wHy wHy WhY

As I looked at the photos... I asked myself “why?”
As I looked at the videos... I asked myself “why?”
BUT don't seem to be able to answer any of the questions... why is that so?

mAtT 6:33

During my QT, this verse came into me...
Matt 6:33
“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Personally this verse is a GREAT encouragement to me at the moment... more than just in certain areas (what you may think I am thinking of... haha), it is a huge assurance to me for this coming Arise & Build.

I want to give GOD my best... even I may not know what lies ahead of me BUT I want to trust Him but of course got to be realistic as I don't want to break my vow towards GOD.

friends' SOT graduation

Recently came across this website through another friend- www.photofunia.com
Went there with some photos and here it goes...

Congrats to JiNzHI, HuImIn, FaBiAn, JiEyI, YeEsHaNg, KeEwEI... =)

I ask ask ask

“Bye Bye! See you next Sunday!”

Every week whenever I looked at the back views of my students after they alighted from the bus, questions will always flood my mind - “What will they be doing later?” “Are they just going to stay at home?” “What will they be doing at home?”

Unlike many of us, we have uncountable dates to go to, so many friends to date with, so many activities to choose from BUT they may not be so (at least for some). For those who don't have the ability to, most probably they will spend most of their time at home.

For some of my students, perhaps their only “go out time” other than workplace everyday is to church every weekend. One of my students, CY – he is not very high but with certain level of understanding. He doesn't like to go out, not even to coffeeshop to get dinner. He doesn't like to go to the gathering with his cousin. Even on the death of his grandparent, he also doesn't attend the funeral. Why? Perhaps is low self-esteem, perhaps he himself know that he is “not the same” as his cousin? As the people out there? Or he may have encounters of people starring at him?

^_^

a K1 boy's way to say thank you for the Children's Day gift...

"marathon"

From Ms Lecturer A's 1 grp assignment + 1 individual assignment to Mr Lecturer's 2 grp assignments + 1 ind + 1 quiz to currently Ms Lecturer's 2 grp assignments + 1 ind assignment ... assignments are like never-ending. Unlike previous semester where there were few breaks inbetween, this semester was quite packed with module after module thus = assignments after assignments.

But thank God for His grace! So far so good ... good results + good feedbacks as well. In a few months time, I will be graduating with my Diploma in Preschool Teaching! Hooray! =) Looking forward to that day!

I'm ImPrEsSeD

Our school's annual event, GrAdUaTiOn CeReMoNy cum CoNcErT 2008 is approaching in 2 weeks time.

Recently we had our first combined rehearsal ... that is after all the “secret trainingssss” by individual teachers to their classes. For myself, I'm in-charge of two English dances, with K1 & K2.

I'm totally impressed by our K2 – they have 2 main dances (Eng & Chinese). Once the musics play, they know which dance steps to show and best part – none of them were confused or mixed up the steps. Not only 2 main dances, they also have to memorize other segments like the ceremony procedures, their own graduation speeches in Eng & Chinese, their graduation songs and for a few even involved in another Speech & Drama segment.

Oh man! They are involved in so many so many segments... but they are so “zai”, guess more than their teachers who will be on their toes behind the curtain. Haha!

Moral of this blog ... never underestimate the ability of the little ones! =)

TiMe WiTh J - 7

J's PoWeR #28
* just before class starts, Cher Lim accidentally knocked one of her toes against the door *
Cher Lim: Ouch!
Children: @@!
Cher Lim: * jokingly * I'm... I'm injured! Call the ambulance!
Children: @@! Hahaha!
Child J: Oh! * get up from his sitting position * Cher Lim! Are you alright?
Cher Lim: =) Yes! Thank you Child J!
ps: now you know why Child J has the power to make Cher Lim =) and =(

J's PoWeR #29
* snack time *
Friend A: See! Today I bring Oxxx biscuits
Friends: * gave him full attention *
Child J: Hey! Cannot eat you know. Oxxx biscuits got poison!
Cher Lim: * giggled * Poison?
Child J: * very serious look * Yes! My mother said Oxxx biscuits got poison cannot eat
Cher Lim: What will happen if we eat it?
Child J: You will die you know. China got 6 babies die you know.
Cher Lim: Oh no! Then how? Friend A is going to eat!
* Friend A opened up his packet of Oxxx biscuits and started eating *
Cher Lim: * dramatic a bit * Oh no! Friend A ate Oxxx biscuits already!
Child J: * shocked + very serious look * He is going to die!
Cher Lim: ... ... Haha!

* a day after *
Friend A: See! Today I bring peanut butter bread!
* beside Child J *
Friend A: * serious tone * Child J, this one got poison?
Child J: Oh! Don't have! Bread don't have poison one

J's PoWeR #30
* snack time ... Child J was the last few who was still eating *
Cher Lim: * walked over to him * Child J, you are eating veggies now!
Child J: Y... Yes
Cher Lim: So who taught you to eat veggies?
Child J: * deep thought for a while * Cher Lim!
Cher Lim: Come, give me a high 5! Haha!

J's PoWeR #31
Cher Lim: Child J, come here! What happened to your cheek?
Child J: ???
Cher Lim: Why is there a red mark?
Child J: * paused a while * Just now... Just now I banged into Friend D.
Cher Lim: Aiyo...
Child J: I... We never see
Cher Lim: How come you didn't see? What were you doing?
Child J: I... I concentrating turning
Cher Lim: * supposed he is doing his “daily self-declared exercise” of spinning around * =)
Please be careful the next time ok.
Child J: * nodded his head *

J's PoWeR #32
* Child J brought cookies to school .. according to him, all cookies are made by his parents & him *
* upon arrival ... Child J entered school with his lunchbox in his hands, handled with great care *
Cher Lim: Wow! What's is that ?
Child J: Cookies!
Cher Lim: Your mummy buy that for you?
Child J: No... make!
Cher Lim: You make it youself?
Child J: Mummy!
Cher Lim: Mummy & you?
Child J: * nodded his head as he placed his lunchbox on a shelf, refused to put in bag *

* back in class, during snack time *
Child J: * all ready with his lunch box infront of him.. carefully laid out his 2 of his 4 cookies on the tray *
Cher Lim: Wow! Who make all these cookies for you?
Child J: * 2 cookies on his hands, don't know where to place them * You remember what I told you
Cher Lim: Oh... your mummy & yourself?
Child J: Yes...
Cher Lim: How about your daddy?
Child J: * nodded his head, still busy with his cookies *
Cher Lim: How about your grandmother?
Child J: No... Ah Ma don't know
Cher Lim: Why Ah Ma don't know?
Child J: Ah Ma old already
Cher Lim: ... ... ... (doubt his “old” referred to restricted movements kind)

J's PoWeR #33
Cher Lim: Child J, what's your brother's name?
Child J: Jxxxx
Cher Lim: Jxxxx Txx? (ps: the Txx is the surname)
Child J: No... Jxxx dont have Txx
Cher Lim: Why?
Child J: He... He still small you know
Cher Lim: What his Chinese name?
Child J: ... ...
Cher Lim: You are Txx Jxx Wxx. How about your brother?
Child J: * silence for a while * He don't have Chinese
Cher Lim: ???
Child J: He is small
Cher Lim: Haha!

dont want...

ps: is going to be quite a long entry on one of my JAMs students, Mr Sato. =)
Perhaps you have met him, encountered him, heard about him, read about him before but here a little “highlight” of his recent happening.

Yesterday was the day Mr Sato been waiting for... the ONLY weekend out of a a month that he can come JAMs.

Fetching trip – smile were often seen on his face throughout the journey.
At times he can be quite “cheeky”. Out of a sudden he will give a wide smile and called out “Uncle~~~” but uncle missed it. Shortly after, he made another remark, “Can I play CD?”. So afterall you can guess his purpose of being soooooo friendly to uncle? Haha! =)

1hr in church – he was “welcomed” @ the sound system where he spent a while there before he was out at lift lobby munching his chips (supposed to be FOR his friends). On two separate timings, two students actually came over to snatch his chips.
Guess what's the reaction of Mr Sato, the one who has the nickname of “Sumo”? Did our Mr Sumo gave them a taste of his fist? Did our Mr Sumo gave them a sumo-kick?
Haha! His reaction was zero, basically it was the teachers around him who reacted. Our Mr Sato just starred at the teachers who came forward with a look of “Excuse me? Can you help me?” At once, Mr Sato can actually turned to the teacher and said, “he naughty”. Haha! =)

dont want.. dont want..

Dismissal – NIGHTMARE!
Due to lack of manpower, I got to bring him to vending machine ALONE. Was praying in my heart, “God, please dont let Mr Sato perform stunts”. The moment we came back to lift lobby to wait for the mass dismissal, I can smell something “fishy” as I noticed a chance in Mr Sato's look.
True indeed, the “habit” that he started this few months happened – he sat on the floor, right infront of the entrance and you guess it, he totally blocked the exitway for the mass dismissal.

After much soft talk, he just refused to stand up. Teacher Hensa's CD has no effect on him (that was his “mission” the previous month, same thing– tried to achieve by sitting on the floor UNTIL we agreed to give him the CD.
This time, his “mission” is not to get the CD... so what's on his mind?

Thank God for the ______ * lightbulb * ... I just made a remark, “Come Sato, let's go! Later I asked uncle play CD for you in the bus ok”.
* You could see some reaction from him and then you can guess what's his “mission” this time *

Cant remember when but at this particular once, he did made a remark when I was talking to him, “I want to sit in front!”. Guess that's his ultimate “goal”. He likes to sit in front in the bus cause then he is nearer to the radio and can play with it (depending who is the driver). Guess the previous uncle 'spoiled the market', he actually allowed Mr Sato to not just play with his radio but also sat beside him. But this particular uncle quite strict actually, he doesn't like/want Mr Sato to sit in front so he will just refused no matter how much Mr Sato insisted. Thank God Mr Sato still listened/respect this uncle, if not maybe we will experience a F1 race. Haha! =) Thank God thank God.

After gathering the students, we need to proceed to carpark for our bus.
“Come Sato, let's go already!”
... * no respond *
“Sato, we are going already. You want to go home?”
... * no respond *
“Sato, you want me to ask uncle to let you play CD in his bus?”
... * eyes did attempted to lift up but still no respond “
“Sato, we need to go already. If you stay here, how am I going to ask uncle to play your CD”.
... * silent *
“Sato... let's go!”
... “Dont want!” said sato
“You sure? We are going off already!”
... “Dont want!” said sato
“Ok! Bye~~~!”
... * no reaction *

dont want.. dont want.. dont want..

Of course after settling students up on the bus, I came back for him and then he was surrounded by few teachers who also tried to get him to stand but no result. After some “drama rama”, we managed to get him to stand and walked to bus BUT he refused to board the bus. Why?
Because he saw the front seats occupied so no choice we shifted the students and no matter how uncle disapproved, we just got to let Mr Sato sit in front.

Returning trip – All throughout our journey back, Mr Sato only focused on the radio. But thank God for a consistent uncle who just refused to let Mr Sato played his radio no matter how much Mr Sato wants to. The “pushing”, the “stopping”, “the scolding” went on UNTIL Mr Sato alighted the bus. ~phew~ It was a big relieved to us. Throughout I was sitting next to uncle, trying to “block” Mr Sato from leaning nearer to the radio or even to cause “hinder” to uncle's driving. It did help a little but ¼ of Mr Sato's weight was on me, my thighs actually as he was leaning on it. O...u...c...h

=) Reflection –When Mr Sato wants something = he really wants something. I would think Mr Sato is a smart boy. Somehow he knows that his “secret weapon” against us and that is to sit on the floor and refuse to go UNTIL we give in and give what he wants. Serious speaking, Im pretty “upset” with this “secret weapon” of his, is like anytime he wants something and throw tantrums for it, we got to give in to him. Not because we want to give in but rather we have no choice. And some more for a student like him, somehow we cant afford him to throw tantrum physically (if you know what I mean).
First was CD and now for front seat.
Cant imagine what will be next, in Dec ... as probably will ask him to take a “break” in November.

InTeReStInG...

Recently a K2 girl brought her encyclopedia to school. I flipped through and found a topic on planets (the current theme for our school) so spent some time to go through with the class. Since there were some time left, I decided to fill them with some other knowledge so came to this on the different vitamins.

There was a picture that show “pig kidney” then don't know how come will link and I was telling the children that there are people who not just eat pig kidney but also liver, blood etc and even duck's tongue. Their reaction was HUGE & DRAMATIC ... haha ... guess they totally cant believe people eat all that.

Separate issues that shocked the children:
~ Cher Lim has mummy & daddy... to the children, they find it hard to believe that teachers have parents. Maybe to them, only little children have mummy & daddy. =)

~ Cher Lim can speaks Mandarin! Haha! The children know Cher Lim as a English teacher who teaches English & Math. When they suddenly hear Cher Lim speaks Mandarin (when they wanted to "test" me), they were shocked and want "test" me more..
Just recently a K2 boy asked me whether I can speak Malay so I did (simple ones like “makan”) and he was totally amazed and requested me to say to his friend. Haha!

Simple encounter with the children but guess that just cheer up my day. =)

Few days back, I was with the K1 (5yrs old) - during storytime, I was reading a book “What a Catch” to the children. The short story is about this girl who went fishing with her dad. But instead of catching fish, she got a frog, a turtle, a snake at first few attempts. Each time when I read the parts that the girl caught the wrong thing, the children will laugh and laugh and LAUGH.
“Encore” happened, after 1^st read, they requested me to read another. After 2^nd, they requested for 3^rd and even requesting for more. The best part is each time I read, though they already know what will happen, they still laugh and laugh and laugh.

Is nice being with children... =)

cAnT bElIeVe It....

Science & Environment Awareness – current module we are taking =)
Other than a quiz, we have 2 group assignments which include 2 presentations & 1 individual assignment.
Compared to usual of 1 group OR 1 individual assignment, this considered quite a lot but thank God all of us are well-stretched by “Mr Lecturer”. Surprisingly the “complains” this time wasn't as much as the first time we encountered him. (you will know what I mean if you were a faithful reader to my blog... hEeHeE).

Just last week alone, we already conquered quiz & one presentation.
Is just amazing... after the presentation session by the entire class of 6 groups, Mr Lecturer actually requested the slides of our group! =)
We were the ONLY group that he requested from! According to him, he wants to show our presentation to another batch of students that this is the “standard” that he is expecting.

Woohoo!
Pretty surprised he like our presentation as compared with other groups, ours not the very best. But guess other than our "cool" activities, we stood out by the “clearness” of our slides after slides.

Check out the photos we took @ our recent visit to Botanic Garden...

08 NeW cHiLdReN's CoRnEr PaRt 6

... beginning of Term 4

sCeNe #28
* waiting for dismissal, cascual chat with children *
Cher Lim: * jokingly * Children, what do you wish to receive on Children's Day?
Children: * got excited * Ben 10! Winks Club! Toys!
Cher Lim: @@! But I dont have so much $$$.
Child E: * very serious look * Then... Then you must go and work
Cher Lim: Yes I did. I am working now. When I'm teaching you, I'm working
Child J: ?? But... But we never pay you you know
Cher Lim: Haha!

sCeNe #27
* day of formal photo-taking session *
Child GX: Cher Lim, today you and Cher J different
Cher Lim: @@! Different? We are different?
Child GX: Hmm... Yes... different
Cher Lim: How different? * laughed *
Child GX: * nodded his head * ... seem struggling to find word to describe the difference
Cher Lim: You mean the way we dressed? Is it good or bad?
Child J: Good different!
Cher Lim: Is it today we dress differently? Nicer?
Child J: * nodded his head *
Cher Lim: =)
ps: working in a non air-condition kindergarten is one thing, having to “battle” with little angels is another so usually we teachers for comfort sake will dress very cascually so that particular day due to photo-taking session, all of the teachers were well-dressed ... dont ever underestimate little children, they pay attention to little details.

sCeNe #28A
* ever since Child J used an unkind remark openly in class, a “red light” had been set forth by Cher Lim and all these while the K1 children been very careful with the words they use *
* conversation went on among the children *
Child GX: Orrhhhh... You said “chicken pox”!
Child CH: @@!
Child JN: Orrrhhhh...
Child CH: Chicken pox is not bad word you know!
Child GX: Orrhhh... We ask Cher Lim
Child CH: Cher Lim, is “chicken pox” a bad word?
Cher Lim: * trying not to laugh * Nope... “Chicken pox” is not a bad word.
Child CH: You see You see... “Chicken pox” is for the body you know
Cher Lim: * listened quietly ... haha *

sCeNe #28B
* during written work time *
Child C: * attempted to get a stationary but failed * Oh man...
Child G: Orhhh... ... You say bad word!
Child J: It is a bad word... because you say “Old Man”
Child C: But I say “Oh man”...
* agruement went on and on and on *
Cher Lim: * cannot take it, laughed quietly * Okok... What both of you say is not bad words.

cHeCk OuT w5...

Beginning of the year
... week before Cher Kenneth serves the nation

Birthday Celebration

FeB – Wenjuan & Weiwen & Hockyong

AuG – Susiang & Wanjun

SeP – Chenhong & Foongyi & Tingting

Excursion
... W5 @ Changi Airport

Excursion
... W5 @ Hort Park

Girls Power! (Winning photo @ JAMs' Photo-Taking Competition)