posts from ms toh

taking a breather

2009-02-16T23:53:00.002+08:00

Hello everyone!

I'm taking a break from marking the compos. Looks like it's going to be a long night ahead!

Anyway, Nathan, you can check out the foxtrot comics online at this website: www.gocomics.com/foxtrotclassics. I'm glad you like it. I like reading Chew On It too!

I went to Gramophone over the weekend and spotted this movie which Ms Azean lent me during the holidays last year. I've mentioned it to you in class before and I'm really excited about showing it to you after the exams! I was really inspired by it after I watched it. Please don't hurry to the nearest video store to rent it! I'm going to keep you in suspense about the title for now. :P

Meanwhile, there was one unexpected surprise that made me very happy today. I saw Cheah Yan reading 'The Graveyard Book' in the courtyard! I hope you'd enjoy reading it! :)

Also, did anyone read the news on Sunday Lifestyle? There was an article on the ukulele and how the music makes one feel as though he's in Hawaii. I can't wait to learn how to play it!

Today some of you have asked some important questions about the scientific concepts of Matter. I'm glad you wrote it down because it lets me know whether you understand what I've been trying to teach. I'm going to post some of the questions in the Science forum for our class and I hope you'd try and provide some answers to help your classmates.

One very important question in particular was about the difference between mass and volume.

Mass

Mass is the amount of substance in an object. Mass tells us how heavy or light something is.

Volume

Volume is the amount of space an object occupies.

Fibonacci Numbers

2009-02-08T14:03:00.004+08:00

I was reading the Sunday papers and made a beeline for the comics section.

My favourite comic strip is Foxtrot (Baby Blues comes a very very close second) and today's Foxtrot comic was sooo funny!

Let me upload it here ..

We've done trying to figure out why a riddle is funny.... so let me know why this comic strip is funny. (Yes it IS funny :p) In order to understand it better though, you'd need to know Fibonacci numbers.... and that's the only clue I'm giving you!

Good luck fellow Math geeks!

Third Week of School

2009-01-24T01:43:00.006+08:00

I can't believe it's already Week 3. Time really flies.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! :) I'm too excited about the holidays to sleep early so I thought I'd post some thoughts about this week.

I fell sick on Tuesday and by Thursday, I had almost lost my voice. Poor 4G had to listen to my raspy voice, which broke at several points in almost every sentence I uttered. That's laryngitis for you. I caught a virus that caused my throat to become inflamed and it affected my voice box... leaving me croaking away.

Anyway, it turned out to be not as bad because I had Joshua for my broadcaster and he did an excellent job converting everything I said into indirect speech. Here's an example:

Ms Toh (croaking pathetically): Tell the class they don't need to mark this portion and that divisible by 3 is important. If they don't have divisible by 3, it's wrong.

Joshua (confidently and clearly) : Ms Toh says we don't need to mark this portion.... etc etc.

Imagine having to remember the long chain of stuff I say PLUS convert it to indirect speech. I shall never look at indirect speech the same way again. :p

We also had the Use Your Hands campaign and thanks to Edwin's brainwave (bringing newspapers to school), we've now got sparkling window panes! Thanks again to everyone, for your very enthusiastic spring-cleaning and packing of cupboards and fervent wiping of tables.

Just a few pics of that day.... :)

You can almost see their reflections off the whiteboard!

saying hello to a new beginning

2009-01-04T18:17:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone!

Hope the first day of school went well for all of you.

Primary 5 is going to be a fun and challenging year for you, so do enjoy learning. I miss all of you already but I'm very sure you're going to have fun in your new classes. Just think, you get to go and watch the NE show! Maybe you aren't too used to the classmates in your new classes, but give it some time. You started off as strangers in the class too and look how close some of you have become.

I'm going to be teaching 4G this year, so I'd probably not be able to see you much anymore. Take care all of you.... and hope I'd see you around in school!

ms toh

Happy Holidays!

2008-11-24T21:16:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone!!

It's been a week of holidays for you so far.. hope you're all having fun and relaxing. :) The hard work can come next week heehee..

I've been hard at work too and have just finished packing my table. Jiamin, you'd be proud of what I've done! (this probably doesn't reflect very well on me huh..:p) But yes... I've got a neat-looking table that's pretty organised now. It's a good start to the holidays.

Regina, the nose-picking sounds awful! Haha... I guess you just have to make sure you stay healthy. Hope you are doing fine. Wish you could have come for the musical though. It was quite lovely. I was happily bobbing along to the songs backstage so much so a fellow teacher told me the director should be informed that I want to join the musical next year. :p

I was surfing the net yesterday and came across this game online.

http://www.quia.com/cb/96929.html?AP_rand=744924617

I hope the link works because I can't seem to use the ctrl-copy and paste function on my computer.

Anyway, Zijian, I didn't see you at Lot 1. I don't see why anyone would like to impersonate me and post a reply... but that wasn't me.

Hi Lydia, sorry I'd have to keep you in suspense on that... Hope your holidays are coming along fine though! Have you been to the zoo yet? I keep hearing about the Rainforest exhibit but have yet to go.

Happy holidays everyone! Happy reading too! Go to the library and borrow as many books as you can. Holidays are perfect for lazing around with a good book and picking up some cool phrases to use in your compositions in P5! :)

Good Job!

2008-11-06T22:07:00.002+08:00

Just wanted to say how proud I felt of you guys today after I saw what you'd come up with in such a short time.

The typing of the scripts, the enthusiastic acting, the reminders to 'face the audience!!', the focused way you were doing the props, overcoming your shyness to act in front of the class, remembering to look at the audience when you speak.

It was all good. :)

Just to list some things that made me really impressed...

- the way Kishore took charge and did the script for the group

- how Zi Jian read so enthusiastically and expressively

- how Elroy was willing to take the group's ideas and incorporate them into his lines

- how the group made props with Daniel, Navin and David leading the way. I am really impressed with your 'shelter' for Wilbur! Not to mention your teamwork when doing the fence. that was really great.

- how Chee Wee and Alvin switched roles and ended up doing better

- how well Boon How and Jonathan did as narrators

- the ideas that Clemence came up with...

- the way the group progressed from squabbling to being more focused and trying to remember to face the audience

- the way group 1 & 2 girls worked as a team and rehearsing so well together. I really enjoyed watching you guys esp Nadine bringing to life the idio-idio-idiosyncrasy of the goose! :p

- it was really entertaining to watch you strut about pretending to be farm animals and seeing Delvine going 'so do it, do it, do it!', Lisa going 'Hmmm how about Pig Supreme?', Beatrice going 'But Charlotte... I'm not terrific!'. Kudos to Wei Li and Jia Min for memorising their very very very long lines and while I'm at it, kudos to Nadine for remembering that Double T double E etc etc CCCC line. I could see the rest mouthing the words along with you haha. Jing Yi's Templeton was cute too! "What's up!!"

- the props made by group 3 & 4 girls were really impressive. You managed to finish the painting, the fence made by Yee Ann and the spider made by Priya were fantastic! I thought Hui Wen did a really good job as Lurvy with the 'Holy Moley Macaroni!' and your funny introduction by Wei Jia and Lydia (today) "I can show you my fist...." You worked as a team and managed to overcome your initial disagreements. I thought that was really great. Sandrina's cover page for the script was really nicely done too.

So yep. That was a pretty long list. I think given the short time you had, what you've done is really quite awesome.

think before you write

2008-11-05T00:34:00.003+08:00

Sometimes it's easy to simply write an angry comment and not think about the consequences. You may think you are being very clever because no one knows who you are when you post a nasty comment in the chatbox, especially if you use a nickname. Or worse, if you use someone else's name.

Think before you write.

It's just cowardly behaviour when you post a nasty comment using another person's name. If you really have something you feel unhappy about, just tell the person straight. Hiding behind the computer writing petty remarks isn't going to solve any problems. In fact, the person you are angry with wouldn't even know what is wrong.

You need to tell the person what is wrong. Politely.

It is not nice to swear and write 'fish' because we all know it's meant to be a vulgarity. It's just plain rude and extremely cowardly behaviour. So please don't think you are going to get away with such bad behaviour because I will have my ways of finding out who you are. And I'd like to clarify, I don't mean writing nasty comments on this class blog only but also writing on your fellow friends' blogs. It hurts their feelings and the innocent person whose name you're using gets implicated.

Think before you write.

You need to have integrity in your words.

2008-10-20T23:04:00.003+08:00

Dear everyone,
Sorry for making you check back to my blog so often when I hadn't posted the answers.
I fell sick over the weekend and was knocked out by the medicine I had to take.

UPDATE for Revision Paper 2:
Q29) Answer should be 3h 55 min. Thanks for pointing it out.
Q 26) The answer is 1 1/10.

Answer Key for Science Booklet A
1) 3
2) 4
3) 1
4) 2
5) 2
6) 4
7) 2
8) 1
9) 4
10) 4
11) 1
12) 4
13) 4
14) 4
15) 3
16) 3
17) 2
18) 1
19) 3
20) 3
21) 1
22) 2
23) 2
24) 3
25) 4
26) 3
27) 2
28) 3
29) 1
30) 4

Revision Paper 2 Answer Key

2008-10-17T06:44:00.008+08:00

Hello Everyone.

I'm posting the Revision Paper 2 Answer key here. Please check your work and email me if you have any questions.

1) 4
2) 3
3) 3
4) 1
5) 3

6) 1
7) 3
8) 3
9) 2
10) 2

11) 2
12) 2
13) 4
14) 3
15) 4

16) 2
17) 3
18) 2
19) 1
20) 4

21) 0.53
22) 3 1/7 ( it's 3 and 1 over 7)
23) check that the distance between the two lines is the same, check that the line passes through point C
24) 4.6
25) 1.6 litres
26) 1 1/10
27) The angle should be drawn at the side of B, label the angle 150 O
28) 8623
29) 3h 55 min
30) 9
31) 1375
32) 458
33) 100
34) 0.63
35) shade only 1 arrow
36) Thursday, 1400 or 2 p.m.
37) $400
38) Aminah's red beads - 24
Total for Jane - 40
39) 5/9
40) Yes, No, No, No

41) $1.20

42) 1/5 + 7/10 = 9/10
(a) 9/10
1 unit-> 6
10 units -> 60
(b) $60

43) 1.45 x 2 = 2.9
4.2 - 2.9 = 1.3
Ans: 1.3km

44) 7 x 4 = 28
length of larger area -> 7 + 2 = 9
breadth of larger area -> 4 + 2 = 6
9 x 6 = 54
54 - 28 = 26
2
Ans: 26 m

45) 3 x 2.50 = 7.50
23.10 - 7.50 = 15.60
1.40 + 2.50 = 3.90
15.60 ÷ 3.90 = 4 (there are 4 groups of 1 pen and 1 pencil)
4 + 3 = 7

Ans: 7 pens

Using Guess and Check:

Number of Pens Number of pencils Total Cost Check
4 1 ( 4 x $2.50) + (1 x $1.40) = $11.40 x
5 2 ( 5 x $2.50) + (2 x $1.40) = $15.30 x
6 3 ( 6 x $2.50) + (3 x $1.40) = $23.10 ⁄

Thanks for putting extra effort into your work!
I will post the answer key for Science Section A tomorrow!

Our Class Photos

2008-08-14T08:40:00.008+08:00

Here are some photos that were being passed around last week... I guess most of you have already placed your orders.

I'd do another post on composition writing again tomorrow. Meanwhile, study hard!

Its or It's?

2008-08-05T22:46:00.004+08:00

When do you use its or it's?

It's always a big problem and you can see this everywhere! If you happen to have a can of Ayam tuna in your cupboard, go take a look at it. I think there's a slogan on the can, something that goes along the lines of 'tastes good on it's own'.

Every time I have tuna for breakfast, the English teacher in me cringes because it's supposed to be 'good on its own'!

Lesson for today:
it's -> it is

For example: It's a hot day! (It is a hot day.)

its-> to show something that belongs to a thing or an animal.

For example, the dog has brown fur. Its fur is soft.

Imagine the sentence being read as 'tastes good on it is own'. Doesn't make much sense now does it?

***

On a side-note, we wrote limericks today during CCA.

Some of you are really talented at it!

Here is one rather nonsensical one I wrote.

There was once a teacher named Ms Toh,
Who slept near her sister's big toe.
"Don't kick me in your sleep!"
"Alright, I'd try not to flip."
But alas, she did and gave Ms Toh a big blow.

***

So... challenging Math problems anyone?? *huge grin*

Hello!

2008-07-29T21:40:00.006+08:00

Hello everyone!

Gosh, it really has been a very very long time since I've posted anything. After a few of you asked, 'Why aren't you posting anything???' I've decided I would do a little entry tonight.

Firstly... here's a loud helllooooo going out to all of you loyal blogders who've been reading the same few entries and happily tagging me on the tagboard. :)

Alright... on with the actual entry.

We had word introduction today and Beatrice introduced 'haemophilia' to us. I knew it had to do with blood because of the 'haemo' bit, but the actual meaning really eluded me, and the class as well. We were all about to give up when Doel sauntered into class from the watercooler and very coolly said, "Oh, haemophilia. I know the meaning of that word."

He proceeded to tell Beatrice the answer and at that point, I think we were all pretty flabbergasted. And it turned out to be the correct answer! The entire class broke into applause for Doel. Heh... that was quite exciting. It was such a close shave; if he'd been at the watercooler a while longer, Group 3 would have gotten 10 points!

Later on, Clemence introduced the word 'ubiquitous'. Thankfully I knew the word this time round. The clue he gave to the class was "Trees are ubiquitous" which makes perfect sense when you know the meaning of the word.

To the rest of you who haven't introduced words to us yet:
Please feel free to stump me! :)

I shall have to do some work now. I'd see everyone tomorrow!

In case you're interested, haemophilia is a condition where the blood cannot clot normally. This means if you get a cut, you would keep bleeding from it.

Ubiquitous simply means being everywhere / can be seen everywhere.

Chat Box Rules

2007-07-15T22:28:00.000+08:00

Here are some rules about writing messages in the chat box:

1) Do not write anything private (like your home address or telephone numbers) because it will appear to everyone who is reading.

2) Be nice to each other online. This means you can't scold or write nasty things about your classmates. I'm glad everyone's been very nice so far, so keep it up!

Well, I've thought of these two rules so far.
Do you have any other rules you want to add on to it? Write in the comments at the bottom of this post!

Poetry Recital!

2007-07-15T22:14:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I've posted something...

Here are some of the pictures of the people who presented their poems last Friday! We did our poem recital together with 2 Ignatius pupils. It's a pity all their jellyfish poems were not facing the audience though. Here's a picture of Amira doing a reading of her poem!

I thought she was really brave to read her poem on the stage!

Xuan Wei did a beautiful acrostic poem for his jellyfish and Franchesca volunteered to read his poem for him. Unfortunately, her arm was blocking her face when I snapped this picture.

Finally there's Mark who wrote a lovely shape poem on snakes after reading "Rumble in the Jungle".

The recital was over in a jiffy but I had a good time listening to some really funny poems! I couldn't help bursting into laughter after listening to Edwin's (2I) poem on McShrek. It was about his Pokemon Kracks that were cracked.

I'd post up pictures of more poems once I finish hanging them up in the classroom.

Esplanade Trail

2007-07-02T13:23:00.000+08:00

It's lovely to be a youth, don't you think?

Here's an entry on the Esplanade trail we went for last Friday. I love going to the Esplanade! It's such a wonderful place and I'm always especially happy when I get to attend performances there.

We were split into two groups so here are some pics of the group that I followed in the beginning.

First stop: Roof-top of the Esplanade.

The facilitator told us the spikes on the Esplanade are actually contr0lled by computers so they can deflect more light when it's hot. I couldn't believe it when Naveed told me that.

We headed to the library@esplanade after that. Remember the letters that are made up of only rectangles? I thought the library was really awesome, and I'm quite sure all of us wanted to plaster our faces against the cake display when we walked past! At this station, we were supposed to decide how many people could fit into the bench.

I was really impressed when everyone walked quietly and whispered when they were in the library. Well done! :) By the way, can you think of a simile that describes how we walked in the library? Scroll down to the bottom to check if you've got the same simile as I!

All too soon, it was time for a break. Hungry stomachs cannot be ignored! We sat down on the ground and everyone took out their goodies.

Hope most of you enjoyed the trail... It was fun counting the number of faces on the couch!

Have a good rest before school starts again tomorrow.

p.s. Did you get as quiet as mice??

Are you ready??

2007-06-21T14:12:00.000+08:00

School's starting in 3 days' time!
Hope everyone had a good holiday... and that we'd have joyful smiles when school starts! :)

Have you been to the library? They're having the DEAR promotion - Drop Everything And Read! I've been happily trotting to the library to borrow 8 books at a go, so I'd have many new stories to share with all of you!

One that I read is called "March of the Emperor Penguins" which is a lovely lovely book on Emperor Penguins! The pictures inside are wonderful. Imagine "Happy Feet" and Mumble... except it's in a book and there are real life penguins!

All of you have your journals in the notebooks, so now you can read mine here!

Did you go overseas during the June holidays? I didn't. I did go to the Zoo though and it was really fun! I especially liked the Rainforest exhibit because you can watch the animals during feeding. Did you know that the sloth hangs upside down so much, its fur actually grows downward? Tell me if you know of any more animal trivia!