Ms Claudia's Ramblings...

A Very Long Post from My Heart to Dearest 1 Ruby

2010-09-15T21:24:00.000+08:00

Dearest 1 Ruby,
It's the start of Term 4 in the blink of an eye and I would like to take the opportunity to share my learning journey with you...

Like you, I'm quite new to the school. I've been in Dunearn since April 2009, and 1 Ruby is my first ever form class in my teaching career. As such, yo u will always remain in my heart and each and every one of you will remain precious in my eyes even long after you graduate. You are my darlings and dears and you are always on my mind even on weekends. This year has been filled with ups and downs and we faced many challenges and victories as a class.

I have had some regrets and heartaches as your form teacher this year. I understand the fears and difficulties you face as teenagers as well as having to keep up with your studies amidst this period of change in your life. I have always wanted to be a teacher as I was a lousy student whom some teachers looked down on. In Secondary 2, I nearly had to repeat a year but was given a chance to change. I feel eternally grateful to the teachers who helped me and I was inspired to do the same. However, I feel that I have not done enough for you and I apologize. Like you, teachers are human and we have our strengths, but also shortcomings. So many times I feel that I have failed and am not a good enough form teacher for 1 Ruby. I won't lie, it hasn't been easy...

When I heard I was going to be the form teacher of 1 Ruby, I was full of excitement and hope! Ruby students have always been my favourite somehow... When I saw each and every one of you, my heart was filled with joy and a great sense of motherly instinct! I made a promise to myself to protect and help you grow as much as I can in this one year. The first year is always crucial in shaping the rest of your journey as Dunearnites.

However, I wasn't prepared for what was to come. I wished I had some help. Many teachers were complaining, parents were calling, students were having issues and I had my hands filled with many new duties... What was I to do? All I wanted to do was to ensure you did not commit any mistakes that you would regret or that would get you into serious trouble. As teachers, we have seen many kinds of students. Those who become mature and outstanding individuals with strong values, and those who stray. My dears, I always want the best for you which is why I sometimes have to play the bad guy and nag and scold you. But trust me, in my heart, you are always the most important...I admit I sometimes lose my patience, but it's only because I'm frustrated with myself that I am unable to solve the problems we face as a class. But I have never given up on you and I hope you won't too!

I'm not sure if I'll get to teach you and be your form teacher next year, but to be honest, I would really love to follow up with you as I feel that I have gotten to know you better and would love to have the opportunity to continue this learning journey with you. I hope we would all grow and progress together, myself included. I'm learning to be a better teacher and I appreciate your patience and your belief in me. Your teachers need encouragement too, the learning never stops!

To me, Term 2 was the worst and to share a secret with you, I had sometimes dreaded coming to school as I was facing personal problems but had to hide them and put on a strong front. As a result, I was often emotionally and mentally drained and I also apologize as I am aware that I was particularly nasty to you. Term 3 was a better Term and I hope it continues to get better and we all continue to put in our best effort to reach our potential. We are all capable people! I hope you have not given up on Ms Tan too and know in your heart that each precious Ruby is so precious to me... 1 Ruby, a BIG thank you for everything, the good times and bad, you have shaped me and taught me much about myself and made me realize that I have many areas to improve on. Will you continue to work with me so that the 1 Ruby family will take a step a time towards the summit of the mountain? We can do it, I love you dears, 1 Ruby rocks!

Revived! My Thoughts on 2010...

2010-02-03T21:07:00.006+08:00

Hello dears!

My blog has finally been revived :)

2010 has begun and this year is one with more responsibilities, new students, and more things to look forward to! The classes I'm teaching this year are 2 Ruby, 4 Ivory, 4 Amber, and combined Literature class with students from 4 Jade, 5 Ruby and 5 Amber. Last but not least, I have a form class this year - 1 Ruby! :) It's so wonderful to meet my students (old and new!) in school and what heartens me most are the smiles on my students' faces... I feel happy knowing you have all settled down well and look forward to going to school! Many of you have grown to be taller and more mature that sometimes I have difficulty even recognizing you!

Some of my thoughts on this one month thus far... (in point form, heehee...)

- I LOVE my classes and it's nice to teach upper secondary students this year!

- It sometimes hurt (teachers have emotions too!) when my students complain and groan about English class and Ms Tan being boring or too fierce and refuse to cooperate as a result. As much as I can be very fierce, it's really not something I enjoy... :( However, I will still put in my best effort and hopefully, in the long run, these students will understand that my actions really stem from genuine care and concern.

- I appreciate each and every one of my students, even if they make mistakes at times... Nobody is perfect and it is human to err... What is most important to me is that there is PROGRESS.... I see my students as INDIVIDUALS and don't believe in comparing... So do remember that ok? You are unique and special and I appreciate you for who you are!

- Each of you make teaching a dream come true for me... I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy teaching, learning, and interacting with you! I always feel that I have the MOST LOVELY students, or am I just biased? :)

- 1 Ruby and 2 Ruby, I look forward to seeing you grow and realize your potential! You are precious gems to me and I hope we can learn and grow together! This age is difficult and will be challenging, but I'll be there!

- 4 Ivory, though you are sometimes "laidback" :P, your personalities and happy-go-lucky nature never fail to brighten my day... Plus your "MS GORGEOUS!" boosts my ego, hahahaha! I look forward to As and Bs only! :) I know it is a realistic goal we can work towards... Stay lively and wonderful

- 4 Amber, 4 Jade, 5 Ruby and 5 Amber... I remembered the first lesson when I went into class "mad" (or should i say Off Centre?)... Your reactions were really quite funny and adorable! I enjoy our Literature lessons so much and I hope you do too! Your active participation is much appreciated! Let's aim for As and Bs and no less! You guys are real good in case you didn't already know!

Sorry I don't have many pictures of you guys to upload yet, let's take some nice shots soon ok?

Stay good! :)

Band Camp :)

2009-12-09T19:22:00.002+08:00

Hi my dears...

Hope you're enjoying the holidays! (Only 2 weeks left, so do remember to complete your homework soon!) Well, I'll be staying overnight in school for band camp and shall be sleeping alone in the staff lounge tonight... I should be fine, I hope :) Brought a book along in case I can't get to sleep... Ok, I'll be signing off here. Do take care and see you soon in 2010 :)

Pictures and More Pictures

2009-12-03T21:27:00.002+08:00

Philippines Trip

2009-12-03T20:55:00.004+08:00

More Pictures...

2009-12-03T20:51:00.002+08:00

Service Learning Trip to the Philippines

2009-12-03T20:33:00.004+08:00

Hi all, hope that you've been enjoying your holidays :)

As for me, I went to the Philippines with eleven other teachers and ten students on a service learning trip from the 28th of November to the 1st of December... We had great fun and got to know each other better and enjoy each others' company.

More importantly, we also achieved our mission of serving the lives of others while we were there... We went to an orphanage there and also visited the slums. Visiting the slums really taught me to appreciate what we have, but often take for granted... Things like food, water, shelter and security... The trip has been an enriching and fulfilling experience, and below are my post-trip reflections...

The service learning trip to Philippines was a real eye opener in so many ways. Apart from that, it also opened up our hearts. What we experienced was first hand, and it really is beyond what we hear, see and read about. Basic necessities, like food, water, shelter and sense of security were lacking in some of the areas we visited, yet the children were carefree and happy. How many times have I mentioned I NEEDED to have something, which in actual fact I don't? I feel more appreciative of what I DO have, rather than complain of what I don't. At times, we may complain of strained relationships with our parents, but there are children with none, no one who would hold them each time they feel fear or sadness. On the other hand, I also understood the meaning of humanity, what it means to live life by what we give. It is heart-warming to know that efforts are being made to ease the situation, and that there are people who commit their whole lives to serving others. It takes a little from each of us to make an impact. We may not be able to remove poverty, but we can each leave an indelible footprint in the hearts of those lives we have touched, be it through an outstretched hand to someone in need, or the simple gesture of a smile... It does not take much to make a difference, only the heart to want to help others. That spark is all it takes to light up a fire and warm the hearts and lives of others. This trip was a meaningful and enriching experience where bonds were forged as we strived together as a strong team to contribute as much as we could to the lives of the children we met. Everyone gave selflessly and supported each other and the best part is that it doesn't stop here...

Overdue Post! My Lovely Students on their Post Exam Field Trips...

2009-11-24T21:36:00.011+08:00

Hello dears!

Some updates... Looks like the I'll be taking mostly Sec 4s next year... There have been some changes, and the only current class I'll be seeing next year would be 2 Ruby 2010 for English :) But I'm sure I'll still bump into all of you in school next year...

Sorry that I haven't been posting regularly, have been attending quite a few courses, especially on media literacy... Looks like technlogy is the key word these days. So I guess I'll be using more films, videos, songs and graphic novels in my classes... At least I will try to! :) I bought some DVDs today including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Up, and Slumdog Millionaire... My classes can look forward to watching some of these clips in class next year as we learn how to critically read and view different types of texts, including advertisements... I'm quite excited about next year. I always like new years, it signifies a new beginning and new goals to set and achieve! Would you agree?

Ok, less talk and more pictures for now... Can you spot yourself? I had a wonderful time with all the classes during the trips, hope these pictures bring back some good memories!

Signs of Bad English

2009-11-10T22:25:00.007+08:00

Here are some scans of a newspaper article that ran some weeks ago... The article discusses the improper use of English on signs we see around in Singapore. Enjoy! =)

*The words might be too small to read directly from this post, click on them to enlarge!

Happy Holiday My Dears! ;)

2009-11-02T10:03:00.005+08:00

Finally it's the holidays! (For you, not your poor teachers, heehee...) Do use the time to relax, rejuvenate and recharge (Ms Tan's very own 3 Rs!)

For next year, I'd most likely be teaching Secondary 2 and Secondary 4 Literature, as well as one of Secondary 1 English... I will certainly miss teaching my 2009 classes... You lot mean so much to me and thank you for the wonderful teaching experience! Each of you made it a special beginning for me... Each and every class as a whole made significant improvement since Semester One and I'm so happy and proud that your efforts were rewarded. Keep it up!

Do keep me updated of your progress next year even if I don't happen to be teaching you ok? Just stop me along the corridor for a chat. Like I always say, once my student, always my student :)

So now that the holidays are here, what plans do you have? I'm looking forward to waking up late in the mornings, and just relaxing and lazing about! I think I'd also like to pick up dance lessons again... Though I have always been more clumsy than graceful! Last but not least, I can't wait to go on the Service Learning Trip to the Philippines with a group of students and teachers ;)

Take care and enjoy the holidays! Stay safe and see you in 2010!

Well Done!

2009-10-24T11:55:00.006+08:00

After all the marking and tabulation, I must say that I am very pleased and proud of how well most of you have done for the End of Year Exam and your overall for Semester Two! The English and Literature papers were not so easy, but yet most of you managed well and improved from your Mid-Year examinations! Well done!

I'm especially proud of those of you who improved by as much as 2 to 3 grade points. Wow! To me, it doesn't matter whether you got an 'A'. I think it's most important that you have personally tried your best and made some progress.. I also do not believe in comparing oneself to others as we each have our own individual talents and strengths.These are not always measurable in terms of marks and grades right?

For some of you, even if you didn't do as well as expected, don't be discouraged. Learn where you might have gone wrong and continue to improve on your weaker areas.

I believe in each and every one of you! =)

Answers Revealed! And My New DS Game :)

2009-10-23T21:52:00.015+08:00

1) In a marathon race, what does the winning runner lose?

ANS: His/Her breath!

2) A word I am, six letters I contain. Subtract one and twelve remains.

What am I?

ANS: Dozens

3) Rearrange the letters in "OWONDER" to make one word.

ANS: One Word :p

4) Which is better, a fly or a mosquito?

ANS: A mosquito! Why? A mosquito can fly, but a fly cannot mosquito! Heehee!

Some of you were right for one or two questions, and the rest of you came pretty close!

My New DS Game :)

Some of you may not know this, but before I was a teacher, I was a rather avid gamer. I own a DS lite and PSP, but it seems like they have been collecting dust lately! After being a teacher, it seems like most of my time is spent marking and nagging :)

Today, I decided to give myself a little treat and got myself a new DS game;Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box!

I completed Professor Layton and the Curious Village (almost a year ago!) and loved it, so I decided to get this latest addition... It's mainly brain twisters and puzzles, but it is made very interesting as there is a storyline and the puzzles will help you unravel the mystery. You have to solve the puzzles to move on in the games and there are also other tasks and mini games (there's one with a cute and fat hamster) for you to complete! Thus, it is more than just a treasury of puzzles. How fantastic! I also love the "anime" feel of it... The games has very lovely graphics! Here's a sneak peek for those of you who might be curious or interested...

(From the game's official website at http://professorlaytonds.com/ponder-the-puzzles/)

By the way, this is not an excuse for you to bug your parents for a game console because "my teacher recommended a game"!!! :) When I was your age, I didn't even own a pager! (Please google if you do not know what that is... Gosh, am I really that old?!)

The Warped Wheel In the back of the train yard, there's an old, warped wheel lying on the ground. While no longer functional, the wheel is interesting because, when rolled on a flat surface, it's axle traces a funny patter if you look at it from the side. Can you figure out the crooked path of the axle?

It's a Wrap

Working at a flower shop, it's your job to wrap your customers' purchases nicely before you hand them over. In order to wrap the flower just like the included drawing, how should you begin your wrapping?

Stacked Glasses

The owner of a four-star restaurant assigns a young waiter the task of stacking glasses in a decorative manner. Eager to please, the young waiter immediately draws five separate designs and shows them to the owner. The owner takes one glance at the designs and, with a look of irritation says, "This design is preposterous! What were you thinking?? Which of the five designs is the owner talking about?

Trees in the Forest

This forest contains four different types of trees. You will need to draw dividers in the forest so that you form four different sections. Each section should contain one type of each tree, and all the trees must be connected either horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.

More Riddles!

2009-10-18T21:16:00.004+08:00

Do you know the answers?

1) In a marathon race what does the winning runner lose?

2) A word I am, six letters I contain. Subtract one and twelve remains. What am I?

3) Rearrange the letters in "OWONDER" to make one word.

4) Which is better, a fly or a mosquito?

Tag Me if You Think You Have the Answers! :)

Have Fun!

Halloween Horrors at Night Safari... Do You Dare?

2009-10-18T17:42:00.010+08:00

Hello my dears.... Sorry for not having blogged for such a long time. Been busy lately :) Well, how has your break been so far? I took some time off my work last night and dropped by Night Safari for their Halloween special. It was great fun! I also took a tram ride through "Neverland" where there were scary characters jumping out from behind the bushes to try and scare the passengers. I thought I was pretty calm and composed until one took me by surprise and I screamed even louder than the three little girls in front of me. Highly embarrassing!

Here are some photos to share... Mainly myself with some "sightings of paranormal activity"! :)The little Grim Reaper must be one of my favourites! Especially cute since he's holding onto a packet of crackers... (So adorable!)

Do share with me some of your favourite activities that you participate in during your leisure time too! Or what holiday plans do you have so far?

Happy Deepavali too!

Would you like to be my next doll?

My name is Jack. Jack O'Lantern.

Run! It's the headless man in a pink shirt!

I'm the Grim Reaper! Not the Joker!

Tickets please... Into Hell!! Just kidding!

Welcome to the Night Safari!

Touch my things again and it'll be your head that's in there.

Watcha lookin' at? Think I'm funny?

Did I put on too much lipstick?

(Yes, it's a glass slipper sticking out of her head!! Eeks!)

Literature Examination Reminder...

2009-10-10T09:55:00.008+08:00

Hello my dears,

Hang in there, the exams are almost over!

Freedom is just round the corner!

Do give it your final sprint to the finishing line!

You can do it!

(*Ms Tan jumps around waving pom poms...)

Examination Topics for Secondary Ones (Lek Han, read this!)

For those who were not paying close attention during my lesson :(

Do read through my notes, all the necessary information is already there. The notes are actually all extracted from your

textbook itself... So it would be sufficient for revision.

What Would Be Tested:

i) Pirates of Riau

ii) Meet the Twits

iii) Feet First

iv)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

v) Unseen Poem (You can't really prepare for this, so just read the questions CAREFULLY!)

~All The Best!~

When I was 24... Class Photos! :P

2009-10-08T20:40:00.010+08:00

Presenting... (Drum roll please!)

1 Sassy Sapphire and 2 Oh-so-adorable Opal :P

(Cymbal clashes!)

First Things First...

Literature Tutorial Class (optional) tomorrow at the concourse 15 mins after your last exam paper. See you there!

Not feeling too good, my throat hurts.... Hmm... Must be from all the nagging! :) In fact, was thinking of taking a break from blogging today, but read Willis's tag... Thus decided not to break the trend. For once, less talk, more pictures!

*My other classes, do lend me your class picture which I will scan then return once I'm done scanning it ok? Would love to have 1 Ruby's, 1 Opal's, 1 Pearl's and 2 Emerald's. Thank you!

~What Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger!~

My Reflections as a Beginning Teacher...

2009-10-07T22:32:00.004+08:00

Some of you have been asking me how long I have been teaching for :) I officially became a trained teacher at the beginning of Term 3 and that's when I met most of you (except 2 Emerald) for the first time...

I'm sure most of you would recall how especially fierce I was during our first lesson as a class! (Especially the Sec 1s) I hope over time we have gotten to know each other better and that you aren't too terrified of me anymore :)

Sometimes, as teachers, we may feel frustrated when we see a student whom we know is so capable, but yet not concentrating and wasting his/her time away in school.... We may end up being rather harsh to our students, but it is never with mean intention. (Really! We're not all evil witches you know! Heehee...)

We often scold and nag, scold and nag... (and it goes on and on), but in fact, deep in our hearts, we want our students to succeed and excel. We want that for our students because we know it is a means to a happier and more meaningful life for them, especially in the near future! We want many opportunities to be available to you! Whenever you feel you do not understand your teachers, remember this: your teachers have all once been students too! Some of us were more nerdy and obedient, others more mischievious and rebellious. But the truth is, we were not that different from you either... Sometimes, we do not want you to make the same mistakes we made when we were students ourselves :p

I must say that in these short 2 terms that I have been teaching my classes, I've seen so many of you blossom... I see many of you improve and show greater interest in your subjects, and that's the best reward a teacher can ever get! To me, the actual marks my students acheive are not as important... All of us have different strengths and talents... The important thing is to do our best, and to enjoy the opportunity we have to study and learn. As long as my student has tried and improved, even just by a little bit, I am more than happy!

I do not know which classes I would be teaching next year, but I do know that my classes will always the BEST. 1 Pearl, 1 Ruby, 1 Emerald, 1 Sapphire, 1 Opal,

2 Emerald and 2 Opal 2009...

YOU ROCK!!!!

p.s- Sorry my post is like an essay... (Again!) :)

~Never Judge Someone Who Tries and Fails,

but Someone Who Fails to Try!~

Good Luck for your Examinations!

You CAN do it!

Did You Know?

2009-10-06T22:25:00.003+08:00

Hi my dears...

Today's post is going to be short and sweet as Ms Tan is up to her neck with marking! :)

Did you Know?

a) The sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses EVERY letter in the English Language! (Cool!)

b) The continents' names all end with the same letter with which they start. (I actually didn't notice this. Did you? E.g. AsiA, EuropE...

c) No piece of dry paper can be folded more than 7 times in half. No matter the paper size! (Tried and tested!)

d) Deer sleep only 5 minutes a day! (Can someone verify this? Seems quite incredible, I would expect them to have eyebags! Heehee...)

e) The original name for butterfly was supposedly "flutterby" (That makes more sense doesn't it? Perhaps along the way it was mispronounced and became today's "butterfly"!)

Hope you enjoyed reading these snippets of facts. Will share more in future posts. Do take care especially since exams are round the corner! (No more "monkeying" around in class... *Hint hint 1 Sapphire!)

~ The Way to the Top is to Get Off your Bottom! :) ~

What's Your Personality?

2009-10-05T22:39:00.010+08:00

What's Your Favourite Colour?

Tag Me to Share Your Thoughts on the Results of your Test ! :)

(Select from Red, Yellow, Pink, Purple, Black, Green, Orange, Brown, Grey, Blue, or White Before Peeking!)

RED

You're passionate and like to be noticed. You're spontaneous, and sometimes you have incredible energy. Your interests are many and varied. You like to learn new things. You're occasionally extreme in your viewpoint or lifestyle.Your willpower is amazing, and you are able to accomplish what would sometimes be impossible for others!

YELLOW

You're the Philosopher. You're always searching for answers, ideas, or methods and you concentrate deeply. You're creative and original. You have an ability to overcome great obstacles that would stop others. If you stay focused, you're amazingly productive.You're easy-going and enjoy the finer things in life. You have an appreciation for fine arts. You avoid confrontations when possible. You prefer peace to conflict. You have a cheery disposition, and you're optimistic.

PINK

You're the Peacemaker.You strive to make others happy. You're quiet, caring, intelligent, and eternally youthful. You're looking for bliss and kindness. You truly love everyone, and you always try to see the best in everyone, even finding explanations for other's faults.You are, by all definitions, a great friend and life mate. You're very thoughtful and romantic. Though others may think your productivity is below standard, in fact, you're hardworking. You just like to study problems thoroughly before you act. You never like to move into anything too quickly.

PURPLE

You're the Spiritualist. You're on a quest to do better, and become a better person. Though you sometimes get lost to material things, you look for spiritual connections in everything. You live a spontaneous life and have much energy. You believe there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish, and that belief takes you far. And indeed, you're a unique individual with unusual, though sophisticated, taste. Appreciating natural beauty, you enjoy being outdoors. You know how to relax, and you're comfortable with being yourself. Normally, you work well with others, not only because you're relaxed and self-assured, but also because you're giving of yourself and ask for little in return.

BLACK

You're the Naturalist.You have a great appreciation for nature and for all life, and you would be comfortable living in conditions that others would rue. You're all for peace. You hate conflict, and you try to avoid arguments. As a result, you may have a lot of inner tension which makes you moody. You also have a tendency to be secretive, and you feel that there's a place inside you which others can't touch. You like to erect barriers in order to protect yourself and your hidden emotions. You're uncomfortable when anyone tugs at this private part of your soul.You have an eye for detail, and you see that which others would miss. This ability makes you good at problem solving. Black can also indicate submission, a desire to be led rather than to lead.

GREEN

You're the Healer. You like to take care of others and cure all woes. You feel best about yourself when you're contributing something to someone's life or aiding someone who needs you. You're easy-going and laid back, enjoying all life has to offer. Yet, you have the ability to accomplish much in life.You adhere to your beliefs and have a high sense of morality. You appreciate freshness and originality, which is why your fascination with the fine arts is endless.

ORANGE

You're the Adventurer. You like to try new things and explore. You learn best by doing.You prefer a job that involves the outdoors. You hate being indoors, and long walks in the woods revives your spirit. You have an endless appreciation for your environment and animals, and you're ever on a quest to be more in touch with nature.You're outgoing and friendly to everyone you meet, though you can quickly become a tiger if provoked. Helpful and caring, you're a good friend--though opinionated at times. You're always looking out for the underdog, ready to lend your assistance.

BROWN

You're the Traditionalist. You aren't into fads or styles. You're comfortable with who you are and your current belief system. You could be called a "well-rounded" person, as you're solid and reliable. You're like nature and the outdoors, and you prefer a peaceful environment. You'd prefer a vacation to a quiet cabin in the woods rather than Vegas. You're conservative, and you have a high sense of tradition. You like things to be orderly and well-organized. To others, you're warm and sensitive.

GREY

You're the Appraiser. You're constantly examining life and every situation for meaning. You're creative, easy-going, gentle, and self-assured. You don't feel that you need to prove anything to the world. You like to do things in an original way. Though you may appear to be too focused on yourself, that's far from the truth. In reality, you're a caring person, a loyal friend, and you work well with others. You favor a peaceful and calm environment. Sometimes you're indecisive.

BLUE

You're the Idealist.You favor tranquility and peace. You like to relax and appreciate all life has to offer; however, you like things to be in order. More than likely, your home, is carefully organized. You're uncomfortable about your deepest emotions, and you try to hide them. Often you avoid decision-making until necessary. Even then, you'll always question the decision you made and wonder if another course would have been better. You have much will-power and a high possibility of reaching your goals as a result. You are capable of persisting against all odds when you're determined to reach a goal. Your loyalty to any project is endless.

WHITE

You're the Purist. You feel that you're pure and innocent no matter what you do, and you look at others critically--though that's not outwardly apparent to the person being observed. You're dedicated to your beliefs, but you don't like to discuss them with others. You probably think that you're serving some higher purpose in life. You detest anything that you feel is unclean. As a result, you favor organization and your house could probably pass the white glove test. At first you appear shy, but, in reality, you're outspoken. You're merely observing your environment and the people around you, before you make your thoughts known.

"Color Test," written and designed by Bobette Bryan, 2001

*Do note that this test is just for fun and may not be 100% accurate :) Do not have to take it too seriously ok? Every colour and personality is unique and beautiful!

-Fear Something and it Gains POWER Over You-

Exam Matters!

2009-10-04T00:25:00.005+08:00

It has come to my utter horror (!) that some of you do not know your examination dates for your various subjects, so I feel it's the duty and responsibility of this mother hen to remind you (not so gently) of your End of Year Examination schedule....

Please start revising if you had not already done so!

Below are the important dates for Secondary 1 & 2 Express/Normal Academic Streams:

8 October (Thursday)

History

Mathematics Paper 1

9 October (Friday)

Geography

*I will conduct Literature tutorial class after your Geography paper in preparation for Monday's paper. Attendance is voluntary.

12 October (Monday)

English Literature :)

13 October (Tuesday)

Mathematics Paper 2

14 October (Wednesday)

Science

15 October (Thursday)

Visual Art

D & T

~Aim for the moon. Even if you miss it, you'll land among the stars.~

When I Was 15...

2009-10-03T23:36:00.005+08:00

Not too long ago, my wonderful 2 Opalites were very sweet and nice to have invited me to take their class photo with them as Ms Naz was on MC... It then dawned on me that I have taken quite many class photos, but this time, I am the teacher as opposed to the student.

I like looking at "old" photographs, and found this fun shot I took in Secondary 3 :) i thought I'd share it with you...

Some background information:
When I was 15, my friends in class meant so much to me! Together, we drove many of our teachers up the wall.... (That must be students' main hobby? :)) We loved the great times we had together and I think this photo reflects the strong class spirit we had. All smiles! Err... Except for our form teacher! :(

Can you spot me?

First to Guess Correctly Wins a Prize!

2009-10-02T22:40:00.010+08:00

Language Related Riddle!

Starring Ms Tan's dog, Starlight!

Richard bet his friend Sylvester $50 that Ms Tan's dog could jump higher than a house. Thinking that this was not possible, Sylvester took the bet. But he lost. Why did he lose the bet?

*Ms Tan's dog is a regular pooch with no super powers!*

Hint: Think out of the box!

Characters are purely fictional. Any resemblance to any person is purely coincidental... Hmm... Maybe not :)

*Winner has been declared! CONGRATULATIONS Mr Willis Ng! Special mentions also go out to Mr Yong Soon and Ms Germaine!*

Two Down, Several More to Go! Hang in There!

2009-10-02T21:22:00.004+08:00

It's finally Friday! :)

How were your English Language and Mother Tongue papers? Hope it went well! Whatever it is, do not dwell on what has already been done :) Time to move on and focus on your other papers...

Do hang in there, freedom is just round the corner! Trust me, it's much better to work hard for the next two weeks or so, then enjoy the holidays afterwards! If you allow yourself too much slack now, you might have to suffer during the holidays when everyone is having fun while you are busy "playing" catch up. Not worth it right? Short term pain, long term gain! (Two weeks of hard work in exchange for two whole months of fun!)

Although I am likely not qualified enough to help you with your other academic subjects, perhaps I can just share some study tips that I hope you might find useful!

For the content-heavy papers, like History and Geography, I think it would help if you can use mind mapping technique to help you organize your content. Have your central idea in the middle, then start branching out. Remember to put your ideas in point form, and I would recommend you use different colours to colour code the information. For instance, definition of terms would be one colour, explanations and examples another. You can even draw little icons to help you remember better! :) Better still, study and work in small groups to come up with a comprehensive mindmap on mahjong paper and paste in on your bedroom wall... (Yes, I'm serious!) You can also approach me in school if you need more help in mindmapping... I charge a minimal fee of $5 an hour... (Just kidding! Free for as long as you are my student!)

P.S (stands for Post Script, by the way) -My students comment my posts are long like essays, but there is a reason why I'm your English teacher right? Haha...

I will try to upload some photos soon :) Do send me scanned copies of your class photos ok? I'd love to have them on this blog to preserve and safekeep the memories!

On Starting a Blog... and Some Reflections

2009-10-02T00:01:00.001+08:00

Yesterday (1/10/09), my students had their EOY examinations... Truth be told, I felt very anxious too! But I have complete faith in each and every one of them! While invigilating some of my students, their focused expressions warmed my heart somehow... I could see them putting in so much effort and for that, I'm already very proud of them. I have also looked through some scripts, and how happy I feel for them, knowing that they have progressed so much and that their efforts will be rewarded! I really am very impressed with what I have read! As a teacher, I also think it is not only one's marks that matter, but the attitude towards learning! Even though a student may not score As, but if he/she enjoys the subject and puts in the best effort, that's already commendable!

I still recall when I was a student myself... In fact, I see some of me in my students. I had been through ups and downs, but I am very blessed to be able to finally realize my dreams of becoming a teacher. Seeing my students also remind me how fast time flies! I'm more than a decade older!

To my students: I know teenage years can be difficult and be filled with trial and tribulations, but I also believe that there's more inner strength in each of us than we truly know! Whenever you feel troubled and down, do know that you are hardly alone. I am now only a "tag" away :)

To me, teaching is a humble but infinietly rewarding career. My students may not know this, but very often, they make my day! My English classes, 1 Sapphire, 2 Opal and 2 Emerald will always remain very special and close to my heart. (I appreciate you so much my dears!) So will 1 Ruby, 1 Pearl, 1 Opal and 1 Emerald. You are my first classes in my teaching profession, and thank you for having made it such a memorable one... There is space in my heart for each and everyone of you, and your sweet and encouraging words always put a smile to my face and affirm my passion for teaching...

I hope through this blog, we can continue to keep in touch even if I won't be teaching you next year. I will also post up some notes and tips related to English and Literature from time to time so that it can also become a learning platform and not just for "listening" to Ms Tan's ramblings. I'm sure you have enough of that in school already!

Ok, I shall end the post here and hopfully the blog will get updated regularly... Sorry it looks so drab now, I probably need to hire one of you to do it up for me after your exams! Any volunteers? :)

Meanwhile,

ALL THE BEST! YOU CAN DO IT. YOU WILL ACHIEVE IF YOU BELIEVE!