Anyway, the start of TA 2011 was terrible. I had a cold so I didn't feel well. The 3 days induction programme during the June holiday before school started did nothing to make me look forward to school. Then the weekend before school started, I got my timetable for TA and I was quite sad to be attached to a P5 class cos I was secretly hoping that I would get a P3 class so I could see some of my students from SE, although I'm sure they would have forgotten me by now. Not like I remember all of them lah but I remembered some faces.

Then the first day didn't go too well. As expected, P5s were more act cool and reserved as compared to the enthusiastic lower primary students. Somemore a few students looked quite ah beng & I was a little intimidated by them. Don't even dare to talk to them when I walked around looking at their group work. Then, there was some interpersonal problems with the other trainees on the first day & I felt like an outcast.

Second day wasn't much better too & I was really dreading TA. Plus we had one after another induction like every day after school for the first week. My school ends at 245pm & after the induction, we went home at like 5+, 6pm everyday for the first week. It totally felt like I was attending both the morning & afternoon session of school.. if they had afternoon session that is. I kept telling myself that I should be positive, it would be a great learning experience, cos the school is really taking much efforts to ensure we understand how the school works.

Gradually, I got used to it and even started enjoying TA. I think the students helped a lot. The colleagues too, cos I got to know more people and stopped minding about being left out because seriously, even when they included me, I felt quite alone cos I couldn't really get along with them as a group. I could get along with almost all, individually, but somehow as a group.. I don't really know how to explain. Anyway, by 2nd week I was feeling slightly happier, mainly because there were less induction :D By 3rd week I was quite okay with TA already, though there were still moments I wanted it to quickly end. By the 4th week I was enjoying TA and then 5th week, it came to the time when we had to leave. It's sad but I know there's no point hanging on to it, cos we all know that it will end eventually. & for us, we most likely won't return to the school again next year. So yes, it's time, move on and let go. Meanwhile, pictures as memory keepsake!

My Math CT, Mrs Foo with P1-1. Very cute class. They had this greeting song they sang to the tune of "We wish you a Merry Christmas" complete with actions at the end, where they would say for example, "Good morning, Miss Audrey. You look lovely today!" & then as they say lovely, they will jump and form a heart shape with their arms on their head. Adorable max! They change their adjective & action every week, I think, so I always look forward to hearing them greet me :)

Sweetie-pie Valerie! One of the students I had the most contact with cos I sat near their group to observe. I really like her best friend, Chrystal too, she's very cute also but too bad didn't have a chance to take a photo with Chrystal :(

P1-1! I gave them Angry Birds mechanical pencils and erasers as little gifts on my last day and my CT asked them to thank me from the bottom of their heart. So they ran to me and hugged me. They are like so tiny, they are only at my hips, waist level that kind, then all of them clustered around me and gave me hugs. So sweet pls! A girl hugged me so tightly, when the others rushed over to thank me, I very nearly toppled over.

Part of P5-1, also one of my favourite class. I forgot to take the class photo :( But anyway, this class can really make my blood boil at times. On the last day, my CT was sick and I relief taught at their class & I got really upset with them. It was the first time I was truly upset with them because I did relief with their class before and it went quite smoothly. But they were more well-behaved during the last period I had with them, maybe because I was more Zen & in control then. Also maybe because I keep emphasizing it's my last day & last period with them. HAHAHAH. Or maybe because the principal actually came in to my class & stood there observing for a while during the last period. Gulp. Anyway, at least I ended TA on a good note :)

Athena, the da jie da of the class! She looks quite fierce, and the boy sitting next to her like to talk back to teachers so I tend to avoid their group and not talk to them much. But somehow I got to know her better in the last few weeks & she's quite nice! One of my best memories in the school was staying back for a while after school on Thurs with some of the P5-1 students to talk & then playing Monopoly Deal. She totally let me win cos I didn't win any round after like 3 rounds. Heh

Yuki, one of the nicest & most well-behaved in the class. She's one of the few who remembered to thank me for the little gifts of Angry Bird pencil/ eraser that I gave them. I mean, not like I'm expecting anything in return for the gifts, I was the one who wanted to give it to them. But it's basic courtesy right, to say thanks. HAHAHAHA.

Xintong! She's really sweet. Once, I think during the 2nd week when I was still quite new to the school and class, there wasn't a chair at the back where I usually sit at. She gave me her chair and just like plan to stand/ squat at her table instead. So nice can! I didn't want to take her chair but she insisted. Lucky we found another chair for her in the end. Then on the last day when I was giving out the gifts, she told me she didn't want any because she rather I stayed. & she read me this very meaningful poem she found somewhere which she told me is her favourite poem.

I always knew that the appeal of being a teacher for me was not the teaching part, but rather the students.
The one with the mouth wide open in Zekai. I called his name like don't know how many times during my relief classes. He is a P5 student going on P1. But he's quite funny at times lah, cos he's just so childish. He would imitate how I sit at times, then go like "Breathe in breathe out" when I say that I'm upset -.- The one behind him with a badminton racket is Yulin. He's the discipline minister in the class but sometimes I suspect he abuses his power. HAHAHAHA. He's quite clever and personally, I feel that he is one of the most obedient in class mainly because when the teacher or when I give them work to do, he is one of the few who really does work seriously and quietly, which I really appreciate. But he's not the goody two shoes type though, more like one of the cool kids in class. Next to him is Enqi, she's really tall for a P5 pls. I think taller than me when I wear flats?

Shiqin! She's my eye power partner :D So sad that she's a MT teacher so she doesn't sit with us, in our area. I'm going to miss her, can she be in my TP school instead? :(

Renee, Winnie and me :) We're the TA ppl, missing Radha. Radha & Winnie's from Dip Ed, so they're infinitely more busy than us because they have to prepare lesson plans. Whereas Renee & I are like very slack :/
Hweemin from NTU. She's on internship here & ends on the same week as us. So not bad, there's quite a few young teachers there :)

So I guess TA wasn't that bad actually, despite my initial whining :)