A Bit More Settled

My boyfriend/fiance won't be happy to read this (jealous):

I've fallen in love with 16 lil people :-)

I've been so busy this past 2 months with training, lesson planning, observation reports, theme boards, preparation of materials... And now that I am a bit more settled at work, I am starting to plan my wedding! (I consider wedding planning my new hobby haha)

Proof of my busy-ness: I've only ready 1 book so far. ONE! UNO! (Last year I read more than 30 books) It was a great book: Bringing Up Bébé. It's about how French parenting differs from American parenting. 

I shall try to write about it when I have time, but for now, I've got some lessons to plan! 

Struggles

I have recently started a new job. I was quite looking forward to it as my friend who introduced me the job is very impressed with the system and everything. I thought it is play-based, but it's not. To be honest, it was a let down. However, I can't just leave the job after two weeks, can I? So I've decided to stay there and learn what I can and just make the best of the situation.


The sad thing is, I've got to conform and do what I've been taught not to do. I've got to accept that this is the kind of kindergartens parents in Malaysia would send their children to. The kind I would send my children to (unless I plan to home-school my children). So that they are prepared for primary school. Especially if they're going to Chinese school. How else can they manage and keep up with the mountain piles of homework?


Let me just describe briefly the center. I am at the 5 year old school. There are 5 classes with around 20 children in each class. Means there are 100+ five-year-olds. The classroom uses an open concept, meaning that there are no walls dividing the classes. So when one teacher teaches, the other teacher can hear. Children have their assigned places and it is very teacher-directed. The teacher will teach and the children will listen. They have homework to bring home everyday, and they will be having their exams next week. Poor children =( The subjects they study are mainly bahasa, chinese, english, maths, with about one or two periods of art & craft, gym, computer, science, innovation each week.


Obviously, the main focus is on language. And its mostly reading and writing. Even in language, they do not have much storytelling. For english its mostly learning blends, vowel sounds etc such as ba be bi bo bu. Lots and lots of drilling and repetition. For mandarin its mostly recognizing words. For bahasa its learning new words and separating suku kata etc. Very Very Dull, in my opinion.


But, thinking back, that is what I went through when I was in kindergarten. I pulled through and I am alright. Is it wrong that children have to go through this? I mean, they can always have their play after school, can't they? I am really confused as it is so hard to practice what I learn in the real world. I am kinda starting to doubt the effectiveness of play based methods in Malaysia. Don't get me wrong - I know that play is good for children, but how far can play help children in terms of discipline? And discipline is greatly required in our schooling systems.

Speaking about discipline - it is actually one thing I admire about the school; but at the same time, one thing I despise. It is admirable that they can get the children to follow instructions and to keep quiet. But sometimes I feel they go too far. In the sense that, I myself can't sit through a college lecture without chatting with my friends, or letting my mind wander all around the world...and u expect a FIVE-YEAR-OLD to? 


I'm really really confused right now on what I should do. On what is the best way to combine the two extremes of play and of academic work. I guess I still have a long way to go and a lot of learning to do.

Big Dreams

It started with wanting to be a housewife. I was 15. I knew that I didn't want to be a career woman in the future, instead focus more on my family. Then, I wanted to be an English teacher. My father suggested Early Childhood Education, and since I really love taking care and playing with my little sister ten years my junior, I thought "why not?" I joined the Sunday School Programme and enjoying teaching very much, I started my Diploma in Early Childhood Education after my SPM. I have not looked back ever since.

While studying, I learn about many issues in the Early Childhood field in Malaysia and realise there is so much I can do in this field.

I can teach, educating all the little ones I come across.

I can open my own center, doing things my way and not conforming to the wants and wishes of bosses. I have visited one play based school for one of my assignments and I was inspired and have been dreaming of opening one like that ever since.

I can be a special needs teacher. Although it will be very challenging, I hope to contribute to this field and gain amazing experiences in return.

I can be a lecturer, teaching future teachers and giving them the knowledge to help them be the best teachers they can be, so that in turn, they can teach and touch the lives of other children.

These are just some of my dreams. Yeah, I do dream big. I've even thought about being the Minister of Education so that I can change our education system. But the thought about being into politics just put me off. I may not achieve all my dreams, but I reach for the moon, so even if I miss, perhaps I'll catch some stars. =)

Some of the other career paths in early childhood:

- Nanny, licensed babysitter, child-care provider

- Classroom aide or assistant

- Early childhood specialist, administrator, supervisor

- Early childhood professor, researcher, scholar

- Early childhood psychologist

- Play therapist, speech therapist etc.

There is so much we can do, so much we need to, for these little ones.