Lifeskills Camp
Lifeskills Camp was undoubtedly the highlight of term 1, and I think most of my students enjoyed themselves tremendously.
The high points of the camp for the students were:
1. Squeezing onto the small mat for class picnic by the sea.
2. Realizing that it's possible to bathe in just 5 minutes (no more of those hour long 'beauty showers').
3. Sleeping in close quarters with your classmates in the classroom (so now you know who talks in their sleep, who snores, who cannot do without a bolster etc...)
4. Cheering until your voice becomes hoarse.
5. The pool game at SAFRA where you had to fill a bucket with water from your hair!
6. Singing/Dancing/Acting for Talentime in the field beside the warm campfire.
7. Crying before/after Talentime because you were too touched/overwhelmed.
8. Cheering for others when they win.
9. Keeping up the spirit even if you don't win.
10. Realizing the importance of team spirit and class unity.
March Holidays
On the first day, all the teachers went to an Independent Schools' Conference at ACS (I). It was the first time I'd been to their new IB block. Gosh, it was really posh.
I remember the two times I'd been to ACS for official functions. The first was when I was in P6 and ACS was one of my considerations as a Secondary school, and the second was when my younger brother was considering going there.
But it turned out that none of us went there.
Of course I'd been there during a string orchestra camp in Secondary 2. Yeah...they have wonderful facilities.
Anyway, back to this conference...I had hoped to catch up with my JC civics tutor, who was presenting a paper there, but alas I didn't manage to see her.
But it was all in all a rewarding conference, got to know more about the English programme at RI and HCI.
Well, so what did I do for the rest of the holidays?
I had 2 days of a Kagan course, it's this series of courses for teachers by this innovative American educator that will build up students' interest in the classroom.
On the first day of Term 2, I tried some of the 'structures' we learnt at that course with one of my classes, and it seemed to work fine!
Storytelling Presentations
I remember the two times I'd been to ACS for official functions. The first was when I was in P6 and ACS was one of my considerations as a Secondary school, and the second was when my younger brother was considering going there.
But it turned out that none of us went there.
Of course I'd been there during a string orchestra camp in Secondary 2. Yeah...they have wonderful facilities.
Anyway, back to this conference...I had hoped to catch up with my JC civics tutor, who was presenting a paper there, but alas I didn't manage to see her.
But it was all in all a rewarding conference, got to know more about the English programme at RI and HCI.
Well, so what did I do for the rest of the holidays?
I had 2 days of a Kagan course, it's this series of courses for teachers by this innovative American educator that will build up students' interest in the classroom.
On the first day of Term 2, I tried some of the 'structures' we learnt at that course with one of my classes, and it seemed to work fine!
Storytelling Presentations
Some points to note for storytelling and other future oral presentations:
1) Don't speak in a 'lazy' manner. Ar-ti-cu-late all syllables clearly.
2) Don't cover your face with the script.
3) Pronounce the consonants at the end of words clearly. (kick, not ki, dream, not drea
4) Don't mix up your 'b's and 'p's.
5) Distinguish between 'three' and 'tree', 'thank' and 'tank'.
6) Don't block your supporting actors/let your supporting actors block you.
7) Don't let your supporting actors steal your show/take a lot of your lines.
8) Let it become a play(drama), rather than story telling.
I showed my classes a recording of the Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida, to highlight the importance of preparedness, focus on the task, losing oneself in the performance and stage grace.
However, the mischievous students couldn't stop laughing at Uchida's facial antics.
Well, she's entitled to be eccentric, since she's already achieved greatness in what she's doing.
4) Don't mix up your 'b's and 'p's.
5) Distinguish between 'three' and 'tree', 'thank' and 'tank'.
6) Don't block your supporting actors/let your supporting actors block you.
7) Don't let your supporting actors steal your show/take a lot of your lines.
8) Let it become a play(drama), rather than story telling.
I showed my classes a recording of the Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida, to highlight the importance of preparedness, focus on the task, losing oneself in the performance and stage grace.
However, the mischievous students couldn't stop laughing at Uchida's facial antics.
Well, she's entitled to be eccentric, since she's already achieved greatness in what she's doing.
Do check out her website http://www.mitsukouchida.com/ to find out more about this truly great Asian pianist.
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