Google map and google earth

I showed them how to use google map. They gasped. Then I clicked on google earth. There's a plug in that I need to install. At first I wasn't going to do it but since the students insisted on it, I submitted to their request. Once google earth works, there's a lot of "aaahh...." and the such. The exact image seen from a satellite. Plus the difference tone of blue for the different depth of the sea. And the different tone of green and brown for the land. Then I move the joy stick. It was helicopter view or airplane view or spaceship view, depending on your height.

Then I moved on to our housing area. Asking google map or google earth to show the route from nearest town to the school, riding a car. Or the route from their house to the school using walking option. The distance and estimated traveling time are also given by the google map/earth. All these are not comparable to anything that the students have ever experience before. They were so thrilled.

The assignment was to do research on all the unknown ethnics of Malaysia for their sivics lesson. I instructed them to include google map or google earth of the region where each ethnic can be found in their PowerPoint presentation and in their report. School holiday assignment to fill up their time with something useful and interesting. They are pretty excited about it.

One of the best time of being a teacher is when you see the faces of the students being lighten up with excitement for learning something new or for understanding something difficult. Its like the bud of a rose slowly opening up. It makes your day.

May Allah bless all our teachers. May Allah bless all our students. May Allah bless us all.

Happy teachers day

"You smell of cigarette. Stop smoking". I was going from desk to desk to personally monitor each and every one's work. As best as I can in the limited time that I have. Form 3G is the third last class out of 11 classes of form 3. Not every teacher's cup of coffee but I always find it thrilling to teach weak classes. A lot of challenges and it really test my soft skills. "Is the smell that strong teacher?". I nodded and asked him to slowly reduced the number of cigarette he is smoking everyday.

"You are a smart student. Don't kill yourself slowly". He knows I'm not kidding when I said that he's a smart kid since I elected him to be one of the ten mentors in the class. He's in charge of 4 friends under his supervision. Whenever I give exercise, I will teach the mentors first and then they are suppose to teach their group members. I have always use this techniques throughout my career as a maths teacher.

That was my second day teaching his class. And the last day he smell of cigarette. Maybe he had try to reduce his smoking. Today he asked me to give extra questions for him to try at home. "Test your power", as I have always said in class. I showed him roughly the method to solve the questions. I told him he can discuss the questions with me any time, even on the day that his class don't have maths lesson. When I left the class he was deeply engrossed, discussing the questions with his friend next to him. A difficult sight to see in a weak class.

It has always been my experience that weak students are not really weak or stupid. They are just lazy and have very low self motivation. We can't push them and force them to learn. Instead we must make them want to learn. To believe that they are good too. They just have to believe in themselves and work extra hard. That's the soft skill that I meant. Trying very hard to be an inspiring teacher.

Happy teachers day to all teachers. No matter how hard your job is if you can change just one student in your entire career, that's more precious than a diamond. A diamond don't grow. A student will grow into a good person that will create a good family one day that contribute to the betterment of the nation. Thank you to all my teachers for making what I am today. Happy teachers day.

May Allah bless us all.

Just a few words

I was on my way to the computer lab when I saw two boys sitting on the stairway. One was crouching and the other one was talking to the first boy while wrapping his hands on his friend's shoulder. I signaled to the boys to go back to class but they stay put. So I diverted from my original course and climbed the stair to where they were. The second boy immediately went back to his class but the first boy remained. Then I noticed the tears and the distressed look. I asked him what was the problem and naturally he just kept quiet.

I said something about how life is full of challenges and we just have to face it. Its part of life. I asked him to handle the problem wisely. Then I was back on my way. From behind me I could hear him saying thanks to me. I nodded.

Sometime it takes just a few words to light up someone's day. A few words to show that someone does care. A few words to help make it through a terrible day.

May Allah bless us all.

crouching - a position where the knees are bent and the upper body isbrought forward and down, sometimes to avoid detection or todefend oneself : we crouched down in the trench.

stay put - remain somewhere without moving or being moved.

Having the guts to say I'm sorry

I didn't mean to interfere. I was only trying to help. But somehow it didn't turn out that way. Can't back out now. What's done is done. There are countless times when things didn't go as we have planned. Sometimes we offended others even though we meant to help out. Then the atmosphere will be charged with tension.

When I was younger, saying sorry feel like offending myself. Why should I when I didn't mean any harm in the first place? It doesn't matter if I can't look straight into the other person's eyes. It doesn't matter if I can't ask for that person help any more. My pride is bigger than all that.

And there are times when other people offended us. It hurts to the core. But keeping the anger inside is like letting ourselves being burned down slowly. Like a candle slowly burning itself to the last drop. It's not good for our mental health. And it's not good for our physical well being either. We have to learn to forgive others.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (p.b.u.h), was teaching in the mosque. Suddenly he said an ahlul jannah (a member of the heaven) would arrived. Everybody waited in anticipation. Then a young man came in. This happen for three consecutive nights. The same young man would appear after Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. declared that an ahlul jannah would come in. Unable to hold his curiosity, a sahabah or a companion of Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. followed behind the young man on his way back one day. The sahabah give salam (islamic salutation - 'may peace be with you') to the young man and asked him if the young man could help him. He just quarreled with his family member and he needed a place to stay for the night. Would the young man be so kind as to give him the permission to stay with him for a few days? Yes, why not.

During the few days, the sahabah watched the young man closely to see just how much ibadah the young man performed everyday. The young man didn't wake up in the middle of the night to perform extra prayers. In fact, he didn't see anything special. Not able to hold his bubling curiosity anymore, the sahabah confessed to the young man that he didn't quarrel with his family member. That was just an excuse to stay with the young man. To watch what special ibadah that the young man performed everyday. What is your special ibadah that make Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. declared you as a member of jannah for three consecutive days?

The young man answered calmly. There's nothing extra ordinary about my ibadah as you can see for yourself. But every night before I go to sleep I would forgive everbody that has any offence against me. MasyaAllah, praise be to Allah. Can it be that simple?

It is not that simple actually. At least not at first. To forgive others that has hurt us is no simple matter. But to a muslim that seek Allah's pleasure more that anything else, it is the very least that we can do. Just to gain Allah's love. And it is not easy to say I'm sorry either. But I'm learning. For Allah's sake. No, for my own sake. For Allah do not need me. It is I who need Allah.

I'm still struggling to sincerely forgive others. Sincere mean not to mention the offend done by that person anymore. Not even to myself. Never open old wound. People can change. Don't hold their past against them. I should treat people the way I want them to treat me. I must sincerely forgive to be sincerely forgiven by others. May Allah give me the strength.

May Allah bless us all.