Microteaching 6: Mine!!!!!!!! Legumes, Pulses, fruits and Vegetables!!!

Mine!!!!!1 We had a great time... finally I can cook!!!!!!

Microteaching 5:Seafood

Ha! ha! here we had a great time on the crab joke (=

Microteaching 4: Eggs, Poultry and Milk

I love the egg tart. We learnt to make the eg slightly runny by covering with the aluminium foil

Microteaching 3: Fruits and Vegetables

Here we are 3rd session of our microteaching. The most favourable food commodity; fruits and vegetables.

Reviews on desserts plating

These are some photos taken. Singapore really have good foods you know (=

Picture courtesy of Ms Silma Sulaiman

Beautiful piece of Chocolate Cake. Ok, maybe apart from the candle, the cake is of a good portion size, probably in terms of colour apart from the red strawberries, they should use a different plate as the shades of brown from the chocolate fudge, the cake itself and the plate is a bit overwhelming.
Probably if they use plain white plate, it will be better. (=

The picture on the right is better. We can see the red strawberry better and against the white plate, even the blueberries are obvious. The chocolate fudge  used sparingly on the strawberry. Nice colour combination.

Photography in Home Economics- Doughnuts

This week we had an interesting class whereby we have a look at 9 different plates of doughnuts. All were plated in different ways. Through we were able to see the different plating techniques that is highly to be adopted by the Home Economics students.

NOTE!!!: NO GARNISH IS BETTER THAN WRONG GARNISH

Here are all the 9 plated doughnuts

As teachers we are strongly advised to practice "POSITIVE MARKING". I totally agree with Ms Chin on this. We are never out there to make our students' lives difficult but to help them and hopefully may they fall in love with Home Economics.

Thus far for teachers and students here are some samples for review:

This a classic example of using the wrong garnish. No matter how "fusionised", we must know this from the start that tis is not appropriate, but remember don't be harsh on students, tell them they have a nice colour combination for this, and maybe they we may want to look for fruits instead to replace the tomatoes (=

Both the ones ABOVE and RIGHT are some of the good ones. However comment on the right, as oxidation takes place with cut apples. advice students this is one factor that we have to take note of.

Microteaching 2: Meat

Ms Ain evaluating on our chapchokas

Through this 2nd microteaching more feedbacks were gained.

This time round:

- Come early and PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE

Ms Pricilla preparing for her class

- Organization of students' work area (points deducted if teacher do not get students organized)

- Minimal noise (Great control by Ms. Jit.... learning point there)

- Give credit to students who make best use of school's resources for garnishing.

- Ensure accurate order in terms of quantity. (NO WASTAGE)

- Lesser theory, more action

- Shorter Demo (less than 2 minutes)

- Change skills, do not teach what has been taught (Oh! Oh! there goes my sambal goreng idea)

- Remind students that no one should be idling

- "Bite" your nails before class

- Never say "A lump of meat"

- Learn the skill of TROUBLESHOOTING

- Most importantly, More scoldings means more love (=

X- Poor garnishing as it covers the main food

GOOD- Simple and Sweet (=

I am beginning to love my chose path. No doubt things never get any easier. We have to always seek out for great challenges in life..... Never give up, especially on yourself.... Never breakdown.... Break it out instead....Do it with love, and you will see all the need to make the best of it..... More importantly.... Chillax, life is short... Enjoice.........

Cooking my Chapchoka

Ms Jit, full of glee " Thank God, it's over......"

THE FINAL PRODUCTS...BEAUTIFUL!

Microteaching 1- Rice and alternatives

This was our first microteaching. I guess for the first time the whole class was feeling with excitement and stress. Nevertheless my highest salute goes to the first team of Hidayah, Farah, Jay, Sooben, Geemah and Meizhu for being bold enough come forward and execute a show that none of us have a first hand experience of be it doing or observing it.


Sadly I was so stress myself, that I didn't get a chance to "Snap! Snap!".


Oh by the way, we cook Tuna Quiche (my first time eating it, I am falling in love with it already), Cous Cous a great unique dish from South Africa, and Chicken pasta (for the first time I cook the sauce from scratch)


I am really looking forward for more microteachings, " Learning by Doing" is indeed something that I will never deny... At least now I can confidently tell people, I can scoop up a a pasta dish anytime any moment.... Just bring me to the market (=


Thanks ladies and gentleman for your sharings......


LEARNING POINTS:
I guess we were all in dilemma whether to behave like known professionals or secondary school kids... ultimately I figure we just be ourself but wait for instructions... as for the teachers... I think it was better to see us as their students... it can be pampering to be treated as secondary school students once awhile (=

Lesson 2: Project Drawstring Bag



The basic to all fabric before sewing

 This week after the submission of our first part to the Competencies Profile, we start off with our first project on a drawstring bag.

It is very helpful, in teaching that we show the students of the anticipated final product. This way we will always "Have an End in Mind".

We started off by learning a new term to a new product: Warding  (Not cotton pad/ "white, white thing", whatsoever)

In this project we are working on two piece of fabric and a warding in between.

The warding's function here is to conceal one fabric from the other (as the colours can be translucent due to its thinness), thus if you have 2 thick fabrics, when put together , the colours translucent to one another, you may go without the warding.

               Measuring from 45 degree to do the diagonal lines using the 'Magic Ink'

First step of Project Drawstring:

- We draw diagonal lines (beginning at 45 degree), on Fabric A (colourful fabric).

- Tip: It is better to use Invisible Pen than to chalk, however the cons is that if we don't sew immediately, the ink disappears and sadly you have to re-draw. I felt the ink can last about 4 days at least before it slowly fade away.

- Then we proceed with "BASTING", a temporary approach to piece 2 fabrics together via hand-sew without backstitch before we machine-sew them, to prevent disalignment.

- Once nicely attached and held, we will machine-sew the diagonal lines.
!!!Tip: Start from the middle


- Once that is done, we will be drawing line to Fabric B (Blue one for me) to attached both pieces together. 


Till next lesson.......

Web Resource Review: Sewing.org

What is the website all about ?

• This website is all about sewing.

Usefulness of the webite in Home Economics teaching?

• It provides step-by-step on sewing.
• Eevery month it comes out with a new guideline that as a teacher we may adopt this to ponder over.
• It also recommends on differents ewing machines.

Improvements

• It is  not useful for students as itis quite in-depth and too wordy.
• The site is also messy.

Web Resources Review: Foodtube.net

What is the website all about ?

• This website is more focus on finding recipes.

Usefulness of the webite in Home Economics teaching?

• It provides a  wide range of recipes that is simple to perform in class.
• Allows you to upload your own video.
• Good for the Food and Nutrition students to source for recipes for coursework.
• It's forum pages is good and questions asked include cutting skills, baking tips and such.

Improvements

• The site however is not more a fusion of you tube and a forum page.
• Not much on lessons which can helped students to learn.

Web Resources Review: Health Promotion Board

What is the website all about ?

• This is a government website and encompasses a huge part on health.

Usefulness of the webite in Home Economics teaching?

• It provides a very comprehensive details and a very good tool of teaching for all Home economics teachers.
• It is always updated and gives the latest information.
• It has many tools that is very useful for both students and teachers, especially in coursework.

Improvements

• The site nevertheless the best and the only problem is it will require one to fully understand it and toggle over it times and again to see the best of it.

Web Resources Review: Brainpop.com

What is the website all about ?

• This website entails a few topics from Maths, English, Science, Social studies, arts, Music and Health.
• Requires subscriptions
• Founded in 1999
• Originates from the USA

Usefulness of the webite in Home Economics teaching?

• A very comprehensive site that looks into details well andvery well presented.'
• The use of flash and animae will certainly engaged students in its learning.
• It will link one item to another and is good enough to cover a texbook.
• This site is good enough for student to use directly and as a self-directef tool.
• It comes in level to help studet see their level of progress.

Improvements

• It do not covers much Home Economics topic apart from Health looking at human organs.

Web Resources Review: Fiberworld.com

What is the website all about ?

• This website is from USA.
• Its main aim is on the subject matter fiber solely.

Usefulness of the webite in Home Economics teaching?

• It provides a "Quickguide" on fiber manufacture.
• Overview of videos and resources like books availble for purchase
• It gives a clear overview on the topic on fiber.
• Not only is this useful for students, but also to teachers.
• As teachers, we can bring studnets straight to this site and allow them totoggle between the pages to learn on fiber.
• A very comprehensive site just on fiber.\
• It also gives link for a more in-depth knowledge on fiber.

Improvements

• The site however is not user-friendly in a way it is quite words intensive and too much science in it that can make student dozed off.
• Probably more animations and colours will be attactive for students as generally the topic on fiber is dry.

Introduction to Clothing and Textiles

Introduction to Food and Nutrition

Introduction to the Home Economics Curriculum

This was my class on Home Economics Curriculum. Our tutor, Ms Chin gave a great overview of Home Economics here. I am beginning to see the subject in a broad overview.

The history of Home economics were also covered. It explains the rationale behind the subject and how over the years, its requirement changes to having the subject mandatory for both boys and girls.

We were exposed to to SOW or known as Scheme of Work and Lesson Plan and the differences.

As our first assignment, we were tasked to prepare a SOW of 5 weeks for the lower secondary that has a theme for example Racial Harmony. We have till the end of Week 4 to submit.

The best part of this session was the view of Home Economics by our colleagues.

We had a group sharing and my group consisting of Jay, Gmah, Farah, Yvonne and myself talks about how Home Economics was created for both gender with one basic objective for the better you and I be it as a  woman or a man for future's purpose or as a life skill.

In a nutshell, Home Economics that has a wide spectrum from cooking, to sewing to finance and food safety, is a Jack of all trade and Master of Everything.

First week in NIE ( An overview of Home Economics Curriculum, Food & Nutrition and Clothing &Textiles

After reciting the Teacher's Pledge on the 25th of August 2010 at Nanyang Polytechnic, a mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety came through me. I'm really looking forward to my new career as a teacher when the term starts on 6th September 2010.

It was indeed a fruitful first week I had at NIE. As much as I was rushed for Hari Raya preparation, somehow I was glad to be able to stay focus. This is especially so due to the great support I had from my colleagues.

The core subjects for the first semester were divided into Home Economics Curriculum, Food & Nutrition and Clothing & Textiles.

Through the learning outlines given, I really look forward to understand the subject of Home Economics deeper and the best method of delivering the teachings of Food and Nutrition and Clothing and Textiles.

                              The day we recite the Teacher's Pledge and embedded it in us.
Looking forward to update on the happenings of the week.

Dreams do come true............

The very first time I stepped into NIE, I looked up to the sky and thanked God for granting my wish, a long awaited wish which I had in me since I was 5 years old. Scribbling on the house's walls, my folks' mirrors and wardrobes, was my forte. Many a times too, my family would caught me talking to myself in the mirror pretending I was a teacher, teaching invisible souls, which only God knows who.

My love for teaching, started when I first met my kindergarten teacher, Ms Tan. I love observing her. She treated all students the same and always strived to save the sinking ones, like myself. Overtime, my love for teaching grew immensely, and after 22 years of wait, I'm just a hurdle away to the truth. It is the toughest and the most challenging hurdle, yet it is the door to my dream... I'm beginning to believe afterall DREAMS DO COME TRUE.........