Surprised!!!

Why all these pictures....again??

Look at their faces...there are smiles on their faces...

Something done by human, created by God which make a person so lovely, beautiful and unique...

As I was praying for the teachers in Cambodia as they met this morning to discuss the forming of CTCF.... I was led to pray for the Cambodians and the whole land of Cambodia.

As I prayed and thought about how broken and destroyed and affected they are by all those Pol Pot Regime, especially the cries from the killing fields...suddenly, I was reminded by the smiles of Cambodians I saw in picture and in real life.

They are living in poverty...in a condition where we wouldn't want to be in...but they could still smile despite of everything they do not have....and everything they have to go through and what they had went through....

I am so ashamed....because.....could I still smile if ever I am in such a situation where things are just not right.....when heart is broken.....when poverty strikes me....when everything is only down and down??? Will I still be able to smile???

WOULD YOU?

RCISEN2009 - Part Three

My almost last post on this topic...

Topic : Refining the Concept of Quality Education.

What do we expect to come up on the other side?

Choice : Students who are able to know and received, caring or competitive?

School have to change...

Reminder : We have to value what we measure and not measure what we value!

There shouldn't be pass or fail...all children pass...
E.g. : 50% passing mark....what if the child gets 49%? Does that make him/her a failure?
What is the impact on a child being called a failure?
Think about that....

Question : What is the purpose of examination?

Question : Why do we assess and evaluate?

Policies, practices that leads to exclusion from and within education should be identified and removed.

Advice : Look to opportunities rather than problems!

Without change, we will not succeed.

We will meet obstacles but all needed are determination, hardwork and patience...

It is a process of not only system but of HEART and MIND!

Most important... TEACHERS MUST HAVE INTEREST!

We need to monitor growth in students...

Q&A : What is education? ...not to pass exam...but to develop human in life and after life....to be a good citizen with good values...

Finally.... which I agree 100%....

CHANGE EDUCATION SYSTEM!!!

RCISEN2009 - Part Two

Countdown...

21 days to Cambodia Mission

30 days to Pa Adang Mission

40 days to balik kampung

65 days to new school year

133 days to a change of digits

Mission trips are just round the corner..Oh no! I've yet to come up with my song booklet and teaching materials...err...even ideas...I have none. Ok...maybe I have rough ideas. I will need to get it done the last, next week. I've got to really really really get myself working. I don't want to do things last minute but...here I am again, delaying my work...*smile* but I know, I will get it done sooner or later. Welcome to my world...

Alright...back to RCISEN2009

Dr Levan Lim, The National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technical University, Singapore..

"We exclude because we don't understand.
We don't understand because of limited contact.
We lack contact because we exclude".

Holistic approach...nurturing the whole person & development of qualities...

"Change not only of the mind but also change of HEART!"

PM Lee Hsien Loong.... "Let us shape our future together.....give people 2nd chance... care for each other..."

Prof. Dato' Dr Zalizan Mohd Jelas, Chairman of RCISEN2009...

"Since we can't find who has the power to implement, let's look at the power within us..."

Representative from Bahagian Hal Ehwal dan Pembangunan Pelajar, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi...

"..We don't stop. We move on, find ways and means...We prepare them to be very effective citizens without feeling the difference..."

"....beat the system...be one step ahead..."

"...adapt, modify and make them suitable for them.."

"..don't expect miracles to happen with birocracy.."

Mr. Terje Magnussonn Watterdal, UNESCO Kabul/IDP Norway...

"Remove the word "special"... all kids are normal and special and have equal values..."

"Purpose of school...school to serve the child or the child serve the school?"

"School ranking should be taken away. You need to mix around in order to live together and to understand each other. We try to squeeze the child to be the same but they are not...First and foremost, children are children....all unique and created by God...for a purpose.."

"Parents...a support, to stimulate and raise child in a proper way"

RCISEN2009 - Part One

That stands for Regional Conference on Inclusion and Special Education Needs 2009, held from 27-28th October 2009 at Hotel Equatorial Bangi.

Global Perspective : Regional Initiatives

It is one of the 1st conference I've ever attended in my whole 6 years of service as a special education teacher and it was all financially self-supported. Thanks to such a "supporting" school I have. Anyway...this is one of the best conference I've ever attended...haha...as if I've attended any other.

I've really learned a lot out of this conference which was a pity because the attendance, I consider it as very poor. Most of the participants are mainly UKM students themselves with minority of teachers. Very sad...

Let me share with you a little of what encourages me as an educator, especially as a Christian educator. I will not be sharing much about the details of inclusion and special education needs because .... you might not understand what I am writing about plus there's too much to share here in a blog where people do not have so much time to read. K.I.S.S.

Inclusive education is about reaching the goal of quality education for all and not just going to school.

Create a child-friendly education in school.

Fear ---> RESPECT

Discrimination ---> TOLERENCE

Distrust ---> OPENESS

"...He tells me that if I continue to work hard, I will do well..", said a boy from Pakistan who has to work to support his family and by the time he goes to school, he was already so tired and most of the time did not have the time to do his homework. "He" refers to his teacher who understood his student's situation and rather than scolding him, he encouraged him.
Could we be the teacher who encourage rather than criticize?

"But it is our duty as teachers to prepare children for the world the way it is, not the way we wished it was"

We must be willing to leave our comfort zone in order to achieve a quality education for all.

Now, children learn to pass exam and not to learn life, a productive life to our community.

Measure what we value and not just value what we measure.

Just Thoughts

This is solely just my thoughts and it's stuck in my brain. I tried to get it off but couldn't. So, it decided to blog this thoughts....

Some problems are created....

Some problems are consequences from previous acts, said and done...

Some problems just appear out of no where...

Some problems are just problems and more problems...

Some problems are not even a problem...

Some problems unknown....

So, what's the problem?

The problem is....the soft way just doesn't work but something needs to be done....before it becomes a problem.

The problem....try it again the soft way or do it the hard way?

The hard way....soft way just doesn't work anymore...

Got to get rid of it...

Got to get rid of it...

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, all3's Corner!!!

May you be a blessing to others and
do continue to write...and write...and
be the KP..haha...
How could she stop minding her own business...
haha

To God be the glory!

Update on my Countdown..

Countdown...

1/2 day to RCISEN2009

25 days to Cambodia Mission

34 days to Pa Adang Mission

44 days to balik kampung

69 days to new school year

137 days to a change of digits

Life is great. Watching students and people going to work while here I am, resting. Haha... But physically resting...mentally planning for Pa Adang mission trip. 3 half days children's camp is no joke...trying to come up with games and teaching and crafts. I need ideas...and more ideas.

Then leading in all the praise & worship is no joke as well. I have lots of songs but...do they know what I know? If they know Mukjizat Itu Nyata by Franky Sihombing...I am sure they know more of his songs, right? No matter what, I need to learn this song as near perfect as possible. Singing is one thing, playing it is another thing and playing and singing it with them is another another thing...haha. Oh man...I really am depending on God.

Part of a kampung in the middle of the jungle...a valley...

Next, Christmas songs in bahasa...Again, do they know what I know?

Leading in their Sunday worship service??? Boleh kah??? Doubting it but do I have any choice? Well, be more positive...there's always the first time....

Crossing one of the 5 rivers...but this time, it's only 2 rivers...and roughly an hour of jungle trek...
great experience...

Lastly..doing this in the middle of dunno where in the jungle...haha...should be very interesting but I hope we will be rewarded with a wild boar...but I am wishing for more authentic stuff like...monkey? landak?? tenggilling ??? Cool...

Journey back to Lawas town..all 13 in a 4-wheel through the timber road...I wonder how...
This time, it's only 9...thank God...and please...no rain...