Following the suggestion of my best friend Amilee, I organized a song puzzle activity to spice out my teaching and learning activities in the classroom. The song chosen for this activity is More by Usher. It is an upbeat song. I find the song suitable not only for its rhythm but the motivational properties entails.

The lyric of the song can be found on many websites. I print it out, cut it into 7 pieces and asked the pupils to rearrange the lyrics based on what they hear. I downloaded the song from YouTube.



It was fun to see them in groups trying to figure out which one came first. Many managed to piece the puzzle after concentrating hard on the song. I think this activity able to attract their interest and develop their listening skill. Although it is just rearranging, maybe in the future I can ask the pupils to write down the words they hear.

The book I have read this week is Message in the bottle by Nicholas Sparks. Ya, I know I can just watch the movie to know the storyline. Reading appeals in a way a silver screen can't.

I quoted a few on my facebook wall which I find interesting.

"love is love, no matter how old you are, and I know that if I gave you enough time, you'd come back to me." nsparks




"you are who you are. you're a man who loves deeply, but you're also a man who loves forever. no matter how much you love me, i dont think it's in you to ever forget her, and i cant live my life wondering whether i measure up to her." nsparks


a friend ask me in relation to this post, about my definition of love...which I replied,

Love is multifaceted, it cant be defined specifically as love is not science.



Quoting Kinsey,"love is impossible to measure and impossible to quantify".


As one should now the degree of love, only by experiencing it...subjective to an individual thus making it unique, most misunderstood above all.

Nicholas Sparks on his website, written notes about the writing of the novel. It is very interesting to note some coincidences with the author.

I find the book explains love as pure, which I crave for. The description is vivid, the language is perfect in conveying its meaning. I was reduced to tears when I read this book. It reminds me of someone who is dear to me.

The second book entitled The Last Juror, was written by John Grisham. It had its own twist and turns but most memorable of all, was the friendship forged between the characters that transcend their age and time. The synopsis can be read on the John Grisham website.

These books not only provide entertainment appeals but it is educating as well. The humanity values presented were natural and it applies to everyone regardless of race and religion.

Writing is not an easy skill to master. As a teacher, I find it a struggle to get the pupils to understand what's required of them in order to write correct sentence.

The basic components in a sentence, Noun and Verb

The 1+2 in action, Noun (1) plus Verb (2)

For the weak class, I introduced the 1+2 formula. It is a simple sentence, using simple continuous tense. Many were able to complete the sentences and I think after the holiday, I will select five sentences to expand into the 1+2+3 formula.I hope it will work.

For the 5B and 6G, the introduction of these formula were just a revision for them. However, it was good to refresh their memory on the grammatical items. I used the videos that I downloaded from the eduwebtv to enhance their understanding. I think, it is good to show the videos in repetition so that they will be able to strengthen their uderstanding.

Last week, we managed to meet twice, which is very encouraging with 90% attendance. I feel proud of the group because they show high level of commitment by being at the meeting place on time. The pupils also demonstrated interest as they try hard to read although their pronunciation rather weak.

I found out that, although all can read, they hardly understand the text. The texts given were not difficult. All the text are beginner level and it is not an understatement to mention it is of kindergarten level.

The reader were put in pairs and they were given a book to master. I assign 4 pages per week which involve reading with correct pronunciation and understanding the material read. To keep them occupied while I attend to the others, the readers were required to copy correctly and legibly of the text. As a holiday assignment, they were required to read at home and memorize the text.

I hope by the end of the programme, some progress can be made.

Teacher helped to correct work

Pair reading

Pair reading

It is mundane to stick to the same day in day out teaching and learning activities. There is time when one will question the reason of doing things the way they are. I think I should re-invent my TnL in the reading classroom to suit the needs of the pupils.

The two things I wish to focus in my reading classroom are
1. Reading to improve vocabulary; and
2. Reading to improve grammar.


The tips presented here were written by Kenneth Beare from About.com guide

Reading to improve vocabulary

•Construct vocabulary trees from short stories or articles you are reading.


•Build mind maps based on the stories or articles you are reading.

•Photocopy a page or an article and highlight all the words you do not understand. Look up those words and add them to your vocabulary diary.

•When you come across a word you do not understand, first try to understand based on context.

•Focus on prefixes and suffixes and find examples in a text you are reading. Underline and try to understand based on the prefixes or suffixes. Try to come up with the antonyms. These are words with an opposite meaning and are often related (unhappy - happy, misinformation - information, etc.)

•Read a short story and try to retell or rewrite the story using as much vocabulary from the story as possible.

•Note down nouns and adjectives you do not understand. Use a thesaurus to help you find synonyms to these words. Finding synonyms will help you learn groups of words with similar meanings.

Reading to improve grammar

•Focus on various tenses or forms, by highlighting examples of a specific form in a text you are reading.


•Highlight all auxiliary verbs in a text. Discuss which tenses take the highlighted auxiliary verbs.

•Choose a few sentences from your reading material and highlight content words (main verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs) in red and structural words (articles, auxiliary verbs, any and some, etc.) in yellow or another color.

•Find linking words (although, however, but, first, next, etc.) and notice how they relate sentences to each other.

•Use a text as a basis for a sentence auction in class. Change some of the sentences to an incorrect version and see if you can fool your classmates into thinking they are correct.

•In small groups, highlight sentences using different tenses. Each students explains the reasons for the tense in each sentence.

•Mark-up a few sentences from an article selecting subject, auxiliary verb, main verb, adjective, etc.


These activities can be done individually or in pair. Previously, during reading comprehension, my stress is only the vocabulary while grammar is done in isolation. I guess by incorporating both in one reading text will help the pupils to identify certain things which would be beneficial in their futire reading and writing.

During my training in the TTC, my supervisor told me not to give children homework. His reason was children need time outside the classroom to enjoy their childhood. I certainly agree with him as I seen my younger sister toiled with homework until the wee hours during her primary.

Nowadays, I am torn between my belief and the demands of higher authority. Last year, during JNJK observation, they insisted for me to give out more exercises to the pupils. Looking back, I've realized I didn't give out as many because there was not much time in class. The only way to get more exercise done is by assigning homework. Which honestly, I'm not in favor of. Therefore during class I gave ample work for the pupils to complete but many can't finish in time. These unfinished work, later become an 'involuntary homework'.

Any work assigned home or 'involuntarily assigned' would result in infavorable consequences. Pupils seldom complete them. I find it very frustrating. I am not sure the level of involvement from the parents but the pupils themselves hardly care about their work.

This week, I've read through some articles to help myself and them complete their work and reduce the tension in the classroom.

It is worthy to note this article.

How to Encourage Challenging Students to Turn in Homework by Diane Trim.

1. No busy work

2. No time sinks
3. Begin in class
4. Stop by
5. Follow up
6. Extend an invitation
7. Make a lunch date
8. Call home
9. Talk to the coach
10.Take an interest in the student

I think I can do something. I am trying my best to think and act accordingly in order to overcome this problem.