Making That Special Connection
Monday, September 24, 2007
Developing creative thinkers and lifelong learners underline Mrs Bala’s passion for teaching.
An interview with a recipient of the 2007 President's Award for Teachers, Mdm Parameswary d/o Sundar Rajoo
also known as Mrs Sheila Bala to her students and colleagues
10 years’ teaching experience
Current position: Teacher, English Language and Mathematics at Montfort Junior School
1. Why did you choose to teach?
Teaching was a natural choice for me. My own teachers were great role models, whose realm of knowledge, ‘super-person’ human traits and unwavering love and care for their pupils convinced me and many of my peers to make teaching our profession for life.
2. If you were to leave the teaching profession tomorrow, what would be the top three memories you would bring with you?
One: the classroom humour and harmless jokes made at my expense. I’ve had many humorous teaching moments, and these jokes have in fact taught me not to take myself too seriously!
Two: locking eyes with a pupil right at the back of the classroom and hoping that our brain neurons connect - and suddenly a cheeky grin flashes back at me as if to inform me that, “ I am getting what you are trying to teach me”.
Three: the strong and visionary leadership of the leaders of my school. This includes my fellow staff of all ranks. They make every teaching day a meaningful one.
Looking at numbers from a different perspective.
3. What is the funniest or most memorable thing your students have said to you?
There are plenty of similar - and familiar - phrases used by students from different cohorts that amuse me, such as:
“Do you stay near my place?”
“I think my mother/father and you are best friends
you always say the same thing.”
“My mother forgot to put it into my bag.” (in reply to, “Where is your homework?”)
This is my all-time favourite: I was expecting my first child in 2005 and had a “fan” who had been “stalking” me for some good three years since he started school. During my third trimester, he casually remarked, “The ball in your stomach is going to explode”. The next day, he said, “Still hasn’t exploded, alamak!” But he wasn’t far off the mark - I delivered a few days later.
4. If you were a numeral, which one would you be and why?
The number 10. 1 as in “I”, and hand-in-hand, “0” as in a life cycle, always there for you, and an all-rounder.
5. How would you like to be remembered by your pupils?
I want to believe that my pupils remember me as a teacher who makes lessons fun, and one who cares about them as individuals, not just about their test grades.
6. What lessons have you yourself picked up during the educational outings you organised?
The importance of respecting different ways of learning - learners need to be given the opportunity to learn in varied ways. There is magic when learning takes place in a joyful manner, and all the hours of designing and redesigning the teaching materials are definitely worth the time and effort.
Games like Snakes & Ladders stimulate thinking and make learning fun.
7. What advice about teaching would you share with others?
The true quality of a teacher is revealed when she forges a positive relationship with those who are neglected, those who cause her trouble and those whose attitudes reduce her effectiveness.
Read the interviews with the other 2007 recipients of the President's Award for Teachers:Mdm Yip Jee Cheng, Mayflower Primary School, Mdm Norlita bte Marsuki, Sembawang Secondary School and Mr Yeo Leng Quee, Peirce Secondary School.