Poem: Exam Blues

Original image from here

These numbers are spinning
My brain is shrinking
Cold sweat breaking
I’m not faking
I did some reading
Before coming
But when starting
To do calculating
My brain went flying
I think I’m dying
I feel like crying
Though it’s embarrassing
I have stopped caring
Though I won’t try cheating
Teacher, teacher
I need some helping

Note: Wrote this while I was invigilating one of my classes sitting for their Add Maths paper. =)

Eureka Moment : Vocab lesson

It was just a day like any other day at work. It was a wet morning because of the rain and the air was so cool that I was shivering. Wearing a silk batik kebarung (it's Batik Day remember?) was not a very good idea since the material did not provide enough protection from the cold weather. Damn it, why can't we wear trousers to work? It will definitely ease our movement and then shield us from the ever discerning eyes of the miang-miang pucuk keladi boys.

I went to one of my classes, planning to teach them vocabulary. Why? Since I'm planning for them to write an essay on their dream holiday destination, I want them to have the vocabulary items that they'll need for the task (to save me from the headaches) .

It was just after recess. They've just had their meal. They looked sleepy.

Siap la korang! (They were lucky I just had my compulsory mug of coffee. Otherwise...)

I delivered the lesson, where we discussed and listed the things that they'll be able to perceive through their senses when they're at the seaside.

After they've understood what they need to do, I asked them to list the words associated with a few other destinations/locations. Some were diligently doing the task with full concentration while a few were busy chatting and being 'jellyfish' on their desks despite me reminding them.

So, at the end of the lesson, I asked them to submit their work. One student, bless his soul, asked;
"Eh, need to submit ah?"

Me (with evil grin)
"Yes my dear, this is your vocabulary test. "

Their facial expressions looked somewhat like this:

Hah! Next time buat la lagi! Malas-malas la nak buat latihan. Muahahahaha!!!!

Eureka Moment : How to Keep Your Students Awake and Alert during 2.30 pm Class

The extra classes (or Kelas Bimbingan Akademik) for the kids in exam classes (Form 3, 5 and Upper 6) have started. Not much of a burden since I'm teaching only one SPM class and at the same time, I can focus on improving their achievements in English.

The only problem, my slot is at 2.30 pm. The most sleepy hour in the afternoon. That's when all the carbs from lunch are making their eyes very sleepy. I don't need a crystal ball to
see the problem.

Then, the 'Eureka' moment happened. I suddenly got an idea to keep them awake, alert and active for my extra class. Hehehe...
The secret is...


....


...


...


...



...



...


... Everytime a student (chosen by yours truly) gives the wrong answer or response (for something that was taught a million times already), their table partner will give them a slap. On the cheek.

None of my students slept.
And they finally managed to concentrate and understand.
Mission accomplished.

Muahahahahahahhahahaha! *evil laugh*

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Note: In case any of you are thinking that I mendera (physically abusing) the students, It wasn't a tooth-breaking/lip-bleeding kinda slap... More of a 'tampar2 manja' / playful slap. Hahahaha

Only in 4PV: Besan

Today was just a rather pleasant day for me at work. Just doing stuffs that needed to be done, calling HQ ppl over some mix-ups, calling my students' parents to enquire about their son's prolonged absence from school, completing my report, planning my lessons and etc. Overall, a rather pleasant day.

Both my classes didn't cause me much pain in the you-know-where-region and they were cooperative. Something to do with the moon phase perhaps? My form 5 class was okay and they were at best attentive enough in class (if not they wouldn't be able to do the tasks). We did literature today. The Pearl (Yes, that famous novel with characters frequently mentioned in my students' mid term essays). Apart from the usual lazybums-mangkukhayuns, the rest were doing their best and giving their (easily-distracted) attentions to what we were doing in class.

The best moments of the day happened in my 4PV. I am their homeroom teacher, their mummy-and-evil-stepmother-2-in-1. In this class I have a few mischievous kids (all 23 were boys). Not bad, just being naughty and behaving their age. Some did managed to give headaches (and heartaches) to their teachers although they would not risk making me uber-pissed off with them (nak mampos apa?). Sometimes, I tolerated their cheekiness but with very clear-cut limits and they know what is acceptable or not in my class. So far, no major problems for me.

One of my students was particularly mischievous that I had to give him an ultimatum. Sing or disrupt his lessons and he'll be singing on stage during school assembly. Worked real fine to reduce his disruptive behaviour. Today, when he (accidentally) swore at his friend, I told him that I'll slap his mouth with a book the next time I hear him or any of them using that kind of language in my class. Dasar Mak Tiri betul...

Oh ya, back to my story. During class today, I started the lesson rather smoothly and they were doing their tasks when I heard them teasing each other by calling names. At first I thought it was the age-old calling other's parents game but upon closer scrutiny (and real pasang telinga) I realized that they were calling names of children, their children!!

Something like,
Jesicca anak Jerry, Monica anak Baje, etc.
I can't help but to smile and responded by asking whether they were giving each other's child's name.

Me: Kamu beri nama anak ke ni? Bagus lah, Pilot namakan anak Baje; Baje namakan anak Pilot...

Boy : Betul tu cikgu. Nanti anak mereka sudah besar, anak Pilot kahwin dengan anak Baje. Be'isan' seduai iya...

Me : Hahahahahah...

There were more but let's keep it for another day. yeah? I need to continue my work now..Hehe