Life's Chapters

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

I'm Alive!!!

It's been a very, very long month since school re-opened. I don't feel like I own a blog anymore!! uhuk..uhuk.. I miss writing alas; I can't find a spare time to do so. Sorry to those who bothered to dropped by, and thank you for dropping by. =)

Just as anticipated, I'm involved in several committees and it really beats the hell out of you sometimes. It's only been a month plus. Wait till March arrive and the momentum would have to prevail till at least June. Oh, besides being the advisor for English Language Club, I'm also the advisor for the most unlikely guild-Pergerakan Puteri Islam. hehee... me in white top with PINK skirt??! lol...

On another different issue, a student texted me asking about textbooks and workbooks. I told her that EST unit won't be using textbooks and so far the English Dept does not use textbooks as a teaching aid. We use the literature components of course but we decide to take a more germane approach to teaching in English. I had a few samples of workbook from the supplier but I don't think I'm ordering any. Copies will do for certain exercises.

What with all the issue on workbooks and the new circular etc, I think I'm 99% not gonna order for any EST books. I do agree that there is no point in buying workbooks. Exercise books and photostated copies of exercises suffice. That is another area to be touched on; whereby a teacher has to be granted full access to photocopy services in sch. You can't afford to burden the children with collecting 0.50 each time. I find that some sch are not that generous with their papers and ink. Funding restraints perhaps, there's the PTA and the PPD (District's Education Office), and maybe certain people 'up there' gotta make things easier for people 'down here' too.

When I was teaching Sejarah, I made the kids copy what I wrote on the whiteboard. Boy, do they dread it. Or making their own notes, or read aloud. hahaaa... I find it pointless to photostate or re-write some things that are already in the text book. They can read it in there. Notes have to be from a totally different source. A teacher’s explanation has always to be detailed and elaborate. Students love to listen to you babbling what. hahaa...

Especially am not burdening students with books payment, since EST is only an elective subject and not all will be sitting for the paper for SPM. During the initial meeting I did told our Head of Dept that I plan to empahasise on other areas such as communication, presentation and writing. Will be using more of Internet, lecture hall, newspapers etc. It will still incorporate Science and Tech yet in a different light. Furthermore the Form 5 batch is already learning their science subjects in English since Form 1. I want the students to be aware of their surrounding n to be more equipped in some ways. Mastering the language doesn't not need to use up lots of ink and papers kan? Tak terrer BI banyak, sikit jadi lah, right? Cikgu dia pun bukan terrer sangat pun. hehehee.. cukup makan ajer.. stakat nak paham blogs orang lam bahasa omputih boleh la.. heh. Creative teachings, making classes interesting, observations/appraisals, field works etc. Oh my, what a year this will be... =)

Been to Pengkalan Kubur and Wakaf Che Yeh and did some shopping spree in Kota Bharu. Konon-konon escapism and release tension lah, sudahnya ... pokai! heh. And my homeroom are coming for a lunch spread this Saturday. What I have in mind; daging masak merah, paprik, sambal tomato and fried kuay tiaw. Oh, in our school we have this system called homerooms whereby a teacher act as a caretaker for a group of students of 13-14. So, I'm their mama angkat lah. Anything they will come and refer to us. hehe.. Will blog about these 'children' of mine one day.

Lots of essays and homeworks to mark nieh. huhuu.. There was twice I had to stay back in sch till 7pm trying to catch some datelines. The memo came in late and I had to rush for another course and boy, was that dreadful. 12 hours in sch, stress jek. hehee..

Am excited for the upcoming CNY hols. Will be spending it in PD wif Nanie n Hanny. Then in March will be going over to A.Setar and Langkawi before heading home for a week's break in Kch. Best nyer.. Can't wait. hehee..

Till the next updates, be good boys and girls.. =)