Reflective Journal 5

2nd May 2014

       Today was the last day of PACE session. Tan Chun Mon’s group were this week representative and they have prepared games that required critical thinking. Activities were given such as number scramble, timetable and magic square. During these activities, marks will be recorded and group that get the highest mark will be the winner.

            We guided our mentees on revision booklet as usual for the first 20 minutes to lead them to better preparation for their upcoming final exam. In the number scramble activity, we have to assist our mentees complete the cross word puzzle type of math equations but with mathematical sign on it. My mentee was refused to do it but she was the fastest to solve the equations in the end. I saw her improvements after all these mathematics exercises and activities. Next, multiplication table competition was conducted again in order to encourage the mentees to memorise timetable better. My mentee was refused to participate in competition as usual so I want her to write out the timetable on a paper. During the magic square activity, my mentee was unwilling to participate as she thinks she was unable to complete it. Hence, I copied down the question on a blank paper and encourage her to try because she might be able to do it well. I was impressed because she did it correctly without my guidance. All the mentees were rewarded with pencil box and stationery and this makes them feel really happy.

             After the activities, our PACE session is coming to an end so all the mentees, mentors and Ms. Rabiah are invited for photo session. I have prepared some present which is snacks and stationery for my mentees to encourage her to study hard in her upcoming exam. I hugged her and took some photos with her. PACE workshop has taught me a lot and gave me a new experience as teaching them was a grateful memory. “Every single time you help somebody stand up you are helping humanity rise.” By Steve Maraboli. I have a great time teaching my mentee and I am consoled that I able to help her in improving her mathematics skill. Lastly, I would like to thank Ms. Rabiah for guiding and giving us more opportunity and ideas on PACE activity. 

Reflective Journal 4

29th April 2014

         Today was my fourth week attending the PACE workshop. I was excited to see my mentee showed up for the class. There were three activities prepared for the mentees such as revision booklet, multiplication table competition, and complete equations without symbols. The objective today was to improve and help mentees to build up interest on mathematics.

         Multiplication table contest was first activity to be conducted. Three volunteers among the mentees were required to write out full multiplication table and the numbers were given randomly by mentors. I was happy to see the mentees were excited and vigorous in the competition. Meanwhile, I also tried to stimulate my mentee to participate in the competition but she was too shy to even rise up her hand. Thus, I asked my mentee to write down the multiplication table when others are competing in front in order to assure that she is able to complete it. It was a great activity as this was an opportunity that allows mentees to learn in an interesting way and mentees will be more focus on memorising multiplication table throughout the game.  The next activity was to fill up the symbols given the solved math equations. My mentee was lazy at first and not willing to copy the equations so I copied it down and encourage her to do it. My mentee was concentrate to complete it after I copied down for her. I am glad that she was willing to try  and putting effort on the activities although she made some small mistakes.

    “Each mistake teaches you something new about yourself. There is no failure, remember, except in no longer trying. It is the courage to continue that counts.” By Chris Bradford, The Way of the Sword. Today was fun interacting with our mentees and was amused to see them enjoying the learning games. I have learnt that I will be accomplished my goal as long as I am willing to try harder and not afraid of failure because failure taught us to grow up. This same goes to my mentee, she will be able to learn more if she is willing to try. “The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear” by Gandhi. It is important to overcome our fear so we will pursue for better future.“Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough” by Elon Musk. We must keep going and look for lessons when we are facing our failures so that we will not taking it personally which we will adapt and change that lead us to success in our career next time.

Reflective Journal 3

LEA-ER-SHIP

22th April 2014

                Today was my third week of PACE workshop. I reached there early as usual and teacher was teaching our mentees mathematics during the first hour. Moreover, Carmen’s group was this week representatives to guide the PACE work. The main objective for today’s activities was to ensure effective learning. Today’s activities aimed to deliver a session that is tailored to the individual skills and aptitude of the students. Hence, Carmen’s group conducted 3 activities such as recap on last week activities, individual questions and math competition in order to encourage communication and teamwork amongst the mentees as well as to inject a sense of enjoyment into math through competition.

              Most of the mentees were weak at memorising multiplication table. Thus, we have to guide them throughout the revision booklet that contains fraction exercises involving plus, minus, divide and multiplication. On the other hand, I tested my mentee some multiplication in order to ensure she is able to answer my questions correctly and able to remember the multiplication table well. Basically, my mentee was capable to solve the fractions as well as slowly memorising multiplication table. After the recap, mentees were given several fractions to solve in a limited time. My mentee solved it fast but she has done some mistakes so I lead her step by step so she will learn from mistake. The next activity was mathematics equation solving competition. Each group has to solve the equations quickly and send a mentee that represents the group to present on how they solve the equations in front of the white board. At the end of the session, mentors gave some rewards to the mentees so they will feel more appreciated.

               The quote of the day “one must learn by doing the thing, though you knowing it, you have no certainty until you try” by Sophocles. Therefore, practices makes perfect because the more the mentees exercise, they will be able to know where their weaknesses are. In addition, mentors are there to guide and help the mentees to a better path in their studies. I will strive to encourage my mentee study hard as she is just a bit lazy but she is a smart student. On the other hand, I learnt that leadership is significant to lead a team towards succeed because leader provide team members motivation and positive attitudes. "The goal of coaching is the goal of good management to make the most of an organization's valuable resources.” By Harvard Business Review. Leadership is vital in our future career because provides an inspirational figure to lead groups of people towards great accomplishments. Leadership can provide a foundation for ideas and excellence, showing others that anything is possible. 

TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN DO IT NO MATTER WHAT 

Reflective Journal 2

A TEAM

15th April 2014

               Today was the second week of activity PACE held at SMK Convent Sentul. We reached there early by taking van. Teacher was teaching the mentees math at the first hour before the PACE workshop starts. I was so happy that my mentee attended the class as I hope to interact and teach more in her homework. After the class ended, week 2 representatives have prepared two activities for the mentees to solve, The activity 1 was a mathematics booklet given to mentees for further practice their mathematics solving skill. Activity 2 was to solve mathematics questions in a creative way. The mentees are required to draw the answers on a blank paper in order to see which group has the best drawing and some snacks treat for the winner.

             During the first activities, I assisted my mentee to solve the questions. Shortly after that I allowed her to solve the questions herself and I observed quietly beside her. Besides, I realised that my mentee is capable to solve most of the math equations but only made small mistakes. Thus, I praised her that she did well as to give her more confidence in her studies. Activity 2 required group work, hence, few mentors and mentees grouped together to complete the task given, We helped our mentees to solve questions given and discussed about the most creative drawing that mentees could think of in order to win this competition. Lastly, we drew a car that made up of different shapes. Mentees are rewarded with some sweets due to their effort in accomplishing the task.

            In conclusion, I have learnt that group work is the most important emphasis in order to succeed in certain work. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” by Helen Killer. Therefore, team work is the vital key that leads us to success in job because we can be faster and more efficient. When a team works well together as a unit they are able to accomplish more than its individual members can do alone. For instance, members apply different skills they are often able to come up with a more effective solution than one person working on the same problem through the preparation of PACE group presentation. Besides, team gives mutual support that can encouraging people to achieve goals they may not have realized they could reach on their own. Moreover, I will try hard to encourage my mentee to put more effort on her studies than watching drama at home. I hope she could improve her results on studies after attending PACE workshop. 

Reflective Journal 1

   

Self-confidence has to instil since small.

8th April 2014

        Community service is one of my compulsory subjects in my Finance and Economics major. I was curious when I saw community service is on this semester subjects list because it is quite a new subject to me. Hence, I went to the first lecture of community service and Miss Rabiah has briefly described what we have to do during the tutorials. After short explanation from lecturer, person in charge with PACE also illustrated that we are responsible to teach some weaker students in appointed public school. Moreover, she also showed us some pictures and slides that indicate their aim and goals of their organisation. Next, our senior also shared his experience in this PACE work in order to give advices and encourage us to put more efforts and care about our students. I was excited and begun to feel interested with the activities that we are going to conduct in the following week.

             On the first day of PACE, we have gathered in school at 8.45 am and took Taylor’s bus to SMK Seri Sentul which is located at Kuala Lumpur. I was the first group to present and assist students throughout the games that we have prepared. Our first objective on the first day is to break the ice between the mentors and mantees so students will get to know their mentors and feel more comfortable while learning with us later. The games conducted such as words from words, name memorising, hidden identity and pick a question for students to answer. Basically, the games are to help students to improve their English and stimulate them to boldly communicate with mentors. Besides, students were doing well and obedient with game rules although they were shy at first. The class was becoming lively due to students were active and playing happily with us. During the name memorising game, we have decided to punish students who are unable to remember the others name by asking them out to introduce themselves so it also helped them to be courageous in front of other students. Similarly, we arranged students with their own mentors which will be fixed in the future activities during the last game. Thus, we ended our session warmly and peacefully on our first day. I was more motivated after I have seen their grateful smile on their faces so I will be more responsible on my mentee in order to make them better in their studies and strive for a bright future.

             In conclusion, I learned that we have to be more confident in expressing our ideas and opinions so we will gain and expand knowledge from others. Confidence also makes us a stronger as we have the belief in success. “Self - confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings” by Samuel Johnson.