Thursday, February 26, 2009

tick tock tick tock

630pm ... 8pm ... 915pm ... 920pm ... 930pm !!!!!!!!!!!! =p

Find this quite “interesting” - In the beginning stage (course just started), all students' eyes will be totally fixed on the lecturer with full attention! When a question is being asked, though not super spontaneous from everyone but at least there will be answers from us.

As the months passed (approaching the end of course) - everything changed Haha! Less answers, less questions from us. DURING lecture, you are able to witness many students multi-tasking: with ears opened, on-off eyes on the screen BUT under the piles of notes are actually hidden own-work, working on other module assignment, smsing etc etc. Not forgetting wandering off to dreamland. Haha!

Monday, February 23, 2009

final?

I have decided...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

a looooooooong wait

I waited 2hrs!!! 2hrs for a DVD!!! Haha! It is not a movie DVD. =p

Friday, February 20, 2009

should I or should I not?

Recently Principal J & Big Boss S got the teachers one by one into the office. Pay raise? Year-start bonus? Scolding?

Haha! None of the above but rather to break “shocking news” to us. Soon but not that soon, our kindergarten may have a “MEGA change”. So they were asking the opinion of the staff to whether we welcome and can adapt to the “change”,

Need to give them an answer this Mon. How? It is just so hard to make the decision... all with its pros and cons. No one for me to turn to, really need the peace of God.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

s_ary month

MARCH is approaching in less than two weeks time... I'm storing all energy now.

Beside two individual & one group assignments to be due in the early weeks of March... my main worry and “headache” are the PRACTICUM + practicum folder.

Practiculm – beside the fear of “a pair of eyes watching me as I conduct lesson”, the preparation can be pretty challenging as got to make sure I “select” the appropriate number of children, to ensure they are able to work independently at corners, to make sure the activities are age-appropriate & fun, to make sure I pick the right materials/manipulatives for each activity etc etc etc.

Practicum – to decide on 3 learning corners (where? how?) that goes with the school's theme and create 3 activities each

Folder (to be submitted after our practicum) – consists of centre/class observations, observations of children, teaching goals, 1 thematic plan, 4 activity plans, learning corners' floor plan, objectives. And of course 8 reflective journals, letters, memo, photos, self-evaluation, checklist etc

I'm very sure the day that my coursemates & I go to school to submit our final folder, we will definitely cry then jump out of joy.

Endure everyone in DPTE-18! =)

practicum = a visit by my course's Practicum Supervisor to my teaching school to "view" this Student-Teacher Cher Lim how she conduct lesson, carry out activities, manage the children, how she be a facilitator to the children in their learning, how she communicate with children/parents/colleagues etc.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

oh man!

Feb 2005 to now Feb 2009 ... my blog was @ work for 4 years already! Wow!

To my blog readers, thank you for your "support" DESPITE many times my blog will be full of singlish, broken English, too naggy, overly detailed and not forgetting standard skin (no special reason, just cause I don't know how to) all these years. Haha!

Nevertheless is really a place where I'm 70% free to share my heart out. And of course a place where you can know me more since I seldom share much in person.

to ALL, HAPPY READING!


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

ChEr LiM's MoMeNtS #1


=) is back once again ... the xxth year of “publication” of Children's talk. Haha! Though is rather “too detailed” but no doubt it is one of the highlights of Yanni's blog. Haha! Happy reading!

mOmEnT 1
* during play time on the very first day of the school *
Child J: Teacher Lim, see! This is one is a speedcar (using lego)

Cher Lim: Wowow! Where is your driver?
Child J: * paused a while * This one automatic!

Cher Lim: =)


mOmEnT 2
* during lunch time *
Children: Very hot, the rice very hot

Child I: Cher Lim very hot
Y Laoshi: How you know Cher Lim very hot?

Cher Lim: Haha!

* in the midst of noise *

Child Jo: Y Laoshi, hen la!
Y Laoshi:
* overlooked cause busy with others *
Child Jo: Y Laoshi, wo de rice hen la!


... seconds later ...

Child Jo: Y Laoshi, wo yao he hen duo water ... hen la

... seconds later ...

Child Jo: Y Laoshi, wo de rice hen spicy leh


* Cher Lim who was at the next room couldn't stop laughing cause of Child Jo's mixture of English & Mandarin and determination to get Y Laoshi's attention *


mOmEnT 3
* @ the playground on the very first day of the school *
Child A: Teacher Lim, am I 6 years old?

Cher Lim: Yes you are! Why?

Child A: That one say only 6 years old can play

Cher Lim: ????
Child A: Come! I show you

* Child A brought Cher Lim over to a play equipment that indicated that only children age 3-6 can play on *

Child A: See! Here says 3-6 years old can play

Cher Lim: Oh I see I see! Hmm... then can I stand on it?

Child A: No you can't

Cher Lim: Why?

Child
A: * paused a while * Because you heavy. They cannot stand you


mOmEnT 4
* during lesson time *
* Cher Lim “explaining” about the importance of not running in the classroom *

Child G: Teacher! Teacher! Yes, cannot run. Later we have black! * said it with great conviction *

Cher Lim: ???? Black?

Friend Jn: Blood!

Cher Lim: Haha! Oh I see I see...


mOmEnT 5
* few of the children opened to use something they are not supposed to *
Cher Lim: * investigation * So who were the first to open the box?

Child D: Is Child S!

Child S: No... is Child D!

Child D: No... is Child S!

Child S: No... is Child Sh!


* Child J walked up to me *
Child J: Cher Lim, I need to tell you the truth ... is me!

Cher Lim: @@! Thank you for being honest. =)


mOmEnT 6
Child G (brand new student): Teacher, Teacher! You know, my house have Ben10 watch.
Cher Lim: Wow!

Child G: I never bring you to school you know

Cher Lim: * nodded my head *
Child G: Because later you scold me and throw my toy away.

Cher Lim: * never address this issue with him before .. surprised why he has this kind of thought * Hmm... don't worry, Cher Lim won't throw away. If I throw away then there won't be anymore Ben10, I will keep it and play myself

Child G: * shocked * Huh? You cant... Ben10 is for small children, not for big people

Cher Lim: =)


mOmEnT 7
Child J: Cher Lim, why you never come yesterday?
Cher Lim: Oh... I have toothache (actually is problem with wisdom tooth)

Child J: * paused a while * Cher Lim, you got eat vitamin C?

Cher Lim: Hmm... no, why?

Child J: You must eat vitamin C you know. Vitamin C make your tooth strong.

Cher Lim: =) Oh... I see I see!

Child J: I eat vitamin C in the morning you know.


mOmEnT 8
Child C (only 4yrs old): I am the army leader!
Cher G: Child C, if you were the leader, I am the captain ... you must listen to me

Child C: I am the sergeant!

Cher G: If you were the sergeant, I am the commander ... you still must listen to me

Child C: I am the commander!

Cher G: If you were the commander, I am the president!

Child C: * silence * Are you Obama?
Cher G: Haha!

Monday, February 09, 2009

Counting down...


The requirements for preschool teachers have been raised, I think by 2010 - all “new" teachers, mainly those graduated from poly or newly registered under m.o.e will have to have 5 o'credits and a must of certain grade for English.

As for “old" teachers registered under m.o.e, like most of the preschool teachers now– if we have Certificate in Preschool Teaching, we can only teach Nursery 1 & Nursery 2. If we have Diploma in Preschool Teaching, we can teach all levels.

Counting down... in FEW months time with 1-2 modules, of assignments, to clock 100 hours and a practiculum session (very nervous~), I will be graduating with my Diploma in Preschool Teaching!

Jiayou! Jiayou! Jiayou! =)

Sunday, February 08, 2009

VVIP, Very Very Important Person

Once again, is the week Mr Sato been looking forward ... a day @ JAMs. This time he waited for more than a month as I gave him a “long break” previously so you can expect his excitement level.

The moment I reached level 4, I was surprised to see that Mr Sato wasn't in the hall but he stood still at the lobby. I later knew he left his bag in the bus which drove off to Tuas so there no way for us to get his bag back. He badly needed his bag as ALL his CDs are inside which he need to have DJ-session at the sound system.

Helpless” & “Agitated” was written all over him... he walked in and out of hall, he walked in and out of the lift. For once he even hide his face at a corner inside the lift and soon he was found lying flat.

Bascially when Mr Sato wants something = he wants something = he really wants something. No matter how many million times we explained to him, he just can't accept the fact that his bag was left in the bus and that the bus drove to some far place. He wants it = he wants it = he really wants it.

It was a wrong move to left his bag in the bus, it was another wrong move from us to “distract” him by inviting him for a drink. Instead of walking to the vending machine, we (Security F & myself) found him walked right OUT of the church! Just when you thought we bring him for a walk to kill time, no... he brought us for a walk to waste time.

At first we thought he just wanted to look for the bus as he walked to the carpark where bus usually will park but instead he continued walking and walking ... then we realized he wasn't out to find his bag anymore, he wanted some fun round the neighbourhood.

Of course we did attempt to coax/trick/”scold”/nag him back MANY TIMES but as mentioned, when he wants something = he wants something = he really wants something. At the point of time, NOTHING we say will get into him. Then and then we really wish that Mr Sato was the size of some other student so that Security F can carry him back straight.

Just when he reached the end of the blocks, we thought “yeah! the end” but Mr Sato just has his way to surprise us, we found him attracted to the HDB's lift and the next thing we knew it ... he went up WITHOUT us. (is a long story to why/how he get in etc... be too much for me to blog).

Anyway I know there is a high chance that a security head will be reading my blog ... just want to let the security head know, “please cool down! everything in control”. Hee!

To be true, when Security F & I knew that he went up, somehow we don't have much worry, maybe we know he won't go far. I will made this statement is cause of all the “happenings” throughout our walk... like I said, it will be a long post if I blog out.

The “best” part was that when Security F & I took the same lift up to level 4 (why level 4? maybe he thought it can leads him to Children Church Hall?). The moment the lift reached level 4, we saw Mr Sato standing just outside the lift @@ at us. Haha! Then we knew he was just “testing” us, he knew we will come back for him.

I supposed that was his “finale” cause after that, he decided to go back with us but of course along the way he still attempted to take close look over few cars, scare off a cat etc. Haha!

Just when you thought is over... When we were outside church building, I heard Mr Sato mumbled something “... urine ...” then I quickly asked, “Oh, you want urine?!” and he nodded his head. “Endure ok, reaching church already!”.

Just few more steps and he will reach the church, he stood there and xxxx came flowing down. Haha!

The morale of the story? Don't go for a morning walk when you can't even hold your bladder?

Like what I told Cher A, “each time when Mr Sato misbehaved, I will look at him and tell him 'you are not going to come next month' or 'you are not going to come anymore' BUT it seem never once my statement come true. Haha!

Thursday, February 05, 2009

1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs


I have spent two whole afternoons there... wait here, wait there, wait wait wait.

Now I am still in the waiting-period... really pray that everything will be ok! =)

ps: don't worry, nothing serious (I just tends to think too much .. haha). Just something which I want to keep it to myself @ the moment. Will share more when "ready".

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ThE yEaR oF aN oX


It been a fruitful two days of Lunar New Year... more than the hongbaos, I enjoyed the quality time spent with family and a very good catching-up session with my cousins.

Unlike our childhood days, basically now we only get to see each other once a year but whenever we get together, there isn't any awkward-ness or silence but non-stop of chatting & chatting ... or I should say shouting and shouting this year? Haha!

Cause we need to challenge the super loud background “music” caused by different generations of people talking at the SAME time.

Block-catching, block-hide and seek, dog and bone, running competition, catching, fun @ the playground, shopping, role-play as doctors, role-play as vampires/priests etc was some of our childhood's activities.

Forced ourselves not to sleep so to sneak out early in the morning to go swimming (as then we faced strong “opposition” from our ah ma), waited for hours outside the swimming complex way before the opening time, ignored the scolding of ah ma and proceed to wherever we want to go, mini “party” @ the carpark top etc was some of our childhood's achievements. Haha!

Times really flies... we have all grown up! =)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

lUnAr NeW yEaR eVe

Here wishing all of YOU a prosperous Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Have a good time with your family, relatives & cousins!


Thursday, January 22, 2009

=) or =/

I was on mc few days back, the next day when I returned, I was pretty touched by the responses I received from the children.

I was in the kitchen when I overheard the conversation between children who arrived in the school bus @ the entrance
... of course the following are just “agar agar” as I cant remember exactly what they said but more or less same “idea” ...

Child 1: * suddenly * Cher Lim!
Child 2: Cher Lim got come a not!
Child 3: Don't know...
Child 4: Have
Child 1: * silence *
Child 2: Where?
Child 3: * silence *

* children entered the school *
Child 1: * walked past the kitchen * There... There... Cher Lim! Cher Lim!
Child 2: Friend 2, come come! Cher Lim in the kitchen!
Chid 3: Cher Lim!
Child 4: Cher Lim! Cher Lim!
Child 5: Cher Lim!
Cher Lim: =) Hello...

* the moment I came out *
Children: Cher Lim!!! Cher Lim!!!
Child S: Cher Lim, you know hor... yesterday Child J said “lousy”
Child J: Child S like that like that also...
* it went on and on and on ... child after child after child *
Cher Lim: * listened patiently as knew they had stored one day of “complains” for me *

Whenever I'm back after my mc... I will received different responses from my children to why I never come to school.
Some can asked “why last time you never come?” where it was actually the day before. Haha!
During my days in pcf kindergarten, there was a child who mumbled to himself infront of me, “why Cher Lim never come that time?” Haha!

But this is the FIRST time I received such overwhelming responses from so many children.
More to the “complaints” waiting for me, I'm touched by the reactions, their excitement when they see me back again!

=)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

interesting BUT ... ... ... ...

Since last week, everytime when it comes to written work with K1 ... I will “tremble”. Haha!

Thank God I didn't allow all of them to do @ the same time ... if not think I will faint infront of them.
I will only allow 6-7 children to sit around me @ one time so that I can not just supervise them but also to better know each child's understanding etc.

As we don't have the luxury of having a Teacher-Assistant, some time it can be “challenging” as on one hand we need to watch over the children @ work and not forgetting the children @ play so to make sure they don't start a war.

But I guess the moment where it will make my white hair multiply is the moment they start their work.

Same activity sheet, same age group of children BUT different responses, different style! Haha!

Here I need to get this to start, there I need to get this to stop ... here I need to bring this “back to earth”, there I need to get this to stop dreaming ... here I need to get this to write, there I need to get this to correct ... here I need to get this to colour, there I need to get this to colour nicely ... here I need to get this to do properly, there I need to make sure they don't fight

My colleague & I always joke ... After each IMPACTFUL lesson with the angels, more than just having messy hair & drained off in our energy, think our life may be shorten fast.
Maybe we can live up to 80 but after each “happening day” with the children, our age will minus off 1 year by 1 year. Haha!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

wHaT's GoInG oN

A peek into first week of school...

Opps... Vandalism?!?!



Is actually an outdoor activity to expose the children with another means (chalks) of drawing, not forgetting to release their creativity!


After I set a verbal boundary for the children, the boy on the right actually helped me (on his own accord) to set a visible boundary where he drew wired fences and indicated “Dangerous” to make sure his friends don't go beyond. (click on the photo to get a clearer view ... see what he drew to indicate is a wired fences ... I'm surprised)


Wowow... look so real

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

TeRm 1 wEeK 1

Work, work, work, work, work, work and work! Haha!
Been staying and will have to continue to stay back after school to do stuffs (seem never-ending). But really want to thank God for His grace & creativity! =)

?????? was on almost all the K1 children's faces as I welcomed them for the FIRST time this week.

Guess is the “promotion” from N2 to K1, somehow they are still adapting to the changes thus there are not just “blur looks” but also moments where teachers will feel like talking to ownself & finding herself repeating an instruction for x10. Haha! Unlike N2 where the environment for them were rather “relax” & less work with prince/princess treatment from teacher & teacher-assistant but now as they are in K1, the environment requires them to be independent, very independent.
... there are much “discipline” work to be done with them.
God, enlarge my patience tank! Haha!




K2 was much more “stable”, is so much different ... the moment I left K1 class and entered K2 class, I really have the whew-feeling. But can be quite interesting, the batch of K1 children who I used to nag and nag have now become the big gor-gor and jie-jie of the school.

Looking forward and all ready for the remainder 9 weeks of Term 1. =)

Hmm... don't know is it too busy with works in school or too over-whelmed by my angels, on “red alarm” today cause sicky-symptom arising.
Yanni, drink more water! =)

Thursday, January 01, 2009

FiRsT eNTrY oF 2009

Jm1 & Jm2 had their thanksgiving cgm last night aka the last day of 2008.

It been a great Cultural Night filled with delicious food (chocolate FONDUE!), awesome fellowship with outstanding friends, wowow awards etc etc etc etc etc! =)

Was looking through my blog ... realized I been in JAMs ministry cg since 2005 – indeed it been a privilege to be able to serve God in a greater way.


tHAnKsGiViNg 2007...
ThAnKsGiViNg 2008...

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

lAsT eNtRy Of ThE yEaR

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!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

to YOU

to all faithful readers of this blog ... have a JOYOUS CHRISTMAS! =)

cHrIsTmAs DeLiGhT pArT 2

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! =)