ahhh the joy of teaching and learning ....

Woke up today balancing the ups and downs of life. My life as a teacher has been overwrought with obstacles and unnecessary bureaucracy. Too many dictate what is right and wrong without ever consulting what my and my students needs are. But perseverance and my love for these kids forged me onwards. Terrific friends and mentors have guided and seen me through. Mostly my students are my muses. They direct my teaching. I get up and go to school with this thought: "What can I do today that would direct my learners to cue me into what they need to know?"
I encouraged these eager minds to read "PS I LOVE YOU" and those who did loved it, then watched the movie and a few even reread the book! Mission accomplished! Then we go to writing journals.......what would they say to their loved ones and I was thrown aback by their responses. Total amazement on my part. I believe now that my greatest teachers are these kids.
We are currently working on The Star-Pizza Hut's Mag. Inc and yet again, their creativity and ability to go beyond astounds me. We now have feature articles on inter-racial marriages, lies and insincerity in male-female friendships, mind over gadgets, the masculine voice in choice school texts and more.

Will update soon on their finished products but for now, the journey towards accomplishment is too much for me already. I am elated and am so proud to be their English teacher.

Dare to change?

MELTA CONFERENCE

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/6/13/education/6429230&sec=education

International Conference on Linguistics, Literature and Culture (ICLLIC)

http://www.usm.my/icllic2010/default.asp?pohon=1

Reading in English Program in School

We launched the Reading in English Program on 25 April (in conjunction with World Book Day). The objectives were
* to instill and drive the reading habit amongst teachers and pupils alike,
*to allow English teachers to act as reading models / to select reading models amongst students,
*to allow students to extend their abilities to
-value reading as means of learning and enjoyment
-read for a variety of purposes
-read a range of contemporary and classical texts appropriate to their interests and learning needs,
-read text from a variety of genres and cultural traditions,
-read independently.

Proposed Activities:
1. Selection of Readers of the Month/Year
2. Inter-Class Competitions (Book Talks, Book Reports, etc)
3. In-Class activities (SSR, Choral Reading, Reading in Pairs, and other Reader Response Strategies)
4. Quizzes on books and authorship