I had the chance to bring my students out for a very short kayaking program last Friday, and am glad I really made full use of it. The challenge was to fully utilise a 3 hour session with 42 kids, which will also have to include the shifting and fitting of all equipments from storage to the water, and back again after a washup of course.
It took 45 minutes to get eveyone into the water, with each sec 1 kids paired up with a senior. I wanted the session to be one whereby the newbies get some informal training from their seniors and an introduction to the water before their star course. And it turned out real good! I send them out in their boats without teaching a single thing, and from the first dip of the paddle each senior was busying themselves teaching basic paddling skills to the juniors. They raft up, and I just reinforced the learning points briefly.
Next, sometime I never tried before - I got the group in a raft about 30-40m facing the shore, teach the sec 1s how to disembark from their boats to get into the water, and then tell them they are to jump in from there one by one and swim to the shore, with their senior trailing in the kayak behind them. It was an exciting challenge that I think excited the seniors more than the swimmers, but all of them did the swim perfectly, with constant encouragement from the paddlers.
With a little bit of coaching about reverse paddling and seating position/boat control, it was time for the capsize drill. The seniors felt sort of deprived that they couldn't go swimming under the hot sun, and was clamouring to go in. When I told them that I'm going to grant them their wish, all went shouting "Yay! Capsize drill!!" Again, their enthusiasm rubbed onto the juniors all the capsize drill for the 21 kayaks was over in 5 minutes.
Water drained from the boats on shore, they hopped back in and proceeded back to the pontoon and the centre. With everything done, they reached the bus at 1815 - not bad at all!
Have a good feeling about the coming star course!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Pride and learning
I am getting quite excited about the upcoming kayak course for my school kids, where I will be conducting a 2 star refresher course for my kids. It's really the highlight of the year for me, to be in my elements, teaching my kids fun and cool things, and really passing on the love for paddling to them. It's probably the only 2 star course in the world that will incorporate sprinting and canoe polo introductions in them too, and I've even finished my extensive lesson plan for it.
I felt that it will be good for teachers in my school to go for this advanced 2 star course so that they can learn much more, and so invited all teachers in my school to it. 2 teachers from the NCC unit wanted to join in, a middle-aged family man and a young female teacher just a batch before me. The guy was the CO for the unit in my school, a very friendly person who is quietly passionate about giving his best to his CCA. For example, I was surprised to meet him at the last outdoor education conference, which he somehow got wind of and signed up himself, when I had thought I was the only teacher interested in such things.
Yesterday, I met that guy in school, and he said that the lady teacher did not want to go for the course anymore because my ODAC kids will be there as well, but that he will still be joining us. Now that was really a disappointment man. A young teacher who gives us on a learning opportunity, just because she don't want to be seen as a student by her own students! If she is ashamed to be seen as a student, what kind of message is she sending to the kids?
The kids didn't know that she was supposed to be there, but that's not the point. I just feel disappointed that people would rather preserve their pride than be seen as being amateurish, especially when she's a teacher who has to constantly encourage her students to work hard by telling them that everyone has to start somewhere.
I felt that it will be good for teachers in my school to go for this advanced 2 star course so that they can learn much more, and so invited all teachers in my school to it. 2 teachers from the NCC unit wanted to join in, a middle-aged family man and a young female teacher just a batch before me. The guy was the CO for the unit in my school, a very friendly person who is quietly passionate about giving his best to his CCA. For example, I was surprised to meet him at the last outdoor education conference, which he somehow got wind of and signed up himself, when I had thought I was the only teacher interested in such things.
Yesterday, I met that guy in school, and he said that the lady teacher did not want to go for the course anymore because my ODAC kids will be there as well, but that he will still be joining us. Now that was really a disappointment man. A young teacher who gives us on a learning opportunity, just because she don't want to be seen as a student by her own students! If she is ashamed to be seen as a student, what kind of message is she sending to the kids?
The kids didn't know that she was supposed to be there, but that's not the point. I just feel disappointed that people would rather preserve their pride than be seen as being amateurish, especially when she's a teacher who has to constantly encourage her students to work hard by telling them that everyone has to start somewhere.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Promoting school sports
Went for a North Zone Sports Development Committee retreat today, and it was pretty interesting. Apparently the committee is made up of a group of volunteer PE teachers/HODs etc who represent North zone schools, and they come together to think of initiatives to nurture and encourage the growth of school sports.
What is commendable is that these people look beyond the focus on organising the yearly competitive leagues, and instead shifted their focus on bringing sports to non-school team players and the general school population. They came up with an idea of getting schools to play home and away matches in a few sports to generate healthy school rivalry, build school identity and also giving the sports' second-stringers a chance to play against others. Another idea is to have a North zone sports carnival, with schools able to send a team each for a few different sports, and with all these games being played at this games hub of Innova JC-Innova Primary-Sports school.
The idea is grand, the intentional noble, and the task a massive one, and for all these I have to salute these guys for daring to dream big. I can see the passion in these guys, and it is amazing to see these uncles being so committed to the casuse of PE after so many years in service. What an inspiration!
By the way, there was this speaker who reminded us that there are people working hard to make it possible for local school sporting events (The Schools Nationals) to be aired on Channel 5, during primetime slot no less. If they realise that the viewership is not sufficient, such shows, and the opportunity to promote school sports, will never take happen again. Therefore, if you want to help promote all our young athletes, do your part in a small one - watch it on TV!
What is commendable is that these people look beyond the focus on organising the yearly competitive leagues, and instead shifted their focus on bringing sports to non-school team players and the general school population. They came up with an idea of getting schools to play home and away matches in a few sports to generate healthy school rivalry, build school identity and also giving the sports' second-stringers a chance to play against others. Another idea is to have a North zone sports carnival, with schools able to send a team each for a few different sports, and with all these games being played at this games hub of Innova JC-Innova Primary-Sports school.
The idea is grand, the intentional noble, and the task a massive one, and for all these I have to salute these guys for daring to dream big. I can see the passion in these guys, and it is amazing to see these uncles being so committed to the casuse of PE after so many years in service. What an inspiration!
By the way, there was this speaker who reminded us that there are people working hard to make it possible for local school sporting events (The Schools Nationals) to be aired on Channel 5, during primetime slot no less. If they realise that the viewership is not sufficient, such shows, and the opportunity to promote school sports, will never take happen again. Therefore, if you want to help promote all our young athletes, do your part in a small one - watch it on TV!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
IT fair 2009
...was a big squeeze. I figured the jam on Orchard road on the way there can be attributed to the fair, and when I was near, the signboard giving you parking lot info says that Marina Square in full and there are only 10+ lots in the whole of Suntec! After queueing up to turn into Suntec, I realised that they closed the carpark entrance at the convention hall area, and I decided to miss it altogether, parking at Shaw Tower instead.
The big squeeze started when I walked into Suntec from the bridge - the short passageway past Watsons took like 20 minutes to clear! But I have to say that things were much better when you're inside the hall. It helps if you're skinny like me too!
Got an Acer Extensa 4630 laptop with 3GB RAM at $859 instead of $999 outside, so think it's worth the trip down after all. Bought an LG 160GB DVD recorder for $388 for my new place too, have been waiting so long to get my hands on one! Gonna record hours of Discovery channel and Sports events when I move into my new place and get my SCV channels!
The big squeeze started when I walked into Suntec from the bridge - the short passageway past Watsons took like 20 minutes to clear! But I have to say that things were much better when you're inside the hall. It helps if you're skinny like me too!
Got an Acer Extensa 4630 laptop with 3GB RAM at $859 instead of $999 outside, so think it's worth the trip down after all. Bought an LG 160GB DVD recorder for $388 for my new place too, have been waiting so long to get my hands on one! Gonna record hours of Discovery channel and Sports events when I move into my new place and get my SCV channels!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Holiday? What holiday?
Term one is over!
The students are probably happy to enjoy their one week term break, but only after they finished a few online assignments given to them, and maybe a CCA camp. For me, I have a camp tom till Sunday noon, a retreat for PE teachers on Monday, and another camp from Tuesday to Friday. Having to stay out means that my holiday week is actually busier than my normal school week! It's total madness.
And that only means that it will be one full week away from doing preparatory work for my wedding. I'm pissing in my pants now because Jacob told me last week that with my wedding at end May, I should be sending out invitations by the end of March - I haven't even confirmed the guest list! I'm so gonna die loh.
I have to say that my house renovation is going on quite nicely, even though it wasn't on schedule. Karen and I spend countless days arguing about the colour scheme, and that really slowed down the work because the paint job has to be done before many other things can be installed. But we're reaching the finishing line soon, and quite in love with what we saw already!
To make up for the rough week, I'm gonna do retail therapy at IT fair this Sunday. Will be getting a laptop, among other things. Maybe I'll take my laptop outdoors to play with...
The students are probably happy to enjoy their one week term break, but only after they finished a few online assignments given to them, and maybe a CCA camp. For me, I have a camp tom till Sunday noon, a retreat for PE teachers on Monday, and another camp from Tuesday to Friday. Having to stay out means that my holiday week is actually busier than my normal school week! It's total madness.
And that only means that it will be one full week away from doing preparatory work for my wedding. I'm pissing in my pants now because Jacob told me last week that with my wedding at end May, I should be sending out invitations by the end of March - I haven't even confirmed the guest list! I'm so gonna die loh.
I have to say that my house renovation is going on quite nicely, even though it wasn't on schedule. Karen and I spend countless days arguing about the colour scheme, and that really slowed down the work because the paint job has to be done before many other things can be installed. But we're reaching the finishing line soon, and quite in love with what we saw already!
To make up for the rough week, I'm gonna do retail therapy at IT fair this Sunday. Will be getting a laptop, among other things. Maybe I'll take my laptop outdoors to play with...
Captain Planet's Dog - Tubby!
BBC features Tubby of Wales who goes hunting for plastic bottles whenever he goes for his walks, then crushes them with its jaws before handing them over to its owner, making it the ultimate environmentally-friendly pet! The picture is just too cute to resist, and it will be real cool if everyone train their dogs like this. I have to say that the town must be full of rubbish everywhere for Tubby to collect at least 6 bottles on its twice-daily walks!Garang-guni men should start training pets to find and crush metal cans for them too! Too bad they can't help to collect cardboard boxes - dogs will probably be more interested in chewing them up.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Obama Pop Art!
Go to Obamicon.Me and you can get a Obama-style pop art portrait of yourself! Here's Karen's....png)
And mine! Quite cool, go make your own!
Saturday, March 07, 2009
There used to be a time...
...that this picture could adequately illustrates my life. Being in the outdoors most of the time. Enjoying myself under the sun. Proud to be a member of NUS ODAC. Happy and carefree.That lifestyle, like that beloved t-shirt, is nowhere to be found now apparently...
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