Archive for October 2011
Lorna Whiston – 5 years old
Posted on: October 31, 2011
It’s toward the end of the semesta (year) and it’s the Parent-Teacher session again.
Overall Ying is doing well, able to cope etc. And what impress me is that the teacher notices her weaknesses in her handwriting (especially when she was rushing).
What I would like to share is I like the programme and how they slowly introduce writing to young children.
Every time, the teacher will share a story. And after that, the children will do an exercise, to draw on their book something related to the story they learn, and then write a sentence about that story. (not copying from any book ooo…)
Below is the exercise for “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, done on April. See how the teacher praised the child for what they managed to accomplish, vs highlighting their mistake. The teacher told me it’s impressive that Ying tried to spell out the word based on her knowledge on phonics. I am glad the teacher can recognize the child’s effort.
This one is about My Teddy Bear, done on July. Can see Ying was trying to tell longer story about her teddy.
And this is the latest one, about “Hedgehogs Facts”, done on Oct. I am glad that they provide a stressless environment, for my girl to feel free to write and express themselves, in their favorite language 🙂 I still remember that day when we picked her up, how Ying couldn’t stop sharing the new thing she learned about hedgehog, “the cute little spiky spiky animal”. And the teacher didn’t expect her to write out so much. I guess may be she reads a lot, and that helps.
Just to share what is taught in Lorna Whiston 5 years old class.
{added: the reason I am sharing this, mm.. hope it can help others who stay afar and not able to go to the school, who are teaching their own children, this is a good approach to promote a child confident and liking in writing… and also a very good example on how to apply 周弘的赏识教育}
Parents attitude
Posted on: October 31, 2011
A friend who was a Chinese Primary school teacher, share her experience
Nowadays the children are very smart. There was once this girl did something wrong and I scolded her.
She said “When I go home, I will tell my mummy you scolded me.”
We the teacher has to be smart enough to handle them.
I told her, “Give me your mummy’s hand phone number now, I want to tell your mummy now that I scold you.”
Then the girl kept quiet.
This kind of incidents happen almost everyday at school. And it’s common to see angry parents who are ignorant of their children’s bad behavior and yet come scolding the teacher.
…
There was incident where a naughty boy being punished by the teacher, and the next day the parent who so happens to be a lawyer, sending in lawsuit letter, suing the teacher for punishing the boy.
(Notes: In my school, a lot of parents are doctors, lawyers, those so called highly educated, highly income people. )
…
One of my student’s parent, when I put a big question mark on her child’s blank homework sheet (her child didn’t do his homework), instead of letting her child knows about his own wrong-doing, she came and protestedto me that “How should I know what is the big question mark you put meant for?”
…
When facing with such parents, what we teachers usually do, to protect ourselves, we won’t bother about that child in class any more, whether he/she wants to learn, want to do their homework or not, want to get rotten there,… we just cannot do much. We just teach in front.
And you might be surprise, a lot of time, these hot-blood parents pay very little attention to their children at home as well. Sometimes it’s a pity also. Those children are not stupid. In fact quite a number are very brilliant kids.
It has become a trend for working parents to send their children to day care. Dropped off in the morning, study, do homework, tuition, bathe and have lunch there. Then the day care teachers will bring them to school when it’s time. Parents just wash their hands clean. An easy life, passing everything to day care center. Then who will be responsible for those children character building ? I doubt those center will.
Some parents told me “We are busy. We are not free.” I won’t give face and throw back a question “So are you too busy to go shopping?”
…
I have a daughter studying in my school, and I told her teacher, if she did something wrong, do punish her accordingly, treat her just like the rest of the class.
Even though how busy and tired I am, I will make sure I spend time with my girls, teach them, coach them. We tried to buy our things from grocery shop like Giant instead of going to mega malls. So that we just go in and get the things we want, and come out. No need to waste our time nor money.
(Notes: nowadays teachers has a lot of paper work/report to do, not like last time)
…
Ya, it all comes down to the parents attitude…
Yakult Day
Posted on: October 30, 2011
“Mummy, teacher gave me a pack of Yakult.” Ying cried excitedly when reached home.
Ya, it’s the Yakult day at their kindy. Last night Daddy agreed to buy one pack.
“There are 5 Yakult in one pack. 4 for my family and 1 for Ah Ma (granny).” Ying continued.
“I love Ah Ma and Connie 阿姨．I don’t know whom to give. ” Ying tried to explain.
“But Ah Ma is old already, so give to Ah Ma lo… This is how I choose.” Ying concluded.
Study hard
Posted on: October 29, 2011
Met my old babysitter and had a nice chat with her.
She was telling me nowadays a lot of children don’t respect their parents. Her friend’s friend got challenged back by their children that they also don’t know English, then why they expect their children to do well in it. And her friend’s friend just keep quiet.
And there was time her son came back from school, blaming that she don’t know certain subject and not able to help him in his study. She told her son back that,
“That is because when I am young, my parents didn’t teach me. And we are poor and don’t have those tuition classes to attend. You should be thankful that we teach you when you are young, send you to tuition classes. So, if you get 100 from your exam, you should say thank you to me for my hard work.”
(she did teach her son flashcards since small, and coach him in his study, find good tuition class and send him to the class for subjects she is not able to help)
I agree with her that for her friend’s friend’s case, the parents shouldn’t keep quiet. They should take the opportunity and explain to the child.
And for me, I also let my girls know that no one in this world knows everything. There are things that they know but mummy don’t know, then they can teach me. And there are things I know, I can teach them. And when all also don’t know, then we can try to find it out from books, Google, dictionary, from asking other people, ask the teacher. That is the only way to acquire knowledge – by learning.
mm.. what other things I told my girls…
Oh.. you have to read and do revision for new things you learn until you can remember it. There is no way that I tell them just one time the meaning of a new word they ‘encounter’ in their book, then they just keep the book in the beg fora long time, for the beg to read it instead of themselves, then they will know the meaning the next time they see the word. No way(especially BM). They like this kind of example and always laugh at the idea their beg do the reading for them.
I also tell them, no one can go to school, listen to teacher mentioning one time, then no need study / revision, and can do well in exam. No way also. Today you learn 10 new words, you can only remember 2. It’s good. Then tomorrow read it again, do revision, and then you find yourself can remember 4 words. And continue doing the same thing the next day, the next next day, and you will find you can remember more and more and all the 10 new words eventually. Just like last time you only know ABC, now you know so many words already.
And study also not so fun and involve hard work. No one can just play all the time, never touch their books, and still can score 100 in exam. May be you see them always play, but when you don’t see them that time, they actually are studying hard. So never think that they play I also play, by right I should get 100 mark like them also. (something from Matthew Andrew’s book)
And most importantly, they study and learn for themselves. Not for me nor daddy. I give example like if they want to find a job like me (they always want to become like me), but they don’t know how to read, so don’t know how to solve the problem for the boss, then sure the boss doesn’t want to give them work. Or because they don’t know how to read, bad people deceive them, asking them to sign something, and take away all their money. etc etc…
And I believe all this talking should start when they are young. At that time, they see us as super-the-douple clever, smart, wise person who they always look up too, higher chances they will buy our teaching.
That is what I can do, and all left is praying hard that they will stick to all these positive thinking, the spirit of not afraid of hardship, until they grow up.
A bit long winded… just want to share …
气一气
Posted on: October 28, 2011
After a long day work, at night, I was watching my Thai drama online, my husband was sipping his coffee, the girls were watching their show, my husband started.
“Now I think of it, both S Jobs and B Gates are very very hardworking people, workaholic in some way. Both of them work no day no night when they were young, sleep in their office/lab.”
“But then, it all come to one’s mindset and attitude that S Jobs died so young. He was a perfectionist, 看不开, 给 B Gates 气一气，太执著，聚mai聚mai (in Cantonese – collecting), then fell sick and died.” He sounded like he knew them very well.
I looked at him, “Ya, no choice. Perfectionist attitude are born like that. Me too. So I think I will die young also.”
“No, you are lucky you have me. I will help to neutralize you. If not 100%, at least 50%.” He fast fast said.
“Ya right…” I was going to add some more, and he knew what I was going to say.
“我会保证, 你不会被我气死，最多气坏罢了．＂(I don’t know how to translate this)
da… I am so grateful…
Stay in please
Posted on: October 27, 2011
The girls love my housekeeper a lot. Below are Ying’s attempts to persuade my housekeeper to stay in.
“Connie 阿姨, come and stay with us la..” Ying begged. “My friend’s maid stay at her house, and sleep there, and no going back even on Sunday and Saturday. I want to see you at night, and on Saturday and Sunday also.”
“Cannot lo, 阿姨 needs a lot of things one to stay in to your house. ” My housekeeper thought of this excuse, thinking that it would work.
“It’s ok. You take a paper and write it down what you want. I will buy it for you.” Ying said.
Then she thought for a while and added. “But I cannot buy all, some big one I will buy it later. But I will buy for you. You just take a paper and then list it down what you need.”
…. hahaha…
Second attempt:
“Connie 阿姨, come and stay with us la..” Ying begged.
“Cannot lo, 阿姨 has to go back after work to cook for 阿姨’s husband. ” This time my housekeeper trying another excuse.
“Oh…, then you move to some where near our house la..”
“No oo.. cannot find any house nearby oo” 阿姨 said.
“Oh… no new house near here a… I know I know, you and your husband can move in to stay with us. We have plenty of rooms upstair.” Ying said.
“Cannot lo. 阿姨 has a lot of things to move it. Your rooms is too small oo..”
“Oh, we have a big one on top floor. That one very big. You can stay there.”
“Still not big enough for 阿姨 and 阿姨’s family.”
There was a long silence, before Ying put on another attempt
“Hai..why your husband don’t know how to cook for himself meh? ”
“Ya lo, 阿姨’s husband don’t know how to cook.” trying to control her laugh, my housekeeper replied.
“Then, he can go and ta-pao himself. My daddy always drives out and ta pao food for us on Saturday and Sunday. Why your husband don’t know how to ta-pao meh? ” Ying sounded a bit unhappy and defeated.
“Ya lo, 阿姨’s husband not as clever as your daddy. He don’t know to ta-pao for himself.”
Finally Ying gave up and left the kitchen disappointed.
Me and my housekeeper burst into laughter at the back.. hahahaha…
Height
Posted on: October 26, 2011
Ying went to lepak with her daddy.
“Daddy, is man always taller than woman?”
“No, some women are taller than men. ”
“Oh, is it she wear high heels?”
hahaha..
“No. It’s just like some men are tall, some men are short. Some women are tall, some women are short. So there are women taller than men, and also men taller than women.” Daddy tried to explain to his little princess.
A short silent, then Ying concluded, “Then the woman has to carry the man lo.”
I almost fell off my sofa … hahaha
Exam
Posted on: October 25, 2011
This morning, the two girls were chit-chatting in the bathroom while brushing their teeth.
“My friend Yap Ming Xuan’s mummy said if she gets 100 in her exam, she will give her chocolate as present.” Ying said. 
“Oh, 有进步就好 (got improvement is good enough). You see 姐姐 last time Bahasa Malaysia got 76 mark, this time get 96 mark. 进步很多。很好哦。(improve a lot, very good o..)” Ling gave Ying a lecture… haha..
“Oh, I have a language 98 mark, I try my best already. ” Ying said.
“Also very good a..” Ling praised Ying.
“I hope my Mathematics can get 100 mark. Global Math teacher is going to give me 1000 points if I can get 100 mark in my exam.” Ling added.
….
I tried not to interfere too much on their examination marks. We had a talk last time before the exam, when the girls ask about gift they can get if they score. I tried to explain if they do well, that makes them happy. No need gift. Gave some lecture about exam is to test what they have learnt, and help them know what they are still not good yet, and also to train them to be careful, as being careful is also very important when they grow up and work. Bosses don’t like employees who keep on making careless mistake. And we concluded that as long as they got improvement, and learn from last exam, that is very good. It makes them feel good and happy about themselves, and we are happy for them too. Not necessary need present.
Hearing what they talked about this morning, I think Ling can cope with “as long as got improvement, it’s very good”; but Ying, sound to me she admire her friend getting presents for good result. I wonder should I give them a treat for doing well. Pros – may be that will encourage them to learn willingly, got motivation to achieve good result. Cons – will that turn into pressure they put it on themselves trying hard to go for marks next time? May be not. Since it’s not a condition I set before their exam. The treat is a sort of an ad hoc treat to acknowledge their hard work.
Masks
Posted on: October 24, 2011
Why green .. why green..eerriieee… shhh…. don’t tell the girls 😛
Little Nobel
Lorna Whiston Study Centres
Tadika Vista Cemerlang
Tweedle Wink
Yamaha Music School
宝贝阅读乐园
愛心樹家庭成長中心Loving Tree Family Development Center
BrillKids Free Download
British Council Learn English Kids
Global Chinese Language and Culture Center
Learn_Chinese_Everyday
My_favourite_Chinese_Online_Dictionary
8notes.com_Music_Theory
No_Time_For_Flash_Cards
Scholastic Book Club Malaysia
Life long sharing . . . 