Vocabulary Bootcamp: High Frequency Words

Happy Chinese New Year folks! I am enjoying my Chinese New Year break in Kuching with my lovely family. How are you spending your Chinese New Year Break?

I just read an inspiring Malaysian teacher blog. She writes in such confidence and conviction about her kids that I envy her passion and her dedication. Her writing motivates me to dream bigger, so what a great thing it was to have stumbled into her blog (:

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Last week, I implemented Sawittri's vocabulary bootcamp using high frequency words in my Form 2 class. I picked 5 words from the list she sent us and wrote 4 short paragraphs using these 5 words (repetitively) and made copies so that everyone in my class get a copy to read. Then I get them to read aloud. After a couple of turns, most of my kids kind of remembered how to read the sentences from listening to their friends and they read loudly as well. WHICH IS AMAZING because my students often forfeit before they even try when it comes to reading!

So this is how it works:

1. I picked 5 high frequency words.
2. I wrote 4 paragraphs using these words. The paragraphs are written using similar sentence patterns so everything is the same except for the content.
3. I made 7 copies (I have my students sit in 7 groups of four).
4. Students are to take one slip each and passed the story around in their groups everytime I said "SWITCH".
5. Students who can read are asked to read first.
6. Carry on solo reading aloud for a couple of rounds and then call on students who are less confident reading aloud.

I had carried out this activity twice in the same class last week on Thursday and Friday using the same high frequency words but in different sentence formats. I hope that by doing this more often I can encourage my kids to recognize more words and give them more confidence when it comes to reading.

I can't wait to carry out this activity more often and see how far my kids can go by the end of this term!

p/s: I lost one more student from my Form 1 class because he is transferred to another school ): All the best to him in the new school! He is starting classes there tomorrow!

Be bold. And speak English.

How many English teachers out there teaches English in Malay? I do. In my weakest English classes, I do. I feel really bad about it, but it just seemed to me, well, necessary.

I have seen successful examples of teaching using English as a medium as well as content to students with minimum proficiency. Yes, those were inspiring examples, carried out by the humblest of teachers.

However, I never did that in 1USM, and now, 2USM.

On Friday, I dreaded going into 2USM for their English class. Under the SET system, I lost a few of my students who used to help me in class. There have a better command in the language and therefore can always help me to coach some of their friends with their homework too.

I started off with a few commands that we are comfortable with in English: please repeat after me, active listening position, please raise your hand etc. Then I started giving instructions in Malay addressing the agenda for the day.

S who was sitting in the first row said to me in hushed voice "Teacher, speak English."

I was pleasantly surprised. I never thought that my kids would actually want me to speak in English.

So I started to say more English. And to my surprise, some of my kids who are more outspoken than the rest started asking me questions in their broken English: Apa you speak?

It struck me then that if I don't speak English and expose them to English, where else would they be able to do that? If I don't start somewhere, if they don't start somewhere, we will never go anywhere.

Armed with this new mindset, I am determined to make sure I speak English in my classes (: Wish me luck!

A long due post. And January is reassuring (:

This is officially week 5 into the new term. I am feeling relaxed, and more in charge this term. Experience does make the difference. So much have taken place over the past couple of weeks and I am happy and contended to be where I am today, crediting God for all the things He pushed me through.

And my students have come a long way as well, especially my students in my Form class. This is my second year with these children, and they had been really patient with me. I came in trying to be their boss, telling them that they shoould be doctors and scientists, when they actually want no such things. I belittled them and I imposed myself on them, dictating their actions and their speech.

I used to come into class bitter every day. They were irritated even though they tried their best to be compliant. They accomplished the impossible. From zeros, to a whooping 96% passing rate in English. I am really grateful of these kids of mine because their success gave me a little bit more courage, and they inspired me.

This year as I stepped into class, I sensed the difference. The difference comes from their affirmation and their confidence in me. The kind of feeling I suspect mothers get from the kids: they know that you cared and you love them amidst all the scolding and disciplining. That particular moment was extremely moving for me.

And then, they started to rebel again. Ah well, no one said anything about a mother being an easy responsibilty. But I finally feel appreciated, and that what I am doing is actually fruitful and meaningful.

There are more challenges this year:

• I am handling two exam classes this year
• I am the head of the English Panel (even though I did not contribute much)
• Facing a whole different set of students in Form 4
• Confronting more emotional struggles in terms of my relationship with myself
• Different family problems among the students
• My community project
• Trying to make an impact before leaving
• Learning from the mistakes I made last year

It is going to be a great year if I let God into more of my decisions and if I try to listen to Him.

Anything and everything is possible, and that, knowing that so much could be done, makes it so much more stressful.

On a lighter note, watch this space because soon, very soon, I am going to show off our new classroom and its beautiful new coat of paint (it's the brilliant smurf-blue! gosh!) and classroom decor.

This piture was taken in the third week in January. I was holding one Physical Education class at that time. (I know, right? PE? Me?!)

So, it is a good thing I am no longer teaching PE (thank goodness) because instead of getting my girls to exercise, I let them do things like this (see below).

The lovely girls in Form 2 were so excited and told me that they must show me this.

I am feeling contended in many ways.

Another week has gone by, praise the Lord!

I feel especially encouraged and motivated this week because of the amazing things our 2013 cohort fellows has been doing (: Their posts on Facebook are always so honest and real, and the things they did in their schools, and also their small successes and the impact they are already making in their schools, are all amazing things ! I really look forward to read about them every day.

Knowing that I am only going to teach both of my Form 4 classes for a short period of time was a suprising and disappointing news. I have already fallen for students from both classes and it is difficult to take that away. It is not because they are incredibly lovely in class. It is actually the opposite. There are so many unresolved issues that I wish I could resolve in these classes before I leave. And also names that I have yet to memorize to match those lovely faces.

One particular class this year is very difficult. We started off the wrong foot and our relationship spiralled down over the weeks. I am proud of myself because I have never doubted my students' potential to achieve more than they are achieving now academic-wise but I wish I could say the same about my faith towards the progress of their behaviour and attitude. I guess I never really give my students the chance to prove their worth, behaviour and attitude wise. Whenever a student shows actions and gestures that are disrespectful or defiant, my blood boils and that usually leads to cornering the child and bombarding him/ her with my ideals and why they should live up to my ideals.

Which is unfair, definitely. But I will continue to work on that. Maybe not by intimidating my kids but trying to understand where they came from and work on it from there (it is so much easier said than done of course, like always). And that's one of the many reasons I am reluctant to let go of these classes.

As I was pondering about all my difficult classes this year I remember how I have asked God, particularly and specifically, to make it difficult for me this year, so that there would be  more for me to contribute, the more to progress. And He has granted my wish.

TGIF!

I had a pretty bad time in one of my classes today. I did not plan for it to go this bad. In the end, the children were unhappy. I was unhappy as well. Reflecting on it make me feel even more bummed because I know very well that we could have gotten off a better start if I can stop taking everything so personally!

If a student did not behave in the way I want them to it does not really mean that they hate me or wanted to make me suffer. It is just the circumstances that they were in made it impossible for them to act otherwise. And, I am supposed to be here to give them a push so they can escape these circumstances.

Thank You Lord for being here with me all the time because despite my frustration, You reminded me over and over again my purpose of being in Juasseh and my purpose of standing in the classroom.

However the day got better (: I talked to Chia on the phone and am really happy that she came back from Medan, Indonesia feeling charged! And, guess what came in the mail today?

My books came in the mail today!

Now, all I want to so is spend the weekend curled up in bed with books and have Indie bands playing my favourite songs in the background! 

Tell me something good!

Inspired by one of my favourite teacher blogsRowdy in First Grade.

Something good, something good, something good!

Something good on my first day of school:

I did not wake up when my alarm went off by 6a.m. in the morning (sigh, why does this happen so often?) and ended up waking up by 6:45a.m. after my housemate knocked at my door, but we made it to school on time! Hooray! And, I managed to wash and shampoo and dry my hair before leaving for school! And I even managed to have breakfast as well!!! 

My kids do not show obvious signs of resentment seeing that I am STILL their form teacher, praise the Lord! We had an okay classroom session today. I was with them for 2 hours and 40 minutes! We did a few activities, nothing mind-blowing but I gathered enough information I need.

Form 1 students are extremely adorable! They are so small! I will see them in class tomorrow, now that's something to look forward to!

Some other good things today that contributed to this great day:

We had our corporate shirt made at this really fancy tailor shop in Bahau (:

Daniel sharing with me about his first day at work!

Achieving the consistency I wanted in my porridge!

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Now let's get some sleep people, it's a school night, yikes!

Far, far, far too soon!

I cry out to the Lord, I pray to the Lord for mercy. PSALM 142:1

Today is the last day of holiday before the new semester starts. I am feeling excited and a little bit anxious about starting the school term. One of my colleagues mentioned that after going back to the fishing village she is teaching in, seeing the students she teaches on the street reminds her that it is not a dream. She really is a teacher!

I wonder if all new teachers feel that way too. I am back in the village I am teaching in a few days ago and a few of the students I taught last year met me on the way to the pasar malam. They raised their hand from afar and nod their head slightly, addressing me “Teacher!”. I smiled back and was actually at a loss for words. Deep inside, I shuddered, thinking to myself that: my gosh, I am coming back to these kids and this village. It is not a bad feeling, but it just so happen to make me shudder.

Well, school starts tomorrow, so I better straighten things up! It’s going to be great tomorrow!

I have gotten ready... my stationery box!

Our classroom values flash cards!

Our 4 steps to class!

Our student survey!

and last but not least our can you find my name word search puzzle!

  

There is still so much wok to be accomplished but I guess now that I have my classroom goals ready, it should be less difficult to keep everyone on track!

March on to a brand new semester!

Year 2, in 8 days?

I am going to start Year 2 of my teaching career soon! I am extremely excited about starting this year right because the start of the school year really sets the tone for the teaching that entire year!

I found a realy helpful website! And browsing through all kinds of checklists is making me really determined to do great things next year!So here's the link, GREAT WEBSITE!

The sad thing is that this is my first year being away from my Church on Christmas Day! Before this, Christmas had always been very traditional where I spend Christmas with my family in the Church. Later when I was in University, I celebrated Christmas with friends and fellow Church members in  SCMC. This year however, it would be spent at the airport and in a taxi.

No matter, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who has given his life to redeem ours and so no matter where I am at, I shall rejoice!

I can't wait!

Two more weeks to go! Get excited people! Yay!

With love (:

Post-graduate-diploma-in-education is going fine. I really enjoy the opportunity of sitting in a class and experience learning in a formal setting once again. And, there is so much learning going on here, which is really exciting! I wonder if I can ever generate this sort of excitement in my classroom, in like, some time before my fellowship ends?

It is unbelieveable, but I do (a little bit) miss my staffroom table and my 1 USM classroom. I am also getting more and more excited about classroom decoration for the coming year, and getting a good long term plan drafted out. Plus plus plus, planning classroom management and programs and projects to run the coming year.

I suddenly feel like that I can still do this for another year or two (:

Maybe spending too much time with the fellows is making me optimistic. Or it might be because of the fact that:

I am going home to Kuching for a two-week-long break!!!! and that.......

 in approximately ONE MONTH, it would be CHRISTMAS!