class, clinging onto one another. A teacher passing by smiled and said "They miss you already".
Upon returning to class, M got the children to sit on the mat and she started her speech. "Class, you all know that it is Miss Ting's last day today. She has been doing lots of fun activities with you guys this term and she has been a great help and guidance in your work. Please turn around and say a big thank you to her". All the kids turned around and gave me a huge thank you. E came and gave me a hug. M then continued "On the children's behalf, Miss Ting, this is for you". She presented me a gift that the children had got me and a card which they all signed.
The bell rang too soon. As the children left, some of them lingered behind, wanting to see what the present was. I opened it and it was an angel with a book, called the Love of learning. S and I gave me hug as they left. I said to me "Miss Ting please do not go" and she was close to tears. I was close to bursting into tears myself. Sigh... E came running up and flung her arms around me saying "Miss Ting I will miss you". T was just about to leave and I opened my arms to him and said "Are you going to give Miss Ting a hug?" He did and said "Miss Ting, see you next term, come and visit us?" I am really fond of T. It really almost broke my heart then.
As I packed my things and did some last laminations, A's mother came and picked him up. She kept asking him to hurry up but he put down his things and turned to her and said "There is something I have not done". He then gave me a hug and said "See you Miss Ting" and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was so sad....I returned his hug and said "Be good alright?".
I got a present from M (mentor teacher). As we walked out the school, we gave each other a hug, and bid farewell. I turned back and looked at the school one last time, and walked bravely towards my car.
Thanks M and year 3 for making my teaching days so memorable.
I was to conduct my very last lesson with my students, sports however the weather wasn't promising. It started drizzling after Mass in church and M (mentor teacher) turned to me and said "Would you mind if we cancel your lesson this morning as it is raining? I am really sorry Joanne..." We ended up watching Mr Bean and eating snakes. I had some students helping me doing some laminating and sorting flash cards into piles. Students simply love doing chores for you. I had children coming up to me every minute and saying "Miss Ting, do you need help? Can I help you clean this and that?"
We had sausage sizzle for lunch. We always have sausage sizzle during special occasions. I stayed in the room finishing my laminating for M and eating my lunch. She kept asking me to go to the staffroom for lunch but I just felt that I should help her as much as I can before I left. It was nice though staying in the classroom for lunch, with my 2 to 3 students hovering around and chatting to me. N kept saying to his little friends "Hey Miss Ting set me that job, I am to help her!" Hehe. The rest kept saying "Miss Ting, what can we do? What can we help?".
As I did my duty during the second bell of lunch, E ran up to me and gave me a hug and said "Do you have to go? I really do not want you to go!" Another came and said "Can't you come back next term? Tell your uni you wish to come back here". The girls were extra "manja" today, clinging onto me and giving me hugs. After lunch, I got ready to go to my class but as I entered my class, C pushed me towards the door and said "Miss Ting you aren't allowed in". Such cheek! I had to get into my station anyway so I left. That afternoon, our school was having a games carnival and teachers were to go into different stations to main some games. I was in charge of the musical dots! I do not know whether it was more fun to see children turning round and round to the music and saying "Miss Ting we are getting giddy going round and round" or my children running towards my spot after each bell and saying "Yay, we have Miss Ting this round! The weather as I said earlier wasn't promising. It started raining really heavily and all the children had to go under the cover area. All games were cancelled. As we gave out ice lollies to each child, T came to me and said "Miss Ting, you are leaving soon?" Another asked "Are you leaving now?" E and S and L came and flung themselves on me and said "Miss Ting, hug us, we are cold.....". It was weird, 4 of us, walking back to class, clinging onto one another. A teacher passing by smiled and said "They miss you already".
Upon returning to class, M got the children to sit on the mat and she started her speech. "Class, you all know that it is Miss Ting's last day today. She has been doing lots of fun activities with you guys this term and she has been a great help and guidance in your work. Please turn around and say a big thank you to her". All the kids turned around and gave me a huge thank you. E came and gave me a hug. M then continued "On the children's behalf, Miss Ting, this is for you". She presented me a gift that the children had got me and a card which they all signed.
The bell rang too soon. As the children left, some of them lingered behind, wanting to see what the present was. I opened it and it was an angel with a book, called the Love of learning. S and I gave me hug as they left. I said to me "Miss Ting please do not go" and she was close to tears. I was close to bursting into tears myself. Sigh... E came running up and flung her arms around me saying "Miss Ting I will miss you". T was just about to leave and I opened my arms to him and said "Are you going to give Miss Ting a hug?" He did and said "Miss Ting, see you next term, come and visit us?" I am really fond of T. It really almost broke my heart then.
As I packed my things and did some last laminations, A's mother came and picked him up. She kept asking him to hurry up but he put down his things and turned to her and said "There is something I have not done". He then gave me a hug and said "See you Miss Ting" and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was so sad....I returned his hug and said "Be good alright?".
I got a present from M (mentor teacher). As we walked out the school, we gave each other a hug, and bid farewell. I turned back and looked at the school one last time, and walked bravely towards my car.
Thanks M and year 3 for making my teaching days so memorable.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Stubborn Creatures
Kids, I realise, always think that they are right. They are damn stubborn. Like today, when marking over their shoulders, I pointed out that trees had two Es. O said "But I wrote that, see...." and I went "No you did not" and he still insisted "I did write that!" so I had to spell it out for him. "Trees, have two Es, as in t.r.e.e.s". Immediately you hear an "OHHHHH!!!" and an embarassed laugh.
My kids tend to answer their comprehension in short answers and you say "Come on, you guys are in year 3, you are supposed to answer in complete sentences". They reply "But I am writing complete sentences" and you say "Complete sentences are like this. She went to the moon because.....not starting with because at the beginning of the sentence" and after a really long pause, you hear "I see......" or "OHHHHH!!!!" and next, "This sucks". Sometimes you get episodes where this girl or boy throws down his pencil and says "I cannot do this! I give up" and sulks in a corner. Kids, real drama queens.
My kids tend to answer their comprehension in short answers and you say "Come on, you guys are in year 3, you are supposed to answer in complete sentences". They reply "But I am writing complete sentences" and you say "Complete sentences are like this. She went to the moon because.....not starting with because at the beginning of the sentence" and after a really long pause, you hear "I see......" or "OHHHHH!!!!" and next, "This sucks". Sometimes you get episodes where this girl or boy throws down his pencil and says "I cannot do this! I give up" and sulks in a corner. Kids, real drama queens.
Being 17
Today as my students played at the playground, M asked me "Miss Ting, how old are you?". I answered "Don't you know that age is a secret for women?" She and her friend piped up saying " I think you are 17". o__O I went " NO lah, I am older". Immediately they started counting, "Are you 18, 19, 20, 21?" When they reached 22, I went "Ok, ok, enough, I am not telling you" and M went "Ahh, you must be 22!". Hehehe. So I look 22. H then said "You are definitely younger than my mum, she is double your age. Guess how old she is". I then replied "44?" and he in awe, said "Wow, how did you guess?". Hehe! I replied "Well, because I am a teacher?". H then exclaimed "Wow, impressive, you are good in Math". So cute.....
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