The last dash to the final hurdle

It is finally the last term of the year! In another 3 weeks or so, the final examinations will start. It is quite heartening to hear that many of my students have started their revisions. I know that it will be a highly stressful period, but remember, it is the first part of the journey to realise the goals. So, the key now is to learn to manage the stress levels. Do remember to take a break when the pressure is getting to you BUT do not get complacent, as a result. HANG IN THERE, PEOPLE!

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Actually during the history class yesterday, I really wanted to flare up at the group of you again. Then again, I realised that the class was not just about the group of you. Just because you are selfish does not mean that I should forget the presence of the rest of the people. I know history is boring to some of you but please be understanding that planning a history lesson takes huge effort. I spent the whole afternoon on Sunday preparing this week's history lesson. The objective is simply: Teach the class the right methods to answer the questions. Honestly, how interesting do you expect this to get? If you have chosen to not follow the lesson or use 'don't know/don't understand as an excuse', then I am sorry...you are being left behind. It just means that you have to cover a longer distance.
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As requested by some of the history students, I am posting some links to good websites to help in your understanding of Hitler. A very good revision website is also included.

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/index.htm (This has many pop-ups which are irritaitng but it has a good overview about the life of Hitler.)

http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/s98/nazism/index.htm (A website summarising Nazism)

http://www.aushchwitz.dz (Note that this website is on holocaust and it has a number of disturbing pictures of the Jews in the concentration camps)

www.johndclare.net (an excellent revision website to help you to remember your work)

Hope that these are useful! Study hard!

It is MY day!

WHOA HO!! It's Teachers' Day! Counting the years, this is my fifth Teachers' Day already! To be very honest, the number of presents received is decreasing as years passed by but I really don't mind it at all as the quality of presents is increasing. This year, for the first time, I received many 'Thanks yous". Most of them came in the form of cards and SMSes. For the first time, too, I received a really delicious chocolate cake from a few girls from my form class. I really appreciate the effort put in and I really LOVE it! The card is really sweet too! Not too mention the jellies, handicrafts, mugs, frames, chocolates, sweets, flower, cookies and many others. I really hope that you guys did not spend too much on the presents. Nonetheless, thank you for all the effort and sweet gestures.

Hmm...just a food for thought..what would make the best Teachers' Day present? My wishlist and it will sound really cliche:

1. Sensible students who always do the right things





2. Appreciation from students in the form of respect and attention





3. Eagerness to learn new things and question when in doubt
   

Fortunately, most of my students do have the above but a significant group still have quite a long way to go. Maybe this will be a group who probably will never say 'thank you' and it would probably upset me the most as I probably have not made much of an impact on them. Nonetheless, it is MY day! I will not feel upset over such things.

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To my form class: I am really happy that most of you turned up at the Road Race in your class T-shirts! I am so glad that we bought orange T-shirts instead! Hee!

The Cake!

Our Nice Tee!

My wonderful girls!