Going mad!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm back, after disappearing, yet again, from the blogging arena for a week.

Busy busy busy.

Lesson plans. Never ending.

Manipulatives preparation. Never stopping.

Tons of marking. Never finishing.

Done with 2 observations so far. 3 more this week.

Did 1 observation today. Those kids sabo me or maybe I over-estimated my lesson. I took so much time to design the powerpoint slides and to come out with activities and they said they didn't enjoy it, with my CT sitting behind the class, witnessing it all. Or maybe they did enjoy, but just said that they didn't to irritate me.

Their response disappointed me nonetheless.

High ability students. Headache. How to deal with their complacecency? How to sustain their attention?

Low ability students. Headache. How to deal with their behaviour? What classroom management strategy to use?

How to plan lessons to let them enjoy?

How to cater to diverse abilities and multiple intelligences?

How am I going to survive another 6 more weeks?

How is my CT going to fare me?

Am I going to even pass?

Is teaching really suited for me? I hate it when I hear people who are not in the teaching profession say that it is an easy job or will consider teaching only when they can't get a job. You think teaching is easy? It takes real passion and dedication!

Tuesdays. Art club. Mosiac art.

Clueless about it. Seems fun. Helping out.

Tuition. Kor's daughter.

Migrain since afternoon.

Need sleep badly.

Urgh!

Going mad!!!!!!!!!!!

Joys of teaching

It has been a rather busy day at school today, but at the same time, it was rather good and satisfying. The pros of being a teacher.

And the day started with having to take a relief class. Prior to my relief class, I went to a teacher's class to observe him. Is a low ability class and the class size is only 20+! After that went to relief a class.

It started with a girl saying that I'm her's, when I was there the first week to observe her class. Up till today, that girl whenever she sees me, she just keeps staring at me as if I am her long lost lover. And I thought it was only this 1 girl.

Until I came back to office at the end of the day, Ridhwan passed me a heart. He said it was from Fathin, who also came from that class! She passed it to Ridhwan to hand it to me. It's so sweet right. Now here's the funny thing. I have never taught them before. Ridhwan is their teacher, but they seem to be wanting me more than him, although according to them, they enjoy his lessons. These kids are so cute, sweet, lovable and sincere. Sorry Ridhwan, don't know what I did to get them so into me, instead of them idolizing you. Haha! Wonder what will happen when I follow these kids for their excursion this Friday.

Another good thing today, my maths class was orderly and quiet. They enjoyed the lesson today totally. Teach less, learn more. I conducted 5 learning centres and required a lot of movement on the students' part. But I managed to use my classroom management techniques to make movement fast and noise kept to a minimal that Wesley next door couldn't even hear any noise coming from my class. Yes! It's an achievement. At the end of it, I distributed sweets to them for good behaviour and they were so appreciative of it. And I heard one of my boys commenting to his buddy that this is the best lesson he has had so far. It was supposed to be a whisper and secret between the two of them I guess, but well, I heard it. Made me feel really good. Now that I know how to control them, I can plan such activities for them and also use those lessons for my observations.

Stayed back in school till rather late today and when I came home I just zoned out. Fell asleep for a while and had to start doing my work again to prepare things for tomorrow. It's another long day tomorrow. Going to sleep early tonight.

Happy 19th Birthday, Brother!

It's my brother's birthday today and so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!! He's 19. Gosh, which means I'm 22!

What is it with kids that they just can't call you the right name? Today, my student called me Mrs Yap!! Urgh. I've been mistaken for a Chinese language teacher and now, married woman. Some spell my surname as yak or yup, even after spelling for them. Kids!

Today's Science class was rowdy. Can't bring them for lessons outside the classroom until I find a way to control them. How how how!

Looking forward to my P3 Maths class tomorrow. Should be fun. At least, I hope it is challenging enough for them.

End of March Holidays

I realized I disappeared from the blogging world for about a week. It has been a fruitful holidays for me but I can't believe that it is the end already! Oh, if only, it could be longer. Let me backtrack the past week.

Monday
My dear twinnie called me out for kbox lunch and so we went to Lot 1 to sing. That day's singing for me was good. I could sing all those ultra high notes and I succeeded in singing Celine Dion's, The Power of Love. We extended the singing to 5pm and then I went to twinnie's school and then to Westmall. Came home and did lesson planning.

Tuesday
Went to NUH for blood test. Laogong was supposed to accompany me there, but, he overslept. Not the first time, hmmmm. Met laogong after that and wanted to go to the railway mall to have some fish at Hooked, but then only when we reached there did I remember that they are closed on Tuesday!! Ended up eating at one of the food courts there and went home before the piano tuner came. After everything, went to have dinner with laogong's family and then bought some slippers at old Woodlands central, played a bit of mahjong (and won $1 yeah!) before heading home. No lesson planning done.

Wednesday
It was a rest day for me. Stayed home the whole day, till evening I went to meet laogong and went to Whampoa for dinner. Fruitful day too, for I got quite a bit of my lesson planning done.

Thursday
Sultanah, Claudia and Wesley came to my place. Since we were all teaching Primary 3 and 4s, we were exchanging resources and lesson plans. Everyone got all what they needed done. I finished all my lesson planning for next week. Sultanah left earlier, while Claudia and Wesley stayed over. We were all happy because we got what we need done and of course, a closer friendship.

Friday
Went to NUH for my medical appointments. It was a good trip down because there is a significant improvement in my condition. My doctors were all very pleased and so am I. Takes a lot of sacrifice on my part and I'm glad to see the results. Met laogong at IMM, fish & co. for dinner. The standard there is not good. I hated what I ordered. I think I still prepare JP's outlet, though it's small. I'm so sleepy today because I didn't sleep much. Guess I'll sleep early tonight.

It's Saturday tomorrow and I don't have to work. Yippie! I am going to sleep, sleep and sleep and then start on my work again, for the following week. School's starting so fast.

March Holidays!

It's offically the 1 week march holidays for a week. Time for a breather and to do up as many lesson plans as possible. Today's 4 periods of consecutive English and Maths lesson nearly killed me. A lot of content coverage. I managed to get my work done though.

Wonder how much I can do during my one week break. This is my plan.
Monday - Piano lesson in the afternoon
Tuesday - Blood test in the morning, piano tuner coming to my place to tune my piano
Wednesday - Free at the moment (but think going out with my colleagues for lunch)
Thursday - Probably meeting Sul and Claudia to exchange Lesson Plans
Friday - Doctors' appointment
Laogong, which day are you taking off? Haha, looks like I have to reschedule some things. Luckily, I need not work on Saturday.

Went to the IT fair at Suntec yesterday and I bought something there! A new handphone. Sony Ericsson z610i pink colour for $388 with a free 512 M2 memory card and a card reader. Called a few people to ask for their opinion and they all told me that it is worth. This is really the most impulsive buy but I really love the phone. Most importantly because it is pink and I think it is definitely very me.

Not fully recovered

I was supposed to blog yesterday but I suddenly didn't feel well. I vomitted again and then I was sent to bed by my parents. I think I vomitted due to 2 factors. First was probably because I have yet to fully recover and second is probably I was too tired. Ever experienced fatigue until you feel like vomitting? So I went to bed by 9.30am and slept through all the way till this morning and I'm feeling sleepy again now. Yawn. I think I should make it a point to sleep by 11pm, latest.

Started teaching my P3 high ability class yesterday. I wouldn't say the feedback I received from my CT was good. But I tried making amendments for today. And still, it wasn't good. I was unable to maintain their attention. I felt rather disappointed and to some extend a little discouraged. But well, she did tell me for me to improve and she told me in a very nice way. I shall put in more effort! But still, I can't deny the feeling upset.

Hope that my lessons from tomorrow onwards will improve. It should be a fun day tomorrow. My P3s are going to have their first english lesson with me and they would be treated to a short movie segment on Finding Nemo! For maths, they will learn a new version of tic-tac-toe. My P4s will be blowing balloons and learning about air. It's a busy day tomorrow, but I hope I will survive!

Happy Birthday Sultanah

It's the 4th of March 2007 and I would like to dedicate this entry to my dearest friend, Sultanah.

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY SULTANAH!!

May all your wishes come true.

Wishing you good health and all the best in your practicum and love life.

Lots of love,
Marie

Stomach Flu!

Damn this stomach flu yet again! It got so bad yesterday, I felt as if I was being tortured.
Vomitted twice in school.
Mild diarrhea in school.

As soon as 1pm, Ting Yue accompanied me back home. While waiting for the bus, she bought for me a packet of milk and some cookies so as not to keep my stomach empty. But it got so bad, that when I boarded the bus, the slight movement of it, already made me want to puke and she had to get a place for me to sit. Thanks to her, I got home safe and sound. However, as soon as I closed my main door, I dashed to the toilet and puked everything out again. After puking, went to take a bath and then the diarrhea started again!

Started shivering really badly that I couldn't even take a nap. Went down to see the doctor because I couldn't take it any longer. My body was aching so badly, I couldn't even walk. The walk down to the clinic was really a torture.

Was given MC for today. Thought of going school but this morning, the fever didn't subside totally so I didn't dare risk it. If I do not think of my friends, I should at least think of the kids. Wouldn't want them to get sick from me. Had a really good rest today, and I am up and moving today as if nothing ever happened yesterday! Probably thanks to my dad's essence of chicken this morning.

But I was so mad at my brother yesterday. I was in such pain that I couldn't even sit up and he looked at me and said "需要吗？" which means "need to"? Can't he be a bit more sympathetic? When he's sick everyone fusses over him. When I'm sick, I see the doctor by myself, I prepare my own dinner and such. From now on, I shan't bother about him.

Even though I'm supposed to be resting, I can't help but to keep working from home. Been doing my lesson planning at home. Had to call Ridhwan and Adrian to help me check my scheme of work. Thanks to all my wonderful friends who have been helping me today and sending me sms of get well soon.