A great start

For the month of January to February 09, the K2 students were getting use of assuming bigger responsibility and sensitivity as well as higher concentration level in whatever they do.
Be it at play outdoor or learning indoor, it is really satisfying to hear expressions coming spontaneously from children such as:-
"I have a good idea! Can we have the passing baton match after the exercise-gym instead of parachute game..."
"Getting into trouble will be my prize for not concentrating and paying attention."
"Can we start working on the graph and measurement today please, I like to record it in my journal"
"My mother said :wa saire!, when we try out the skill that you've taught me during cookery class"
"I did so well in my work because I pay attention!"

No words can describe the bliss of the teacher where children exhibit enthusiasm and confidence in their learning.The above responses are enough to motivate me to do better each and every second with the children -- it does not mean no scolding for good though!
There are also challenging feedback such as:-
'I don't know how to count, I'm scared of this teacher, she is the most fierce teacher in the school'
'I didn't read my reader over the weekends, teacher will ask why, she likes me to move on every week'
However, it is my fortune this year to have all parents with positive attitude. With them working closely with me, these 2 students have now become part of the happiest and confident learners in class. Cheers! Congratulations to their greatest achievement in becoming resilient.

Great minds, great theme - Jan-Feb 2009

Children learnt how to respect each other and take care of themselves through knowledge about their body.

They felt and touched their team members' backbones and studied the human skeletal system.

Throughout the hands on activities, discussion,exploration and sharing, they peaked at their learning.

They were most amazed by the growth of their height while they're sleeping. The learning experience can't be more comprehensible if not supported by mom & dad whom measured their height just before they went to bed and night and right after they woke up in the morning.

They learnt that the cartilage disc in-between the vertebrae absorbed body fluid and swell resulting in an increase in height while sleeping in a laying down position. However, over the day of standing, their height may drop. Hence, sleeping and resting enough help them grow. They also discussed about other factors that determine their permanent height, such as genes.
A student who have recorded same height before and after sleep, concluded that his cartilage-disc did not swell because he passed urin before he went to sleep. This marked a marvellous flow of thoughts despite its invalidity.

They were cautioned that hurting other on the back could lead to serious injury and be paralysed. Hence, they have to be responsible and careful with their actions.

Little poem that is specially written for all my little genius of Phyllis' Riccia School:-

Sound of 'ow'
Backbones I awe
Free to take a bow
If broken then how
Respect everyone now
Don't cry like a clown
Responsibility is our
Be wise like an owl


What do I need to learn
Ready get set go, very far I will go
Not to the black hole, but what is useful to know
Ready get set go, to the quest for the goal
Not about plus, minus nor zero, but how much I can hold
Ready get set go, very very far, I know, I know!

Poems composed by Phyllis Koh Seng Hwang. mailto:copyright@Phyllis

Testimony- contributed by students' mother: "I was impressed by the details of the skeletal system illustrated by him without any reference".
Without the understanding, 'hands-on' activities, it is not likely for a child to have so much interest and knowledge on this 'big' topic.