Day 6

Today, I started observing Mrs K's K1 class. She is a very good and patient mentor, who imparted lots of knowledge to me, especially on safety and hygiene. So, for the beginning of the day, the children have to take off their shoes before the teacher puts disinfection lotion on their hands. She then proceeded to start her daily morning exercise with the children, which somehow resembles the Singapore workout. In doing so, it helps in developing the children's motor skills and in a way, reduces the high energy level of the children. (Although in my humble opinion, it might have a counter-effect of making the children more alert and energetic.) The exercise includes actions such as head rotation, wrist rotation, bending of hips, knees rotation, hand on knee bending, slow jog and fast jog. Whilst observing the exercise routine carried out in the classroom, I wonder if it would be better for the exercise to be conducted outdoors, especially since there are potential safety hazards such as the sharp corners of cupboards within the classroom. Mrs K also encouraged the children to bring their own handkerchiefs to wipe their hands after washing. No wonder I saw many children having their own handkerchiefs in the pockets of their uniforms. I was then pulled out to help out with Mdm N as Mrs C was absent on that day. Besides, the specialist for special needs children from HQ travelled down to the kindergarten to observe the two special needs children in the kindergarten. Sight of her makes me miss HQ very much. The difference in attitude and treatment was totally obvious despite both of us representing HQ. :( Why has SC not visited me yet?! As the nursery classes have not arrived, Mdm N was helping the K2 children to rehearse their recipient of their graduation certificates during their ceremony. It was adorable to see the children rehearsing. They then proceeded to rehearse the dance that they have prepared for their ceremony. For this K2 class, they would be performing rock and roll. The nursery children soon reported to school and Mdm N got busy preparing them for the assembly. As usual for assembly, the children sang various songs and recited the pledge in different languages. I am starting to get used to such a routine. After assembly, I sat in for Mdm N's class for awhile. She taught the children about the weather and made them sing different nursery songs, such as Twinkle twinkle little star. She even had her own rendition, which was Twinkle twinkle little moon, that was shaped like a pancake instead of a diamond. I then proceeded to help out with Mrs C's nursery class since she was not around that day. I looked after the children during their break time and read to them a book about witches before their Chinese class. As there was time constraint, I did not have the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject of halloween.

After the chinese lesson of nursery class, I resumed taking care of them. I let them into their individual learning activities corners. One of the problems that I faced with nursery children is that they always like to switch learning corners and that itself created lots of problems for me. When I allowed one kid to switch, the rest of them will try to approach to me to request for switches. I guess I have to learn how to be strict with the class to prevent such a problematic scenario from happening. I also faced the problem of children complaining about trival issues to me. One of the tricks that other teachers have imparted was to ask the children to settle those issues among themselves. I have yet to master the skill of convincing the children to do so but I am working on it.

During the session, I taught two girls the art of folding hearts. I enjoyed my interaction with them but other children love to poke their heads in and requested to join in. As much as I want to try to interact with each individual and get to understand them better, I am afraid I might be neglecting the rest of the class.

Time always seems to pass by quickly when we are enjoying the activities that we are doing. Very soon, it was time for the children to pack up as another teacher would be taking over to wrap things up and read a story for the children.

I met up with the principal for a brief meeting. It was nerve wrecking as she always put on a strict front and I tend to be tongue-tied in front of her. Hope that this would not occur again and things would improve.

P.S: Happy Birthday, dada!
P.P.S: When I walk over to the K2 class briefly, I was being offered a Rocher chocolate by sweet C. It was her birthday too. She is totally adorable. =)