WRITING WORKSHOP BEFORE EID : REFLECTIONS

Dear students,

I am pretty sure that I should have a benefit of doubt over the so called 'camp' that almost one third of you attended this morning.First and foremost i would like to thank you all for coming, at least , after all else fails, your attendance matters as i could not help but doubtfully think what you did really absorb out of the class this morning after spending almost 4 hours with us, teachers of yours.

If i were to report to the higher party, i would definitely say, you have already got to know some 200 hundred verbs altogether with their spellings and meanings. Given the time you spared for today's class could be wasted for doing other unbeneficial things , so the class of copying 200 verbs together with their meaning is considered acceptable.

Who knows? maybe it might have never happened to Din and Cikgu Alias's son having to write such quite a number of words(verbs) in just a short time together. By having to complete jotting down some 200 verbs with their meaning is already an achievement. For some nevertheless they might have simply copied from their friends cum good samaritans without even putting extra efforts to find the meaning on their own. It is fine so long it indicates that they at least manage to finish the copying task. But the true learning process ceases to take place and thus affect them in the long run. What a sadness!

Out of an informal discussion with my fellow teacher, miss F, we got some ideas on how to improve writing especially those who are still struggling to string basic sentences consisting of sv and svo. We think, you dear students need to be well versed in writing simple sentences under sv , svo and svc patterns as well. So, after this we might assign you all dear students to identify those types of sentences either sv svc or svo. If you write such basic sentence , other patterns will not become a great deal anymore. To be able to write with ease, students need to truly identify types of verbs, either transitive, intransitive or both. Once they are in the know of the different parts of speech, writing whatever assignment at hand is no longer a mammoth task. Students need to have enough supply of verbs ,adjectives, adverbs and even nouns or else they might get stagnant probing for words while attempting writing task.

All things remain challenging if we are not used to them, the same apply to writing as writing itself is a skill acquired over time through lots of practice. Therefore, concerted efforts and well organised strategies seem no longer an option but a necessity for both us teachers and students as the exams both pmr and spm loom large. To prepare them skills that demand time, grit and determination is no small task. Unless, only the selected few, the like of hardworking students, were to represent the ever relaxing rest.Unfortunately, that is not the case as it is like the pre-destined commandment echoes 'you reap what you sow! I love to see the struggling Fatihah Azman,tenacity was there despite some unknown words, she kept on looking up for them without fail in the dictionary that hopefully her perseverance will get her through to her target come PMR especially for English. The same applies to the rest of the battalion SMAS PMR 2010.

I have a lot more to say but it seems i need to answer the call for asar prayers as it is God's call that is of utmost importance.Though, it is already late from time!

Sir