Teaching and prepping to teach...

13/01/14

So I've been practicing writing the date like this, one, because that's how it's written here all over every paper I receive, but two, because it makes so much more sense.  The day, then the month, then the year - silly U.S. ;)

Today was a wonderful day - I know this post is on the same day as my weekend one technically, however the limited internet hours really don't bode well for blog posting; especially on all day long adventures over the weekend - so today, you get a two for one.

This morning I was so tired. It was definitely the hardest morning to get up.  Also, having to get to school at 7am doesn't help. I drank some instant coffee though (it's gross), got ready, and went to school.  Today was the first day of me teaching my own lesson - so I was pretty nervous!

In the morning I met with the entire staff and then our PLC, as it was another late-start Monday.  I observed 4G/H and 1D, prepping mentally for my lesson later that afternoon.

When it came time for me to teach, I didn't really get nervous until I asked the class my first question of the discussion.  "Who can share what they wrote for the warm up?" Nothing. Just stares.  No one was even whispering to their neighbor - just eyes on me, stares.

They lightened up a little bit as I continued with the popcorn smell diffusion demonstration, and joked with them about shopping at Jurong Point (the local mall - our favorite).  I'd say the lesson went really well for my first day... My CT and our co-teacher seemed to like it, except for when I tried to give out the popcorn at the end of the period - apparently that isn't allowed, oops! I was able to give it to my students later though after school ;)

After my lesson was the biggest highlight of the day however.  Today, the national exam report scores for the previous years' Sec 4 and 5's were released.  They all return to campus, in uniform, to find out from their form teachers how they did on their exams - it is a really big event! I was so surprised by the hustle and bustle, excitement and fear that shook campus.  Students were lined up by their class when we walked in to the main hall, listening to the principal give the overall school results and comparisons to the National averages, etc.  My CT explained to me that the scores are released to the teachers, and the students (and even some parents) report to the school to find out their scores, and get more information on what's next for them - Junior College or Polytechnic.

Singapore's education system post-secondary school (to the best of my knowledge) works somewhat like this - if you score well enough on 'O' level exams, then you go to a JC and then a University.  If you score lower on 'O' level exams, or do well on 'N' level exams, you most likely will go to a Polytechnic University. If you don't score well at all, then you can either retake some, or multiple of the subject tests, or you can return for a 5th year of Secondary school (however, that's pretty unlikely).

Let me just tell you, the atmosphere was crazy at this score releasing event! I saw parents filming, students hugging, students excited, students nervous, students crying!! It was a very emotional afternoon for them - so much pressure is placed on these scores, not only for their name, but the school's name as well.  It was nice to see some JC's and polytechnics there advertising for their schools - I guess the students, now that they know their scores, will apply to schools right now and then start in about March.

After school, I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep - but I was excited to go with Elise to the Jurong Bird Park!  I got a second wind of energy, and we walked around looking at amazing beautiful birds for the better part of the evening.  I took SO many pictures because when I come back to SB in February, I'm doing a lesson on adaptations of birds, and now I'll have a ton of amazing, real, up-close and personal pictures, and videos to show to my students!

Cassowary! (Like Kevin, from Up!)

Scarlet Macaw

Flamingos

More macaws :)

black crowned night heron - Thanks Erika!

Jenday Conure

Vinaceous Amazon

Yellow-billed Storke

It was such a beautiful park, and we saw so many amazing birds that I had never heard of, let alone see in my life.  It is amazing to me the adaptations that birds have undergone - the spectacular colors and interesting beak shapes... nature blows my mind!

After the bird park we met up with Katie for dinner, went home, and now I'm off to bed for another long day tomorrow! 18 more days in Singapore!!! :(

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Cat of the Day

Today’s cat of the day goes to this cat painted elephant that we saw at the zoo! I really wanted to buy it, but it was $3000! ;)