TGIF! It's the day for the K2 class to have their rehearsal for graduation ceremony. When I reached the kindergarten, I realized that most of the students are dressed in their PE attire. I guess friday is their designated day for their PE lesson, which helps to develop their motor skills. It is kind of sad that they only have one day to have outdoor fun, especially since they are just kids.
So, anyway, when I entered the K2 class, I was greeted by an aura of excitement. The children were all excited about dressing up for their rehearsal. An adorable indian girl greeted me and commented sweetly, "Teacher, you look very cute today. Yesterday, you were a little bit cute. Today, you are very cute." Aww, it was so sweet of her, especially with her actions that accompanied her praise. Mrs P also commented that I look sweet in my purple top today. It was surprising as it is not my usual style to dress in bright colors. Yea, I am more of a black and white gal, but I guess bright colored clothings tend to attract people more.
We proceeded to get the children changed into their costumes. The girls wore a sexy white top that requires tying of knots at their tummy areas. Some of the girls were unable to tie knots and asked me for help. Yes, you heard it right. I, who always have trouble tying knots myself, have to "pretend" to help children tie knots. As their strings were pretty short, I only tie a double knot for them and not a ribbon knot. I guess it is a "silent" pre-requisite for kindergarten teachers to be equipped with basic skills such as tying of knot.
When the children were changing, a girl, P, observed a picture depicting a girl standing next to the window with "white" hair. She questioned me on why the girl has white hair. I tried to explain to her about the sunlight effect on the girl's black hair and I sure do hope that she understood the concept that I was trying to put forth.
After getting the children changed into their attires, the rest of the teachers, inclusive of the principal, and I started helping the children to put on make up. I was in charge of styling the guys' hair with gel. I guess I did a pretty decent job overall for my first attempt in styling boys' hair. At least, some of the boys look cute after styling. The girls even commented that some boys look cute in their styled hair, boosting the ego of those boys. =) For some of the boys, I felt guilty towards them as I know I sort of created a mess out of their hair. Yea, I don't have the talent to be a hair stylist. The boys were all well-behaved and sat down quietly without moving, trusting me to do a good job with their hair. It makes me want to do a good job for all of them but with my limited constraints, I was unable to create the best hair styles for some of them, especially if their hair length is long. Nonetheless, they showed no disappointment even when I felt that I did a lousy job. This is especially so for one of the boys, whom I put too much styling gel on as I somehow could not get his hair spiked up.
Upon completion of the styling of hair for the boys, I proceeded to help out with the make up of the children. I put on lipsticks for both the girls and boys - a bright red color lipstick for the girls and a coral color lipstick for the boys. It was difficult to put on lipstick for the kids as their lips are pretty small as compared to the thickness of the lipstick and they love to purse their lips. Moreover, I tried my best and I managed to apply lipstick for most of them. It was alot easier than styling the boys' hair!
Finally, when all the children have finished their dressing up, they posed in front of the backdrop for both individual shot and group shot. While the teachers were busy taking photographs of the K2 children as a group, I felt an intruding presence somewhere at the back. When I turned around to take a look, I spotted a nursery girl using her toy camera and imitating the teachers to take photograph of the K2 kids. That melted my heart and I approached her to tease her. She was really shy and turned away whenever I tried to take a photograph of her. She is really adorable and I love playing at the dramatic corner with her. Her friend was also friendly and was less shy. Thus, I was only able to catch a picture of her friend and the back of her.
While the teachers were busy with the K2 children, I started getting involved with the nursery class. I played with some of the children at the dramatic corner and got them expressing themselves. Somehow, the teachers in this kindergarten always seem to leave the children alone during their activities time. It seems to me that this may not be an appropriate thing to do as playtime is usually the best time to give individuals attention and understand the kids better. Besides, playtime also offers the opportunity for children to develop their language skills through expression and communication with teachers. Other than dramatic corner, I also got involved with the children in the bricks corner and arts and crafts corner. Some of the children were trying to build and join bricks to be as long as possible. However, they realize that for the bricks that extended out of the table, they seem to keep dropping and the children were never able to build as long as they wished. For the children in the arts and crafts corner, they were playing with dough and making different shapes with the mould maker. Some of the girls were really friendly and I enjoyed talking to them.
Another thing that I learnt today is about children's jealousy. When the K2 girls saw me at the nursery class, they approached me and asked me what I was doing there and that I should belong to their class. I felt torn as I didn't realize that my actions would result in such an emotion. It is hard for me to separate myself as I do not technically belong to any particular class for now. I try to be the friend for all children and hope that I could stretch their potential. I love it especially when children would just approach me to talk to me and tell me more about themselves. For instance, a girl approached me today to inform me of the primary school that she is going to. Another girl also approached me for help to find her plastic bag for her shoes, which apparently had flown away while she was doing her make up and photo shots. I was unable to help her and tried to offer alternative solutions to appease her.
In all, today was a tiring day but it sure built a stronger bond between both teachers and children. What tugged my heart most today was a comment by a K2 girl, "Yea! Today no need to do do worksheets!" It makes me think of what the rigid local education system has done to deprive these children of their childhood enjoyment.
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