I have no idea!

Just a random Persian cat we encountered at a cat cafe

I’m sorry to hear this.

Strength and courage to you

Today is the first day of the school vacation. I get about four weeks of uninterrupted rest to recharge and recalibrate and waste my life away!

And spend more time with the kids and in-laws

Hope you are feeling better

Pang gang liaoz!

Last day of work this week, and I could WFH.

I dutifully sat down in front of the TV and got cracking on the 2026 Term 1 Scheme of Work for P5 Foundation Science. I actually wanted to multitask by watching “Our Planet” but the cognitive load of whipping the SOW into shape demanded my full concentration. Still, it was nice to have David Attenborough’s sexy voice as background noise.

After that, I should have moved on to doing Term 2 Scheme of Work, but I decided to render service excellence by coming up with an overview of all the Process Skills that would be taught to students from Primary 3 to 6. Each teacher was given a particular level to tackle, so as the Overall In Charge, I felt super compelled to put all the pieces together in a nice table so that we would gain clarity and purpose from a big-picture perspective. I actually didn’t perceive this as work because well, my son would benefit from my effort in time to come. —-

Since I’m sending my son here, I provide service excellence 🤪.

I mapped out the process skills so that each teacher can get a holistic view n how each cog contributes to the smooth functioning at one glance.

I have also parked Yishun Pri’s package into the Process Skills folder n will strive to integrate both sets of resources next year.

Cheers n happy holidays —-

I live with my parents-in-law for one month every year. My father-in-law confessed that it took both him and his wife to supervise my children. I think he would go mad if he has to take care of them on a long-term basis

I was telling my friend this today:

Parenting makes me less happy but imbues my days with more purpose.

It’s a worthwhile endeavour - no doubt - but I would enjoy it more when they grow into their teens and allow me to have snippets of my life back haha

On some days, I can’t even eat what I want without pandering to their preferences. This loss of autonomy is difficult for me.

Is DINK the norm in your country?

I’m aghast. The Japanese won’t expect people to scam them at all. It’s a country where you can get back your lost item 9 out of 10 times.

/s

As a Singaporean, I gotta say that that chicken rice doesn’t look authentic. We eat it with cucumber slices, not scraps of vegetables.

I’m surprised that your daughter (/‘d other children?) didn’t clamour to go elsewhere!

Thanks for the read. I enjoyed your report

The day of my school’s Learning Festival beckoned, and I had to present on behalf of my group.

The organisers utilised a World Cafe format this year, so we got to present twice to different colleagues within the stipulated time. It was a great thing that I had a second chance. I felt that I was rambling too fast during my first time. Although I was a seasoned teacher, it wasn’t easy presenting to people whom I hardly knew. What’s more, a vice principal was listening to me (in rapt attention, I hope) for the greater part, so I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t affected. Thankfully, I regained my composure during the second time. I spoke more steadily; my movements were more intentional; and I think I brought my participants on a more purposeful journey. That worked out for the better because my principal happened to watch us the second time hahaha.

Every presenting opportunity gets translated into battle experience under my belt.

I was excited that my colleagues based their Talk Moves project on “Magnetic Max”. My eyes sparkled with anticipation because that was a wonderful book to reinforce my son’s understanding of magnets. Borrowed one copy from the Level Head and resolved to go through it with my son in December! Also, I taught my colleague the Japanese word for magnets: jishaku. 🧲 Intercultural awareness FTW 🙌

I’m embarrassed to admit that the thing that came to my mind was

Penis also going up

Must be all these sex-curious primary school boys affecting my disposition!

Didn’t have to report for work in the morning, but it’s no rest for the wicked as I spent two hours working on tomorrow’s Learning Festival presentation.

Now, given that each team is given a limited amount of time to present, I need not put out all the stops because I definitely have enough artefacts to engage my fellow colleagues.

Still, I analysed past year’s O level oral questions and extracted the ones that might come out for my sixth graders next year. The topic of cooking for PSLE Oral Day 2 actually came up during O Level Oral Day 2. I guess the same topics can be pitched to students of different age groups!

Given that this year’s topics are on orderly Singaporeans (social norms) and cooking (independent living), I think questions about school cleaners and good neighbours and Teacher’s Day celebrations are going to be a relic of the past. The scope is too limited? The emphasis seems to be on either the societal context or personal qualities.

Anyway, I zeroed in on ten O level questions to prepare my students for. Let’s hope divine intervention and Lady Luck are on my side. I have ten pupils who failed their year-end oral this year. The heat is on, but Sensei remains a resolute roly-poly warrior.

Thanks for this @0xbitcoiner

Will regale my son with these facts.

Was surprised to find that the blue whale didn’t make the cut, then read that this is a list for land mammals.

We have a rat problem in Singapore! Guess we contribute to its thriving population

I keep a Happiness Journal and write one good thing that happen to me on that day. Then I post it on Stacker Saloon to maybe get some sats and a good dose of dopamine haba

I have many things to do before I embrace my school holidays this Friday:

No time for creative work

Happy to help out a little bit