Monday, November 15, 2010

A great success

About 120 students turn out. Ice breaking as the first program really got the kids mixed among themselves. Each group was purposely set up to consist students from every level so that they got to know each other. In their quest to make their group the champion in every activity, they really work together. A lot of barriers are broken down in the process.

What touched me the most is the kids feedback in the 'Coffee Mate' activity. A clever student (the Coffee) was paired with a weak student (the Mate). A Coffee was suppose to be a counselor and interview his/her partner of the problems that he/she is facing to study. Is it personal, financial, or any other type of problem. Then he/she is suppose to give advice. The Mate, on the other hand, was supposed to interview his/her Coffee how he/she study and how does he/she overcome any problems faced. After a period of 20 minutes of doing that, I randomly choose any student, particularly the silent ones. One Coffee said that her Mate has financial problem to begin with. She did not have adequate reference books. Another problem was she didn't have anybody to teach her. So I asked the Coffee what is she going to do about it. She said she is willing to share her reference books and offer her Mate to study with her. To me to achieve this kind of collaboration and team work from a half day program is simply incredible and touching.

One Mate said after her discussion with her Coffee she now realized that she had not been a good daughter all this while since she is always quarreling with her mom. She also realized that there's a lot more that she needed to do to succeed well in her SPM examination. The realization that kids will listen more to their peer friends was the drive behind this particular activity. We teachers had been telling kids all these a thousand times. But when they hear it from their peer friend it was as if it was the first time such thing strike their mind and soul.

One Coffee said his Mate has the problems of spending too much time riding bikes, chatting, playing football and the such. When I asked the Mate to response to that he said he sincerely admitted that he had those problems and he would try his best to improve. A very good self reflection.

One would said that such program should be held at the beginning of the year. I would say it is better to do it last minute than not to do at all. We teachers are learning too on how to handle programs to motivate students. There were four major activities and each one of them produced unexpected results. A lot of confessions, self reflections, realizations, and great presentations.

We embraced each other at the end of the program. Many girls hugged me for a very long time. Some cried on my shoulder. I kissed every girl, a manifestation of my genuine love for all of them. Bond formed and bond sealed.

Good luck to all my girls and boys. Good luck in your SPM examination. May Allah bless us all.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Unexpected response


From the analysis of the program that I do at school, I found out that the form five students were exhausted. To some it is as if their struggle ended after the SPM trial. Some skip classes or didn't bother to come to school at all. As if they are not going to have a major examination (SPM) in about less than two weeks time. So I come out with an idea.

I asked the form five kids that I'm going to do a program to help motivate them in their preparation for SPM and I wanted only around 35 students. The program will have some multimedia show as an added attraction. It's going to be on voluntary basis, so whoever needed to be motivated can give their names to me. The list goes on and on. In the end, about 130 students gave their names. This is totally a surprise for me. It's also an indication that the kids needed some fresh air.

I immediately went into action. After a few discussions with the school counsellor and some teachers, I came out with a tentative program. The program is scheduled next week, just a day before the Hajj holiday. So I don't know just how many will turn out. I guess the lesser the better for quality sake but I just didn't have the heart to reject any name.

I just had a meeting with some of the teachers that will be the facilitators, briefing them of their role and duties. We are suppose to be the facilitators, not speakers. So our job is to initiate students to come out with the right solutions and mental setting after each activity. Everything will have to come out from the students, not the teachers. The teachers understood that. Now it's my job to come out with some of the materials needed in the program. Some downloading to do. Some programs using keynote software in my MacBook.

May Allah help me in my job. Pray for me. May Allah bless us all.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Hajj


Haji Menuju Allah
(Original and translated lyrics)

(English)
Labbaikallah humma labbaik
Labbaikala sharikalakalabbaik
Innal hamda wanni'mata
Lakawalmulk la syarikalak
Going for hajj means going to face Allah the Only God,Bringing heart which is shamed,
Giving gift to Allah,Be careful when facing Him
Every slave going for hajj with good intention
Pure heart and good akhlak,halal wealth and clean heart,Pious intention and good amal
Going for hajj, you must have knowledge about it, So that you complete its rukn(stepwise)
Sah and batal will be observed,So that your amal is not wasteful
going hajj, you must take care of ur akhlak
tertib and akhlak must also be observed
performed it with peace and tawaddu',you must have patience and cooperation, dont be pushing other human
being in haraam, be careful of its rule
going for hajj its not the time for shopping
remember to straighten ur niat/intention
so that ur hajj will b accepted
observed the rule which can ruin ur hajj
get away from maksiat which is wasteful
fear Allah and remember Him always
so that we have soul of a slave

Credits to: Bro Fahi

(Malay)
Labbaikallahumma Labbaika
Labbaika Laa Syarikalaka Labbaika
Innalhamda Wal Ni'mata
Laka Wal Mulk Laa Syarikalaka

Pergi haji
Artinya menuju Allah yang esa
Membawa hati dan diri yang hina
Memberi hadiah kepada Allah
Berhati-hatilah menghadapNya

Setiap hamba
Pergi haji dengan segala yang baik
Hati yang baik akhlak yang baik
Harta yang halal hati yang bersih
Niat yang suci amal mulia

Pergi haji
Ilmu tentangnya mestilah ada
Agar syarat dan rukun tepat sempurna
Sah dan batalnya dapat dijaga
Agar amalan hajinya tidak sia-sia

Tata tertib dan akhlak kenalah jaga
Buatlah dengan tenang serta tawadu'
Sabar dan tolak ansur mestilah ada
Jangan berkasar merempuh manusia

Tanah haram jagalah pantang larangnya
Pergi haji bukannya masa untuk membeli belah
Beringatlah betulkanlah niat kita
Moga-moga haji kita diterima

Jagalah pantang larangNya
Yang boleh rusakkan hati
Jauhkan maksiat dan yang sia-sia
Takutkan Allah yang esa
Ingat selalu padaNya
Agar kita senantiasa memiliki jiwa hamba