Week 1 of my practicum at Temasek Primary is over, and thank God, it was great. Thank God for the school, the students, the staff, and the trainees. The students there are generally obedient, not to mention funny and adorable! Their little antics really brought to mind all the childish "stunts" that we used to do ourselves. The staff there are really helpful and approachable and of course, thank God for such a wonderful SCM, coordinating and arranging everything for us so well. Thank God for my fellow trainees as well, it made things easier that I knew Jocelyn and Serene beforehand. There were 7 of us (made up of Year 1s, Year 3s and Dip Ed-ers) in the morning session, so it was really great being able to interact with all of them.

I like it that each Year 1 was paired with a senior trainee (Year 3 of Dip Ed-er), so that there would be at least one person for me to talk to even if my timetable differed from everyone else's. Also, it made lessons less boring as well, to have someone to converse (secretly) with during observations! The bad thing was that Alvan, my partner, decided to be on MC for the first two days, so I was all alone on the first day. Thankfully, I got to follow Amelia on the second day, so it wasn't too bad. And Alvan finally came back on the third day, was nice getting to know him better, and to have someone provide the timetable for me lol! :p

Lesson observations passed really quickly. After all, each period in Primary school's only half an hour, and we only had to observe a few lessons per day. I had a fruitful time learning classroom management techniques. Even though they don't really apply to me since I'm in the Secondary track, it was still a good experience. And I was entertained by the kids as well, they're just so hilarious sometimes. The little things they do in class, their nonsensical excuses (which we used in the past) to get out of handing in homework, them turning around periodically to look at us seated at the back... Oh, and I love it when students bow and greet me along the corridors! I really wasn't used to it, but it was so cute of them! Lol.

I especially love the times spent in the staff room, which they call the penthouse (the teachers' common staff room is called the HDB flat, and the HOD office is called the landed property) lol. Since the other teachers located there were all in the afternoon session and there were 7 of us in the morning, we practically had the whole room to ourselves. I really enjoyed our chatting sessions, since we really had nothing to do outside of lessons. Well, the Year 3s and Dip Ed-ers did have stuff to do but they were often chatting with us as well. Thank God for allowing me to get to know the other trainees better, and for several meaningful sharings. And I realised once again how small the world is. Daniel and Alvan were from Tao Nan, and Alvan and Amelia were from Dunman High! But they're 2, 3 years my seniors, explains why I didn't see them around.

I had a little shock on the last day when Mr Fadly all of a sudden asked me to take over the class and teach for a little while. Technically, we weren't supposed to do that. But he said he wanted me to have an experience since it was my last day. So before I knew it, I was teaching problem sums to a class of P4s. It was a cool experience, thank God they responded to my questions. I probably made a few mistakes, but I'm thankful I made them now instead of during the actual Teaching Assistantship which will take place 2 years later. So thank God for the short time of practice!

I'd only spent 4 days there, but those were fun, enjoyable days and I really miss the school now! I miss taking the bus at 6.41am every morning with Amelia, observing a bunch of cute kids from the back, having obedient kids greet me along the corridors, having someone go to class with me all the time, the chatting/stoning/reading times in the penthouse, slacking in the canteen with the other trainees... I just miss the times spent in the school! And I really miss the seniors. Amelia said to me yesterday before she went for her meeting, "Hey, we might never see each other again. So I'll say goodbye first." Man... That was so sad. Well, hopefully we'll see one another again in school somehow!

To the Year 3s and Dip Ed-ers who'll be spending another month there, all the best for the observation by the supervisor! You guys can do it! And to the Year 1s who're all headed to different Secondary schools next week, let's try to enjoy ourselves. For most of us, we're in the Secondary track, so that's where we're ultimately going. And we'll be back there next year for a whole 5 weeks, so yeah, let's try to like our new environments! :)

Thank God once again for the awesome experience at Temasek Primary. I really like it there, I miss those days that had just passed, and I'm sad that I'm never going back there again. But well... It's time to move on.

Next stop, the school beside the reservoir.