Fate?

Last night, I have reminded myself incessantly not to go to my ex form class during morning assembly since I have reliquished that appointment. In addition, I even reminded myself not to mention dy/dx or any other A Maths concepts to the students that I will be teaching since I will not be teaching A Maths anymore. In fact, I went to school in anticipation in teaching E Maths (sitting in the E Maths teacher’s lessons that I will be taking over) since I knew I would not step into the A Maths class again. Surprisedly, I was being called to relief A Maths lessons that I have handed over since the A Maths teacher is on MC. At that juncture, I felt jubilant as I will be seeing these students again. In  contrast, I knew that students may think that I have lied to them since I have told them that their A Maths teacher is coming back today.  In any case, I just told myself that I will need to explain to them for the discrepancy of information. Well, I went back to my form class to mark attendance even though I knew I would not have the chance to do it again. This seems to be conflicted of the words I wrote on Shin Yi’s wall. Oops…

In any case, I have told myself to devote my heart and soul in teaching E Maths this time round. Let me set a goal for this mission. I hope to inspire students that Maths is fun and explain the importance of studying E Maths.

My last day as an A Maths teacher in school

As mentioned in my previous few blog entry,  I hate farewell. In view of the innate nature of being emotional, I will keep pondering over those sweet moments that I have. It is a horrible feeling as your heart is trapped with the emotions for days. That is why I have always hoped that I would cry it out as I will feel better after that. Yet, it has always failed all this while except for today. I guess it is fated as my timetable ends with my form class which I have been deeply bonded with for the past 1 month. Well, I have one achilles heels in my life which is that I will burst out my emotions when I see the people or place that I am going to depart for 15 mins or more. Thus, I began to weep in class when I knew that I will be returning them to their authentic A Maths teacher even though it is for a good cause. Although it is awkward for a MALE teacher to weep in front of the crowd due to traditional thinking ingrained in most Singaporeans,  I feel that it is alright as it is not healthy to keep your emotions inside your heart for too long. In short, the students in my form class (that is my last time I could say it) are indeed fabulous. They have even prepared a card for me even though I am just a relief teacher. In the card, they have promised me that they will work hard to get an A1 for A Maths (which I have failed to do it – I regret it till now.)  That is indeed a marvellous farewell gift for me! I am indeed touched for the fact that my teaching method suits them and have inspired them to learn A Maths. For the Sec 5NA A Maths students, I really appreciated the cake that you have bought for me. You should not have gone into such an expense.  Although all of you may not be in the Express stream, I can sense that most of you will  work hard for A Maths. Thus, I am confident to say that you will do well if you continue to work hard. In my perspective, a teacher is someone who mould the students not only academically but also their character. It is a career where teachers touch life which most outside jobs could not achieve this goal.  Thus, I am convinced that teaching is a suitable job for me even though it has other responsibilities (i.e. admin matters) to fulfill. In any case, I would treasure those moments that I have with all the A Maths classes and motivate me to study hard during my university days. In summary, I really hope that I have taught them well (i.e. good grasp of the A Maths concepts).

Setting a goal in life

After preaching the importance of having a goal in life to my students in school, I feel that I should do likewise before heading to university in late July this year. Thus, I have decided to strive for double major programme – Economics (as my primary major with honours) and Statistics and applied probability (as my 2nd major) after attending the FASS talk for returning national servicemen with Pang Wei at NUS. Well, I knew it is going to be arduous task for me as it expects a CAP of at least 3.5 (which I heard it is equivalent to a B+) at the end of the 1st year studies and for 4 qualifying modules – linear algebra, calculus (which I am teaching the basics to my students now. Hehe…), microeconomics and macroeconomics.  After scrutinising at the requirements, I knew it is a challenge for me but I will not give up and strive for this goal (That is the reason why I pen it down in my blog). Even if I have failed to meet the requirements, I knew that I have tried hard and convinced that I am not fated for it.  If that is the case, I shall concentrate on my economics degree instead.

In any case, I was indeed disappointed that the principle of economics – opportunity cost is being applied to the reality whenever I have to make a decision. That is, I have checked from MOE website that the statistics degree (as a single major) does not allow me to teach Secondary school Maths in future. It is the economics degree (as a single major) that could allow me to teach JC Econs or Secondary English in future. However, I do not want to be a English teacher. This subject has daunted me for years and violated my dream goal that I have been graving  for.  Thus, I hope that MOE does consider other discretionary factors that would allow me to teach A Maths in future as I believe that a A Maths teacher does not need to possess Maths degree to reveal his interest in Maths. There are definitely other reason that impede him for choosing Maths degree.

In short, let me head towards my goal first though I hope that my goal complements my career path. 🙂

Fate?

After teaching for the past 3 weeks, I began to realise that I am fated to teach the students born in 1993.  That is, I have taught students born in 1993 history in year 2007  and I am teaching students born in 1993 A Maths now. Although the students that I have taught  for the two different years are in different schools, I feel that I can associate with them better. In fact, they are the ones who give me aspiration to be a teacher in future.

Since I am in the topic of fate, I must admit that I do not resign to it initially. However, I have begun to believe in its existence these days. For instance, I have thought of applying relief teaching post in Seng Kang area as I thought it was far from my house. Thus, I began to try calling Compassvale Secondary as my 1st attempt and they have a position for A Maths which have been my dream job. Even though this post requires interview which have been my achilles heels (I am not good in words ), I was blessed to be able to clinch the job since I have a lot of friends who are still unemployed even though they have applied for relief teaching position.

In any case, I am going to miss students that I have taught in Compassvale Secondary when I am handing over to their authentic A Maths teacher. I knew that it is inevitable since I am not a permanent teacher. However, I will miss those moments that I have with them. I really hope that they will score well in their O level as long as they put in their heart and soul towards it.

2nd week of teaching A Maths in school

Time really flies. This is the 2nd week of my 4 weeks assignment. I really treasured those moments that I have spent with all my classes despite scolding them at times for the sake of meeting lesson plans. However, this does not mean that I would rush to meet lesson plans when they do not fathom the key concepts required in the syllabus.

First of all, I found myself fortunate to be able to teach my favourite subject – A Maths in a school at my current age. I feel that I could gain satisfaction from teaching A Maths if I could make students to understand complicated concepts which daunt them  at the first sight.

Secondly, I am fortunate to have encountered quite a handful of very pleasant students. Notably, I would like to commend my class chairman – Wen Xuan who has insidiously aided me in various occasions other than meeting his job requirements. This could be exemplified from the fact that he has swiftly contacted me when his classmate has returned back to school in the afternoon who has skipped school in the morning . In addition, I find his utmost seriousness in his studies laudible – all thanks to his clear goals that he has set for himself. 🙂  For instance, he chose to stay in class to revise his work during recess time and he has greatly contact me to proceed promptly to class and start my A Maths lessons 5 mins early since there is no teacher around at that instant. Thus, I really hope that he will do exceptionally well in his O levels if he really holds his perservance in his studies right till the end. In order to eliminate the bias that dissidents may think that I possess, I shall commend about Edmund Bay as he has voluntarily approached me to teach him the lesson that he has missed during his absence in school.

Thirdly, it is indeed my pleasure to have a sweet and fun form class. Inevitably, I regale my personal stories on how I progress for my academic ladder. Thus, I really hope that I could inspire them within my utmost ability.

For the rest of the A Maths classes that I have taught, they are generally alright. For the weaker A Maths class, I have the tendency to scold them more initially due to their noise level. It does not mean that I don’t care for them. In fact, I strive to help them as much as I could by revising their Sec 3 work after school. In fact, I can go the extra mile to help them if they really need since the role of teaching is to touch lives and not to condemn them. Thus, I hope that the students in this class would not think that I do not dote them by giving them charred face all the time. In contrast, I did all this as I care for them since wastage of academic time will not do them any justice if I do not scold them.

In short, I hope that I would be able to continue to touch lives in other schools by clinching assignments that allow me to teach Maths immediately after I have completed this assignment. Well, I really hope that I would be given the opportunity to teach A Maths in a school again.