Playing Catch-Up
Right...
Okies. Tried to jazz up my page a little. Note the word "tried".
Added a tag-board. But god knows if anybody will tag me... Msged tons of pple on my icq list to come my blog. Yeah, I know, very thick skin...
Changed the colours of my text. But still feel kinda dull. Nvm... Will change another time. Added some interactivity to the text.
Music file not working. Trying to look for substitute. But meanwhile, it's just something to put there for show. *grin*
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Happy Birthday to Robin
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Robin,
Happy birthday to you!
Sorry, Robin, didn't get a present for you.
So hope you'd like this...
The nature of friendship
Requires a blend
Of warmest compassion
And love deep and true.
It takes more than caring
To be a real friend
To reach and to comfort
The way that you do.
A lil note for you
Hope you'd know
That your friendship
Is priceless to me.
P.S. Dun be so touchy about your age lah...
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Robin,
Happy birthday to you!
Sorry, Robin, didn't get a present for you.
So hope you'd like this...
The nature of friendship
Requires a blend
Of warmest compassion
And love deep and true.
It takes more than caring
To be a real friend
To reach and to comfort
The way that you do.
A lil note for you
Hope you'd know
That your friendship
Is priceless to me.
P.S. Dun be so touchy about your age lah...
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Surprises
Surprise 1
My 3N3 students doing pretty well for their Mock Exams so far. Improvements for most students but they have been doing them open-book. But I think their confidence is increasing and that definitely won't make things worse.
Surprise 2
Mt 1T1 students are behaving themselves. Most are settling down to study and work at their work. Just a couple who are starting to behave worse. Yeah, blame it all on exam stress. Right... Anyway, been getting praise from some teachers on their good behaviour. Was thinking how I might be able to reward them only to walk in to a lesson with a relief teacher and them playing 'musical chairs' in class... *sigh*
Surprise 3
Gave my hotmail to my students. So many additions to my MSN list and got access to most of their blogs. Wow! Very good layout and design. Plenty of animation and pretty cool, I would say. Wanted to ask them for tips, etc. but stopped. I'd figure it out myself when I have the time. But... hey, when am I ever gonna find the time to jazz up my E-skills?
Surprise 1
My 3N3 students doing pretty well for their Mock Exams so far. Improvements for most students but they have been doing them open-book. But I think their confidence is increasing and that definitely won't make things worse.
Surprise 2
Mt 1T1 students are behaving themselves. Most are settling down to study and work at their work. Just a couple who are starting to behave worse. Yeah, blame it all on exam stress. Right... Anyway, been getting praise from some teachers on their good behaviour. Was thinking how I might be able to reward them only to walk in to a lesson with a relief teacher and them playing 'musical chairs' in class... *sigh*
Surprise 3
Gave my hotmail to my students. So many additions to my MSN list and got access to most of their blogs. Wow! Very good layout and design. Plenty of animation and pretty cool, I would say. Wanted to ask them for tips, etc. but stopped. I'd figure it out myself when I have the time. But... hey, when am I ever gonna find the time to jazz up my E-skills?
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Monday, September 19, 2005
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Loneliness
Loneliness is a passive state. We are lonely because we let it continue and do nothing to change it. We hope it will go away, eventually, but we do nothing and soon, it envelopes us.
Strangely, there are times when we might even embrace the feeling. And unknowingly, embracing loneliness and sinking down into the feelings associated with it will usually lead us to a sense of depression and helplessness, which, in turn, leads to an even more passive state and more depression.
So, what should I do about my loneliness?
Loneliness is a passive state. We are lonely because we let it continue and do nothing to change it. We hope it will go away, eventually, but we do nothing and soon, it envelopes us.
Strangely, there are times when we might even embrace the feeling. And unknowingly, embracing loneliness and sinking down into the feelings associated with it will usually lead us to a sense of depression and helplessness, which, in turn, leads to an even more passive state and more depression.
So, what should I do about my loneliness?
Monday, September 05, 2005
Carpe Diem
Accidents do weird things to people.
On one hand, I am thankful that I survived intact and suffered nothing more than some patches of bruises, a mild concussion, and perhaps whiplash. On the other hand, I wonder wat things would be like if the accident was worse. From wat I see, I seem to be dispensable. The world is still spinning. Nobody messaged me. Nobody would know anything happened. Just like nobody knew my grandmother passed away the same time last year.
Think nobody will know about the incident unless they come online to check my blog too...
Who knows how much I wished there was someone (anyone) I could have called last night for moral support. To tell me how he would be there to take care of me. That it was alright for me to be scared and shaking and to be held...
Will someone come up to this little girl and take care of her?
Accidents do weird things to people.
On one hand, I am thankful that I survived intact and suffered nothing more than some patches of bruises, a mild concussion, and perhaps whiplash. On the other hand, I wonder wat things would be like if the accident was worse. From wat I see, I seem to be dispensable. The world is still spinning. Nobody messaged me. Nobody would know anything happened. Just like nobody knew my grandmother passed away the same time last year.
Think nobody will know about the incident unless they come online to check my blog too...
Who knows how much I wished there was someone (anyone) I could have called last night for moral support. To tell me how he would be there to take care of me. That it was alright for me to be scared and shaking and to be held...
Will someone come up to this little girl and take care of her?
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Woah...
Guess what? I almost died just now. Okay, maybe that was a tad dramatic...
So what happened? Fren driving car. Me in passenger seat. Car follows car in front and turns right. Light was GREEN. Halfway through the turn, me saw oncoming car. Next thing I know, oncoming car kaboomed into fren's car and I had the shock of my life (well, 2nd shock of my life).
Thankfully, no one died or anything. I think I got the worst of it physically. Other party was perfectly alright and bumper got dented. Fren's car was however, totally gone in the back section. Both back wheels utterly bent out of shape.
Was in mild shock but worrying about the next day's remedial lessons helped take off the edge. Thankfully, I have some very helpful colleagues who were more than willing to help me take over the next day's class and print the materials for the class. Many many thanks to Aida, Angela and Noel!!! You're the best!
Was desperately hoping for someone to take care of me. But sigh, been independent for too long. Can't seem to just break down and cry even though I really wanted to. It was in the middle of the night and so didn't want to call anybody in case they were asleep. Monday the next day after all. People have to work... So settled for a short session of mild shaking and being nauseous.
Got a lil worse when I realised how near the damage was to me. Crash was only a metre or so away from the passenger seat. Things could have been so much worse...
Finally came back home and settled down to do up materials for my next day's class. *sigh* Teachers really cannot die. Die also better make sure lessons are prepared for the coming days.
Thanks to Yuxi for being there and replying to my icq messages. Kept me sane for the lonely time while I was at home. Free post-traumatic stress counselling, I called it...
Okay, better get back to my Science Test. See... Teachers cannot die...
Guess what? I almost died just now. Okay, maybe that was a tad dramatic...
So what happened? Fren driving car. Me in passenger seat. Car follows car in front and turns right. Light was GREEN. Halfway through the turn, me saw oncoming car. Next thing I know, oncoming car kaboomed into fren's car and I had the shock of my life (well, 2nd shock of my life).
Thankfully, no one died or anything. I think I got the worst of it physically. Other party was perfectly alright and bumper got dented. Fren's car was however, totally gone in the back section. Both back wheels utterly bent out of shape.
Was in mild shock but worrying about the next day's remedial lessons helped take off the edge. Thankfully, I have some very helpful colleagues who were more than willing to help me take over the next day's class and print the materials for the class. Many many thanks to Aida, Angela and Noel!!! You're the best!
Was desperately hoping for someone to take care of me. But sigh, been independent for too long. Can't seem to just break down and cry even though I really wanted to. It was in the middle of the night and so didn't want to call anybody in case they were asleep. Monday the next day after all. People have to work... So settled for a short session of mild shaking and being nauseous.
Got a lil worse when I realised how near the damage was to me. Crash was only a metre or so away from the passenger seat. Things could have been so much worse...
Finally came back home and settled down to do up materials for my next day's class. *sigh* Teachers really cannot die. Die also better make sure lessons are prepared for the coming days.
Thanks to Yuxi for being there and replying to my icq messages. Kept me sane for the lonely time while I was at home. Free post-traumatic stress counselling, I called it...
Okay, better get back to my Science Test. See... Teachers cannot die...
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Teachers' Day
Thanks, kids, for your presents on Teachers' Day.
Spoils of the day: nodding head (always wanted one!), chocolate brownie (wow! you can bake!), white chocolate (mmm...), brooch (very pretty one), etc
Much appreciated. But truth be told, just behave yourselves and work hard for the rest of the year can?
That'd be the best Teachers' Day present to all your teachers!
Thanks, kids, for your presents on Teachers' Day.
Spoils of the day: nodding head (always wanted one!), chocolate brownie (wow! you can bake!), white chocolate (mmm...), brooch (very pretty one), etc
Much appreciated. But truth be told, just behave yourselves and work hard for the rest of the year can?
That'd be the best Teachers' Day present to all your teachers!
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Apologies
Wow... it's July already.
Sorry for being so lacking in updating my blog. So much has happened in the past 2 months.
Went to JB for a cycling trip. Real cool. Or rather, real hot. Cycled for 2 whole days and got really dark for my efforts. Amazing though, my muscles did not scream much after the trip. *grin*
Classes did very badly for the mid-year exam but they realised that they need to put in more effort. So something good did come out as a result.
Totally changed my teaching method. Students so far are pretty receptive. Will be giving them tests next week to see if the method gives me the results my HOD would want.
Went to Hong Kong (again), Shen Zhen and Macau for a couple of days during the June hols. Shopped until it was way beyond my budget. Got the entrepreneurial spirit running through me. Wanna go Shen Zhen again to bring in cheap supplies of accessories to sell back here. We'll know in a few months whether I carry it out.
Attended talk at Singapore Teachers' Union about a Masters Program on Educational Policy. Was really interested in going for it but now kinda got talked out of it by some friends.
Will be real busy busy in the coming weeks - CIP, common tests, course and workshops, SAIL, work review, some Green Project, oh yes, SEM, and the in-house school conference, oh yeah, still got Bridge Building Competition, Science Carnival, wow... never realise how much work I have to do till I list it all out. Die........
Wow... it's July already.
Sorry for being so lacking in updating my blog. So much has happened in the past 2 months.
Went to JB for a cycling trip. Real cool. Or rather, real hot. Cycled for 2 whole days and got really dark for my efforts. Amazing though, my muscles did not scream much after the trip. *grin*
Classes did very badly for the mid-year exam but they realised that they need to put in more effort. So something good did come out as a result.
Totally changed my teaching method. Students so far are pretty receptive. Will be giving them tests next week to see if the method gives me the results my HOD would want.
Went to Hong Kong (again), Shen Zhen and Macau for a couple of days during the June hols. Shopped until it was way beyond my budget. Got the entrepreneurial spirit running through me. Wanna go Shen Zhen again to bring in cheap supplies of accessories to sell back here. We'll know in a few months whether I carry it out.
Attended talk at Singapore Teachers' Union about a Masters Program on Educational Policy. Was really interested in going for it but now kinda got talked out of it by some friends.
Will be real busy busy in the coming weeks - CIP, common tests, course and workshops, SAIL, work review, some Green Project, oh yes, SEM, and the in-house school conference, oh yeah, still got Bridge Building Competition, Science Carnival, wow... never realise how much work I have to do till I list it all out. Die........
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
oh my, how time flies
yup. it's been almost a month since i last updated my blog. so sad...
let's see. there was a dinner with about 10 of my JC classmates. met up with may for a very belated birthday dinner. met up with grace & wensi for dinner & tea. congrats to grace for making us aunties. but prayers with her that she will not suffer morning sickness for much longer. (ps. thou my mum say can last until 4-5 months more) time to get started on yet another cross-stitch...
finally got started on an evercise routine. found out how accessible sentosa is from my place. got the membership (only 15 bucks for a year) - went on Sat & Mon morn. Hope i will get the energy to go again coming Sat morn. Almost got burnt out in the sun the 2 mornings. That reminds me, better go buy sunblock.
also finally got the chance to do some shopping. spent just over a hundred bucks on short shorts & skirts from OP. Mum's sure gonna 'tsk, tsk' at me some more. about my scandalous shorts.
of course, Mid-Year Exams started. Finished my papers. Now just doing revision and waiting for the onslaught of piles of marking. which is why i've actually got time to get a sun-tan, go shopping, meet up with people... Just 2 more weeks to get my socialising before the work comes back on.
yup. it's been almost a month since i last updated my blog. so sad...
let's see. there was a dinner with about 10 of my JC classmates. met up with may for a very belated birthday dinner. met up with grace & wensi for dinner & tea. congrats to grace for making us aunties. but prayers with her that she will not suffer morning sickness for much longer. (ps. thou my mum say can last until 4-5 months more) time to get started on yet another cross-stitch...
finally got started on an evercise routine. found out how accessible sentosa is from my place. got the membership (only 15 bucks for a year) - went on Sat & Mon morn. Hope i will get the energy to go again coming Sat morn. Almost got burnt out in the sun the 2 mornings. That reminds me, better go buy sunblock.
also finally got the chance to do some shopping. spent just over a hundred bucks on short shorts & skirts from OP. Mum's sure gonna 'tsk, tsk' at me some more. about my scandalous shorts.
of course, Mid-Year Exams started. Finished my papers. Now just doing revision and waiting for the onslaught of piles of marking. which is why i've actually got time to get a sun-tan, go shopping, meet up with people... Just 2 more weeks to get my socialising before the work comes back on.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Blogs for my students
Yeh! Finally got the blogs for my students up and running. Will have to really put in some effort to keep them updated every week or so. My Sec 1 students were especially enthusiastic about the website. They wanted to know if there would be announcements on the website, etc.
But dun wan any students without Internet access to be at a disadvantage, so will only use the website as a supplementary aid to my teaching. Use it to reinforce learning points, refer to other websites, etc.
Will inform my Sec 3 students about their respective blogs next Monday. Hope they are just as appreciative of all my work...
Yeh! Finally got the blogs for my students up and running. Will have to really put in some effort to keep them updated every week or so. My Sec 1 students were especially enthusiastic about the website. They wanted to know if there would be announcements on the website, etc.
But dun wan any students without Internet access to be at a disadvantage, so will only use the website as a supplementary aid to my teaching. Use it to reinforce learning points, refer to other websites, etc.
Will inform my Sec 3 students about their respective blogs next Monday. Hope they are just as appreciative of all my work...
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Think on the bright side of things
Break-ups are hard to do but think about it... The one on the receiving end should be happy! Why? you ask.
Coz the other person is losing someone who loves him/her very much. But you're only losing someone who doesn't love you anymore.
So, think on the bright side. Do you still want someone around when he/she doesn't love you anymore? Get lost!
Break-ups are hard to do but think about it... The one on the receiving end should be happy! Why? you ask.
Coz the other person is losing someone who loves him/her very much. But you're only losing someone who doesn't love you anymore.
So, think on the bright side. Do you still want someone around when he/she doesn't love you anymore? Get lost!
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Week 2
Nothing much happened the first few days of the week.
Was supposed to finish setting the mid-year papers but where got time...
Thankfully, HODs haven't asked me about the papers so I think I still have a little time more. *grin* But then again, maybe that's why my Performance Bonus is so little. Only 0.6 of a month's worth.
Thursday was interesting with the finding out how the Internet has helped some of my students vent their frustrations. Found 2 of my students' blogs. Read about their view points of how their lessons and school days were like. Very 'interesting'. Felt somewhat like a voyeur though...
Friday was made exciting when some of my students came rushing to look for me. "EMERGENCY!!! URGENT!!! Ms Low, help!" Apparently, one of my students refused to sit for his Mother Tongue Oral Exam and his classmates have tried for a long time to persuade him to at least try. Was pleasantly surprised by their loyalty.
In the end, managed to 'catch' the student and walk him to the hall to at least attempt the Oral Exam. *phew* Had no idea what I was trying to do actually, so quite thankful that he was willing to go for the exam without a show of violence. Talk about on-the-job training...
Got about a month's time before the mid-year exams, so will be staying at home this weekend to try to make some inroads in my marking. Oh yeah, still got 2 more Science and Physics papers to set.
Have had much temptation to go out but thankfully, the rain is helping me stay in. Heavenly intervention... *grin*
Nothing much happened the first few days of the week.
Was supposed to finish setting the mid-year papers but where got time...
Thankfully, HODs haven't asked me about the papers so I think I still have a little time more. *grin* But then again, maybe that's why my Performance Bonus is so little. Only 0.6 of a month's worth.
Thursday was interesting with the finding out how the Internet has helped some of my students vent their frustrations. Found 2 of my students' blogs. Read about their view points of how their lessons and school days were like. Very 'interesting'. Felt somewhat like a voyeur though...
Friday was made exciting when some of my students came rushing to look for me. "EMERGENCY!!! URGENT!!! Ms Low, help!" Apparently, one of my students refused to sit for his Mother Tongue Oral Exam and his classmates have tried for a long time to persuade him to at least try. Was pleasantly surprised by their loyalty.
In the end, managed to 'catch' the student and walk him to the hall to at least attempt the Oral Exam. *phew* Had no idea what I was trying to do actually, so quite thankful that he was willing to go for the exam without a show of violence. Talk about on-the-job training...
Got about a month's time before the mid-year exams, so will be staying at home this weekend to try to make some inroads in my marking. Oh yeah, still got 2 more Science and Physics papers to set.
Have had much temptation to go out but thankfully, the rain is helping me stay in. Heavenly intervention... *grin*
Friday, April 01, 2005
Eye Opener
Got a shocking surprise today... Not very pleasant...
Was going to go home early coz I only caught like 9 hours of sleep over the past 4 days. Surprisingly, I'm still surviving. Note 'surviving'.
As I was saying, was going to go home early but somehow lacked the motivation to go home when it started raining and some students came to find me coz they were bored.
Yup, I'm officially their part-time entertainer too. Instructor, Personal Assistant, Coach, Secretary, Nanny, Security Officer, Supplier of All Answers, my job scope seems endless and is still expanding... *sigh*
Anyway, yes, as I was still saying, some students came by to say 'bye' and ended up showing a few of the teachers who were still hanging around (pple like me with no life) these mortifying Friendster entries about my school and a fellow colleague.
Talk about high-tech hate mail, man.
Got a lil paranoid whether there was anything about me but think I haven't been that mean a teacher as yet... I hope...
Got a shocking surprise today... Not very pleasant...
Was going to go home early coz I only caught like 9 hours of sleep over the past 4 days. Surprisingly, I'm still surviving. Note 'surviving'.
As I was saying, was going to go home early but somehow lacked the motivation to go home when it started raining and some students came to find me coz they were bored.
Yup, I'm officially their part-time entertainer too. Instructor, Personal Assistant, Coach, Secretary, Nanny, Security Officer, Supplier of All Answers, my job scope seems endless and is still expanding... *sigh*
Anyway, yes, as I was still saying, some students came by to say 'bye' and ended up showing a few of the teachers who were still hanging around (pple like me with no life) these mortifying Friendster entries about my school and a fellow colleague.
Talk about high-tech hate mail, man.
Got a lil paranoid whether there was anything about me but think I haven't been that mean a teacher as yet... I hope...
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