31st Dec 2008
Wooo... in just a few hours time, we will all welcome 2009! =)
How have 2008 been for Yanni?
Guess if you have been a faithful reader to her blog, I'm sure more or less you will know the ups & downs for her this year.
Am looking forward for 2009 ... indeed 2009 will be the best year for Yanni.
Here wishing all my FRIENDS an Awesome New Year ahead!
Shine! Smile!
At JAMs' Christmas Delight, I have the privilege to be part of the drama – as “Tina” the timid girl.
Though I acted quite few times but seriously this role not just challenging but EXTREMELY challenging!
Jokingly told a few, I am a “comedian” so when realized that Tina have emotional scenes like crying etc, I almost fainted but still accepted the role. Opps! After few rehearsals, just when I thought I was fine, realized I wasn't – my tone was wrong, my facial expression was wrong etc and thus it doesn't fit the character I'm supposed t0 be.
Thank God for His grace & the chances by the “directors”, I continued to stay in this role and act to the best I know how, praying & believing that God will do the rest.
Seconds before our actual performance, I found myself trembling .. haha .. I don't feel sooooo nervous for games before. =p At the end of the drama, I know I did my best (though I still don't feel very good about it) but of course I also know that there still plenty and plenty of room for improvement.
Just yesterday, JAMs Church conducted Christmas outreaches at 3 homes ... thank God I was able to be of help – it was truly a great experience! I want to be a person of compassion! =)
Hmm... if you ever feel your life is meaningless, perhaps you should make a visit to one of the homes. I'm sure a visit you will surely treasure your life more and know how blessed you are!
After those visits, I also must really give a big salute to the nurses!
The people @ the homes really really need Jesus - they need the joy, the peace & the love of God.
In summary ... this Christmas been really DELIGHTFUL! =)
Truly God can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine... this Christmas, JAMs brokethrough! We asked for 1100 and we hit 1120! Praise the Lord!
As for W5, together with Cher Kenneth, we believed for 25 and we hit 25 + 2 caregivers! Praise the Lord!
Personally as a CGC of W5, this Xmas had been amazing ... more than the “destination” aka target, I'm amazed by the journey aka process! I'm amazed by how God works!
With a usual weekly attendance of less than 20, I was “shaking” when I pledged 25. Just few days before big day, I counted that W5 will only hit like 21-22 and “dried” with no other students for me to invite.
The NIGHT before big day, unbelievable (at least to me) miraclesss happened:
1) I got a new contact from Santhi - I successfully arranged everything with the mum despite not knowing exactly where they stay. (this is the FIRST time I received new contact just a night before big day).
... I must confess that I was worried that they may “let aeroplane” last minute but thank God they didn't! We successfully reached their house and thank God is not out of the way for us.
2) I have this few months-old new student who usually have enrichment class on Sat afternoon. All before the big day, I already prepared that she won't be coming since our big day will be in the late afternoon. BUT you see, God works in different ways - she was able to make it!
3) A backslider who haven't been coming for months due to work and even at the last Easter party she too can't make it BUT BUT this time, she was scheduled to work in the evening and thus able to make it for our Christmas Party!
Wowowowowowowow! =)
Was in a cab from JW to KLC for my class ... were on the expressway where suddenly I felt something not right. For a period of time, the cab just stayed on the 2nd lane in a very “standard” speed. Without my glasses, I decided to lean forward and get a better look. Guess what?! Saw the driver's eyes having “open & close exercise”. Haha! His “closing ceremony” is real bad, is like anytime he can go dreamland.
“Excuse me, Uncle”
“Y... Yes?”
“Oh... You ok?”
“Ok... Why?”
“Oh... Cause you look sleepy”
“No... I'm listening to my music”
“....”
After that “morning call”, the rest of the journey was much better ... can see that he was trying “ways” to keep himself awake. =p Thank God I managed to reach my school safe and sound. Haha!
Hmm... what if I didn't shock him up? What if I also fall asleep?
=) the moral of the story ... always be awake and alert when you on board cab, don't just focus outside the window or the meter, at times do look at the driver. Haha!
all ready for the rehearsalsssssss ahead...
"I believe in the POWER of Your Name"
1100! 1100! 1100!
321! 321!
25!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! =)
Wooo... together with my group members, we have FINALLY conquered 2 mega presentations this week! It can pretty “stress” with just thinking about it.
Personally I feel more stress over group than individual assignments... afterall the result I get from individual assignment only affect me and me only but group assignment, I must make sure I don't do wrongly/badly to pull down the group. But of course up to date, everything so good! =)
Eventhough on hand I still have 2 individual assignments & 2 group assignments write-up... can “smell” the end of my course already. Haha!
Just left with 3 mega module with 1 more group work and THE END~~
Preschool Teachers.....
We soar when we see a child 'get it' for the very first time
We worry while we drive home about that child that seems lost
Not much grosses us out
We know when it's been too quiet for too long and we need to investigate
We can pretend to be interested in slimey things – from a safe distance
We can make almost anything sound like a fun and interesting choice
We save a bubble wands and the lids to dried up markers
We've perfected the “I don't think so” look and can guide childrens' behavior often with just a facial expression
We can excited about little things
We know that a bandaid does more than just cover a scrape or cut
We save things that other people consider junk ... and when we see 'junk' we wonder what can we do or make with it
We know the current most popular children's television shows, based merely on the shoes the kids are wearing
We will pick things out of the garbage for our school, but not for ourselves
We respond to things like: “Miss Cathy!” being yelled enthusiasitically (and with a degree of bewilderment) in the grocery store
We inwardly groan when a child comes in with an action figure, or with McDonalds because they “didn't have lunch yet”
We are often heard to say the phrase: “Use your words” as mantra
We usually know when problems at home have started, even before a parent tells us
We know how to make a bathroom accident seem like absolutely no big deal
Some of us know we don't look very graceful getting up from sitting on the floor anymore, but we know that that's not what's important
We love velcro and we love the dollar store
We instintively know when a child is about to put a serving spoon in their mouth
We usually have a tissue on hand
We go home very tired at the end of the day, but usually happy
As a group, we tend to have a genuine love for life and fun, and appreciate that quality in children. We know that we do is important
Usually Teacher Yanni will do this with Bryant...
“Jesus loves _____”
And Bryant will have to reply by saying “Bryant”
Sometimes Teacher Yanni can say so many times and there can be no reply from him. Haha!
It actually started years back where I been telling Bryant “Jesus loves Bryant” whenever I get to have personal time with him. Don't know since when, I told myself if there only one thing that I want Bryant to know and remember, that will be “Jesus loves Bryant”. =)
The above statement was made by one of my lecturers in the recent module...
Are we guilty of it? Are you guilty of it? Am I guilty of it?
Are you/Am I a “murderer” of any child or children's sense of wonder & curiosity?
Some of the illustrations given by the lecturer...
“Teacher! Teacher! There is a butterfly!”
“Ya...” * stop there once replied without expression and no element of surprise *
“Teacher! Teacher! You see, rainbow!”
“Ok lahz, never see rainbow before is it? Do your work! Do your work!”
Guess with that kind of replys from teachers/adults, we have just become “murderer” because we may have just kill the sense of wonder & curiosity in them! =/
I supposed we didn't do it on purpose but most of the time is due to the lack of one thing that never seem to be enough – time! And for us teachers, we have our term syllabus to cover, so much works for the children to finish so some time we have no choice but to overlook certain things.
We should use every opportunities to develop EVERY aspects of the child. =)
“Teacher! Teacher! There is a butterfly!”
~ be like a child, treat it as your first time seeing a butterfly too ~
“Wowow! Is a butterfly!”
~ don't just stop there... build up children's language skills and knowledge ~
“Look at the wings of the butterfly! Can you tell me what did you see?” etc etc
“Teacher! Teacher! You see, rainbow!”
~ set aside all the tonnes of worksheet, set aside all the piles of syllabus .. spare just some time for them to enjoy the nature ~
Wow! Rainbow! Can you all tell me what are the colours you can find in a rainbow? etc etc
Water play for children @ Jacob Ballas Children's Garden during the school camp...
Cher Lim, don't be a “murderer” in 2009! =)
Last night met one of my ex-kindergarten students on my way back home.
Not any other student, he is one of the students who I showed favouritism (super obvious) to when he was under my care. Haha! =p
Just when the mum asked him, “do you remember her”.
The boy turned back, nodded his head with a =) and replied, “Yanni Mdm”.
Wowow... I was so touched! It been 2yrs since he graduated.
As the previous kindergarten that I used to teach in is located @ Serangoon (thus most of my ex-students all stay in the same area as me) so very often whenever I go central, on and off I will see my ex-students.
There is a shop that is “operated” by one of my ex-students' mum and very often I will see my ex-student there too. Oh man! She is soooooooo tall, guess in no time she will be taller than me! Haha!
=) Personally I would think teaching is not just a job that is physically tiring but also at times emotionally & mentally. Of course not totally caused by the children, but guess also the expectations from parents and the pressure from management etc etc.
BUT no doubt the sense of fulfillment is great! And it can be pretty encouraging that after a few years, you get to meet your ex students and glad to know that they still remember you. =)
