January 2017

School Life in Malaysia!

It's a great place to work!

01.09.2016 - 20.01.2018 87 °F

Fun Friday swimming

Christmas Pool Party

I've spent a lot of time posting blogs about places I have visited in Malaysia, but I haven't written much about the reason I'm here. So, I'll give a little blog space to my place of employment. There is a Facebook page that you can check out, as well as a website.

I was initially hired to teach in Turkey, but the political situation was spiraling downward and I was really worried about getting in the middle of the problems there, and safety. So, I did a little searching and found openings at several different schools and was offered positions in a couple different schools, but felt that this would be a good place to be, lots of areas to travel to and see, and my church nearby, which was an important requirement for me. I won't go into the pay....it isn't what I was offered and expected to receive.....and is quite a sore point with me, but I'm trying to look at this place as an opportunity to meet new people, live in a new area, and travel across Southeast Asia, so I'll leave it there.

This is a brand new school. It's truly amazing how huge it is. It's not yet finished, but slowing progress is being made. A couple of months ago the 2 swimming pools were opened. Big swimming pools! PTA fundraiser and pool opening

PTA fundraiser and pool opening

I have 16 students in my class. It seems like a small number of students, because in the US I would have at least 26 students. But.....before you think it's easy, it's not easy. I have ability levels that range from 1st-7th grade in reading and math. Some students are just learning English, and some are very proficient. I have students from Scotland, Canada, Malaysia, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, and the UK. Ten boys and six girls. They are pretty active, but I've got some good behavior systems set up and they are doing well. There is always that one kid in the class that is.....difficult, but I always just think that I have him for a school year, but the parents get him forever.....poor people.

My kids are memorizing poetry this year. It's great for reading fluency, and the poems I ask them to memorize have moral values. They are doing a great job and are so cute when reciting it. We like to travel around the school.

One of the amazing things about teaching here is the different things we get to do. I have always had Fun Friday with my kids wherever I taught. The kids have to earn it with good behavior during the week. Last week we went swimming at the new pool. We just walked a few minutes from the classroom and hopped into an amazing pool. It was so much fun! We are studying ecosystems in science and we live in a beautiful tropical paradise that is all around us. Different activities than I had in Alaska and Utah.
Fun Friday swimming

Fun Friday swimming

Ecosystem studies

For our Christmas party we had it at the pool. Two of my parents put it all together and it was awesome. Tons of food, swimming fun, and hot hot weather.

After school today I played tennis on the new tennis courts and then jumped in the pool to cool off after with some friends. Laying and floating in the pool after a fun tennis game, and looking at beautiful palm trees and green gardens was amazing and a great way to end a week of teaching.....without a voice because of illness for a couple of days.

One of the great things about working here is the teachers I am able to associate with. We support each other and frankly, I couldn't live here without that support. We have teachers from New Zealand, Ireland, China, Malaysia, The UK, Canada, and the US. I am learning so many new words from other countries, like elasoplast, boot, bonnet, flyover, and more.