Are You a Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire....

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Why I Become a Teacher

Frankly, I never really wanted to become a teacher. The only time I can remember myself wanting to be a teacher was back in the year 1994 when I was 8 years old. The reason was simple: all my teachers back then smelled nice, and wore awesomely nice dresses. I've had a long list of ambitions after that but becoming a teacher never got a place again in the list. I spent most...

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Pedagogi Anak Kelas Hujung

Written by Zul Fikri Zamir. Original article can be obtained here. “Kami memang orang miskin. Di mata orang kota kemiskinan itu kesalahan. Lupa mereka, lauk yang mereka makan itu kerja kami,” - Gadis Pantai, Pramoedya Ananta Toer BADRI paling awal sekali keluar dari program Projek ‘Bedtime Stories’ malam itu. Tanpa disuruh, tatkala melihat kelibat Kak Jihah,...

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Losing Big on Small Mistakes

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Are You An Asset or A Liability?

There are two types of people walking around on planet earth today. Just two. There are givers and there are takers. You know what I mean. The question is – which one are you? Time for a Change? The other day on twitter I picked up this quote from Dr Tayo Adeyemi in the UK – it really caught my eye: You are either a blessing or a burden; an asset or a liability;...

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Some Smiles Can Break Hearts

This is Amira, a 9 year-old girl who couldn't read or write. On the first day of school this year, this girl had almost succeeded in shattering down my fortress of patience with her naivety. She asks the silliest of questions and always at the wrong time - when I had just finished explaining the very answer to the question. But I put up with her, I know she couldn't...

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27 Acts of Kindness

I have always wanted to do this. This year, I will make it happen. 27 acts of kindness within 2 months before I turn 27 on 10 August 2013.  ...

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2013 MELTA-Smart Kids Way with Words Competition

Never underestimate the power of confidence. It will make you or break you. Honestly, when I registered my students for the 2013 MELTA-Smart Kids Way with Words competition, my only goals were that this competition would give them experience, expose them to a new way of seeing English, give them a chance to compete with other schools in an English competition and above all,...

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Update 30/4/2013

Things have been really hectic at school, but here's a quick update of what I've been working on. Choral Speaking Much to my disappointment, even though we have practiced very hard, we only managed the fourth place in the district level. I have to admit that I was a bit too ambitious with the script. It was a little too complicated for primary school kids. My bad. Looking at the bright side though, I have a strong team of Year 4 pupils who have experience competing in the district level, has experienced defeat and did not give up....

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If I Were a Voice (Choral Speaking Script)

This was the script I used in the District Level competition. I have a video of my kids performing this at the competition. I might upload it later. Choral Speaking Script (Recommended for Secondary School) IF I WERE A VOICE STANZA ONE GROUP 1: If I... GROUP 2: If I... GROUP 3: If I... ALL: ...were a voice, A persuasive voice, That could... GROUP 1: ...travel... GROUP...

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The Detrimental Effects of Littering

Sorry McDonald's, but I couldn't find a better picture. Littering has long been a major environmental problem in Malaysia and is fast becoming a norm in the Malaysian society. Towns, countryside, rivers, beaches, mangroves and even national parks and marine parks fall victim to this unsightly phenomenon. Although it is devastating to see our beautiful landscape smudged...

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Pizza Treat

I promised my students a pizza treat for the top scorer for English in Ujian Formatif 1.  So here is our top scorer: DZIL HARITH ILHAM BIN MAZLAN Congratulation...

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Volunteerism and the Third Sector as an Agent of Democracy

by Anas Alam Faizli (TFTN founder) Every December 5 since 1985, millions of volunteers across the globe celebrate the International Volunteers Day. This auspicious day is designated by the United Nations to mark the contributions of many voluntary organisations worldwide. During the recent celebration, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a profound message; crediting...

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Vests and Ties Have Finally Arrived

Airpak Express took almost a week but I'm so glad that our choral speaking vests and ties are finally here. I paid for these myself. Each set cost approximately RM30. So altogether for 35 students I have dug deep into my pocket and paid a staggering RM1,050. I know that I could have asked for money from the school or other sources, but I have thought this through and decided...

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Every Child is a Star

Everyone is a star. There is a Hindi movie directed and starred by Aamir Khan called Taare Zameen Par (I hope I spelled that correctly) which means 'every child is special'. I haven't watched the whole movie, I only did so halfway on YouTube, but long enough to know that it is a good movie for a teacher to watch. An important lesson from the movie is that there are hidden...

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Pen Pal Project V.2

Almost 2 years ago, I initiated a pen pal program for my Year 5 students with a classroom in Florida, USA. The response was overwhelming. Even though their English was not so good, they managed to communicate effectively in English with their American pen pals and I believe it had been a memorable experience for all of them. The only drawback is that snail mail communication...

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Sad Reality

I took these pictures today after our Choral Speaking practice. Let's make things better for these kids. This is what the classrooms look like. Another picture from a different perspective. Imagine if your kids have to learn in this kind of classroom. Bicycle shed turned into classrooms. Trust me, it's very hot in here. The 'walls'. Can you learn...

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Choral Speaking Vests & Ties

Finally I managed to pay for my choral speaking team's uniform. Dark green vests and yellow ties.  Total RM spent: RM 942.51 I will upload pictures of the team in their new uniform. Can't wai...

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Contoh Surat

Contoh Surat Memohon Sumbangan YB Contoh Surat Memohon Sumbangan 2 Contoh Surat Permohonan Pinjaman Alatan Contoh Surat Sumbangan Dana Contoh Surat Terima Kasih Contoh Surat kepada Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Contoh Surat Jemputan Ceramah Polis Contoh Surat Memohon Sumbangan 1 Contoh Surat Memohon Sumbangan Kelab Guru Contoh Surat Panggilan Ceramah Bomba Contoh...

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Ranking SPM 2012 (SBP)

KOLEJ TUNKU KURSHIAH 0.923 SEKOLAH TUN FATIMAH 0.939 SEKOLAH SERI PUTERI 0.9842 SEKOLAH SULTAN ALAM SHAH 1.1183 SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAINS TUANKU MUNAWIR 1.18 SBP INTEGRASI GOMBAK 1.226 SM SAINS REMBAU 1.3006 KOLEJ ISLAM SULTAN ALAM SHAH 1.3553 SEKOLAH TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN 1.3725 SEKOLAH DATO` ABDUL RAZAK 1.3793 SM SAINS ALAM SHAH 1.44 SM AGAMA PERSEKUTUAN LABU 1.4508 THE MALAY COLLEGE KUALA KANGSAR 1.4579 SM SAINS SULTAN MAHMUD 1.4724 SM SAINS MUZAFFAR SYAH 1.5109 SBP INTEGRASI RAWANG 1.5281 SM SAINS TENGKU MUHAMMAD FARIS PETRA 1.5287 SM SAINS JOHOR...

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