Teacher Talk (31) : Dilemma

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 8:52 PM
From

To

• rahmahs@yahoo.com

Salam Madamme,

I really enjoy reading your blog and all this while i have been your silent reader. As an inexperienced teacher (posted last year in january) i have a lot to ask you. I am teaching in one of SBPs in Pahang. This year, i have to teach SPM level and english is the killing subject for this school. I am teaching 2 classes - the creme and the last class. My concern is on how to let my students (majority sit in B level) to buck up and score A+

I am thinking of doing extra classes with them. The main concern is what are the contents of my extra class. How to go through extra class with them.

My next concern is my last class. Should i create a module for them where i go through all the grammar items? I am thinking of compiling numbers of rational cloze, grammar exercises and reading comprehension texts. For writing, should i supply them with samples of good essays and let them identify useful phrases to be used. Later let them write a similar one?

I keep on thinking and haven't started on anything for the module. Oh, i just sat for anxiety test and YES my anxiety level is to its max! :D

My response

Wassallam xxx,  I assume this is your name tx for visiting my blog. I didn't realise I hv a fan hehe...so you're teaching in sbp too..let me try to answer your questions. For the first question, yes why not? Go ahead with your extra class idea. You can make use of those classes to focus on writing for example..just writing. The normal classes can focus on the other skills. In the writing class, you can think of strategies for writing e.g. paragraph level before you do full essays, elaborations techniques, the five para essay, cont. Writing n d different genres.... anything that helps them write better. Don't be too ambitious. They will need a lot of support e.g.s topic vocab list for different topics.  Regarding your second question- since this the poorer class, my suggestion is you focus on what helps them score. I would go for directed writing, reading comp n summary n info transfer but of course you know your students better so u will b d best judge no worries, just set your mind on something and get it going. Improve as you go along. Do consult senior teachers in your panel for advice too. Best!

The Thinking Teacher

Carrying the torch..listening and speaking activity

Last Tuesday, we had a listening-speaking focus in 5 Bukhari. A much needed break from the usual lessons we've been having. The task was a consensus-seeking activity where group members must decide the last six people to board a spaceship bound for a new planet. I learned of this activity from a great book Keep Talking by F. Klippel.  This activity generated a lot of language and discussion.  In the task sheet I've added the important structures for agreeing and disagreeing for groups to use in their discussion. Here's how to carry it out: 

(credit: Amazon.com)

Language Focus: Listening-speaking

Duration: Double period

Materials: task sheet (one per student), mah jong paper, marker pen

Procedure:

1. Divide ss into groups of 4. 

2. Distribute task and go through the language structures.

3. ss discuss in 30 mins

4. Two students present their group's consensus

5. Allow two questions from the floor.

Overall, I was impressed with the students' effort particularly Zikri, Dania and Idayu. At one point, it was pretty hilarious when Bindiya and some others questioned the choice of the 70-year-old Buddhist monk! "What if he dies even before they reach the new planet?", Bindiya quipped and I played the devil's advocate by adding, "Isn't it risky choosing the old monk?" To this Idayu answered maturely, "In life we need to take risks." I was like WOW! Really happy to know that they can think on their feet :) Let's see how 5 Syafie fare when I carry this out tomorrow. Another tip is to get those who are quieter to do the presentation, not the same students who have done it before. Rotate. This way, everyone gets the chance to use the language. It is a challenge trying to get students to speak English, hence the need to have activities that require them to use the language in the classroom. Their language is by no means perfect but I love their enthusiasm. 

I love these kids!  They don't need to know that..what's important is I love being with them and preparing lessons for them :)

5 Bukhari in action...

The Thinking Teacher

Being 50

They say age is just a number. Is it really? A young teacher said to me pretty directly one afternoon, "You're old." Yes, like that right to me face. Ok, it's only fair that I mentioned the context of our conversation. It was after I said I was feeling tired lately. Still I thought it was brash or maybe I've transformed into this sensitive old girl :) Truth be told, lately I've been feeling lethargic and in low spirits. I'm trying to understand my body really and my age. I'm certainly not as energetic as I was twenty years ago. The week that was drained me so much so I left in a huff at 12.15 today just to be home. There's a lot of work piling on my table but I just wanted to be home. At home, I had a quick lunch and went to bed. I was tired. Will this tiredness go I wonder- haven't been able to be at the gym too for the past two weeks. Could it be menopause? Or could it be the heat we've been experiencing for the past six days! (Oops! I forgot to water the plants again) It's been so hot the air condition hardly makes any difference despite putting it at 16 degrees. Probably the weather is causing all this lethargy and lack of drive...or perhaps life has become such a hum drum that I need a new lease of life. School can really trap you into that fixed routine and I've been trapped for far too long. 

Being the oldest teacher in the staff room can be good or bad depending on which angle you're looking at. At this age I really appreciate some privacy although with over 60 teachers in the same common room, it's wishful thinking. Sometimes I feel such a generation gap between me the younger teachers although they are all friendly and polite. Quietly, I wish there were more teachers my age and with the same wavelength. You know, someone to talk to and confide in. I'm learning to accept that things are not the same. This is their time not mine. I've seen and done it all.

Physically, I am not as energetic as I was before and it's only natural. I know I shouldn't blame myself because age is catching up. I should learn to embrace it. What is it they say? Grow old gracefully? In my mind's eye, I'm younger than I actually am. I don't mind looking my age: I don't want to change the way I look but I need to take care of myself more especially health-wise. Deep inside I'm glad I have this moment. Turning 50 isn't so bad. I should look around me and see what I have done. I shouldn't dwell on missed opportunities, the friends at a distance, the loved ones gone or the journey not taken. I should be just glad to have this moment. Being 50 has taught me more about myself. I'm wiser and it's easier to spot the truth or deceit. I can read people pretty well and I'm more patient, thank God! Alhamdulillah...I'm still here and there's more to come!

The Thinking Teacher

Alhamdulillah...Special Grade C Confirmation

Date: 25th February 2013 ( Monday)
Venue: PICC, Putrajaya

Alhamdulillah...I received the appointment letter for Guru Cemerlang Gred Khas C last week in a memorable and stately ceremony. All ten of us GCs were present to receive the letter from Ybg Dato' Sri Dr Ali bin Hamsa, Ketua Setiausaha Negara. There were altogether 142 recipients who received either JUSA A, B or C. The Malaysian ambassador to Syria was also present to receive his JUSA A. My gratitude goes to the Promotion Board, JPA and the Ministry of Education. A feeling of great relief swept over as this confirmation took place after almost a year! 

Congratulations to my colleagues who also received their letters- Pn Saripah Ahmad (MOZAC Melaka), Pn Mahadiah Muda (SM Seri Puteri. Kuala Lumpur), Pn Noraini Kassim (SASER, Seremban), Pn Norini Jaafar (Sek Sultan Alam Shah, Selangor), En Ooi Eng Lye (Penang Free Sch), En Pakri Abidin (SM Tengku Mahmud, Terengganu) and En Nawi Ismail (SMK Teknik Terengganu), Pn Khatijah Abdul Rahman (SMK Clifford, Perak) dan Pn Zaneriah Muhammad (SMK Jelawat, Kelantan). 

Thanks to all friends, teachers and students who have supported me over the years. I will not rest on my laurels after receiving this special honour. There is still a lot to be done. A special thanks to my other half, Aziz, for driving me there. Sorry you had to wait outside until the event was over. Thank you for being my motivator and for making me drag that body to fill up the application form when I was plain lazy :)

The Thinking Teacher

Teacher Talk (30) : Open Marking?

From:
To: "rahmahs@yahoo.com"
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:14 PM
Subject: open marking

Salam Pn. Rahmah.

Thanks for your previous reply. It got me thinking. I plan to do open marking with my students from a low level class. Can I know how you conduct open marking in your class? How do you decide on what to focus and whatnot?

many thanks,

***

Second email

As an example, I get the students to do group writing activity. If they need to produce 5 paragraphs of a story, I'll have 5 groups, each works on one paragraph. Then, they write their paragraph on a mahjong paper, for instance, I paste it on the board and mark it in front of the students.

I hope my explanation is clear. =]

many thanks, 

***

My response

From: Rahmah Sayuti
To:
Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 13:45
Subject: Re: open marking

ok now i understand what you're trying to do. i once observed a teacher doing this in the classroom. however, there are some of the things you need to consider:

- font size on mah jong paper should be big enough for others to    

  see
- the language focus you would like to iron out. do not focus on 

  too many because poor learners lose focus easily
- getting the ss to point out the errors would be more effective
- group-writing may be dominated by those who are good. the 

  poorer ones are usually passive passengers. how do you address 

  this?

The Thinking Teacher

Ist PIBG meeting in SASEM

The response to our first PIBG meeting was encouraging! Hundreds for parents turned up and there was a good discussion of issues for the betterment of SASEM. It was chaired by Tn Hj Rozali Jemali, the President, flanked by the principal, En Mohd Noh Mohd Yussof and committee members. One parent made a thought-provoking analysis of the 2012 activities though. She was of the opinion that there needs to be a balance between academic and co curricular activities with academic activities taking the lead. According to her analysis, there were more co curricular activities than academic, something I happen to agree with. 

2012 was an exciting year because everything was the first- the first Sports Day, the first Kejohanan Balapan Zon Selatan etc. I remember students competing fanatically for their houses in order to win the coveted title. However, in retrospect, this may have given the wrong impression to students. If you give them a choice between sports and study, which one do you think they will choose? I think you know the answer. Well, this is 2013 and our Academic Programmes have already begun. We started with Pledge Day last week and STAR classes have also begun. Next in line is NLP (Neuro-linguistics Programming) for 70 top students in April. We are planning many more programmes for Sasemians and hope that they will respond positively.

The Thinking Teacher

Pledge Day and Elite Club Badge Presentation Ceremony, SASEM

Date: 1 Mac 2013 (Friday)
Venue: Khalifah Hall

We had a 2 in 1 programme in the assembly today. First was the Elite Club ceremony where 24 students who excelled in the Form 2 and Form 4 end-of-year exam received their badges from the YDP PIBG, Tn Hj Rozali bin Jemali. I hope his speech was inspiring to all the 135 PMR and 175 SPM candidates in their pursuit for excellence. This is more so because they are SASEM's first batch of PMR and SPM students. Thanks to all committee members, Pn Noreta, Pn Mazida, Pn Masitah, En Mohd Rafi Esa, Pn Halilah and En Hassan! Good job everyone!

Students taking their oath

The Thinking Teacher