Tuesday, February 23, 2010

- Post-Observation Reflections (Session 2 of 3) -

Hi readers,

This is my first post.

I'll skip the introduction. You can find the epic long profile under the section "me", which you can navigate to by clicking on, well, the "me" link on the left.

If you followed closely to my old World Scholars' Cup blog (benheartswsc.blogspot.com), you will realise that for this year's RES-L project, I am adopting the same approach to building up a reflections/personal portfolio.

It's the same template and same formatting. I am even using the same chatbox. Last post was in 2009, let's see who revives the Cbox first.

Since this is my first post, it will be most appropriate to settle some basics first.

This is a blog, so I will just "verbal diarrhea" (Mr Janus Lim) what I feel, what I did, what I know and other relevant stuff. Of course, this is a blog, so I will adopt a more informal approach. I'll still go for the content (ie reflections etc), but the language used will be different. Slightly broken and informal here and there, characteristic of a blog.

Yup, so let me begin.

This post is about Post-Observation Reflections (February period).

Basically, I've been going to Grace Orchard School (in Jurong, by the way) with my teammates Isaac, Benedict and Wenye for a few weeks now. To be more specific, for two weeks. We're adopting relatively well, and the students there are really receptive to us. :D

This observation period is meant for us to look at how the teachers cope, how to students act, and thereby attempt to craft a relevant course for the students to fulfill our goals. We're planning to record their school song and teach them a few national day songs for their National Day Celebrations. Quite a challenge, considering our tight timeline. Back to where this paragraph started, the observation period will help us access the students so that we can pace our lessons well. We don't want to drone on without them understanding.

From 2 weeks of observing, I have noticed a few things.

The students' personalities differ, almost from one end of the spectrum to the other. We have the really vocal ones (in a sense that they keep voicing their thoughts), and we have the really quiet ones. We have the open ones, and we have the more introverted individuals.

From my view, we might have it a little rough when we start out. I still have no idea how they would react when we take over their lessons in March. These students are so unpredictable. Luckily, we have the assurance of Ms Phoon that the teachers will be around to assist with any behavioral problems.

We not only observe the students, but we also observe the teaching and the teachers. There is this need to change subject every ten to fifteen minutes, or some breaks in between, because the attention span of the students is quite short, so they tend to lose focus very quickly.

There seems to be some conflict in class between certain individuals. I have also personally identified a few individuals that we "have to pay more attention to". However, to respect these individuals, I will not mention names.

Seems to me that the journey ahead could be a tough one. I don't know. Currently I'm struggling with the stress of Prefects' Investiture coming up (it's exactly one week away! ._.), and the influx of tests (chem formative is less than 12 hours away) and projects (is SS due this Monday? I'm dead if it is).

BUT But but I survived WSC last year. I will survive RES-L this year.

After all, I have seen the cheerful faces of those at Grace Orchard. (I don't mean any offense in the next few statements) As much as they are less intellectually-able than I am (or for that matter, we are), there is this something about them that makes me treasure what I have. They may be intellectually less-able, but as it is, they still lead happy lives. So why should I be depressed when I have slept at 2am everyday since the start of February? We lead only one life in our lifetime, might as well use it to the fullest. Be happy, be cheerful and be open. That's what I've gathered from the students at GOS so far.

It's 11.17pm. There's RE tomorrow, there's a lecture for Period 5. We'll see what happens during Period 6.

I might not be able to make it this Friday. Just received an email that I'm rostered down for Match Support for the Badminton players this Friday from 12.15pm onwards.

I'm bracing myself for the weeks ahead, especially these few days. Rehearsals from 7pm to 9pm might just kill me.

Nevertheless, I'll stay happy. We'll see what's there to share in the next post.

In the meantime, I hope you give us our fullest support in this RES-L project. I hope it will be as satisfying as I think it will be.

Thanks for reading!

Benjamin

Benjamin took a walk down memory lane at 11:21 PM

___________________________________________

singing the dream @ grace orchard school
main team blog

attendance
start tracking: April 2010
April 2 (Friday): Good Friday
April 7: RE Group Meeting (1235 - 1515)
April 9: Teaching Session #2 (1430 - 1720)

thanks
Wilfred for this blogskin | Ms Juliana Tay | Ms Ester Kwan | Ms Phoon Yee Chong

[about me]

RAFFLES INSTITUTION CLASS 1M 08 | 2M 09 | 3R 10 | 4R 11
RI SHOOTING CLUB Pistol Shooter
EX-PURE TAONANNITE [1C 2C 3C 4C '02-05 | 5J 06 | 6J 07]
Forever a Non-GEP
HEAD PREFECT 07 | MODEL STUDENT 07
CLASS CHAIRMAN 2008
PREFECT ELECT 2008
RAFFLES INSTITUTION PREFECTORIAL BOARD 09 | Human Resource Feedback Department 2009
RAFFLES INSTITUTION PREFECTORIAL BOARD 10 | Welfare Department - Raffles Merchandise 2010
Raffles Insitution World Scholars' Cup Team Member 2009!
Singing the Dream @ Grace Orchard School Team Member 2010

[my classic long profile]

Boys Like Girls
Jay Chou
Burger King
Aeroplanes
PSP(:
Money $$
Reverse Psychology
The Inheritance Cycle
Friendly Muggers
Sleeping
Real friends.
High School Musical
Cold water XD
You, for being nice enough to check out this blog.
Training
Adidas | Asics | Nike | Vans | Almost any expensive product
Adidas Ice Dive
Privileges
Accents
Advantages that benefit me
Being selfish to myself.
My EGO!
Laughing and going high with juice

People who waste money.
People who have 2 million meals a day but don't grow fat.
People who eat little grow fat; and people who have 3 billion meals a day and exercise don't grow fat.
Retardos
People who seem freakishly interested in my love live.
Fried oily food that isn't dried.
Plain Rice
People who don't study but get good grades.
People who act stupid when they're not.
People who attract attention by stupid means.
Deleting text that has pissed people off to cover my tracks
Exams
Having no time to post
The fact that the PongList is longer than the MyLoves list
Navigations links that cannot be found on the page
People who suan openly with MSN nicknames and act stupid when asked about it.
Silent Muggers
Liars who think it's hard to see that they're lying.
Sleeping late.
People who act stupid when asked about the obvious.
Shoe-lickers
People who fail to fit in but try and piss me off.
People who speak too formally in friendly conversations.
Sending formal SMSes
Receiving formal SMSes
People who act as your friend - take and never give, and run away when they have to give.
Mosquitoes (and their bites)
Crowded public transport
Money is the root of all evil
Screwed up policies
My horrible spelling
Intelligence Stratification
People with GIANT egos (i.e people who think their *ahem* very big)
Crappy advertisements
You, for looking at this blog to this extent. (so kaypoh)
Basically people who I hate (like duh)
MSN spammers
People who don't know when to stop SMSing
People who take forever to reply a message in any portal
Unreasonable Teachers
Teachers who work a 5-day week from 9am to 5pm only.
Living near teachers
Sai Gang
Graphics in a supposedly real-life show.
People who are selfish
People who don't keep their promises.

DISCLAIMER
Blog Design by WILFRED (Thank you!)
This is private property. It's for RES-L.
To be more specific, it's for Singing the Dream @ Grace Orchard School.
Do not trespass.
Navigate by clicking on the buttons on your left.
Enjoy your visit! :D