Amidst all this, I found light-hearted joy in working with Perky Piung. Creating captions, visuals, and little sparks of creativity reminded me that teaching thrives on both the serious and the playful.

✨ This September reaffirmed for me that teaching is a bridge — a way of paying tribute to the past, while preparing the next generation for the future.

The other day, while scrolling online, I stumbled upon a video about Malaysia’s journey and how other nations tried—but failed—to replicate it. Listening to it during this Merdeka month made me pause. I felt a deep sense of pride. Truly, Malaysia has achieved so much for a country of our size: peace, stability, diversity, and progress.

Of course, I can’t verify all the sources cited in the video. But even so, there was truth in what I heard. It reminded me of how blessed we are to live here, in a nation that—despite its imperfections—has given us so much to be grateful for. And yet, it also made me feel a little afraid. History teaches us that nice things don’t last forever. Stability and prosperity are fragile, and they need to be nurtured carefully.

As a teacher, this thought weighs heavily on me. What can I do to ensure my learners grow into a generation worthy of tomorrow’s peace, stability, and prosperity? I don’t have the power to guarantee Malaysia’s future. But I do have the responsibility to shape the minds in front of me today.

With my expertise, I can help them see that what they are doing now—learning, studying, working hard—is an investment for the future. Their effort today is not wasted; it will bear fruit later in ways they may not yet see. At the same time, I want to teach them the values that matter: respect, kindness, perseverance, and gratitude. These values are what will guide them not just as students, but as future Malaysians.

To be part of a prosperous Malaysia means more than enjoying what exists now—it means contributing to its growth, protecting its harmony, and building its future. That is the lesson I hope to pass on.

So, as we celebrate Merdeka this year, I am grateful for the path that has been paved by those before us. And I am hopeful for the learners of today, who will one day carry the torch of tomorrow. May they grow to be strong, wise, and worthy of this beloved Malaysia. 🇲🇾💙

 One of my favourite ways to make vocabulary stick is through song. Children love singing, and when we pair music with new words, it creates such a joyful and memorable learning experience.

Recently, I wanted to introduce adjectives in a fun way while also reinforcing classroom objects. So I adapted the familiar tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider into a brand-new song that we can sing together in class. The simple rhythm makes it easy for young learners to follow, while the playful lyrics bring in adjectives like old, new, big, small, heavy, light, long, short, dirty, and clean.

Here’s the version we sang:

Classroom Objects Song

(Tune: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

🌟 This little song works beautifully as a quick warm-up, transition, or even a brain break in the classroom. It helps learners connect descriptive words with everyday objects around them.

If you try it with your students, let me know how it goes — and don’t be surprised if you catch yourself humming it later too! 😉🎶

 

The song teaches prepositions like on, under, in, between, and more — making it easier for children to visualize and remember how these little words work in sentences. Paired with movements and actions, the song turns grammar into a lively game that everyone can join.

Our classroom lit up with laughter as the pupils sang, clapped, and acted out each line. The best part? They didn’t even realize they were studying — they were simply enjoying music and play with Piung!

🌟 Why a Preposition Song?

• Music makes learning natural and fun.

• Actions and visuals help pupils understand abstract words.

• Singing together builds confidence in using English.

And now, with the Spot the Piung! poster, children can continue practising at home or in class, spotting where Piung is — on the chair, under the table, or between the fan and the desk!

Learning English is always better with a little creativity, a lot of smiles, and, of course, with Perky Piung by our side. 🐢💚

This year, Malaysia celebrates her 68th Merdeka, and I can’t help but feel excited and grateful. Looking back, our country has come such a long way. What I treasure most is the stability and prosperity we enjoy today. None of this would have been possible without the struggles, sacrifices, and courage of those who came before us—the heroes who carved the path towards independence. May they all rest in peace. 🙏

As I think about Merdeka, I also find myself reflecting on my own journey. Reaching where I am today was not without struggles. I’ve had regrets and mishaps along the way, but I’ve come to see that they are part of what shaped me. The person I am today—the one people see—is the sum of all those experiences, both good and bad. In a way, that too is my Merdeka: the freedom to grow from my past, to stand as who I am today.

Time comes and goes, and nothing stays the same forever. But as long as I live, I want to cherish this life and the experiences that have been given to me. I also feel the need to say sorry—to those who may have been hurt or saddened by my actions. I sincerely hope for their forgiveness.

Now at 46, I believe my journey of learning is far from over. There is still so much to understand, so many mistakes to correct—not to erase the past, but to grow into someone better. One thing I know I must work on is learning to prioritise. I often take on too much at once and feel overwhelmed. Bit by bit, I’m trying to set things in order so I can truly succeed in what I set out to achieve.

Isn’t that what our country is also doing? Bit by bit, Malaysia is striving to improve—to be better, to right past wrongs, to celebrate those who have contributed, and to support those who are still growing.

So today, I just want to say: thank you, Malaysia. Thank you, Malaysians. Let us be grateful, let us continue striving, and let us remember that life, with all its ups and downs, is truly wonderful. 🌺✨

Merdeka! 🇲🇾

Here, I am sharing Perky Piung's Merdeka Portrait. Hehe, hope to have mine soon...

One of the sweetest things about teaching is seeing how excited my students are to help out in class. Every day, they compete (in the nicest way!) to be the one who distributes books, collects books, becomes the reading coach, or even carries Perky Piung back to the staffroom. Some of them even volunteer to carry my bag and water bottle. I know they mean well—although maybe the sweets on my table are also part of the motivation! 😂🍬

To celebrate this wonderful spirit of helpfulness, I created a special Perky Piung Helper Tag. It comes as a set with a front and back design. On one side, Perky Piung says, “Thank you for your hard work.” On the other side, the words “Perky Piung Proud Helper” shine brightly to show off the role of the day’s helper.

This tag is worn proudly by the chosen helper, reminding everyone that lending a hand is something to be proud of. It’s not just about the sweets or the fun of carrying books—it’s about teamwork, kindness, and making our classroom a happier place.

💚🐢 With Perky Piung cheering us on, even small acts of helping feel big and meaningful!

 Hi everyone! 💛

I’m so excited to share something new and fun with you—Perky Celebration Chants! 🎉 These chants are short, cheerful, and full of positive energy. They’re designed to motivate, celebrate, and make learning extra joyful with the help of our beloved mascot, Perky Piung.

Why Chants?

Chants are a wonderful way to build confidence, create team spirit, and spread happy vibes in the classroom. With rhythm and repetition, they are easy to remember and fun to say aloud. The best part? Kids absolutely love them!

Meet the Chants

We have three special chants, each with its own theme:

• 💥 Perky Power – all about learning, playing, and shining through.

• 🐢 Shell Power – celebrating victory and teamwork.

• 🚀 Go Piung – cheering for speed, energy, and success.

Each chant comes with a bright, colorful design featuring Perky Piung in different poses. They’re perfect for sharing, chanting together, and adding a splash of motivation to any day.

Join the Fun!

I’ll be posting these chants one by one on social media, along with a cover graphic to kick off the series. Even if you don’t read the captions (I know, most of us don’t! 😅), the visuals are enough to bring a smile to your face.

✨ Let’s spread the energy of Perky Piung far and wide!

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #CelebrateWithPiung when you join in the fun.

 Hey everyone! 🌸

Today’s Apple Teacher Portfolio Explore 1 lesson was all about combining creativity 🖌️, technology 💻, and language ✍️. The task? Writing an email to a friend, inviting them to visit our hometown 🏡🌊. But before my learners could write confidently, they needed a strong grip on new vocabulary.

So here’s what we did:

1️⃣ First, learners identified 3 target vocabulary words using the dictionary 📖.

2️⃣ Then, they thought about how to show the meaning through drawings. 🎨💡

3️⃣ Instead of struggling with paper and pencils ✏️ (and lots of erasing 😅), we used Keynote! Learners explored the shapes and colours to create quick, clear drawings that represented their chosen words. 🟦🔺🟢

4️⃣ Next, they exported their pictures and inserted them into Clips 🎥.

5️⃣ With Clips, they added Live Titles 🗣️✨—a fantastic feature that displayed words while they spoke, helping them practise pronunciation + spelling at the same time.

🌟 By the end of the lesson, learners had mini vocabulary videos showcasing their drawings and words! They demonstrated their learning not just by writing definitions, but by visualising, creating, compiling, and speaking.

This activity engaged their visual intelligence 🧠👀, which makes vocabulary easier to remember and “stickier.” 🍯 Plus, technology made the process smoother and faster—no messy erasers or wasted time. Learners could focus more on learning and less on the struggle. 💪📱

It was so fun to watch them light up with pride when their Clips came together. 🎉 I truly believe these small steps with technology build confidence, creativity, and language skills that will last. 💕

Until the next Apple adventure 🍎,

Teacher Asniem 🐢