My name is Ayesha and in this padlet i'll be talking about my journey as a practicum teacher in SK Seri Cheras. I chose this school along with my friend Nadia. We visited the school a week beforehand and got to know a few of the teachers along with the environment. The GPKs greeted us with a warm demeanor. They were all very kind. Our first day started on the 9th of September, we arrived around 7AM, punched in and headed to our seats. The teacher's room was under renovation so we had to settle down in the computer lab for a while. After arranging our stuff at our designated table we immediately headed to the morning assembly. After all the formality was over, we were introduced by the principal to the school. To my surprise, there were quite a number of practicum teachers from all around, some from OUM and some from IPG. Thankfully they all got along with us well.

After the ceremony was done, we tried searching for our mentors whom which was Miss Hezlin and Miss Thila, both are great people. I asked Miss Hezlin about where she stopped with her students so that i can prepare my lesson plan in advance. We haven't gotten our schedule at the time yet so we had ample time to prepare ourselves. Miss Hezlin advised me and helped me correct the mistakes i made in my first lesson plan to which i'm truly grateful for. She always answers my inquiries despite being quite busy. I also asked her to just inform me if she needed any assistance with anything. Since there was not much to do at the time, i asked Miss Hezlin if i could observe her teaching her class just to get a grasp of what i'll be dealing with. I learned a lot just by paying attention to all the little details she included when teaching, it seemed pretty tough but i took notes to refer to next time.

There came a time where i had to abruptly relief Miss Hezlin's year 6's class, as i was not prepared, i had to come up with lots of ideas on the spot. I saw this as an opportunity to study the kids' behaviour. Frankly, year 6 was without a doubt a handful but i managed to keep them entertained, i experimented different activities for them to do and i finally got the correct formula. They were all too buddy buddy with me so i took note on how strict or laid back i had to be on them.

As for our curriculum activities, we had the opportunity to watch a silat perfomance, performed by the students of SEIRAS. Shortly after, the students were dismissed but us teachers had to attend a brief meeting about the upcoming sports day event.

After a few days passed, we had to attend a meeting with the principal that only consisted of the practicum teachers. It was about a mural we were assigned to paint on the school walls. We had to discuss the colours and the pattern.

On the same day, a potluck was held among the teachers in the teacher's room, there were so many food to choose from and we honestly had a blast (especially considering it was food related hehe)

Alas, on the last day was the definite closing ceremony of Hari Merdeka, cultural performances and announcements of the winners of the contests that were held during the independence month were ongoing. I tried offering help with what i could but the teachers dismissed me since there were too many teachers helping and there really wasn't much left to do. They were all so nice about it too.

To be completely candid, i don't have any trouble adapting to a workplace nor talking to people since the teachers were all so nice it made it easier for me to be comfortable around the them. Although there was only one problem, there was this one person in school that was quite rude and informal with us. He'd make rude remarks or comments about us, including my friend's mental stability in which he made fun of. Racial remarks of students were said in front of the assembly too. It was quite disrespectful, but as practicum teachers we had to maintain our professionalism and dismiss what was said. We tried to respect everyone at school equally.

And then.. the long anticipated 1 week school holiday arrived!

For sports, I was assigned to the Blue Team alongside another practicum teacher, Syahirah. Although I was initially unsure of what to do at first, I tried to be as helpful to the teachers and students as I could.

Since my English classes hadn’t started yet, I used the time to prepare lesson plans with guidance from my mentor and peers. This helped me feel more confident and organized for when classes began.

On Malidur Rasul’s Day, the school held a parade, I was absent at this time as I was caught with a high fever. I was sad on how much I missed out.

In addition to teaching, I also attended a briefing for the upcoming sports day. The teachers discussed the events and how we could support the students. It was interesting to see how the school organizes such events and how involved everyone gets.

Overall, I spent a lot of time just trying to adjust to the new school life. It’s still a bit overwhelming, but I’m getting more used to the routine and the school environment each day. I’m looking forward to the coming weeks and learning more from the teachers and students.

While I was preparing for my next class outside, I unexpectedly bumped into my friend. It was a nice surprise to see a familiar face and catch up for a few minutes. It made me feel more comfortable and at ease, especially since I'm still adjusting to the new school life.

In my lesson this week, I taught the Year 4 students about possessive pronouns. The students were really engaged and enjoyed the activities I prepared for them. It was rewarding to see them understand the concept and use the pronouns correctly in sentences.

There was also a Senam Robik session for the students. It was a fun and lively session where students and teachers joined in to do some light exercise. It was a great way to get everyone moving and energized, especially with all the upcoming sports events.

This week felt like a good balance of teaching, learning, and getting involved in the school activities. I'm enjoying my time here more and more each day and look forward to the challenges and experiences ahead.

I also started working on a banner for the Blue Team in preparation for the upcoming sports events. It was a fun and creative task, and I was able to contribute to the school's spirit for Sports Month.

In my class, I decided to let the students play musical chairs as a fun activity. They were all so excited and had a blast! It was great to see them having so much fun and enjoying themselves. The game also gave me the chance to observe their behavior and interaction with each other in a relaxed setting.

This week, I also started marking my students’ work and giving them little notes on their mistakes. I felt it was important to provide constructive feedback so they could improve.

Additionally, I had a pre-observation with my mentor. The lesson didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, and it felt a bit hectic at times. However, my mentor gave me valuable advice and suggestions for improving my teaching. Even though the lesson was a little challenging, I felt happy and motivated by the feedback. It made me realize that I still have a lot to learn, but I’m on the right track.

I also managed to finish the banner I had been working on for the Blue Team. It was a huge accomplishment, and I was proud to see it displayed in the school.

The big game for this week was sukaneka for the Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students. It was such a fun and lively event, and I was given the responsibility to prepare the medals and hold them on stage for the winners. I also helped distribute food and beverages to the students after the games. The students had so much fun, and it was a joy to see their excited faces as they participated in the activities and received their medals.

It was such a busy week with lots of tasks, but I enjoyed being involved in the school's activities. I learned how to handle new responsibilities and had the chance to see the students enjoy their time at school.

After the Sports Day, we had a special holiday in celebration of the event. On the next day, we finished the mural that we had been working on for the past few weeks. It was so satisfying to see the final result of all the effort we had put into it. The mural really brightened up the school, and I’m glad to have been part of creating something meaningful for the students.

I also had the chance to relax and spend the Deepavali holiday with a road trip to Penang with my fiancé. We had so much fun exploring the place, trying the local food, and enjoying some quality time together. It was a great way to recharge, and I came back feeling refreshed and ready for the week ahead.

However, the week took an unexpected turn when my housemate and practicum partner, Nadia got into a tussle. I had to rush her to the emergency room, which was a bit of a shock. Because of the situation, I had to take emergency leave for the day to make sure she was okay. Fortunately, she was fine after some treatment, but it was a stressful moment.

After things settled down, I decided to bring our other practicum friends to our house since it was their last day. Nadia wanted to meet them before they left, and we all spent some time together. It was a nice way to say goodbye and reflect on the time we had spent working together.

Despite the challenges of the week, I’m grateful for the support and camaraderie of my fellow practicum friends.

Oh! I also started assisting the music teacher. I taught my students how to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the ukulele. They were excited to try something new, as how students are usually. It felt good to help them learn a new skill, and I enjoyed teaching them music. I also taught them the notes for the recorder too!

Later in the week, I had the responsibility of managing the assembly. I had to use the microphone to keep the students quiet and ensure everything ran smoothly. It was a bit challenging at first, but I got the hang of it. I was glad to be trusted with such a responsibility, and I felt proud that I could help keep the assembly organized. I reckoned that now I might not be as liked as I was by the students as my demeanor changed into a strict and serious one instead of the warm and bubbly demeanor I usually emit. But alas I thought, the students who know me will definitely know that I'm not like this in class and as a person so their perspective wouldn't change.

The biggest challenge of the week was my first observation. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped. The printer was broken, and I was unable to print the materials I needed for the lesson. I found myself in a bit of a conundrum, unsure of how to proceed. I felt underprepared but I made do with what I had. Despite the setback, I'm grateful for the outcome as it could've gotten far worse than it was. It was a learning experience. It taught me to be adaptable and think on my feet, which is an important skill for teaching.

I also spent a lot of time preparing for my second and last observation with my mentor. I worked hard on planning the lesson and ensuring everything was ready. It felt like I had learned a lot from my previous observation and was eager to show my mentor how much I had grown.

On top of my internship, I started working during the weekends at my fiancé's mother's pet shop in Nilai to earn a bit of extra money. It’s been a great experience because they allow me to manage my own tasks and give me the flexibility to complete my practicum work, like lesson plans, without feeling overwhelmed. It’s been a good balance, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more while also earning a bit.

After finishing my observation, I shifted my focus to preparing my students for the upcoming UASA exam. I taught them how to answer objective questions and how to write an email. It was really rewarding to see them slowly improve, especially since some of them were new to writing emails. I asked them to memorize each step, and by the end of the week, I was thrilled to see many of them successfully writing their own emails. It felt like a real achievement, and I could see the progress they were making.

I continued working at my fiancé's mother's shop over the weekend. The job has become part of my routine now, and I appreciate how flexible it is. However, as the weeks go by, I realized I haven’t had a proper holiday and have been pushing through without much rest. Even though it’s been challenging, I’m proud of myself for making it this far and for handling everything that’s come my way.

Afterward, I checked their English exam answers, and I was happy to see some really good responses. There were also some absurd answers, but I appreciated that they still tried their best. It was great to see their effort, and it made me proud to be part of their learning journey.

Despite it being exam week, the students still had co-curricular activities, and I had to be present as usual. It was a little unusual to have activities during such an important time, but I made sure to be there and support the students as needed.

Towards the end of the week, I discussed with my students about organizing a jamuan makan next week to celebrate my last week at the school. They seemed excited about the idea, and I’m looking forward to spending some final, fun moments with them before my internship ends.

I’m starting to realize how close my time at SK Seri Cheras is coming to an end. While it’s been a challenging and rewarding journey, I’m excited to celebrate my time with the students and leave with fond memories.

For my last day, I’m planning to let my students watch a movie and play some games as a way to relax and celebrate all the hard work we've done together. I want to create a happy and memorable final experience for them, just as they have made this internship so memorable for me.

Throughout my time here, I noticed that the students grew very fond of me, and that made me so happy. It was such a heartwarming feeling to know that they appreciated me as their teacher and mentor. Seeing their smiles and hearing their kind words made every challenge worth it, and I’m grateful for the connections we’ve made.

As my time here comes to an end, I feel a mix of emotions. I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned, the students I’ve had the chance to teach, and the experiences I’ve gained. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m leaving with many fond memories. I’m excited for what’s next, but I will definitely miss the wonderful people I’ve met along the way.