Streamline processes Continued success Lifelong learning Welcoming atmosphere Service excellence Lasting relationship Artificial intelligence Job performance Financial stability / burden Steady income Additional information Necessary documentation Skilled workers Employee retention Supportive environment Learning experience

It was Saturday morning, but I lay buried in my marking. However, it was extra work I was more than happy to do - 3 out of the 4 students had submitted the extra assignment I had given them.

I had a challenging time with their class this week. Just as it takes one disengaged student to spoil my mood, it also takes one motivated student to brighten my day.

This girl, whom I have earmarked to be the President of the Prefectorial Board next year, just ticks all the boxes in a teacher’s expectation list. She ✅ listened to me and finished the piece within 20 mins, reassuring me that she wouldn’t choke under exam conditions. ✅ used “unique” and “fascinating” - words I have taught the class but whose spelling have yet to be mastered by many. [Aside: some of her classmates don’t know how to spell “interesting” yet.] ✅ performed awesomely for this timed piece, assuaging my guilt about not giving the high-progress students more attention and freeing up my mental energy to work on some of her weaker classmates.

I think it’s never about the colossal amount of work teachers have to do. It’s about whether students respect themselves and honour their teachers enough to bring their full selves to their work. That 10 minutes felt like the most rejuvenating period of my work life this week.

My washing machine suffered from a water supply problem, so I engaged a plumber to fix it. He leveraged his burly side to take out my large washing machine. I complimented him on his strength, to which he blushed and said, “No, not strong. That’s why I used water.” He had earlier sprayed water at the bottom of the washing machine, and that was when I felt a Eureka! moment. This is how people use water to reduce friction between two surfaces in their everyday life!

Always happy to learn foreign words that have no English equivalent. Beautifully crafted around longing and loss. Thanks for sharing

At least I tried

The only right answer

And how will you do so?

Endure Oni Baba Support Group 🥹

Im blushing ☺️

Process: Suggested changes to be made to Foundation Science worksheets to the rep. Impact: Revised worksheets were better aligned with actual wording and question types found in PSLE papers, thus enhancing students’ readiness in acquiring required knowledge and skills.

Happiness Journal 1/8/25

Joined an induction session led by the Principal. In order to break the awkward silence, I asked him a question.

“What’s one thing you’ve proud of during your stint here?”

“The Culture of Care,” he answered, “It’s something that we have been developing intentionally.”

Glad to have spoken up and learnt something new from someone whom I was going to work closely with later this year.

Is this how your nym came about?

Only when we remain humble can we be vessels for new knowledge to descend!

But what about your close friends who like to drink?

I have friends who don’t drink at all, so I have coffee dates with them. I respect the boundary they set for themselves.

Did something life-changing happen such that you don’t touch alcohol anymore, like @grayruby?

Sats.

The sats here contribute to my beer fund 🍻 haha

Heartbeats in the Dark

drumming, wrinkly old man, attic, eyes glint in an evil kind of way, glare, shadow puppets, loomed over, suffocating, yanked the curtains open, reckoned, weather, independent

I sit up. I cannot breathe because the dark is so black it feels like it is suffocating me. I stare at where I know the curtains are. I tell myself that the sun is blazing on the other side of the curtain.

hastened his speed, scurried away, strutted purposefully, hesitant footsteps, scampered, tiptoed quietly, gallop, ran as fast as a cheetah, sprinting, saunter, optimistic, pessimistic

Kathy went to take her place at the running track. When the teacher blew the whistle, she shot off as fast as she could down the track. Suddenly, Kathy tripped and fell to the ground. Her shoe, which was a little oversized, flew off her foot.

Happiness Journal 31/7/25

I am given the most challenging Primary 5 class for Form Teacher-ship. Little terrors, some of my colleagues might call them.

Today, I just sauntered to the parade square a few minutes before recess and started my countdown. “5…4…3…2…1” I announced, and my students hurriedly sat down like clockwork.

Shiok.

This reminds me of how I was unceremoniously given the most challenging Secondary 3 class in my first year in NorthLight. It took time, but I had them eating out of my hands eventually. Like the Pier Piper leading his merry men to greater heights.

In other news, only 5 students combined these sentences correctly:

Furniture is an uncountable noun. Fur is an uncountable noun too.

I seriously didn’t expect them not to be able to derive the answer: Both furniture and fur are uncountable nouns.

Sigh. Looks like I need to show them simpler sentences tomorrow:

Bacteria multiplies quickly. Laughter also multiplies quickly.