End of academic year

The academic year has somewhat ended. Well, there are no more lesson preparations needed nor marking to do, so my job with the kids is complete. Almost. Just need to go through the exam paper with them. 

Am very pleased, to say the least, with the results. Out of 14, I do have 2 who failed. But the overall improvement has been wonderful. An average improvement of 10 marks per student! 

No, I didn't get any A stars. Not that I expected or even dared hope for any. I got one A. But I had 12 passes. I saved two that the previous teacher thought was beyond saving. No, that would not be entirely fair. It was all the effort put in by the parents, me and most importantly the children.  And a whole lot of changed attitudes. 

The one who reminds me so much of B is most improved. He improved by 36.5 marks! He got second highest in class. Woohoo! Very pleased with that. 

Another boy with a phobia for problem sums overcame his fear and scored 70! Yay!

Considering I had 5 passes at mid year and only 2 failures now, I'm thankful I could make a difference. 

The boys were really great. They came almost all the time when I asked them to see me at recess. Whether it is to do corrections or for recess teaching, they came. When when i didn't ask for them,they dropped by to check if they had corrections to clear.  All the way till the day before the papers started. Bless them. 

I will miss them next year. May not get to stay on at ACS(P) next year. Even if I did, will most certainly be doing P4 again. But I truly thank God for such a wonderful bunch whom I've come to love dearly. I am thankful for the opportunity to know them and share my love of the subject with them. I hope they will continue to work hard and to love the subject. 

My colleague who knew I was super anxious for the boys during their paper told me that the mama bird needs to let the baby birds go. And that I shall. After I shed a few tears and pray over them. 

Fly little birds. May this year be as special to you as it has been to me.

Shu Todoroki

This is Shu Todoroki. B'a current favourite toy. 

He was meant to bring his favourite thing to school on Thursday to his show and tell. Out of all his millions of toys in our tiny apartment, he chose Shu Todoroki. We tried to persuade to find a toy with a simpler name but he was quite determined. 

Although his teacher had to prompt him with the questions that I had written down, he answered all the questions. 

On Friday he insisted on bringing it to school again. But finally agreed to leave it in the car. On the way home, he was holding it as we walked to the lift lobby. 

As we were walking into the lift, he dropped it and all three of us watched as Shu Todoroki rolled towards and then disappeared into the gap between the lift and the lift landing. B started to wail loudly and was inconsolable. 

This was him at home. 

I tried calling the toy shops Tanglin Mall, where I have seen them. All sold out. 

Finally called AMKTC office and was directed to 24-hr emergency lift services hotline. I was rather embarrassed to ask if we could retrieve a toy car. The woman asked if I had dropped my car keys and very sheepishly, repeated that it was a toy car. With B wailing loudly in the background, the woman was quite sympathetic, saying that they can help. 

The appointed time for the technicians to come by was 9pm as we were going out. 

The guys came at 9.10pm and we meet them on the first floor. B's heroes didn't seem too delighted when the item they were meant to pick up wasn't car keys but a die cast toy car.

Needless to say, B was over the moon to be reunited with Shu Todoroki. We gave Shu Todoroki a good scrub and made sure it was ok. It has sustained a few scratches to show for its adventure. What drama. 

A long way for K

From the time of crying when separated from us, to not wanting to go for dance class because you didn't want to be left alone, and then crying because of the attention at every birthday.

From this:

to this:

Am so proud of you, little girl.

B prays

We were giving some friends in church a lift home this afternoon after CG so we had to move B's seat to the last row. I sat with him behind and he held my hand. Then as he examined and caressed my hand, he realized that my fingers were dry and rough from the constant contact with detergent. Then he said, "I don't like your finger rough." He started to pray, "Father God, pray for mummy's finger and thumb not rough anymore."

Five minutes later. He examined my fingers and said, "Still rough. Not ok yet." Then he prayed once again for them to be smooth again.

Yay! First time my son prayed for me in person without being told to.

Back to School

It's the end of the March holidays and back to school for the kids. After a whole week of activities and everyone taking turns to run a fever, it's back to our usual routine. 

But more than that, it's back to school for me. Yes, back to teaching after a 5-year hiatus. A huge load of inertia and apprehension about going back to work. 

There will be no difference for the children as my hours are worked around their school timings so I will drop and pick them up as usual. But it will mean no more time for errands, no more me-time, no more galavanting to buy secret presents. Housework, sewing, cooking and packing the house will all have to be done after the kids get home and while they are napping. 

Well, it's the first day at school. I finally got the admin sorted, most of it at least. 

So here is my pass. Finally. Except I still have no access to the toilet and pantry because I've only been given access to the Learning Centre where I sit. Sigh. Can't believe how rigid everything is after so long. 

It's been a surprisingly ok day. Only 1 hr of classroom time. And even then, I was just shadowing another teacher. But I did practice my silent glares at some who were kicking and slapping their friends, despite the teacher standing in front of the class. Boys. *rolls eyes* This class is clearly quite unmotivated and full of energy which is not directed where it is most needed. Shall see what we can do with that. 

But am thankful that my return to work hasn't been one rude shock. It's been calm and pleasant so far. I will be teaching fewer hours than a normal teacher which would of course translate to lesser pay. But for now, I am satisfied because sanity is much more important when you have two little ones to bring home and entertain while being at home.

I can't wait for three o' clock when I get to see my babies again. 

Qookerly

B: (triumphantly) I have finished! (Waves his empty cereal box)
Me: Good job B!
B: Clap for me.
Me: Haha. Ok. Yay! (Claps and cheers)
B: I eat qookerly.
Me: haha. Yes, u did eat quickly.

Love it when they use new vocab and mispronounce it.

B's progress in school

Yay! B has officially stopped crying when we part in his new school. It's been three days without tears. And we even managed to complete all aspects of the health screen today (tho with some persuasion). Way to go kiddo! Love your teachers, love your friends and have a heck load of fun!

BR Methodist C Kindy

A new phase in the kid's life. They have both transferred to BR Methodist CK.

It all started with an enquiry to move B to BR Methodist CK for N2 in 2014. Was told to go down to register to ensure we are higher up on the wait list so I did. Only to find that my email was misread and misunderstood that I would like to enrol B for 2013. 

Since I was there, I took the opportunity to speak with the Principal about her school and syllabus. I decided to put both B and K down on the wait list. Two weeks later, I got a call from the school to say that we got them both a place for 2013.

So everything was set in motion for a huge change for everyone.

7 January, K started her first day of school. B only started three days later.

So B and I got to hang out. We went to the club to play and swim.

This was K after I picked her up from school on the first day. She really enjoyed school. I gave her this little toy to bring to school to remind her she was loved. We named it Popcorn Silver.

We were really thankful that she was enjoying her new school and was looking forward to the next day.

8 January. Day 2. 

After their health check, they would gather at the waiting area and wait for a teacher to bring a group of K2s up to their classrooms together.

They would be herded into the lift to go to the second floor.

So while K went to school on the second day, B and I hung out at Jacob Ballas. 

On the third day when K went to school, I brought B to Punggol park with grandma.

Even grandma had a go on the swing.

He walked on the rope bridge by himself.

And crawled up the slide and slid down on his tummy.

Then we went to Greenwich Village to do some grocery shopping and little boy helped to carry some of the little bags.

10 January. B's turn to go to school. I could accompany him for the first two days. His class was divided into two groups. He was put into the second session. It was to help the teachers cope with the crying kids with a smaller ratio. Here we were sending K off to her class.

While we waited for his session, we hung out at the ACPS canteen. He had some snacks.

And then it was his turn to go through the same process he had seen K go through the last three days.

 

After the health check, he got to hold a donut. He wanted an orange donut. The teachers would then bring a group of kids to the school by leading the string of donuts.

Going down the steps which led to his school.

Cleaning of hands before entering the classroom.

He chose to sit at the orange table with orange chairs. And there was even an orange tray of vehicles on it! Right up his alley.

He played with the vehicles for a while. The boy in the picture is my friend's son. They were going for the same toys! I could see them scheming away to try to get hold of their favorite car and not let the other have it!

Then it was time for a morning snack. A bun with some filling. B actually ate half of it. And this was after he had his breakfast on his way to school in the car.

The teacher sang one worship song. None of the kids joined in. But most of them did sit down in front of her.

Story time. At least B seemed very interested in the book.

He was awarded two stickers for his first day of school. To entice them to come back the next day I think!

End of his morning session. He was brought to a holding room to watch some videos while he waited to reunite with his sister and other friends before proceeding to lunch.

Very happy to see one another again. K was especially thrilled to have little bro with her.

Lunch together.

The class having lunch together,

As they sat down together with the kids for a story, both were very distracted as they sat together chatting away. It's nice to see them enjoying each other's company in the same class, something they would never get to do again.

End of B's first day.

Day 2 of school for B. The siblings posed for a photo.

We hung out in school again while waiting for 9.45am. He explored the place.

Watched the gardener at work.

Walked on a line.

Explored the canteen.

Said hi to Wesley's statue.

Finally it was time for his session. He brought his bag to the bags corner.

Had a little snack.

Went to the indoor playground.

He said that he had fun in school. This two-session arrangement would keep up for a month till mid February. In some ways, I never want it to end because while it was tiring to just hang around in school, I certainly enjoyed just goofing around with him.

In the photo below, we were doing some grocery shopping at Chancery Court. As we walked around, he suddenly ran to hide in this corner. I called out to him to ask where he was. He replied in a grunt that he was "Here". I went to look where he was. I laughed as I asked if he was poo poo-ing. He replied in another grunt, "Yes. Go away." Haha. He likes to find a private corner to do his business and does not like to be watched. I find that hilarious.

The Shoulder

On the PIE yesterday, we saw an ambulance driving along the shoulder rushing to an accident scene. I was explaining the use of the shoulder to K. 

10 mins later. 

K: Mummy, can you please show me where the elbow is again?

Love from a child's point of view

I was told this was the exchange between B and his teacher (who was v amused) during lunch yesterday.

B: I love you very much.
Tr: Yes, B. I love you too.
B: I love you SO much.
Tr: Yes B. I love you very much too. But you will still need to eat your lunch.

Lol. He has a way with words. A lawyer in the making? 

The Whole White World

Me: when you get upset with one person, u dun need to be angry with the whole wide world, ok?

K (looking out of the window at the dark night sky): It's now the whole black world, right?

Me: Lol. It's the whole wide world, not whole white world!