Happiness Journal 6/11/25
Ordering aprons for my school’s food waste project helped me come up with an original idea. I took one apron from my sci lab technician and pasted two concept maps drawn by my students earlier this week. In colour, no less.
Just as you might have expected, the students, especially the ones responsible for the concept maps, were tickled pink by my unexpected appearance. Taking them by surprise made it easier for me to recap the main concepts of the water cycle.
A colleague who walked past me later was intrigued enough to take a photo of the apron with the two concept maps, thus proving that I was the most creative teacher alive.
Happiness Journal 16/11/25
My son has yet to be inundated with enrichment programs, so it was the most natural thing in the world for him to suggest that we go to Bishan Park to find otters.
Bishan Park isn’t exactly small, so I didn’t fancy traipsing there for hours for an elusive otter encounter. Thank goodness, the clouds were dark and heavy, so I could convince him to stick to my original plan. Go to the library located at Sun Plaza.
Upon reaching there, he engrossed himself in the self-help machine, trying to find books related to Santa. After a few false alarms (because he flatly rejected pictureless books), he finally found two that grabbed his attention and ignited his interest. So, we borrowed them.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m just waiting for the day in which I can enrol him in a tuition class (and buy myself 2-3 hours of sweet seductive freedom), but I like that he has a sense of adventure and knows how to keep himself gainfully occupied. I hope his spirit - as open as anthers hanging out in wait for pollinators - will remain intact against the onslaught of our educational system.
Happiness Journal 17/11/25
An intoxicating mix of relief and pride swept over me the moment my son’s Parent Teacher Meeting ended.
I only had one concern in my mind, but it has been a gargantuan one that has occupied much of my headspace. You see, I try my best to speak to him in Chinese but he responds to me in English without fail. I feel like I have been pushing a boulder up the language mountain without any success.
His Chinese teacher was quick to allay my anxiety by reassuring me that he communicates to her in Chinese.
I could have suffered a case of sour grapes because he CHOOSES not to talk to me in Chinese, but oh man, I’m just gloriously relieved. I count this as a win.
The PTM could have ended then and there, but his teacher continued to comment that he seems to have a good grasp of knowledge about animals. She even gave an example about how my boy correctly shared that birds have 羽毛 feathers 🪶.
Now, who’s the trusted adult who has been drilling Science facts into his offspring’s head? Me me me!
Thus ends my flexing here.
Happiness Journal 18/11/25
I asked my fifth graders to write about their favourite memory this year. I even used the trending term *core memory* for good measure.
This boy wrote: Mr Heng shouting (favourite theacher) and camp. 🙂
I’m honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as the Primary 5 camp aka the supreme highlight of their primary school existence. Zero mention of his on-again, off-again girlfriend!
His spelling error also broke my heart a little bit and reminded me of the purpose of us public school educators. To work for the benefit of average children coming from typical households.
