Ms Claudia's Ramblings...

Overdue Post! My Lovely Students on their Post Exam Field Trips...

Hello dears!

Some updates... Looks like the I'll be taking mostly Sec 4s next year... There have been some changes, and the only current class I'll be seeing next year would be 2 Ruby 2010 for English :) But I'm sure I'll still bump into all of you in school next year...

Sorry that I haven't been posting regularly, have been attending quite a few courses, especially on media literacy... Looks like technlogy is the key word these days. So I guess I'll be using more films, videos, songs and graphic novels in my classes... At least I will try to! :) I bought some DVDs today including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Up, and Slumdog Millionaire... My classes can look forward to watching some of these clips in class next year as we learn how to critically read and view different types of texts, including advertisements... I'm quite excited about next year. I always like new years, it signifies a new beginning and new goals to set and achieve! Would you agree?

Ok, less talk and more pictures for now... Can you spot yourself? I had a wonderful time with all the classes during the trips, hope these pictures bring back some good memories!

Signs of Bad English

Here are some scans of a newspaper article that ran some weeks ago... The article discusses the improper use of English on signs we see around in Singapore. Enjoy! =)

*The words might be too small to read directly from this post, click on them to enlarge!

Happy Holiday My Dears! ;)

Finally it's the holidays! (For you, not your poor teachers, heehee...) Do use the time to relax, rejuvenate and recharge (Ms Tan's very own 3 Rs!)

For next year, I'd most likely be teaching Secondary 2 and Secondary 4 Literature, as well as one of Secondary 1 English... I will certainly miss teaching my 2009 classes... You lot mean so much to me and thank you for the wonderful teaching experience! Each of you made it a special beginning for me... Each and every class as a whole made significant improvement since Semester One and I'm so happy and proud that your efforts were rewarded. Keep it up!

Do keep me updated of your progress next year even if I don't happen to be teaching you ok? Just stop me along the corridor for a chat. Like I always say, once my student, always my student :)

So now that the holidays are here, what plans do you have? I'm looking forward to waking up late in the mornings, and just relaxing and lazing about! I think I'd also like to pick up dance lessons again... Though I have always been more clumsy than graceful! Last but not least, I can't wait to go on the Service Learning Trip to the Philippines with a group of students and teachers ;)

Take care and enjoy the holidays! Stay safe and see you in 2010!

Well Done!

After all the marking and tabulation, I must say that I am very pleased and proud of how well most of you have done for the End of Year Exam and your overall for Semester Two! The English and Literature papers were not so easy, but yet most of you managed well and improved from your Mid-Year examinations! Well done!

I'm especially proud of those of you who improved by as much as 2 to 3 grade points. Wow! To me, it doesn't matter whether you got an 'A'. I think it's most important that you have personally tried your best and made some progress.. I also do not believe in comparing oneself to others as we each have our own individual talents and strengths.These are not always measurable in terms of marks and grades right?

For some of you, even if you didn't do as well as expected, don't be discouraged. Learn where you might have gone wrong and continue to improve on your weaker areas.

I believe in each and every one of you! =)

Answers Revealed! And My New DS Game :)

1) In a marathon race, what does the winning runner lose?

ANS: His/Her breath!

2) A word I am, six letters I contain. Subtract one and twelve remains.

What am I?

ANS: Dozens

3) Rearrange the letters in "OWONDER" to make one word.

ANS: One Word :p

4) Which is better, a fly or a mosquito?

ANS: A mosquito! Why? A mosquito can fly, but a fly cannot mosquito! Heehee!

Some of you were right for one or two questions, and the rest of you came pretty close!

My New DS Game :)

Some of you may not know this, but before I was a teacher, I was a rather avid gamer. I own a DS lite and PSP, but it seems like they have been collecting dust lately! After being a teacher, it seems like most of my time is spent marking and nagging :)

Today, I decided to give myself a little treat and got myself a new DS game;Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box!

I completed Professor Layton and the Curious Village (almost a year ago!) and loved it, so I decided to get this latest addition... It's mainly brain twisters and puzzles, but it is made very interesting as there is a storyline and the puzzles will help you unravel the mystery. You have to solve the puzzles to move on in the games and there are also other tasks and mini games (there's one with a cute and fat hamster) for you to complete! Thus, it is more than just a treasury of puzzles. How fantastic! I also love the "anime" feel of it... The games has very lovely graphics! Here's a sneak peek for those of you who might be curious or interested...

(From the game's official website at http://professorlaytonds.com/ponder-the-puzzles/)

By the way, this is not an excuse for you to bug your parents for a game console because "my teacher recommended a game"!!! :) When I was your age, I didn't even own a pager! (Please google if you do not know what that is... Gosh, am I really that old?!)

The Warped Wheel In the back of the train yard, there's an old, warped wheel lying on the ground. While no longer functional, the wheel is interesting because, when rolled on a flat surface, it's axle traces a funny patter if you look at it from the side. Can you figure out the crooked path of the axle?

It's a Wrap

Working at a flower shop, it's your job to wrap your customers' purchases nicely before you hand them over. In order to wrap the flower just like the included drawing, how should you begin your wrapping?

Stacked Glasses

The owner of a four-star restaurant assigns a young waiter the task of stacking glasses in a decorative manner. Eager to please, the young waiter immediately draws five separate designs and shows them to the owner. The owner takes one glance at the designs and, with a look of irritation says, "This design is preposterous! What were you thinking?? Which of the five designs is the owner talking about?

Trees in the Forest

This forest contains four different types of trees. You will need to draw dividers in the forest so that you form four different sections. Each section should contain one type of each tree, and all the trees must be connected either horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.

More Riddles!

Do you know the answers?

1) In a marathon race what does the winning runner lose?

2) A word I am, six letters I contain. Subtract one and twelve remains. What am I?

3) Rearrange the letters in "OWONDER" to make one word.

4) Which is better, a fly or a mosquito?

Tag Me if You Think You Have the Answers! :)

Have Fun!

Halloween Horrors at Night Safari... Do You Dare?

Hello my dears.... Sorry for not having blogged for such a long time. Been busy lately :) Well, how has your break been so far? I took some time off my work last night and dropped by Night Safari for their Halloween special. It was great fun! I also took a tram ride through "Neverland" where there were scary characters jumping out from behind the bushes to try and scare the passengers. I thought I was pretty calm and composed until one took me by surprise and I screamed even louder than the three little girls in front of me. Highly embarrassing!

Here are some photos to share... Mainly myself with some "sightings of paranormal activity"! :)The little Grim Reaper must be one of my favourites! Especially cute since he's holding onto a packet of crackers... (So adorable!)

Do share with me some of your favourite activities that you participate in during your leisure time too! Or what holiday plans do you have so far?

Happy Deepavali too!