Teaching is my life

Latest update on health status. I am alive and kicking! Back to nearly my full self. Today my piano student, Su Yin gave this card to me. Nevermind that it is not coloured and with grammatical errors, it came from her heart and she's only 6 years old. Even though I only mentioned casually to them last week that I wasn't feeling well and they could help me out by being good students.





She's sweet isn't she?

It's times like this when I know I have entered the right profession. All the late nights, stressfulness and tiredness are forgotten, for that few moments.

I just tuitioned Storm's daughter and she seemed really enthusiastic about me coming over to teach her that I stayed for 2 and a half hours today. Looks like she's opening up to me, which I take it, as a very good sign that students are able to connect with me.

Yesterday, one of the piano student's mum mentioned that she admired me because not only am I teaching in primary schools, I even do it on my days off. Well, people look at how hardworking this is. But they do not know the tiredness I feel. Doesn't really matter, as long as I am enjoying what I do. Teaching yes, but writing lesson plans, no-no.

In short, I love teaching!

Interesting test

Got this link from Sul's blog. Pretty accurate I must say.

Sul, we're both number 1! Haha, maybe that's why we get along well.

You entered: Yap Huijing Marie Noele
There are 20 letters in your name.
Those 20 letters total to 109
There are 10 vowels and 10 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 1
The characteristics of #1 are: Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.
The expression or destiny for #1:A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.

Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.

The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 8

A Soul Urge number of 8 means: With an 8 soul urge, you have a natural flair for big business and the challenges imposed by the commercial world. Power, status and success are very important to you. You have strong urges to supervise, organize and lead. Material desires are also very pronounced. You have good executive abilities, and with these, confidence, energy and ambition.

Your mind is analytical and judgment sound; you're a good judge of material values and also human character. Self-controlled, you rarely let emotions cloud judgment. You are somewhat of an organizer at heart, and you like to keep those beneath you organized and on a proper track. This is a personality that wants to lead, not follow. You want to be known for your planning ability and solid judgment.

The negative aspects of the 8 soul urge are the often dominating and exacting attitude. You may have a tendency to be very rigid, sometimes stubborn.

Your Inner Dream number is: 11

An Inner Dream number of 11 means: You dream of casting the light of illumination; of being the true idealist. You secretly believe there is more to life than we can know or prove, and you would like to be provider of the 'word' from on high.

Hospitalized!

It's been an awful few days for me. The nightmare started on Thursday, when I wasn't feeling well in school. I had an awfully acute pain on my right side of my body. The pain was so intense, it made me vomit twice. It was so pain, my face turned white. Ridhwan, Wesley, Adrian and Alan had to call a cab into the school compound because I couldn't even support myself and then Ridhwan sent me home. When I reached home, I vomitted and the pain got even worse again and so I had to call laogong. He zoomed to my place and sent me to NUH A&E immediately.

I think the staff there knew I was in such pain that I didn't really have to wait for 3 hours to see the doctor. I was put onto the wheelchair and wheeled into the observation bay. To stop the pain, they injected some painkillers through my butt. Now, that was another gush of pain. Well, it did stop the pain about some 15 minutes later and an hour later, I was cleared to go home without really knowing the cause. They said either it was kidney stones or urine infection. Couldn't do any x-ray then because they didn't have a specialist there.

Rested for the day and although I was given an MC for friday, I went to school because I was really feeling much better. Unfortunately, halfway through the morning, it started to get worse. Left school soon after bell rang and started vomitting quite a few times. No appetite to even eat because everything just came out.

I was supposed to meet laogong for dinner. He fetched me, but then in the car, I puked again and so he rushed me to NUH A&E again. Now, they were finally alarmed. Took a blood test and urine test again. To stop the vomitting, they injected me on my arm. And some 20 minutes down, I still felt dizzy and so the doctor said he's going to ward me overnight.

Stayed at the B2 class. Had x-ray done at 2am! The room that I was in was all old old ladies. I felt so weird. Anyway, at approximately 8.30am, the doctor came in to see me and gave me the all clear. It wasn't kidney stones and so they are treating this as urinary infection. Could finally "check out" at 1pm. They gave me a 16 days hospitalization leave. But knowing me, do you think I could possibly stay home for that 16 days? I'm be going back to work tomorrow!

Maybe it is fatigue that's causing this. Maybe it's my pre-existing illness. I don't know. Feel so down and so much like a burden to all those around me. No words of comfort from my family members. Only from laogong and my dear twinnie. Maybe my parents' way to show their concern is through scolding and nagging, but can't they just understand that this isn't what I want either? I hate the pain. I hate the injections. Sometimes I feel like giving up. Don't know how much longer can I endure these?

I was counting the total number of pricks or injections for the last 3 days. I had 3 on my finger for my sugar level count, 1 on my butt for the painkiller, 1 on my arm for stopping the vomitting, 1 near my elbow for the bloog test and 1 on my hand to put the plug in case of any emergencies. Oh and that doctor who put for me the one on my hand, well, he's a very young doctor. Soft and gentle but he made so much blood drip out from my veins. Not only did my hand have blood, the floor and my slippers got it too. This morning when the nurse removed the plug, she was wiping all the other blood off my hand that wasn't cleared before. Painful and it is bruised now. Arm's aching too from the injection. The one near my elbow was equally bad. That young doctor just poked in without finding the vein. He had to move the needle in my arm to find the vein. I felt so much like murdering him. Can't blame them for giving me all the young doctors. It's NUH. What can I expect right?

Sigh sigh.

Done with the last DCS assignment

And I've finally cleared the DCS assignment. Thanks to my dearest Sultanah for fetching from school to go NIE and giving me a lift home too. Thank you darling. It was so great to meet up with you. We'll catch up more after the practicum ok?

I'm in no mood for any fun and exciting lessons this week. I'm so tired of planning and thinking and draining more brain cells. My lessons this week are very simple and straightforward. Simple games, no elaborate ones. Hopefully, I should regenerate my strength and enthusiasm next week.

Just got back my Science observation APT form, the one I did last Wednesday. She gave me "+" for all. Yippie! It's an achievement for me, to control thatP4 class.

Actually, I don't really know what to update. Hmmm. Maybe I should just say one really important thing. Laogong, I love you. Why am I saying it? Is because he say I never mention him in my blog. Haha. So there it is. But of course, I really do mean it. Thanks laogong for understanding how drained I am at times and have to sleep early and not talk to him. All my tempers and frustations too.

1 more observation left

Phew! What a week. Cleared 3 observations this week. And not I am only left with 1 more observation. Relieved and feeling much lighter now. Plus, my CT said since I have cleared most of the observations, she would like to take back a period so that she can do some work with her class. Fine with me because it means, one lesser lesson plan!

So, my NIE supervisor came on Thursday. It went really well. Although she didn't give me excelling, she did give me proficient for all, and it is enough to make my day because I know her standard is really high. Or maybe I am just bluffing myself. But I know deep down inside, my lesson went well.

My biggest success to me comes from teaching my P4 kids. The naughtiest bunch. The bunch that gives me headache. But during my observation that day, they were good. Naughty, but control-able. Maybe, I can control them already. It's really one big step for me into classroom management.

Just received a package from NIE. It contains all the handouts and details for the 2 weeks which we will have to go back to NIE for the enrichment programme. And glancing through it, I seriously, rather stay back in my practicum school for that 2 weeks. Got to go for some air base visit, talks and seminars, visit to ITE (don't know for what also). Total rubbish. Urgh! Sul, it is not 2 weeks of holidays. Your friend's information is wrong. Is 2 full weeks of brainwashing. Did you get the package yet?

Kids say the darnest things

This happened on Wednesday when I wore pants to school. (I seldom wear pants and this was my 2nd time wearing pants to school.)
Student: Miss Yap, you look like a scottish lady today.
Me: Scottish lady? Why do you say that? Hmmm.. how exactly does a scottish lady look like? (I asked that so that I would know if his comment was a compliment or an insult.)
Student: Look like you lor.
I was stunned. Smart kid.

This happened on Thursday and a few other times too. I was waiting outside my P3 class, waiting for their mother tongue teacher to come out. Some kids were going to the toilet and walked past me.
Students: 老师早安
Me: Good morning.
And yet again, mistaken for a chinese language teacher!

In my P4 class, my student always shouts for me and calls me this very loudly.
Student: MRS YAP!!!!
Excuse me, do I look married?

On Monday, I was teaching the P3 class questions words and I allowed them to ask me questions, provided it starts with question words.
Student A: How old are you?
Me: Why don't you make a guess?
Student B: 26
Me: Not quite right. Try again.
Student C: 30
Me: Nope, do I look that old?
Student D: 20
Me: Ok, it's between 20-26. Next question!
Student E: Miss Yap, what is the name of your son?
Me: Excuse me, but what do you call me? Am I married? When did I ever say I have a son?
Student F: Miss Yap, when is your birthday?
Me: My birthday is on christmas.
Student G (the same student that said I look like a scottish lady): Miss Yap, why do you have to lie to us?
Me: I lie to you? Well, if you don't want to believe that I am born on Christmas, then I can't do anything about it.

Damn! Kids say the darnest things. But they still do make you laugh right?

Talk about practicum again

Every post now is always about practicum and so is every NIE teacher's blog update. That's because our live is now revolving around practicum. Lesson plan after lesson plan, marking after marking and PowerPoint designing and manipulatives making. That's the life of a trainee teacher.

But I guess I can see that my P3 students really look forward to my lesson because at the start of every class, they will be asking me, what games will they be playing today? Yes I am happy that they look forward to my class, but am I playing too many games with them? Oh well, as long as they learn from it, it's fine for me. It gives me the motivation to kill more brain cells for them though.

Art club was fun today. Mosaic art is very interesting. Helped to supervise the students as they were piecing their small pieces of tiles together. Had a small cut on my finger while helping them clear up the glass and ceramic pieces. Didn't even realize it until I saw the dried blood on my finger. Small matter though.

5 more observations left. 2 English, 1 Math, 1 Science and 1 by NSC.

1 English by CT tomorrow.
1 English by CT next week.
1 Science by CT next week (hopefully).
1 English by NSC next Thursday.

When should I do my Math? The kids are struggling with division. They just can't understand the concept. Urgh. Got to reteach my lesson today. I over-estimated them.

My blog's 1 year old

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to my bloggie
Happy birthday to you!

Yippie! My blog's 1 year old! I've kept this blog alive for a year! It's an achievement. Despite not updating as regularly because of my busy schedule. Sometimes when I am done with my work, I am just to drained to even log in and update.

5th week at practicum already. I can starting to feel the strain. Lucky next week is a 4 day week again. If not I'll be panicing again.

It's Monday tomorrow. Start of a new work week. Is it a good or bad week ahead?