Maulidur Rasul 2011

Date: 26 Feb 2011 (Saturday)
Venue: SMCC

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the auspicious Maulidur Rasul celebration took place today. Led by Pn Hjh Mahizan Muhammud (Senior Assistant 1), over a hundred students and teachers started off from the field to the main hall chanting the 'selawat' to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The nasyid from the Form 5 students was melodious accept for the poor p.a system. The two-hour talk by Uztazah Hamidah Musa, Head Teacher from SK Agama Dato'Ahmad Kluang was very entertaining and meaningful. The celebration ended with 'nasi tomato' served in large trays (dulang) for four...alas I was fasting...The celebration brought back memories of  my student days where I used to walk about 3km from the field in Kulai to the mosque . I even sang the nasyid in the mosque as we were the champion for the district's nasyid competition then!

Here's what GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about Prophet Muhammad PBUH:

"He must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness." (THE GENUINE ISLAM, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come.

State Level ULBS Meeting

Date: 21 Feb 2011
Venue: SMK Desa Tebrau, Pasir Gudang

En Suhaimi Mohd Sanusi, Assistant Director from Sektor Penilaian & Peperiksaan JPNJ chaired the first state level meeting for all district assessors in Pasir Gudang. He was assisted by Pn Jamiah, the State's Chief Assessor.Pn Chan Chen Neo (STK) and I represented Kluang. It's funny how I suddenly felt old in this meeting...I suddenly remembered I've been doing this since ULBS started! Maybe it's time to pass the baton?

Hj Ainul from Muar, a long time friend receiving his appointment.

Faizah, Chief Assessor from Segamat

Thank you!

As I was observing this teacher today, I had a lot to reflect on my job as a teacher. (Twenty-four years later, am still at it, still dedicated I hope)  It wasn't because her teaching was not up to my expectations. She was good but something touched me today- touched my deep heart's core, to quote Yeats, and warmed the cockles of my heart. As I was making my way to the back of the classroom, a tall and plump student unexpectedly took my hand and kissed it. She smiled and I smiled back. It felt special. It's hard to explain. Over the years, many students have kissed my hands (it's part of the Malay culture) but today I just felt different. Perhaps it's a special  feeling  granted to teachers (and only teachers) when a student you don't teach suddenly took your hand and kissed it. Given the scorcher we've been experiencing the past two days, the small act of respect might have brought the temperature down by a few degrees! The thought of  having to stay back to carry out this observation during an afternoon session with the sports events waiting  for me at 4pm did bother me a bit. It meant I had to rush home (15km away)  right after the observation to pray and change. The previous day I only managed to pray, change and had three Jacob's crackers before dashing off to the field.

Perhaps there are some simple pleasures in a teacher's life that we have all taken for granted. When was the last time you replied to a student who greeted you at the corridor?  Did you  so much as look at the student 's face or stare blankly at the floor? When was the last time you said 'thank you' to a student who carried your exercise books for you while you stroll to the staffroom? When was the last time you bought some chocolates or sweets for your students in appreciation of their work? These are but some examples that may have become so routine in school they make us forget to appreciate our students. Our position as teachers too sometimes holds us back from showing warmth and affection to them. There are some who believe in keeping a distance from their students for fear of being disrespected. Whatever our teaching beliefs are, don't forget to appreciate what our students have done and are still doing for us. It doesn't make you a less respected teacher by showing some warmth and friendliness to your students. Let me start by saying 'thank you' to all my students...I will not be who I am today without you!

In the Midst of Hardship (Latiff Mohidin)

Today I had a 'Scribe and Messenger' activity in the library with 4PD. The girls shocked me by pulling out the information from the wall at first!! Hmm...perhaps my instructions were unclear. However, the activity went well and the winning group will receive a bag of chocolates on Monday :) Here's how it was done"

• paste strips of information on the poet around the class. Use bright papers.
• put ss into groups of 3-4
• appoint a secretary for each group
• give the task sheet and messengers look for information from the strips. They inform the secretary and the secretary write it down
• allocate twenty minutes for the activity
• the first group to finish hands the task sheet to the teacher. However the winning group is not necessarily the fastest. The winner is the group that has the most correct answers. 

You can find this activity in the module prepared by CDC. Go to 'Literature' tab above to download the module. Happy teaching!

The messengers looked for info and tells the secretary

Hide information on the poet anywhere you like!

The secretary writes the information in a task sheet

 

I found another one!

Cut the information on the poet into pieces

The groups' task sheets- a bag of chocs for the winning group!

Children's Short Story Competition, Teacher's Day 2011

Date: 16 Feb 2011 (Wed)
Venue: SMK Tinggi Kluang

I was requested by the PPD Kluang to give  a talk on what makes a good story to a group of primary and secondary teachers in the district. This was an effort to encourage more participation from Kluang for the 'Pertandingan Menulis Cerita Kanak-Kanak Sempena Hari guru 2011'.

En Anuar (PPD Anti Dadah Officer, explaining the JKD co curricular programme...

District Action Research Panel Meeting (1)

Date: 14 Feb 2011
Time: 2.30 p.m.
Venue: SK Bandar Lelaki, Kluang

I was ten minutes late to this meeting after battling the traffic jam (yes, traffic jam in this small town). The meeting was chaired by Tn Hj Shaharudin Basri Ibrahim (Principal of SMK Sri Lalang) who is heading the Action Research District Panel beginning this year. We had a stimulating and fruitful discussion although it ended up rather late. I'm not too concerned about long meetings if it achieves its goals. I like the way it was handled- plenty of opportunity was given to members to air their views without being hampered by time. The following decisions were made:

•  '1 guru 1 kajian' concept will remain
• each school to submit 4 researches -one from each department
• a seminar for primary and secondary schools will be held
• briefing for school  Action Research secretaries
• Action Research courses will be school-based
• District level Action Research seminar- July
• State level Action Research seminar- Oct

District Action Research Panel- Tn Hj Shaharudin Basri Ibrahim

Johor-Riau Internationalisation Programme, 13-18th March 2011

During the recent PPMP meeting in SMK Penghulu Saat, Batu Pahat, Mr Shanmuganathan A/L Suppiah  (Principal Assistant Director, English Unit, JPNJ) announced that the English Unit of JPN Johor is organising an internationalisation programme between English teachers in Johor and Riau. The trip to Riau will take place between 13th-18th March 2011. English teachers who are interested to join the programme need to contact their Language Officers at their respective PPD's.  Each district  can only send four teachers. Payment of RM400 is required and must be paid to your Language Officer. For further information, contact your LO.

KIK Course

Date: 7-10 Feb 2011
Venue: Intan, Kluang

I attended this KIK (Kumpulan Inovatif dan Kreatif) course with 34 other participants from all over the country. Was appointed 'Timbalan Penghulu" would you believe? Learnt a lot although I felt it was really heavy-going...ended up with a fever towards the end. Well, for the quest of knowledge, anything is tolerable. Made many new friends, Madam Chong (Principal from SMK Sul Ibrahim Kulai) , Madam Wong (Principal, SMK Senai), Pn Rahimah (Headmistress, SK Pt Kudus, Pontian), Pn Sabariah (KETENGAH, Tganu), Pn Siti Hawa (Kelantan) , Bhaskaran from Segamat (Penghulu) to name a few..thanks to Pak Abu (trainer) and Cik Fadhillah (Coordinator) for all the knowledge gained. We certainly hope to put it to good use!

Our group photo

MELTA AND ICELT CONFERENCES

Dear teachers and friends,

If you're interested in rejuvenating yourself and learning new knowledge and skills, these two conferences offer such opportunities. It does not matter whether you are a beginning teacher or a senior teacher- you will pick up  lots of ideas for your teaching and learning. I'm looking for co-drivers and roommate/flatmate (depends on number) who would be interested to attend MELTA 2011 in Kuala Terengganu or ICELT 2011 in Lumut. Please contact me at rahmahs@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you :)

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