Meeting and seeing the guardian is always a pleasure that I deem a rare luxury due to time constraint on both parties: they and I. Why I am so fond of them? They say life is like a box of chocolate. It will be an interesting one if the box consists of many different types of of chocolate in their tastes, shapes, packaging etc. I would describe the guardians this box of chocolate. Each unique in their own way and a quality that I admire in them is their unconventional ways which actually bring colours to the school.
A student to me, does not necessarily have to score all As to make him or her something that we call 'the light'. I prefer that he or she has a quality that makes him or her standing out from the rest, in a way that is pleasant and liked by others. (We don't want a student being the odd one out because of undesirable attitude). Again, I'm talking about being unconventional here be it in thinking and action. I enjoy teaching these types of students. I enjoy to discover that special something in them. Indeed I believe each and every student has the interesting side of them that are yet to be discovered. I believe that you possess the likes of such within you. It's just that i haven't done a great job as a teacher pertaining to that.
My form 5 students must have realised how during these few weeks, I keep mentioning about 'light'. I believe the light inside you should be lit for we have this mission to be the light that makes darkness dissappear. You are capable of being the light of SMAS and the light of the world! And i think the key is to be different!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
JUST DO THE OPPOSITE IS STILL A LESSON
dear students,
Moments i hit the keyboards i start wondering who might read this entry as it seems lately this blog specially set up to all of you guys out there is the sharings between teachers whose struggle is aimed at nothing but you all . unlike yesteryear, when the like of amar and aidil, basayev and ayatullah were once our regulars. What urges me to keep on pouring out ideas on this blog is nothing but your very teacher miss farah who holds teaching profession dearly as she herself a product of teslian, whose expertise in english & english teaching deserves a salute.
Thus, this blog is a great channel to do some sort like reflection as Aristotle once said an unexamined life is not worthy living, the same goes to teaching without reflection is not worth teaching.
I always ask myself how to teach you all, to flash back my school days, i mean ways of me learning english is something i can hardly recall as i was at that time not interested in english at all. What i have been doing all this while is not to do what my teacher did to me during my school days.They still had taught me some priceless lessons.Still though i did not know the right ways to emulate, i still learn the ways should we apply not to our students, you all my dear.
Sir
Moments i hit the keyboards i start wondering who might read this entry as it seems lately this blog specially set up to all of you guys out there is the sharings between teachers whose struggle is aimed at nothing but you all . unlike yesteryear, when the like of amar and aidil, basayev and ayatullah were once our regulars. What urges me to keep on pouring out ideas on this blog is nothing but your very teacher miss farah who holds teaching profession dearly as she herself a product of teslian, whose expertise in english & english teaching deserves a salute.
Thus, this blog is a great channel to do some sort like reflection as Aristotle once said an unexamined life is not worthy living, the same goes to teaching without reflection is not worth teaching.
I always ask myself how to teach you all, to flash back my school days, i mean ways of me learning english is something i can hardly recall as i was at that time not interested in english at all. What i have been doing all this while is not to do what my teacher did to me during my school days.They still had taught me some priceless lessons.Still though i did not know the right ways to emulate, i still learn the ways should we apply not to our students, you all my dear.
Sir
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
NEED THEM MORE THAN THEY DO
I, who was once a student just like all of you really understand how much important it is to have self-confidence that for my first research as an undergrad student at my teacher-training college, I chose to study about the level of its students' self-esteem. I was so used to feel small among my brilliant bunch of friends. It was quite rare for teachers to remember my name, so the few who took the initiative to call me by my own given name remain forever in my remembrance for their ability to memorise my name had its own impact on my self-esteem. I felt appreciated but the problem is they are so few. One of them who made such an impact in my life, myself is my tuition teacher. He was my Math teacher. A very observant guy he is that I am pretty sure who knew well each of his students' characteristics. He gave me advice to not be shy in class but to speak up my mind as much as possible. Did I follow his advice? Haha not really, I remained a silent and shy girl throughout my schooling years. However, my point here is that how important it is for a teacher like me to make students feel appreciated by giving them advice and consolation not only on academic matters, but also other things related to the students' personal development. At least you give them the idea that 'this teacher is aware of my existence in class'. So, you made him/her feel special. Such care by a teacher I deem is more meaningful than giving chocolates as reinforcement in class to students whose name you do not remember.
One of the sweetest things a person can say is, "You're special and it takes a special kind of person to appreciate how special you are." And once a poetic friend of mine wrote, 'Please help me find the meaning of my life, for I couldn't find it in the dictionary. "So, from the bottom of my heart I am just going to tell the same thing to you my dear students for it is you, special people who give meaning to my life. Thank you!
One of the sweetest things a person can say is, "You're special and it takes a special kind of person to appreciate how special you are." And once a poetic friend of mine wrote, 'Please help me find the meaning of my life, for I couldn't find it in the dictionary. "So, from the bottom of my heart I am just going to tell the same thing to you my dear students for it is you, special people who give meaning to my life. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
REFLECTION: ON BEING SATISFIED
Do we teachers look way too obsessed with percentage/statistic or anything that has got to do with numbers? We might look as if in order to make us grin to the ears we must see the reduced amount of the failure of percentage. Yes, I do!! Well, it might be true as human loves achievement especially male as coined by Dr John Gray, the famous author of the book 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.' We admit we fond of judging things based on what can be counted. But talking about satisfaction, it does not merely countable on what is countable like your exam result. I, as a teacher feel that satisfaction in this greatest job comes from I have produced, my very own product.. my students. It is not like other profession such as engineer, accountant, architect etc, in which we have the absolute, accurate idea of how the product that we are working on will come out as we have planned it to be..for it only requires us to follow certain rigid rules in order for it to be the final intended product. These are the type of products that are made for men use. Well everything is created for us, the homo sapiens. The point of focus of everything in this universe. Even the sun, the giant spotlight shines just for human's sake.
So as men are the focus of everything, teachers should be made aware that their jobs is the greatest for they are dealing with the most important creation of God, man. They are closest to the change that people want to see. Teachers are the one who produces Men by bringing out their best potential. That is what I love about my profession, which is to paint my own so called product with any colours that I like in accordance with what they are born with ~ potential, talent.
I am satisfied the moment I watched Umar's determination, despite suffering from chicken-pox, to stand in front of the crowd telling story about the great Genghis Khan, or to watch Ainur and Aina wowed the audience with the way they delivered their speech. I have too much to be thankful for when Mat Yie confidently won the story-telling contest through his so charismatic, so charming way of expressing 'The Elephant & The Cat' story. At least it is no more than just a kid story under Mat Yie's presentation. I am happy to see Edy's effort to be one reliable walking dictionary among his peers. He really did in fact! Saiful and Syamil deserve a praise for their attitude at being their best-self that their absence makes others grow fonder of them. And there are more examples of the likes of you and it is well-kept in my mind, don't worry!
It takes one to know one and I wish I will be persistent in finding what satisfies me most. And Sir is right when he said that it is hard to produce even a single thinking student. Producing thinkers? Even in a great school, it is not an easy task to produce one. But who cares? As to many, what matters most in life is to get a good degree so that you can have all those unnecessary things and live a life of soulless routine. No, we don't really need that. We need a life that is examined and contemplated. A life of a satisfied soul.
So as men are the focus of everything, teachers should be made aware that their jobs is the greatest for they are dealing with the most important creation of God, man. They are closest to the change that people want to see. Teachers are the one who produces Men by bringing out their best potential. That is what I love about my profession, which is to paint my own so called product with any colours that I like in accordance with what they are born with ~ potential, talent.
I am satisfied the moment I watched Umar's determination, despite suffering from chicken-pox, to stand in front of the crowd telling story about the great Genghis Khan, or to watch Ainur and Aina wowed the audience with the way they delivered their speech. I have too much to be thankful for when Mat Yie confidently won the story-telling contest through his so charismatic, so charming way of expressing 'The Elephant & The Cat' story. At least it is no more than just a kid story under Mat Yie's presentation. I am happy to see Edy's effort to be one reliable walking dictionary among his peers. He really did in fact! Saiful and Syamil deserve a praise for their attitude at being their best-self that their absence makes others grow fonder of them. And there are more examples of the likes of you and it is well-kept in my mind, don't worry!
It takes one to know one and I wish I will be persistent in finding what satisfies me most. And Sir is right when he said that it is hard to produce even a single thinking student. Producing thinkers? Even in a great school, it is not an easy task to produce one. But who cares? As to many, what matters most in life is to get a good degree so that you can have all those unnecessary things and live a life of soulless routine. No, we don't really need that. We need a life that is examined and contemplated. A life of a satisfied soul.
Monday, March 29, 2010
SERIE A 12 : RESULTS FORECAST
Dear PMR 2010 candidates,
Come Tuesday, 30th of March, you will sit for English paper which some of you can't wait to perform to the best level you can. As a teacher whose barely two-year experience of teaching exam classes, i feel an urge to forecast as this creates more excitement and thrill in teaching you all.
Compared to the exam setting for last year' cohort, this year, you all are already in the real exam setting starting from OTI exam. Your present performance more or less will indicate your true performance in your real PMR exam.The final come October will be held right on the same turf.It will be a great advantage as you will have already been familiar playing for quite a number of games on the same pitch.It is like home game and to lose in home game is a shame!
I think , for paper 2, the highest score for section A still goes to the likes of Aina,Ainur,Nadzirul and the geng as writing skill is something students can hardly acquire within just a short period.All you have to do is not forgetting to include all points given. Besides, minimise grammatical errors the most possible you can.For summary, use table format by drawing fine lines, not so bold as this might distract examiners. Then, make sure you use all the ten words given before adding the following points found in the article. Count each word and write the number of words, say 60 or 63. Bare in mind that the number of words must not exceed 65 as no mark will be given after that. What a waste of time should you keep on writing!Most importantly, find five to six points as one mark is allocated for each point in a complete sentence regardless of your grammatical errors.
Meanwhile, for paper 1, i think the everage score will be around 23 & 24. And the highest will be around 34 & 35. This time, there will be around 15 students scoring above 30. Aiman' AS Roma , Ikhwan , Zahari, Syafiqs,Yusri, Dayang, Iman, Mejjar,Khalis,Dayah,Amirah,Nazifah,Fatin, Tihah,Idayu Z and a few others will possibly reach 30 plus this time.It is hoped the number of those scoring below 20 will decrease to less than 25. Above all, it is just a forecast and remains a forecast unless substianted by facts.And you, my dear students are the ones who can make the forecast real for better or worse!
Those whose names were not mentioned here. Remember what Jimmy Eat World once cried at the top of his lung ' DO YOUR BEST!! DON'T WRITE YOURSELF OFF YET! DO YOUR BEST! DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN!It is only in your head!be focused!
Sir
Come Tuesday, 30th of March, you will sit for English paper which some of you can't wait to perform to the best level you can. As a teacher whose barely two-year experience of teaching exam classes, i feel an urge to forecast as this creates more excitement and thrill in teaching you all.
Compared to the exam setting for last year' cohort, this year, you all are already in the real exam setting starting from OTI exam. Your present performance more or less will indicate your true performance in your real PMR exam.The final come October will be held right on the same turf.It will be a great advantage as you will have already been familiar playing for quite a number of games on the same pitch.It is like home game and to lose in home game is a shame!
I think , for paper 2, the highest score for section A still goes to the likes of Aina,Ainur,Nadzirul and the geng as writing skill is something students can hardly acquire within just a short period.All you have to do is not forgetting to include all points given. Besides, minimise grammatical errors the most possible you can.For summary, use table format by drawing fine lines, not so bold as this might distract examiners. Then, make sure you use all the ten words given before adding the following points found in the article. Count each word and write the number of words, say 60 or 63. Bare in mind that the number of words must not exceed 65 as no mark will be given after that. What a waste of time should you keep on writing!Most importantly, find five to six points as one mark is allocated for each point in a complete sentence regardless of your grammatical errors.
Meanwhile, for paper 1, i think the everage score will be around 23 & 24. And the highest will be around 34 & 35. This time, there will be around 15 students scoring above 30. Aiman' AS Roma , Ikhwan , Zahari, Syafiqs,Yusri, Dayang, Iman, Mejjar,Khalis,Dayah,Amirah,Nazifah,Fatin, Tihah,Idayu Z and a few others will possibly reach 30 plus this time.It is hoped the number of those scoring below 20 will decrease to less than 25. Above all, it is just a forecast and remains a forecast unless substianted by facts.And you, my dear students are the ones who can make the forecast real for better or worse!
Those whose names were not mentioned here. Remember what Jimmy Eat World once cried at the top of his lung ' DO YOUR BEST!! DON'T WRITE YOURSELF OFF YET! DO YOUR BEST! DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN!It is only in your head!be focused!
Sir
Saturday, March 27, 2010
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Kapas IslandNature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold
Her early leaf's a flower
But only so an hour
Then leaf subsides to leaf
So Eden sank to grief.
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay
-Robert Frost
Her early leaf's a flower
But only so an hour
Then leaf subsides to leaf
So Eden sank to grief.
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay
-Robert Frost
Monday, March 22, 2010
NEW GLADIATORS IN THE MAKING
Dear students,
Drogba Muslim,Pok Wel,Mejjar, Ayam(er),Pok Ba and the list goes on..(including Kattok haha)were all wonders on the field during masmat fiesta 2010.If they were not a bit reckless in the final held at Konspint last two weeks, they were already champions. However, to settle as runners-up is not bad at all as they already fought tooth and nail, only they lost. They still deserve a pat on their back. They dominated the game for the first 20 minutes with scores of chances. But, their efforts to net winning goals were in vain as the imtiyaz keeper and stoppers were too good for our team.
God is all-knowing and He knows best who deserve most. Just imagine what imtiyaz inhabitants felt that day should they be defeated in both football finals after their two teams were qualified for the final.
Sir Kamal more than once said that good strikers are those who manage to convert every single chance coming their way as chances don't knock our door all times.Gladiators were once feared and revered. They were champions on and off the battle fields.
If, what a complete package if all of you SMAS gladiators are good not only on but also off the field like in your studies and characters. Only then, you are true gladiators who could tame even the most fierce of animals.
Sir
Drogba Muslim,Pok Wel,Mejjar, Ayam(er),Pok Ba and the list goes on..(including Kattok haha)were all wonders on the field during masmat fiesta 2010.If they were not a bit reckless in the final held at Konspint last two weeks, they were already champions. However, to settle as runners-up is not bad at all as they already fought tooth and nail, only they lost. They still deserve a pat on their back. They dominated the game for the first 20 minutes with scores of chances. But, their efforts to net winning goals were in vain as the imtiyaz keeper and stoppers were too good for our team.
God is all-knowing and He knows best who deserve most. Just imagine what imtiyaz inhabitants felt that day should they be defeated in both football finals after their two teams were qualified for the final.
Sir Kamal more than once said that good strikers are those who manage to convert every single chance coming their way as chances don't knock our door all times.Gladiators were once feared and revered. They were champions on and off the battle fields.
If, what a complete package if all of you SMAS gladiators are good not only on but also off the field like in your studies and characters. Only then, you are true gladiators who could tame even the most fierce of animals.
Sir
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