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30th July reflection
Well on the 30th July, I checked through J Maths work. I also had to go through some corrections with her. She was quite careless in terms of addition and subtraction. Her maths seemed to improve a lot.

She practically knew how to do almost all the the problem sums except for one which I think is quite difficult for her level. Upon completing her homework, the teacher in charge asked me to go through with her the muliplication table.

I tested her from 2 times table until 12 times table. I also set some questions on the spot and asked her to answer verbally. I feel that she is quite good at her multiplication and let her off to play her own games.

I went to tutor M , who needed help with fractions. I checked through his work before allowing him to submit it to his teacher. After which I played a board game with J. I ain't know what it is called but it is of a star-shaped though.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, August 10, 2008









6th August reflection...
Hey... ...

On the 6th of August, I taught J maths. I told her that1 liter is equivalent to 1000ml. Once again, she is careless when it comes to questions such as 15litres 50ml- 4 litres800ml. She gets very confused when she sees both litres and milli-litres appearing. I told her to convert all the litres to milli-litres .Thus the above example will be something like this:15050ml-4800ml.

From then, I asked her to do her subtraction as usual. After which , I asked her to convert her answer back to litres and milli-litres. Though , there were times when she could not get the right answer but eventually, she managed to get the correct answer and understood the concept behind it. I was so happy that my effeort has finally paid off. Phew!!

Oh yeah there's a good news to share wif you all,

J scored 18/20for her maths ,15/20 for her English and 19.5/20 for her Chinese.
She is very smart... =)




--End of the dae--

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Jelly! wobbled @









16th July ReFleCtiOn...
Heh heh..

Well, today i tutored J. She was restless and was not very focused. I helped her in mathematics.
The topic that she was doing was regarding distances. There were questions such as 1km800m- 925m=?m. Firstly, I reinforced with her the concept that 1km=1000m and that 1m=100cm. Next, I told her to make sure that the values are of the same unit before doing subtraction or addition. An example will be to convert 1km800m into 1800m first before proceeding with the later part of the question.

She knows how to solve such short-answer questions but was just too lazy to do them. I make her do her working out on the paper and checked them before she wrote it on her book. When it comes to problem sums, she shows a sign of disdain for it. She even asked me to help her do all. Of course I didn't and I guided her through the questions. I read the question out aloud to her and asked her what is the first step she would do. She answered it correctly and I allowed her to write it on her book.

This session with J showed that her maths has certainly improved as she know what to do and managed to complete her homework earlier as compared to the previous time whereby I was quite frustrated with her for being not serious with her work.

She enjoys looking at very LARGE model diagrams. I drew it out for her and she instantly knew what to do.

Upon completeing her work, we played tic-tac -toe. It was fun, i certainly enjoy playing with her. We also played hangman whereby I gave her a word to guess and then she will give me a word to guess. We also played treasure hunt. This game seem more like a mono-player game cos it was not very fun though.

Anyway, though I felt quite angry initially that she was still very restless, i managed to remain quite cool and that made both parties feel good............

J is just like any other kid. When it comes to playing, she is very interested but when it comes to doing maths she will be very restless. Oh yeah, J has a preference for CL not for maths, that's sad...

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, July 20, 2008









9th jUly ReFleCtiOn...
On the 9th of July... ...

I tutored J in Chinese. She was not sure about answering the comprehension questions so I guided her by going through the passage once more with her so as to make sure that she understood the passage. I also clarified her doubts. I asked her where in the passage can she find the answer and she could point it out correctly to me. I was quite happy though.

Oh, by the time I reached the centre she has already finished doing her maths. That was pretty fast,huh? She complained that I taught her the wrong stuff??? The problem sums at the end were wrong, somehow she did it by herself and got it wrong... Out of all the questions that I helped her there were only 2 that were wrong that was because I overlooked the statement. There was another question in which she anyhow filled in the numbers but still got it wrong...

After I had tutored J, I tutored M. M is a nice boy except that he can be quite mischievous at times. I taught him how to calculate the difference in distances. Today's session was not as taxing as the others. I finished teaching him his corrections and we started revising multiplication and division since we had got extra time. After which, I revised with him his problem sums and made him draw model diagrams. He understood the question but was a little careless in his calculations. He was also a little lazy and would only do the workings on paper when I instructed him to do so......

After teaching him for a while we both got a little bored. So we decided to play tic-tac-toe so as to pass time as well as to interact with these kids. We played numerous rounds and finally here is the result.... ....

Interested to know about the result,

continue to scroll down...






The champion is...





M ......



Well, I enjoyed today's session and I hoped that next time I can finish tutoring my tutee earlier and have ample time to interact with them...

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, July 13, 2008









2nd juLy Reflection...
Hmmm...

Todae, I tutored another P3 student called Js. This is because my tutee, Pam was taught by another tutor...so sad... Never mind, Js is quite a smart girl. I tutored her maths . She was lsitening to me attentively initially but later part of the day she got tired and her attention was deviated. I allowed her to go to the washroom to wash her face and to drink some water before continuing on her work. This is because i believed that if i continue explaining to her all the boring maths stuff, she will get tired and become frustrated or even bored.

Js kept on spilling water while drinking and i say 'hey so you have a hole in your chin is it?' She giggled. Afterwards, we went back to serious work. I taught her using the ratio method. I also gave an analogy to help her understand even better. Afterwhich I also gave a simple example to try on. This is to ensure that she truly understood what i told her just now.

Upon completeing 2 pages, I kept my promise and asked her a question. The question is "what type of key cannot be used to open the door?"
She guessed that it was a fake key, a wrong key,a golden key.....(NAH all wrong...)

The answer was A DONKEY, of course it can also be A MONKEY...

I tried to help her solve the difficult questions which she does not know. I think that she was just too anxious to go and play with her friends that she said "never mind , just fill in any numbers'

I am shocked. I also learnt that she disliked maths...=(
I feel that she should not take maths as a guessing game. In all, I did manage to help her complete the task assigned to her by her teachers. She is quite restless towards the end and I think that her attention span was not very long. She was either daydreaming or looking elsewhere when I was explaining to her how to go about answering a particular question. This made me having to explain a question umpteem times. This somehow hindered our progress and we completed a few pages of mathe in about 5/2 hours. This was quite inefficient, i think.

Along the way, I helped M in Chinese. He does not know how to complete the sentences and I gave him a few examples. Hopefully, he will learn from there.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, July 6, 2008









6/25 Reflection...
Eh...

Today, I tutored Pam maths.She does her work much quicker and completes them with accuracy too. I was pleased. I guided her in problem sums. An example would be 3 rings and 2 skirts cost $ 150. 1 Skirt and 2rings cost $65. Find the cost of 1 ring. I taught her using the ratio method and she was able to understand.

After which, I told her to revise on her multiplication table in which I will test her next week. I went to the lower primary section to tutor the students who have yet to complete their homework. I helped this boy called Dex.He was quite rude and was ordering me to help him erase his untidy workings. Initially, I did helped him. However, he went overboard and that made me feel quite fed up and I decided not to help him erase his untidy workings.

I had to explain a question to him umpteen times yet he kept on interuppting me whenever I explained it to him. He will just keep on saying' I don't know how to do because you never teach me how to do. ' I even drew out model diagrams for him but he would just look elsewhere. He is not focused...=(

Anyway, Dex is a smart boy just that he is too lazy to think and write down his workings.

Today's experience was not a good one...

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Jelly! wobbled @ Saturday, June 28, 2008









5/14/08 Reflection...
Urmmm...

Today, we played station games.

It was just after the mid year examinations and the students do not seem to want to continue to study. Thus,we organised station games and played with them. We just want to give them a break since it is the end of the exams and moreover, the june holiday is just round the corner. I was in charge of science. I created 3 questions that tested them basically on living and non-living things as well as plants, cells and others.

The student that i was in charge of did pretty well... and he won for himself a small, little prize---an eraser. Some students require hints in order to answer correctly while others don't.

Hopefully, they will find this form of learning interesting as they get to move about and answer some questions that they had never encountered before. Perhaps , this will motivate them to explore more information for themselves...

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, June 22, 2008









A visit to the Army Museum...
Ehh... ...

Well, I was quite happy to be able to go to the Army Museum again as it was quite a fun place. This time round, we brought along the P3s. These students seem a little too active though...

They went around the exhibits and enjoyed the show too. However , the teachers had to yell at them because they could not listen to simple instructions such as standing in 2 straight lines. The P3 students tend to be more mischievous( this is based on my own observation). Why do i say so??? Well, at the adventure park , they were quite rowdy. Moreover, one little boy was so playful that he fell and injured himself...=(


We also did not bring snacks for them because we did not had the time to buy...

Anyway, the students had their own fair share of fun and laughter. They enjoyed playing the various obstacles and of course singing some weird songs. We even thought about how to entertain these students if they are bored. However, apparently they managed to entertain each other through their own sense of humour...

I feel that the upper primary students are more obedient and sensible that the P3s ,perhaps that is because they mature faster.I feel that the trip for them would have been more fun if they behaved properly and received fewer scoldings from the teachers.


By the way, all this is part of growing up. Urmmm, I really enjoy interacting with kids. They are cute, really...=)

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Jelly! wobbled @ Saturday, June 14, 2008









6/4/08 Reflection...
Well, today I tutored the primary two students maths...

They are smart but a bit talkative and quite lazy though...

J told me he does not know how to do the remaining 4 problem sums. I taught him step by step but he would argue with me saying that 'more than' can be minus. I told him that 'more than' refers to addition of the current stuff. J does not want to listen to my explanation and just want me to tell himthe answer. For example, J wants me to say'30/3' or'50+68' . He is not in the mood to study and yearns to play.

I also helped to mark some assessment books.I realised that the students are quite weak in their maths because their times table was not memorised well enough.

Maybe it is time, i should brush up my own tutee too on her times table...
A pity, she told me she did not go and memorise the times table...=(

Well, i still believe that learning can only take place when the student is willing to accept and understand the explanation or concepts.
The students perhaps are too used to people giving them answers, i think...which is not very good right?

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Jelly! wobbled @ Saturday, June 7, 2008









5th JuNe ReFleCtiOn!
Urr... ...

Later part of the day, we went to the Army Museum. The students that we brought along were the p4-p6s. They were generally quite well- behaved. During the talk by the guide, they were also listening attentively. I think they enjoyed the section on the 'marksman training' whereby they were allowed to use a gun and shoot at the target shown on the screen. The students also enjoy playing at the adventure park. The adventure park had various obstacles in which they had to clear. They had fun competing with one another. We also brought some snacks along for fear that they might be hungry as they missed their tea-break.

I also had my fair share of fun and laughter. Besides looking after the children so as to ensure that they are safe and sound, I also played some of the obstacles with my friends. I really enjoy this outing. It was an eye- opener for me as it showed me how life was like in the army. I hoped the students will enjoy the excursion just like I did.

ps. I will like to thank fh as she offered me a helping hand when going through the various obstacles.

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Jelly! wobbled @









04/23/08 Reflection...
Eh......

Today, I did not had the opportunity to tutor Pam as she was tutored by another college student. I felt a little disappointed...

Well, I tutored WJ instead. He is a P5 student. WJ is not focused and kept on talking to his peers if they hang around him. I went through science corrections with him. I taught the 'elimination method' if he is unsure about a particular multiple choice question. In this way, he will then be able to arrive at the correct answer without much difficulty.

WJ not only likes to argue with his peers but also with the adult volunteers. When he drifts away, I will wave my hand in front of him so as to capture his attention and make him complete his work. However, this method of waving my hand in front of him does not work very well. It can only last for a short period of time...so sad...

After WJ had completed his corrections, I revised with him on cells and the reproductive systems in man.As for the topic on cells, I tested him on the functions of the various parts of both the plant and animal cells. For example, I asked him what was the function of the cell wall, he replied that the upcoming test will not test on the functions on the two types of cells but rather on the drawing of cells. I am stunned upon hearing what he had said.

Once, we had finished our revision, WJ ran off to play with his friends despite having to do the English corrections. An example of the mistake he made would be "Bob's mum scolded him for played in the field. He should correct it as 'playing' instead 'played'. It seems like WJ English is not very good.

WJ does not seem to care a lot about his examinations as when I asked him when is his upcoming examinations he said he does not know or will utter some nonsense like" my exam is 1000 months and 1000 days later'......

I felt that I should be a little more enthusiastic so that he will be more interested in learning and not be easily distracted by his peers. On second thought,perhaps, maybe i should a bit more strict with him as he is so playful. However, I do not want them to be fearful of me, so I shall be more nice and enthusiastic.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, June 1, 2008









5/28/08 ReFleCtiOn!!
Heh heh... ...

Well, just to give you a quick update of what happened yesterday.

I tutored a student called PF. He is smart but quite lazy as he refused to even read the question and just shrugged it off by saying, "I don't know how to do." He is not in the mood to study as he fiddled with his pen at one moment and at the next moment he was chatting with his school mate.

When I asked him which part of the question does he not understand, he will reply by saying'I don't understand the whole question." I explained to him step by step. I even drew out the model diagram as he could not even be bothered to draw it out by himself. I told him that this particular question can be solved by using algebra. He was reluctant to use algebra, perhaps he is not good at it or others.

After attempting a few questions , he packed his bag and ran off to play table tennis. The teacher spotted him and asked him to show her his practice paper. The teacher refused to allow him to play as he has yet to finish his work. By the order of the teacher, he has to complete the piece of work before going off to play. His face turned sulky and ' black' almost immediately. Fortunately, he became serious and did the remaining questions properly.

I also tutored M. He is a good student. He understands concepts quite easily. He even remembered what Sarah has taught, which is the '11 times table'. I revised with him on the topic called"Fractions". Basically, I revised with him on proper, improper and mixed number. He recalled quite quickly. Next, i taught him a new topic on mass and length. I taught him on the conversion for mass. For example, 1kg=1000g.
Subsequently, I gave him examples to do and he know how to do but I think that sometimes he is quite careless.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Thursday, May 29, 2008









04/16/08 ReFleCtiOn
Hmmm...

Heh heh, guess who I tutored today???

Since Pam did not come today, I tutored Jac instead. He is a smart boy but quite talkative.Initially, he was quite quiet and he did his math corrections obediently. However, not long later, he started talking non-stop about wanting to fly to the sky and even sticked paper on his forehead. This made me feel very funny and he certainly did light up my day.

There was once when I explained to him a problem sum regarding 'money' umpteen times and yet he still does not understand. Next, I decided to draw model diagrams for him only for that particularly question as he does not understand. Unfortunately, he was still unable to understand the concept behind it. Lastly, I racked my brains and thought of a scenario which is much simpler but is related to the question. He was able to understand it. I was elated. However the sense of satisfaction did not last long as he would say 'Yes' and then'No' when I questioned him again whether he understood the concept.

Jac would not want to listen to my explanation and kept on mentioning about wanting to fly to the sky. I said thet I would allow him to fly to sky if he completes the task assigned to him by his teacher-in-charge.I even said that if he completes his work early, I will allow him to go off and play. He would not want to play and said that he will have to go back home early.

He told me his ambition was to be a policeman. I told him that in order to be one, he has to be obedient and be a good role model by completing the tasks assigned.

At around5.30pm, his parents came to pick him up. The teacher told his parents that he has a little more work to complete and asked them to pick him up later at around six in the evening. Upon seeing his parents, he quietened down and did his work seriously. I think the thought of going home somehow motivated him to complete his corrections.

In the end, he was left with only 2 corrections undone. I also folded a paper swan as a form of incentive for completing most of his work. Though he did not manage to complete the last two corrections , this experience certainly gave me a sense of confidenence when it comes to dealing with such interactive students.

ps. I really enjoyed tutoring Jac as he made the tutoring session become very lively. He is an interactive kid and I hoped to be able to tutor him again.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, May 25, 2008









Reflection [4/9/08]
Hmmm... I am sure you will want to know what happened today.
Well, Pam did not had much homework to do today. She had a worksheet which she had to fill in the activities that require water. I racked my brain and came up with a few such as gardening, washing of utensils and sports day.
Upon completing the worksheet, she did her corrections for her english worksheet. She did not score well for her 'grammar test'. For example, the past participle of 'have' is 'having' . The word 'having' is formed by removing the letter 'e' and adding the 'ing' to the word 'have'. However, she spelt the word as 'haveing' instead of 'having'. I corrected her by teching her that words ending with 'ing' will have to have the letter 'e' removed.
Due to the errors she committed in the 'grammar test', she haad to do her corrections ten times for each of the incoreect word. I really pity her. I think that her teacher should not have asked her to do the corrections ten times. In my opinion, I think that understanding the concept of past participle and others is more important and useful than copying the corrections ten times. This is because the student may just copy blindly and repeat similar mistake.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, May 18, 2008









3/19/08 reflection
Today, I went to the Lakeside family centre. The children seemed to be very happy upon seeing us. Well, I think they must be very excited to see some new faces.I tutored Pam, a Primary 4 student. I introduced myself to her but she ignored me. So sad... Pam is a quiet and focused girl. She is not easily distracted by her playmates. I told her that if she encountered any difficulty along the way, she may feel free to ask for help. Pam is person filled with determination. She does not give up easily when she does not how to solve a particular maths question.

Upon completing her Chinese assessment book, she will go to her locker and take out anothe r Mathematics assessment book or worksheets to complete. Pam is not playful. In my opinion, she is a student who makes use of every opportunity to study. She indeed enjoy being alone. It was like after taking another assessment book to complete she will sit at another corner far away from me. It made me feel really quite bad...Never mind look on the positive side of life... I feel that she studies best when she is independent. When I tell her that she can go and play, she refused.

Apart from the above, Pam is a fast learner too. For example, there is a comprehension question(MCQ) in which I taught her the elimination method. After teaching her that method, she was able to apply it to other questions . This really surprised me!Though she is an obedient and good student, I still feel that she needs to be more outspoken. She should interact more with her peers as well as people of various age groups. Social interaction is very important for people just like us.

I look foward to the next visit. I will make it a point to be more friendly with them. The smiles on their faces truly light up my day. Most importantly, being a tutor for the FIRST time in my life gave me a whole new experience and feeling. It is a feeling that I never had before and also one that I will never forget.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Sunday, May 11, 2008









4/2/08 reflection
Well, today Pam had a lot of homework to complete.This resulted in me being a little frustrated as I not only had to teach her but also go through nearly every single problem sum with her.Perhaps because of a little pressure that I am experiencing that caused me to be in a slightly bad mood for that day.
I urged her to calculate faster if she could, as she calculates very slowly with her fingers. I also gave her words of encouragemnet such as "jiayou!"
Perhaps,I should put myself in their shoes and understand how they feel after a day of work in school and having to face the tutors again in the centre.
Pam was not very alert and focused today. She kept on turning her head to look at the group of boys playing games at a corner.
I think that I can try rewarding her with sweets as a form of incentive. In this way, she will work towards her goal and accomplish her homework in time. I should also not allow my mood affect the way I teach my tutee. Maybe, I should learn to be more patient when it comes to teaching and reinforcing concepts. This is a learning point that I will take away with me so that I will know how to tutor even much better.

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Jelly! wobbled @ Saturday, May 10, 2008