Spellmasters 2012

Miss B is a bit off form this year.

Or maybe we should wait till the end of the year when all the really outstanding spellers have already had their turn.

She entered in Feb and didn't even get into the top three.

Got defeated by ATTACHMENT, which she for some inexplicable reason spelled with an extra "T" before the "C".

I wanted to slap my forehead: 伤脑经!

This month she did slightly better and made it to 7 rounds before she got defeated by FOLLICLE, which she spelled FOLLICAL.

I asked her if she knew the word.

"Yes, but I got a bit nervous."

!!!

So much for all her reading.

The good news: she's qualified for the finals in Nov.

Beth at Spellmasters Finals 2011

Just discovered this pic on the Spellmasters website.

And a very nice pic it is. Love how it captures Beth at her best: concentrating, eager, with a slight uncertainty around the lips as she thinks about the word she's been asked to spell.

Poem by Anonymous Singaporean Mum

Read this poem on Singapore Nominated MP Yee Jenn Jong's blog.

JJ is an old school friend of hubby's and we have tremendous respect for what he stands for and how he is living out his values in politics.

I Wish My Children SUCCESS!

Expectations of society
I have energy, lots of it, to invest into the lives of my children.
I have resources, lots of it… how to use them for my children?
I have networks, lots of it… how to turn them into an advantage for my children?
I am afterall sucessful, well-off and what I do cannot-go-wrong.

Do I need more Math, more Science, more English, more MotherTongue?
Do I need more worksheets, more tuitions, more studies, more drills?
Do I put my children to be analysed, examined, tested, medicated?
School is afterall, well-defined and cannot-go-wrong.

The Tyranny Of School
School has a formula for suceess,
Well-defined pathways, the broad and straight roads.
Is there a road less well-travelled or more windy,
Yet leads to a beautiful destination, a happy and meaningful journey?

The children I have are gems, destined to hold the future of the world,
They are spontaneously imaginative and confidently creativity,
They have fresh perceptions and ingenuis ideas.
The excellent grades in school can wait.

I wish them happiness,
I wish them the world,
I wish they love themselves, I wish they love people.
The excellent grades in school can wait.

The Power Of Our Children
Let’s get our children to connect with people,
To communicate,
To negotiate,
To show empathy.

Help our children gain perspectives,
To know the unwritten,
To understand the unsaid,
Starting with family, friends then the world.

Show our children how to care for the world we live in,
To see how interconnected we are with everyone and everything around us,
To see beauty around us,
To soak up the colours, the warmth and the groans from Mother Earth.

Be a role model to shout the importance of simplicity,
To separate the clutter and the gems,
To keep the things that endear,
To plough through the mandane to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Tell our children to be confident and unafraid.
They are good in whatever they are good in,
Follow their hearts and deep desires,
The excellent grades in school can wait.

Today was my first day serving as Parent Helper in J's class.

Miss W asked how I would like to be addressed by the children.

I blurted out "Serena" before thinking that "Mrs Tan" would probably have been more in conformity with what the teachers and teachers' aides are called.

Had a lovely time reading with the preppies. Love their openness and smiles. Two in particular impressed me with their reading ability. Way above J. Hubby said "oh dear" when I told him, and said I'll have to help J catch up.

J loved having me in class and has been telling me so since we got home.

Am looking forward to my weekly Friday sessions.

Small World

Got a text from my coz the other night - "Guess who I met at church today? Jordie's teacher!"

This morning, I walked Miss J to her classroom and there, leaning against the door and greeting the students, was her teacher Miss W.

"Guess who I met over the weekend," she said to Miss J, leaning down with a conspiratorial smile.

I've volunteered to help the preppies with their reading on Friday mornings. It's gonna be fun hanging out in the classroom and getting to know Miss W and the kids.