What I learned from the Educators’ Summit….(Part 1)

1)      Sheik Haikal is an awesome entertainer. He had managed to capture the audience in his rousing performance of a rap. He said that rap is not only about swear words and bad stuff, but can also be used in teaching Literature, which he has done….Hmmm….I wonder if our students would like this…..

2)      From Howie Lau, VP and GM of Lenovo ASEAN,

a)       we must maintain continuity and trust… I gather that as a leader, we have to continue our effort in leading the team well, despite the challenges and always be truthful so that trust is not broken.

b)      we must maintain our strengths and work on our weaknesses…..As a leader I think my people skills is my strength and thus this strength should be continued with me getting to know my officers better and also to show genuine care and concern so that I can “ affect others positively everywhere I go..” One of my weaknesses is my procrastinating behaviour. Yes...(hanging head in shame)....this has been my weakness for many years…so this year I have to work on it….Help???

c)       we need to continuously improve and avoid the same mistake…I was intrigued by the questions that he suggest that we ask ourselves, everyday….” Have you made a mistake today? If you have not, what good have you done today?” If there is no mistake done, it could mean that we have not tried anything new. If there is a mistake, we have to make sure that the mistake is not to be done again…hmmmm…

d)      we need to deepen our ability to analyse and plan…As a leader, our steps are watched by everyone. Thus careful planning is needed before we role out any initiatives. Thus our AfL works here…’Where are we now? Where are we heading to? How do we close the gaps?”

e)       we need to make learning part of how we lead and how we work….I admit that reading is my biggest weakness. I do not like to read. Even as a child, I think I learn more from watching TV and listening to the radio and also from watching the people around me. I think my solution would be to find out what I need to find out from videos on the internet or just by watching and observing people who have had successes in my area of weaknesses…..

f)       leaders must be credible and be able to walk the talk….

3)      From Grace Choo, Head of Corporate Marketing and Public Affairs of 3M Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

a)       our team is our strength..... As such, we should believe in individuals, empower them and invest in them. With this support that we give our team, we will get team involvement and commitment and engagement. Also with rewards and recognition, they will strive more so as not to ‘disappoint’ the people who have so much faith in them.

b)     innovation is the key to create a future.....Innovation is planned, purposeful and relentless. It is driven by people, i.e. from the visionary leader, stakeholders’ feedback and the employees’ drive for excellence

c)       time and space is also needed in encouraging innovation..... 3M creates an Innovation Day for her employees where they do nothing but think and innovate within 3 days. Everybody’s suggestion is looked at and considered. Even though the ideas were not taken in, each employee was given feedback about their innovative ideas so that everyone is kept in the loop. Those whose ideas were taken were rewarded and recognition given. This sounds like our PLC...but a bigger scale....

 It was a really fruitful, inspiring and awesome first half before we break for lunch....The best is yet to come..... :)

………………………………..INTERMISSION = END OF PART 1…………………..……..…..

   

Forming a bond and getting inspired and energised...

After teaching for many many years, it is natural to feel jaded and sometimes too comfortable with how things are. I have not been a Form Teacher for a few years now and even though the current Form Teachers have voiced out their frustrations in handling the discipline of their charges amidst the many things that Form teachers need to do, I somehow miss having a class to 'belong' to. My last Form Class was the infamous 4E6 in 2008, with the likes of Shahanand and Naresh and of course the cute but noisy Malay boys.

I think this year I feel that I have formed a close bond with the 4N2. They are a cosy group of 23 students, very pleasant and very eager to impress. I have taught some of them when they were in Sec 1N and Sec 2N3. Their 2010 results were not really pleasing but I feel that if I can win them over and form a bond with them, we should be able to go to greater heigths for this year and next.

The class is a made up of 3 VH students who I think are really hardworking and are doing better than the non-VH students. There is also the class clown in the form of S. He is used to me asking him to zip up for a period of 5 minutes at a time if he goes off tangent...( for e.g. he would just say Ho Ho Ho Merry Xmas in the middle of the lesson....sighhh but I guess the class will not be as adorable without him) There is also SK whom I had taught in Sec 1N. She had not passed any of the tests that I had given then but this Term she surprised me with passing almost all of her tests and even being in the top 3 positions for a test! Bravo! There is also M who finds that the school rules are getting "more ridiculous".

Every Friday we have 2 extra periods. I have decided to make use of these periods for revision even though 5 students will be away for their POA lesson. The Friday session is also like a bonding session for me with the class. After making sure that one period is used for revision, the next period will be slightly 'free and easy'.  For the past few Fridays I have played 'Simon Says', used the white boards for simple quizzes and also reward them with sweets and chocolates for staying focused in the first period. Last week I decided to bring them for a walk around the school during the last 20 mins. We walked past the Sec 4E5,4E6 and the Sec 1s who are all on the same 4th Level, then to the 2nd floor passing by some Sec 2E classes and then through the Hall and then passing by the Staff Room, then up to the third floor for a toilet break and then passing by Sec 4E2,4E3 and 4E4 and then back to their class. What was the reason for this trip?

Firstly I saw that everyone was really feeling exhausted, tired, sleepy,etc....after going through the worksheet that I had given them to do for homework the previous lesson. Maybe a walk will wake them up. Secondly I wanted them to notice the things around them. I wanted them to notice how the students in the classes that we pass by are behaving and focusing during lesson time. I also want them to be inspired by the Plaque bearing the names of Top Students for the past 10 years. One of them asked if it is possible to have an N(A)'s student name on it. I told them it is possible but it comes with a lot of hard work. I challenged them to set a precedent. I hope they have enough hope, confidence and will to take up this challenge. Then after the toilet break, I took some photos of them as a class at the study area. After reaching their classroom, the bell rang for us to go home.

I feel that I have managed to form a close bond with them. They are willing to stay back for the time needed to finish an assignment. They never fail to call out or greet me when I meet them around the school. They are also very willing to attend SRP (Nobody has tried to escape from SRP for this term.Some even ask forextra coaching....)

As for me, I feel a bit energised by some of the non-routine things that I do with this class. I am inspired and encouraged by the hardworking VH students. I am determined and will domy best to make sure that we have a shot at getting our name on that Top Student plaque.....

Work assignments for 2011....

I have finished meeting up with the four teachers I am supposed to develop, over the past two weeks. I have heard from them their aspirations and goals that they have for this year. I have also discussed with them their target MSG for this year and roughly when file checks, work reviews, classroom observations, etc. should take place in this year so that they are in sync with the school routine/ practices/ datelines amidst their busy lives as a teacher, disciplinarian, financial advisor, examiner, marker etc....

Being in the second year as a People Developer,  I think I have a better idea and feel of how I should carry out my entrusted duty. As what have been said so many times before in previous years' of SMC meetings, we have to feed the teachers (with whatever they need, for e.g. info on school happenings, routines, important dates, school rules, policies and initiatives, and of course their IP areas), know how to help them solve their problems and I think most important is to communicate often. As what Siew Fong has said in a previous email, I agree most of us are busy with our own stuff, trying to meet datelines of submission of paper work, carrying out current or thinking of new initiatives of how to improve our own departments and or course, there is no way of escaping marking .. Thus we have to make a point to step out of our cubicle ( it's really our second home judging from the stuff we have on our tables and also underneath... not to say inside the cupboards and other add-on organisers...) to communicate with our teachers, especially the people we are developing. They might be looking happy on the exterior but does anyone know anyone's troubles if it's not really shared verbally or on a blog? They might have some issues that they want to discuss but too shy/ afraid/ busy to share with us. It might take be too late to discuss these issues if it's only discussed during the next work review which would happen in May...

So I have decided to make sure that I will at least sit down with my four teachers to talk about anything and everything, perhaps during their breakfast or lunch breaks. I do have their timetables pinned up at my cubicle.
I think I will learn more about my teachers at a more casual setting and when they are feeling most relaxed. By sharing about their families and their holidays, I will know about their passion and interests. When they share about their students' antics in class, I will learn about their classroom strategies and creativity in making sure that their students learn.

I want to learn more about my teachers and understand what floats their boat. In this way I will know how to develop them further to ensure that their career in AI is happy and fulfilling.....

How will I be remembered?

My uncle passed away last Friday 21st January 2011. He was 81 years old and left behind a wife and a grown-up unmarried son. Amidst tears, my aunt recalled how he lived his last days, how he was in a good mood...Although it was very apparent that he was his pain due to the post-operation injury and the complications that propped up after that, he spoke calmly to his wife and son and asked them to take care of each other, as if he knows his days are numbered....At the end of each night he would still recite his prayers even though he was not able to commit to the practical part of the prayer. He has been on his back ever since the operation on his heart, on last November.



What I remembered of him was all the positive stuff -his generousity and his undying faith to Allah and the words of wisdom that he gives to everyone when he was still alive. I remembered, as a young girl getting a $5 bill everytime our family visited him, even though it wasn't Hari Raya or even when we know that he doesn't earn much as a....hmm...I don't really know what he worked as. All I remembered was he has a passion for fishing. When he knows that we are coming for a visit, he would be ready to catch fish at Changi or East Coast the night before. He was a pious man and was also a religious leader to a few dedicated students who want to learn more about Islam and its beauty. I heard that many of our male relatives wanted to be the ones who are responsible in putting him in the burial ground, 7 feet below ground level. Another pious man gone....yes, pious men pass away on Fridays....



Death....it can come suddenly. How will I be remembered? Am I going to be remembered as a mere Math teacher of Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School? Or a colleague who shares the ups and downs of her workmates? Or as a good daughter who tries her best to be as filial to her aged parents? Or as an ordinary human being, liked by others, and trying not to get into trouble with anyone..? Or a couch potato who loves to watch tv at home to relax...? By the way my favourite channels on Starhub are 102, 104, 427, 433, 501 and 601...hehe

I think I want to be remembered as all of the above. I will just be my best and try to have a positive impact on anybody that comes my way just like my uncle ... be as helpful as I can be to my family, friends, colleagues, my Math teachers, students...I guess when we make someone happy, we do feel happy ourselves and it should make... at least for that point in time, the world a better place to live in....

2011...Here I come...

A new year, a new beginnning...but most of my beliefs are the same ...such as my belief in leadership....as stated below and in my work review form.

"...A leader must be exemplary in attitudes and mannerism. He/ She must be able to do the job that he/she demands of the others and show moral and physical support if that is not his/her area of expertise. He/ She must be an enabler and be able to help and develop the people he /she is working with. A leader must lead up, across and down..."

It compliments my own personal mission statement which is ...

"...To live life as a good Muslim, rational, caring and responsible, and be the best that I can be in any situations and affect others positively where ever I am. "

As I have read in a lot of other people's emails or blogs, etc, I agree with Einstein when he says...
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results..."

Therefore this year I have a new mantra to add to my personal mission...."Excellence and Adventure".

To achieve excellence I must have a clear vision of what I would like the Mathematics Department to achieve this year...that is to achieve a value-addedness of +0.5 to most, if not all of the tests and exams...As in AfL, we must know where we are heading towards, where we are currently at and what we should do to fill the gaps....I will work together with Hwee Hwee to ensure that we meet the targets for this year :)

The adventure comes in the way we carry out our programmes. Since the targets were only half met in 2010, new programmes and new methods should be concocted. Yes, new things will create uneasiness and unhappiness but it should also evoke excitement if we know what to focus on and we know where we are heading towards... the feeling of satisfaction and pride when we see our students' beaming because of good results at the end of each year...(yes!!!!!!)

So there's no turning back now....2011 ...here I come!!!