teamhumanities

Updates from Coffee Talk 110708

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:18:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Glad to see we had interesting takeaways from the Excel Fest. Let's see how we can apply these takeaways in our lessons to make it more meaningful for the pupils. The bit which Jaz went for focused on the usefulness of recycling - encouraging our pupils to hone their creative talents to think out of the box to produce something meaningful. For the fish spa... interesting... can't imagine somone eating off my foot! For me, it's about seeing how we make learning more meaningful for our pupils and how we can tap on their other talents to get them enthusiastic about learning. Someone must have found out about that fish spa to be able to introduce it in the first place.

The sharing by the various teacehrs yesterday was also useful for us. We mentioned how we can tap on the idea of a moot board and take photos of this year's props for our Sec 1 Singapore Legends so that next year's pupils can add value to what the current batch has produced. Also about how we should acknowledge our pupils - saying thank you - and most importantly about how we should set the tone right before starting our lessons.At the same time may I take this opportunity to once again thank Caroline for her excellent sharing yesterday during PD session. Thanks Caroline!

I think the Humanities Times discussion today is interesting. We talked about the teacher who did not help his pupils during the earthquake and how he was later sacked for the comments he made after that. We mentioned about the roles we play as an educator in ensuring the safety of our pupils and whether the actions of the teacher was right. Also about the experiences we had when we see people in distress in Singapore. Hope it got us thinking...

Had a good time just now. Have a good weekend ahead :)

Azlinda

Excel Fest Takeaway by Siva

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:26:00 +0000

Hi,
Trevor and myself attended a sharing session by Hai Seng Catholic School which was conducted by the Science department of the school.well, the presentation showcased their environmental related project which emphasizes on preservation of our environment. It was very exciting experience in which we were exposed to the school's efforts in conservation of the environment with programs such wonderful gardens with a touch of creativity and the innovative approach taken in creating evironmental friendly products via extensive research done by the students.
Overall, it was a a great experience.

Hai Sing Catholic experience by Trevor

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:25:00 +0000

My main takeaway will be the idea of setting up greenery all over the school. The idea of fish spa is also very interesting. The students also came up with perfumes. I was impressed that the students were able to come up with these ideas. Another interesting fact was that they cultivated orchids to tie in with the national education. Vey impressive programme more suited to be shared with the science department.

Hai Sing sharing on greening of their school by Caroline

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:24:00 +0000

What struck me most was the greening of their St Mark's block which had always been 'blessed' with afternoon sun in abundance. Despite adding curtains and increasing the number of fans, the situation did not change for the better. Eventually, the solution came when they put pots of palms along the corridors that not only provided shade but increased the supply of oxygen ( helps keep kids and teachers awake? ;D )

The fish spa was also another innovative way to bring out the entrepneurial skills of the students.

Experimental Music by Jaz

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:24:00 +0000

Hi,

I attended the sharing by Singapore Polytechnic (I think) on music. The session was very engaging and interesting. 3 poly students and the lecturer performed by using "home-made" musical instruments. During the session, all the participants were divided into six groups. Each members chose an "instrument" which was a "junk", such as pots and pans, a fan cover, a trophy. The group's task is to perform a piece of music using their instruments. The most interesting part is the different ways you can produce different types of sound from the same piece of instrument.

My takeaway from the Excel Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:05:00 +0000

Hi guys,

How was your experience at the MOE Excel Fest recently? For me, the main attraction was the experience I had when I visited the booth by Telok Kurau Secondary. I had a manicure (is that what you call it? the one where they shape the nails, then did something to it and finally buff it?) done by the pupils and managed to talk to them and a teacher while waiting for the manicure to be done.

This is a programme for the Normal Technical pupils. The pupils who did my nail told me that the programme was conducted within curriculum hours. The girls learn this while the boys learn about haircut. At the end of the course, they are certified hairstylist and beauticians. I think it's an excellent learning experience for the pupils. The takeaway is practical and some may even realise a talent they may not have discovered if they are not given that experience. As it was exciting, learning becomes engaging and meaningful. I felt that it was a fruitful experience for the pupils.

My takeaway for our pupils? I feel that if we bring meaning to what they are learning, they will be more enthusiastic and engaged. Thus, I got to constantly revisit the practicality of the humanities education with pupils - how they are learning skills to help them become more discerning individuals. This is useful no matter what field they are working in in future. By telling them the usefulness on life, we can get them to be more enthusiastic in learning.

What about your experience?

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Talk 0505

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:07:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Firstly let me welcome back Jaz to the team. Nice to have you back :)

Also, I'd like to thank Azlan for last week's Humanities Times and Ashley for this week's Humanities Times. Think it's been progressing well thus far. Thanks a lot guys.

We covered the folowing points in our Coffee Talk this week:
1. Homework must be given to pupils at the end of each lesson. This homework must be recorded in the pupils handbook. Also, it is to be reflected in our reflection that we submit via the Professional Devt File.

2. Pupils should be in proper school attire when they come to school - be it Saturdays or weekdays. They can be in a school-based t-shirt. Shorts should be the school shorts. If in doubt, they should wear the school skirt/pants.

3. We also mentioned about the things to do for pupils should they not do well for the examination.

4. Ashley went through the Major Project 2 for the Sec 1s. If in doubt, please go to her for clarification.

5. We also discussed things to tell the pupils when they are preparing to sit for the CH examination through the Humanities times. Please go through with the pupils during your lessons.

6. I have updated the following ESSS as our department submission: Implementing of Humanities Times for Reflection, Peer observation form for Humanities Department, Using a booking booklet for efficient utilisation of department laptop, development of huamntieis teacehrs portfolio and 5 minutes preparation to 50 minutes successful lesson. So... we have 5 ESSS submissions as a separtment thus far.

Have a good week ahead.

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Talk 2104.

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:06:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Firstly, let me thank Caroline for a job well done with the Humanities Times compilation. The information was also given promptly and we had time to look through the document. Just a note...next round of Humanities Times compilation is Azlan's. :)

This session Humanities Times focused on adding excitement in our group works. Sulaiman shared on Caroline bringing pupils to play soccer after they get tired of content generator games. Also, Trevor said about him having 5 Jengas and rubik cubes that we can borrow from him if we'd like to use in our teaching and learning. Thanks Trevor for the generous offer. I think all of us can learn a lot by learning from one another.

Today we discussed about the new mode of assessment training. So... I'll pass you the task on Monday's reflection. You'll also pass me the task given the previous week during that session. I will then go through with the various teachers individually at a separate time during the week. This is done to cater to the various degree of learning which all of us are in when it comes to assessment. By doing so, we can cater the training to each individual teacher. Hopefully we have a more fruitful session that way. Anyhow, the Monday slot is still available for any queries that you may have regarding the assessment component. Just give me a buzz if you can't find me at my table. Will be glad to offer a helping hand.

Also, we talked about the HD session this Thursday. Caroline will be helping out with the relaxation exercise component, I will do the bit on rapport building and dealing with upset EP, PE and PMs while Trevor will focus on the movie The Race and help out with the discussion then.

Thanks guys for all the help. Think we can do much if we work together as a team.

Have a good week ahead.

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Talk 14 April

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:31:00 +0000

Hi guys,

Below are some updates we have gathered during our Coffee Talk Session:

1. The order of persons in charge for Coffee Talk collation is changed to: Caroline, Azlan, Ashely, Trevor. The information will be emailed to me on Saturday, latest Sunday morning for me to pass to Sulaiman.

2. Our walk-about for the Home Rooms will be done next Monday. We'll meet in the staff room for the walk-about.

3. We also will be thinking about the programmes we have mind for Humanities Week to be discussed during the next Coffee Talk.

Trevor and Azlan also shared about how fruitful the sharing with Yusof Ishak Secondary was. Think all of us feel the same way. :)

Enjoy your week.

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Break T2Wk4

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Firstly, thank you to Trevor for collating the information for Humanities Times this week.

We have agreed to edit the arrangement for Humanities Times. Each person will take care of compiling all the segments for the Humanities Times if they are taking care of it for that week. At the footnote, we can add, compiled by____. We also have agreed on the people taking charge of the compilation for the next few weeks in the following order: Ashley, Caroline, Azlan, Azlinda, Trevor. The things to do are as follows:
1. Fill in all the necessary information except the section on teaching and learning.
2. Email the soft-copy to Azlinda by Saturday , latest Sunday morning. This will be emailed to Sulaiman for clearance before printed for everyone's 'consumption' during the next Humanities Coffee Break time.

We also mentioned about decorating our respective Learner's Home - both inside and outside. Please remmber not paint the rooms.

This week's Humanities times focused on formation of groups. Please adopt the methods agreed upon and provide the feedbacks the next time we meet.

We mentioned about the Yusof Ishak sharing this Friday at 3.30pm.
Also if you are free please join us for the Time-management course we'll be having with the Melbourne kids and NE Ambassadors this Saturday, 12/4/08 from 8am to 1pm.

Oh ya... on a separate note, can we also think about the activities we can have during Humanities Week? This is the week before National Day.

Have a good week ahead.

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Break T2Wk3

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:46:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Just a recap of what we discussed this morning:
1. We shared about various straegies we learnt and can be applied in our lessons based on our respective lesson observations:
a. cut SEQ answers into various segments and give it to pupils. Pupils then try to piece together the essays by finding friends
who are holding onto other parts of the essay. Imagine doing a jigsaw puzzle - each pupil is holding one piece of the
jigsaw.
b. have a vocabulary list for sources. show pupils a lot of SBCS and the vocabulary attached to it to assist them in doing their
SBCS e.g. person holding gun = violence. bulldog = britain.
c. students to do various components of pre-reading. During the lesson, pupils will get a worksheet which require them to
share the information with one another. this will then tie in with the lesson for that day.
d. conduct challenge groups instead of the usual group activities during learning stations. this will ensure that ppils are
more actively engaged.
e. display various strategies in the learners home so students get familiarised with what they need to remember.

2. We revisited the topic on beginning lessons. trevor mentioned about utilising subject reps to assist us in checking that pupils bring their learning materials.

3. We discussed on the pre-reading strategies. We shared on the need to get sudents to understand the rationale for pre-reading - so that they will be able to understand the topic being taught and thus enhance their learning. We also mentioned about trying out various strategies as proposed in the Humanities times and not just the browsing technique.

4. Mr Sulaiman shared about ways to do up our learners home, as written in the Humanities Times. I will look into, with the assistance of Trevor and Ashley, some books to purchase for our pupils to encourage reading about Humanities based issues. On the other hand, you will look into decorating the learners home with products by pupils, for example group projects, mindmaps and good essays. We will go round visiting each others' learners home two weeks from now.

Hope the information is useful.

Azlinda

A quick update

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:44:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Hope things are going fine with you this week. Just a reminder that we'll be sharing the pre-reading component with one another during this Monday's reflection. Also, hope your lessons have improved with those tips to start a lesson by Mr Sulaiman. Let's keep the conversations going to see how to improve it further to assist our teaching and learning. We included the portion on making the students taking out their handbooks as well after we tried out the suggestions remember?

Also would like to inform you where to find the peer observation form in our LAN folder. go to the Professional Development file folder --> Training Plans. The document is there for you to print and use.

Please also remember that we are sharing our learning points from our respective peer observations for these terms thus far.

Have a good weekend.

Azlinda

Updates from Coffee Break T2W1

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:58:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

We spoke this morning regarding the Humanities Times. Just a reminder that we'll be trying out the sharing provided by Mr Sulaiman on the Humanities Times. We've also agreed to add-on the checking of pre-reading and/or collection of homework by the pupils before the start of the lesson.

Do try it out and share our experiences in the next Coffee Break.

Enjoy your week ahead!

Azlinda

Humanities setting and vetting dates

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Hi everyone

Below is a reminder of the datelines for our setting and vetting:

1. 17 March - setting and clarifying doubts during Humanities Assessment training
To do:
i) bring the checklist for setter (available in the LAN folder),
ii) bring your sources to set the SBCS (we talked about this - please ensure you have
a lot of sources for the issue you have in mind, so it's a matter of finding the
suitable ones for the SBCS),
iii) bring your laptops with the examination template for the relevant levels that you're
setting.
You may also choose to set the paper first and use the session to clarify your doubts.
Essentially, let's ensure we maximise the session.
See you at the Milieu at 2.30pm on this date.

2. 20 March (thurs) - pass your paper and the checklist to your vetter

3. 24 March (Mon) - vetter to return the paper and the checklist to the setter for editing

4. 27 march (thurs) - pass the first draft of the paper, the edited version and the checklist to me

5. 31 March (Mon) - Azlinda to return scripts to teacher for editing

6. 4 Apr (fri) - Scripts to be passed to VP for vetting

Regards

Azlinda

Reminders

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:34:00 +0000

Hi again

Here's a few reminders as we begin term 2:
1. Ensure that you have already posted 5 sharings in N5 share
2. Saved 3 best sharing in the LAN folder
3. Place the form with your pupils MSG on the LAN folder
4. Hand me your Professional Development File on Monday. I'll be passing this to P and VP so for this week you need not hand in your grade book.
5. Obtain your resources for the assessment workshop on Monday

It's always important to understand why we are doing things. These are all done wih good intention - to ensure we can help one another in the development to become a better teacher.

regards

Azlinda

Welcome back team humanities!

noreply@blogger.com (Teacher) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:26:00 +0000

Hey guys,

Hope you are all refreshed from the term 1 break. Hope we are all geared up to stretch our pupils to greater heights. We'll begin the new term with our usual reflection sessions. We'll continue meeting in the canteen at 11am during this period. I found a card that I bought which I thought was interesting. It says..." Don't be on time. Be early". Interesting reminder for me... I'm usually an on time kind of person. Going to try to be earlier next time.

Anyhow... see you guys for reflection and at 2.30pm for our assessment training at the milieu on Monday.

Take care.

Azlinda