SAPA Workshop

Today is the second workshop that I conducted at Springfield Secondary School. I really enjoyed interacting with the teachers and the VP as they started on their hands-on after my brief recap of SAPA (self-assessment and peer assessment). The highlight of the workshop was the sharing by all the groups which I thought were extremely beneficial to all. 

Preparation

Either I am getting better at this or I am just getting better at this lol. Preparing for tomorrow's workshop doesn't seem to take up too much time now. Only took me half a day to prepare.

Fruitful Day

My colleague/ friend, Liyana and I were attended a PERI HA Professional Learning workshop by Dr Susan Brookhart which was organised by MOE at Civil Service Club@Tessensohn. There were plenty of take-away for us. :)

I continued with a fruitful session with my dessert lunch of Crumbled Apple Tart at the nearby Jewel Cafe before heading off to ITE Central to interview the Director of IT for my project.

3rd Assessment Colloquium 2016 II

Today I conducted my Student Self-Assessment workshop. It was fully subscribed - 30 teachers and comprised of secondary and JC teachers as well as a few polytechnic lecturers. It is heartening to know that teachers, other than those from primary school are interested in using student self-assessment in their classrooms. :)
I treated myself to a SWEET treat after the successful completion of the 2 day Assessment Colloquium 2016. 

Korean dessert - Mango Bingsu

AL2.6 II

Today is the second part of the AL2.6 workshop. It was wonderful to have the teachers shared their experiences of implementing self-assessment in their classes. 

AL2.6

AL2.6: Self-assessment: Students as self-regulated learners is the first 10 hours CPO workshop that I am co-conducting with a fellow colleague and friend from CTL, Hui Yong. It has been a wonderful learning experience for me. :)

3-in-1 Workshop

Today, my boss conducted a full day workshop at SCGS. It became a 3-in-1 workshop for me.
First purpose: I was interested to learn about the topic. 
Second purpose: Juliane was also in school for her study camp. We could go home together. 
Third purpose: I caught up with my former SCGS colleagues and my former students who are now teachers in SCGS too! :)

Cluster Workshop

I conducted a North Zone cluster workshop for 30 teachers. The teachers were interested to learn how to translate education research to improve their classroom practices. Although I was still having a flu, I didn't cancel the workshop as I thought it wasn't fair to the teachers who signed up months ago for this workshop.
I was really touched when the MOE officers who arranged the logistics for the workshop also prepared something extra for me!

Student Self-Assessment Workshop III

I conducted my second workshop in a week on Student Self-Assessment this morning! My workshop is among a series of workshops where the Year 1-6 teachers can choose to attend at Celebrate, Share, Inspire or CSI@RI. :) Student self-assessment is really gaining traction. :) 

Student Self-Assessment Workshop II

I conducted another Student Self-Assessment Workshop and this time to the entire staff of 70+ teachers of a primary school. I am very happy that schools and teachers seem to be gaining more interest about student self-assessment! :) I had a great time talking to the teachers and sharing my knowledge of self-assessment. :)

I didn't know what I was saying here but I had a cheeky look haha

In conversations with teachers during the hands-on session

The entire staff! Managed to get everyone in the photo, I hope! :)

Tokens of appreciation for the school. Thank you! :)

Assessment Colloquium 2015 II

Today is the second day of the Assessment Colloquium 2015. 
I conducted my Student Self-Assessment workshop, 9am-12pm. The participants were great and I had a fun time interacting with them. I also had great feedback from them which I can use to further improve on my next presentation. :)

Student Self-Assessment Workshop

I was invited to conduct a workshop (8:30am - 12pm) on Student Self-Assessment at a secondary school during their Staff Training Day on 26 June 2015. The first half of my workshop was a mini-lecture on the what, why and how of self-assessment. The second half of my workshop involved the teachers crafting self-assessments for their students and a presentation of their self-assessment to their colleagues. The workshop ended successfully at 12:15pm. The school leaders are really appreciative because I did the workshop pro bono. Well, it is my way of giving back to the teaching community. :)

Teachers hard at work in crafting student self-assessment

Teachers presenting their student self-assessment

Group photo with two departments

I felt great that I could share my knowledge and experience with the 80+ teachers. I hope that I have made some small impact to the school, the teachers and ultimately, the students! :)

Good News III

A colleague from an Academic Group sent me a request from a secondary school to conduct a workshop on self-assessment for their teachers. Knowing that self-assessment is my research interest, she thought I might be interested in conducting the workshop. I am really glad for such supportive colleagues.
Yes, I decided to conduct the self-assessment workshop for the school, pro bono too. :) Well, it is my way of giving back to the teaching community.

School Workshop

It has been a long time since I last conducted a school workshop. I co-conducted the workshop for teachers with two other colleagues today from 1-5pm. It was fun. Looking forward to the second part of our workshop on Thursday. :) 

"Revision/ Refresher" Workshop

I attended the Primary 5 & 6 Mathematics and Science workshop at SCGS from 6-8pm. As usual, I went alone as the girls' father had no interest in knowing/ learning such things. Again, I saw the surprised looks on my ex-colleagues' faces upon seeing me lol. They always feel that I already know the things that they are going to present so I need not attend. I know things haven't changed much since I last attended the workshop in 2013 and since I last taught the subjects in terms of teaching approaches. But the workshop is good as a revision or refresher for me. :)   

You Don't Need To Attend

That was what my former SCGS colleagues said to me when they saw me at the Primary 5 and 6 Math and Science workshops lol. :P They asked, "Didn't you attend the workshops for last year?! They are almost the same content. And you taught all these before." 
Oh well, I guess I am kiasu hahaha. I did think that the content might be similar but you never know. :P I went through the materials and they are indeed what I used to teach. :)

Workshop of the Non-Academic Kind

This is the first time I ever attended a beauty workshop organised by Clarins whose skincare products I use. The workshop (of 5 people) started at 2pm and ended around 3pm. It was pretty fun, especially since I attended it with a colleague lol. The Clarins beauty consultant taught us how to apply the various products properly and told us the benefits of the various products. Frankly, I am surprised that I didn't end up with more wrinkles and lines than I do now because I have been exerting way too much strength and pressure when applying the products on my face lol. It was quite flattering too when one of the beauty consultants mistook me for being younger and asked me to try out a product for a younger age group haha. Thank you for thinking I am younger. :P 
At the end of the workshop, we were given a door gift (several pieces of travel size products) and additional goodies if you are a Isetan card holder. Although I had to pay $40 to attend the workshop, I was given 2x$20 vouchers in return which I could use to buy Clarins products. So it was pretty good value for money. :) 

Beauty Workshop

This is the first time ever that I signed up to attend a workshop that is not academic in nature! A Clarins  hands-on beauty workshop featuring a new product lol. A colleague from work asked if I wanted to attend it with her. Since it will be held at Isetan Scotts (near my home), so "Why not?" I thought lol. I have been curious about this new Clarins product but was just too lazy to find out more about it. As such, this workshop will be perfect, in more ways than one: 1) get information about this new product and its application, 2) get double points for any purchases I make because it is my birth month, 3) get to meet up with my colleague in an informal environment other than work, and 4) it will be a little pre-birthday treat for myself. :)
I am looking forward to this beauty workshop on the afternoon of 26 October lol. :)

"Post" Birthday Gathering

Juliane invited her 3 classmates, Miranda, Stacey and Shanyce from SCGS and her classmate, Catherine from MMI to her birthday gathering which was a soap-making workshop at Soap Ministry. The workshop started a little late, around 3.15pm. It was supposedly an hour workshop. However as the girls were so excited about making their own soap that they took quite a while to choose their soap molds and their soap scent. The shop owners/ instructors, Peggy and Elaine were really nice and didn't mind that our workshop went over time to almost 2 hours, ending around 5.15pm. Really grateful that they made the girls' day, especially for Juliane. :) The girls enjoyed the soap making process very much. While waiting for their soaps to harden, they had cupcakes. The girls were really pleased with their hand-made soaps.

The girls with their maternal grandparents before leaving for the workshop

Juliane and her friends and Marieann before the workshop started

The girls with their hand-made soaps at the end of the workshop

It was close to 6pm when we got home. We had a simple birthday dinner at home for Juliane. We also invited Catherine for dinner. Juliane and Catherine played for a while before dinner. After dinner, we had the birthday cake.



Juliane had a really great time with her friends and family. Oh today is her Chinese birthday so technically it is not really Juliane's post birthday celebration lol.

Refresher/ Reunion

I attended a parent workshop on P3 & P4 Math and Science. The girls' father wasn't interested so I had to go. My former colleagues at SCGS were surprised to see me attending the workshop lol. Reason being - I have taught Math and Science before and little has changed since then in terms of the teaching approaches. But it was good as a refresher for me as well as it being a reunion time for me with my former colleagues. :)