What is it like??

I'm not quite sure what it's like to be proud of my own child, but I sure know what it's like to be a proud teacher. One time, one mommy came to the centre telling me that she's not very happy about her only son's achievements. I told her if she can't find anything that she can be proud of academically, she should try to look at his achievements in other areas. In the end she told me that her son is a football player for his school team. I told her how difficult it is to be in the school's team. I remember how I worked hard every Saturday morning, playing under the hot sun (which I didn't mind!) and practice, practice and practice. So in the end she smiled. Seeing that, I told her, never mind Mrs. "I'm not so happy with my son's achievement!" I am already proud of your son.

Last wednesday, I had breakfast with my good friend. She's also an instructor. She just made a trip to England to witness her son's graduation. Obviously, the topic for the day revolves around her trip. She told me in detail about the graduation, how after the presentation, all the students were asked to turn and face the audience. They were asked to clap and cheer to show how thankful and happy they are for those attending and supporting that day. Without us realizing, we both had tears in our eyes. I know why she had hers....what about me???

Talking about tears in the eyes, I once was invited to a student's concert. She was in a play called "Three Blind Mice" and the minute I saw her walking up the stage, I had the same reaction.

Please tell me I'm normal!!!!!!!

Welcome aboard.

Yesterday, I called for an urgent meeting with the staff. We had to decide on our new team members. Ok, here's the verdict : We're hiring 2 part timers. One, a lady who will be available till end of September and YES!!!! we're hiring Mr. Stylo. He was a pleasant boy. They will both start soon.

We are family!!!!!

Yesterday went by quite smooth. The students were great. I felt great.

Now, the staff problem is back. Today I interviewed 5 candidates. Among the ladies, there was one boy. We usually called only lady candidates. When I saw his name, I really thought he was a lady. When my assistant called and heard a man's voice she got panicked, and told me about it. I couldn't believe he was already on the line. In the end, I decided to give him a chance.

He came in on time. Being young and stylish, he had earrings but very presentable. I was actually quite impressed.

Right now, I have to make my decision. Most likely I'm not going to take him. However, I learned a lesson that I should not be a sexist! I've never hired a man accept for my brother and his friends.

The thing about my centre is, we have a family environment here. All my staff get on along well with each other. We eat lunch together every working days at the centre and from that, it creates togetherness among us. One time we didn't have that and at times one staff would not talk to another and the atmosphere was tense. Even the children could feel it and they were not happy.

It's never easy to create teamwork. Thank god, now I feel that exist here.

We'll see how the new ones will take to our "happy family" environment.

Another wet blue Monday!

Monday blues, hormone problem and personal problem. What if that happens all at the same time and we still have to look our happiest when dealing with the students????

Running a centre is no joke. There are so many areas that we have to see to. Even though we have delegated the jobs to the assistants, we still have to make sure they're all in order. We even have to make sure the toilets are working properly, the whole area is safe enough for the students, the security is taken care of, fee payments are collected by certain dates, we have collected enough to meet the overheads.....and we have to make sure our instruction is updated. On top of that, we also have to keep ourself at pace with the students' progress.

At times, as an instructor, we also have to become the "nurse", tending to small cuts and headaches and even nose bleed problem! As for the small cuts, i've learned that colourful plasters do wonders!

When I was operating a smaller centre earlier, 7 years ago, it was in a small town house. The atmosphere was very homely. Some students even came in in their pyjamas with lots of baby powder on their face, just after their bath. One time, one student had constipation, and I remembered how I had to calm her down because it must have been so painful for her. At the same time, making sure the other students are doing alright with the worksheets.

Why does it give me heart ache at times when I think about it? OK......let's think positive. A lot has changed. No more constipated students to deal with...well because the little ones come in with their maids nowadays. No more multi tasking, because I have very reliable and capable assistants. I just have to make sure I brush my teeth well and floss.....because smiling is important, because it'll make everyone forget on how difficult it can be.

yay yay it's Friday!

Fridays are usually our busy day. Most of our students opt to come today. We're only open for 4 hours but in that 4 hours, we get to see a lot of them. Every morning, when I wake up, I'll think of the few students I'll be seeing today. Like today, I will be seeing:


1) "Ketul" - in my language, that word describes those little buns we buy and at times could just gobble at one go. He's only 3 and a half. Maybe if he's bigger, we'd think he lifts weights. He's a super active child. Everyone agreed that he's mellowed down slightly. I'm still the one who has to attend to him. He loves it when I give him tasks to do. Like give himself little stamps whenever he does well on every pages, or taking the number board from my table to his table. He's cute.

2) "Tan Sri" - that is a title for prominent politicians in Malaysia. However I have a student who is already acting like one. He's only 11 but looks like he's 17 or 18 and happens to be very bright but a little bit on a show off side. He's doing high school maths even though he's only in the primary. Of cource that's something to be proud of, but he's just a bit much. However, when we start to debate about maths, it's kinda fun.

3) "Tan Sri's sister" - She was a difficult student. But she adores the teachers here. She used to occupy 2 desks when she's doing her work. Not because she's not organized, but because she can't sit still. She'd sit at one side and would be using the other table to write on. She's changed now. She's only 8 but she's my size!!

4) The Three brothers from Ipoh - One is 11 and bullies his brothers all the time. the middle child is 9, quiet and appears calm but always has ways to do things quickly. And his writing.....
The youngest is a cutie but had tantrum experience in the classroom. I was once tortured by him physically! He doesn't do that anymore, but to get him to sit down and settle down with his work is another task. When they come in, at times we feel like we've been hit by typhoon.

5) Little Miss Expatiate and Little Eurasian Boy. Two weeks ago, I got them to sit next to each other. Ever since then, Little Miss Expatriate only wants Little Eurasian Boy to sit with her. Will keep updating on the progress. For goodness sake, they're only 6!!!!!

This job is fun!!!!

Teacher???

Everytime i try to think about my favourite teacher, this is how I picture her.

Always smiling,

Always calling her students kindly,

always looks in the eye when talking and listens when her students have something to say.

Never show her temper, even though she's going bonkers!!!!

Always, and I mean always is well groomed. I don't mind big earings or big hair or big chunky jewellery!!!! Teachers for me must be well groomed.




I can actually place a face in my description. My standard 1 teacher. Mrs Anne! She would sing coming into the classroom. She even taught us some songs that I can remember till this day. 1) Jinggly (???) Nona - a portuguese song and 2) Where's your papa and mama gone? - a classic. She was tall. she had glasses. She had 'big' hair and she was always well groomed!

Reading "Anne of Green Gables" many years ago made me changed my mind about my career. It made me realize that teaching is what I want to do.

I know I will never match Mrs. Anne, but I know I'd try as much as I can to have the same passion as what Anne of Green Gables had.

Today, in the classroom, things were quite smooth. Despite the fact that I had Little "Taukeh" (taukeh means a successful chinese businessman! looks and all!) who always misbehaves and I had loud mouthed 6 year old.

What made me feel like tearing my hair out was Mr 12 year old with compulsive disorder. He had to know what he wants to know. Ok, I know that's my job to make him understand, however, if being asked non stop of the same question and insist that he has to understand it even though it's just for application.... can I not look up to heaven and ask for god to give me extra strength to teach him?????? I did!

ok.....like I said earlier....I'm not Mrs Anne!!!!

** artwork by students of mine. their impression of "me".

Getting into the groove.

The World Cup is over and done with. I can't say I totally ignored the event. I had to take interest. Everyone was talking about it, even seven year old "coke bottle" glasses boy. Remember the olden days when we used to drink coke from the bottle? how thick the bottles were from the bottom???

14 year old soccer freak has been a student of mine since he was 7. Being a typical sportsman, his main interest was only sports. I remembered when he started to take interest in the F1 car racing, I started to watch it too. I had to take interest. I even bought a Ferrarri t-shirt and wore it to class so that he would take interest. He has come a long way. Still missing his homework, he's still coming here twice a week and still calls himself a student to me.

At times, as a teacher, we just have to take interest in our surroundings. If you ask me, I don't think F1 racing is all that cool. So loud and fast and so much money involved, and how much it contributes to the air pollution. Ah well.....it's just my opinion. However, I have to know how Schumacker looks like or at least know when the event is happening in my own country.

During the world cup, we saw so many boys wearing football jerseys. Brazil, England, Australia, Argentina..... colourful.

Yesterday, a few came in the class telling me proudly how they stayed up to watch the final match. 4 years ago, 14 year old soccer freak and I talked about the games, and this year, we talked about it again. I was just telling him, in 4 years time, we'll not be able to because he'll be off to college. Made me kind of sad in a way.

Now I can imagine what it's like for mothers to have their children going away from them. I experince it all the time. It's like a yearly event for me and I still feel kind of sad.

a mile of smiles!!!!

Today I just want to share some heart warming smiles......

More to come.......

Chasing waterfall.......

Last Thursday, i felt very down. I can't explain why. Anyway, that's besides the point. At 1:30pm , I decided to jot down all the blessings that I will be getting from 2 to 6 - that's during my class hour. Here are my little notes.....

1) Miss Hong Kong came for the last time because she was moving back to ... where else... Hong Kong. After she finished all her work, I spent some time chatting with her. She's always very chatty. She's only 6 but speaks like a grown up....or should I say an old lady???? Before she left, with her pointing finger, she told me to make sure I tell Mrs Mommy, who's on maternity leave, that she's left for Hong Kong. She hugged me real tight before leaving too!!!!

2) Young spiky haired had to take his homework without doing it at the centre. However, he managed to slip in the classroom to see me. He wanted to give me a miniture kite that he's done in his arts and craft class. I was happy. Thinking back how long it took his parents (his dad happens to be my cousin) to decide on enroling him to the centre. 6 YRS!!!! I'm glad he's calling me aunty now, instead of teacher.

3) My Japanese Sensei...that's what I call my little Osaka Boy, came to my table to tell me that now he can do long division without much help and feels that he's ready to move on to fraction. I'm always amazed at how confident some of the students can get after mastering certain topics. I remembered how he was 5 years ago. He was only 4 at that time. I sometimes had to grab him by the arms just to make sure he can sit still just to have 5-10 minutes of quality time. At times he would jump around at the sofa in the waiting area. From one sofa to the other. Now.....he's a changed person. He's more serious. He voluntereed to give me some Nihongo lessons (Japanese Language) last year, and bought me an exercise book so that I can practice my Japanese writing. That was touching for me.

4) Karachi Boy was successful in completing his work (about 300 sums) in 10 minutes and got everything correct. Apart from the big star he got from my assistant, I decided to add an encouraging Japanese stamp on the worksheet. I knew that would brighten up his day. He's a new student and he started of quite weak. Achieving something like that is a big thing for a 9 year old. I asked him if he was proud of himself that day. He nodded and smiled from ear to ear. So, I told him to tell him mom and dad, his sister, and friends. Hearing that, he nodded. And then, I decided to tell him he might as well tell his neighbours. He must have find that hilarious and started to laugh. He could not stop laughing. I could even hear his voice laughing on his way out. ....Hmmmmm that's nice....I made someone laugh....laugh uncontrollably.

5) ........... I didn't list down anything anymore.

That's why I love being at the centre. The children, despite the difficulties they might create, if we only focus on the positive outcome, nothing can bring us down.