Working and Nurturing Young Minds is a Gratifying Experience - Teacher Lorraine from R.E.A.L Kids Setia Eco Park

When I took up the challenge of becoming a preschool class teacher back in 2006, this is not where I thought I was going to be! Being with R.E.A.L Kids gave me the opportunity to explore and think about which direction I was heading. Teaching preschool is certainly not easy, although it gets easier with experience.

At R.E.A.L we’re given plenty of opportunities to improve ourselves be it as a teacher or as a person.

As a beginner preschool teacher I found on-the-job training to be incredibly valuable!  And now as a Supervisor, R.E.A.L again steps up to give us all necessary training.

I appreciate the leadership roles R.E.A.L Kids has bestowed upon me and take pride in supporting the development of both our teachers and students. Working and nurturing young minds is a gratifying experience.

What Makes A Good Preschool Teacher - Teacher Sharmine from R.E.A.L Kids Taman Cuepacs

"R.E.A.L Kids offered me my first working experience and working here has been memorable for me. I would love to continue working in R.E.A.L Kids after I complete my studies." - Teacher Gayathiri from R.E.A.L Kids Taman Cuepacs.

What makes a good preschool teacher?

by Teacher Sharmine from R.E.A.L Kids Taman Cuepacs.

A good example of a potentially good preschool teacher would be Teacher Gayathiri from R.E.A.L Kids Taman Cuepacs. She's only 20 years old this year and she's a first year ECCE student from SEGi College. She first impressed Teacher Sharmine by sharing how much she loves children and how that drove her to choose teaching as her career.

Teacher Gayathiri started work with R.E.A.L Kids after her SPM and she worked for about 1 year before she quit middle of 2014 for further studies. Due to the flexibility of her study schedule in the afternoons, she reapplied to us as Assistant Teacher for half day, morning sessions where she gets to apply directly the knowledge she gains from her ECCE studies.

Teacher Gayathiri is a dedicated teacher who is able to multitask. On top of that, she's helpful and willing to help any class at any time. Her dedication is not just at work but practiced at college, resulting in her being one of the top scorers in the college.

One key thing Teacher Sharmine recollects in her experience working with Teacher Gayathiri is that Teacher Gayathiri is mesmerized with how our senior teachers are able to work so long in this field. This has not only inspired her to stick around to taste the fruits of this career but learned to be more organized. Teacher Gayathiri also loves Arts & Crafts, running and organizing Events, Concerts, etc, which are parts and parcels of a preschool teacher's responsibilities.

How to Get Rid of Bad Dreams by DJ Ong

Inspired by her young children she taught, DJ Ong shared with us the tips on how to get rid of your bad dreams suggested by her children.

To some, working is all about making ends meet. To some, it is about experiencing the joy and spreading them to a wider community. Preschool teachers for instance, would have experienced this creative joy first hand when you work with innocent little kids.

Below are some of the suggestions DJ’s children shared on How to Get Rid of Your Bad Dreams:

1.       Make a kite and fly it.

2.       Write your bad dreams on a paper, crush it, and throw it to or at another person.

3.       Blow a balloon till it is big and tight and then bust it.

4.       Pretend to be animals, eg dogs, rabbits or kangaroos. Hop around, dig up holes and bury your bad dreams. 1 month later, dig them back up and talk about them.

5.       Squeeze your head so you can get your bad dreams out of your head. Otherwise sneeze them out.

Sometimes, the easiest way to get rid of your bad dreams are to think and act like a child, experience life with zest and they will go away as time passes.

Teacher Carmen Roberts - MAP is Encouraging to Management Staff

Congratulations to Teacher Carmen Roberts for completing her 2 years' MAP with R.E.A.L Education Group. With that, she's confident to take up Supervisory role with R.E.A.L Kids Puchong Jaya.

"It has been a wonderful journey  to start of as an Assistant Teacher and then promoted to be a Subject Teacher. Later on I was lucky to be promoted as a Class Teacher and I worked on it for 8 years before I’m now in the management for 3 years.

  I was not interested in the Management Apprentice Program (MAP) at first until my Centre Manager encouraged me to take it up to complement the practical modules that my Diploma fails to cover.

  The topics are always interesting and they are closely related to my work. I have shared everything I’ve learned with our staff to educate them and to help them improve on the job.

  Thank you to the Human Capital Centre (HCC) team who took so much effort to organise this course to mold and encourage the management staff." - Teacher Carmen Roberts

Teacher Tiu Sie Jie - R.E.A.L Kids' MAP is Directly Related to The Work Issues I'm Facing Every Day

Congratulations to Teacher Tiu Sie Jie for completing her 2 years' MAP with R.E.A.L Education Group. With that, she's confident to take up Supervisory role with R.E.A.L Kids Taman Cuepacs. 

"I joined R.E.A.L Kids in 2011 and was given the opportunity to take up the Management Apprentice Programme (MAP). The program had given me the opportunity to learn and explore a lot of new knowledge regarding different functions. Many of the program topics are directly related to the work issues that I am facing every day.  

Overall it was an enjoyable and educational program. Now that I have completed the program, I feel that it had thoroughly benefited me and I am better equipped to work in the kindergarten. Thank You." - Teacher Sie Jie

R.E.A.L Kids Management Apprentice Program (MAP) Graduation 2015

R.E.A.L Kids MAP Graduation Ceremony on 26th June 2015.

In line with R.E.A.L Education Group's Core Values, the 5Cs - Character, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking and Creativity, both teacher Carmen Roberts and teacher Tiu Sie Jie have achieved a tremendous feat in completing the 2-year Management Apprentice Program (MAP).

It definitely takes patience and determination, the willingness to work with others collaboratively and a working mind that's always willing to apply what's learned critically and creatively to get to where they are today, thriving Supervisors for R.E.A.L Kids centers.

"This milestone achievement is in recognition of your hard work, dedication and commitment towards fulfilling the programme’s main objective which is to train and prepare staff to take on key management and leadership positions within R.E.A.L Kids. Your success in MAP bears testament to the proven quality and effectiveness of the programme and will undoubtedly inspire your peers to emulate your feat." - Rachel Leow, GM, R.E.A.L Kids.

"If you're not willing to learn, no one can help you; if you're determined to learn, no one can stop you. - Zig Ziglar. We are here to learn, grow and impact lives together." - Kenny Sim, VP, Group Strategic Resources.

Congratulations to both teacher Carmen and teacher Sie Jie!

Be Truthful, Give Your Best, Don't Cheat, It Will Make A Difference - Teacher Lashmi from R.E.A.L Kids Bukit Jelutong

Teacher Lashmi gave us her valuable time during our visit to R.E.A.L Kids Bukit Jelutong on 23rd March 2015. It was her birthday. We hope her message to fellow Early Years Teachers would make a difference and create a positive impact.

Not everybody is dealt the same deck of cards in life. When given something less ideal, would you still give your best or cheat to stay comfortable? Teacher Lashmi does not believe in taking the easy way out. She recalled her initial 3 ambitions when she was young. It was either a doctor, a nurse or a teacher. Due to her family background, she couldn't go further and she settled with being a preschool teacher.

However Teacher Lashmi did not stop short at just SPM. She started her career in preschool in 1981, finished KEMAS training, a 9-week intensive kindergarten course sponsored by the government, and went through further KSPK government trainings to equip herself with the necessary knowledge in the industry.

She took up a job as a Bookshop Assistant immediately after SPM but she was very clear she wanted to be a teacher. It was innate in her since young because her neighbor's children always came to her. However they cried, she would carry them and took good care of them. She told everybody she knew to inform her if they come across any kindergarten teacher vacancies. That's how she got herself into her first preschool teaching job, a center with 100% chinese kids. She carried her lessons bilingually in BM and English but none of the kids could understand her. It was frustrating for her early passion, parents were complaining that she was not a good teacher because she could not understand what the children need. She was lucky under the guidance and support of her then principal, she gained confidence slowly and was eventually promoted to be Class Teacher. 

From 1985 to 2000, she partnered with friends to run her own school but it did not work out well. She saw an ad on the newspaper and that's how she came across CEC (R.E.A.L Kids). Esther Yong was the first person who greeted her in CEC. Then on Teacher Lashmi was flexible enough to be transferred to different R.E.A.L Kids centers when the needs arise. From USJ 2 for a year, to Gasing Indah with Principal Ms Mala from 2003 to 2004, to Bukit Jelutong from 2006 onwards. "I did not choose to love children. I was slowly doing my best. Being single, I trust that god gave me this talent to bring up some young and better ones."

"Some time in between my job as a preschool teacher, I was frustrated with my stagnant salary because my former boss made us work for an NGO kindergarten for extra hours but did not pay us. I left to work in office line but did not last for more than one day. I felt lonely there because I was used to all the children's noise. I knew I did not belong there."

"It's different from working with principal Ms Mala because she gave us all the support and encouragement we needed. Without her, I'm still an unknown person. I like the way she motivates all the teachers. She's always with new vision, something new and renewed motivation for us. It is the way she say it that made us feel worthwhile. She's not stern, not authoritative and she always speaks in a friendly manner."

"I rarely feel exhausted teaching eventhough it's day to night. I had to take extra tuition at night to make ends meet. When I'm tired, I'll listen to some music. There are times I had problems with the parents. I gave my best but they still complaint. Felt that they don't need me and wanted to quit. But after speaking to my principal and colleagues, it was comforting to know we are in this together. It's not just a job."

"Outside people took preschool teacher job very lightly. They assumed we just teach the children to play. They are not aware that there are many areas we had to concentrate the child on. Some teachers thought it is too easy to teach young preschoolers, some thought it is too tedious and they couldn't take the crying etc. Teenagers usually don't like all these. When they were young they relied on pampers; but when they grow up, they don't want to work on raising children. Awareness programs should be done to encourage more new ones to come up to this career. It needs dedication, a lot of patience. You have to be truthful to yourself, don't cheat because every little work counts when it comes to raising children. We are not here to just play. Be truthful, whether I did my job, we can see it when the children manage to follow up. Some children need 100% support from us because their parents do not support the learning at home, that's when your job comes in more important. You know your reading lessons worked when the children start picking up books from the shelf and read."

"It's vital we work as a team in Bukit Jelutong, both the stronger and weaker teacher, in order to bring better results to our children. We might be focusing on different areas but we take pride in making this center a very good center. The word of mouth is there and it felt great when we have parents who come all the way from further parts of Shah Alam just to enroll their kids in Bukit Jelutong."

The Love for Children Will Come - Teacher Gana from R.E.A.L Kids Puchong Jaya

"The love for children will come if you have the patience and kindness because the children are so innocent." - Teacher Gana from R.E.A.L Kids Puchong Jaya.

Teacher Gana is not the first preschool teacher that has come from a corporate background. Tthe reason behind why some of these teachers that decided to pursue a career in early childhood education never cease to amaze us and that is motherhood. 

“I wanted to teach my own children. I could not just sit around the house and do nothing. Therefore I enrolled myself to pursue a Diploma in Montessori. Thereafter, I ran my own kindergarten for 10 years. It was a very small self independent kindergarten that I managed alongside my sister and a helper. After making the decision to sell off the business, I stayed home for a short period of time to look after my aging mother-in-law. After some time, I felt restless and staying at home was starting to be very energy-sapping and that was when I came across an ad in the newspaper that was looking for kindergarten teachers. This was my beginning with R.E.A.L Kids."

If you think that managing a class full of preschoolers is easy, you might need to think again. Teacher Gana shared with us some of the challenges that are involved in managing preschoolers that she has encountered over the years teaching in R.E.A.L Kids. “Handling the parents is more challenging than the children at times. The children are happy in your classes but their parents could think otherwise. They have high expectations of the teachers and expect results from their children’s learning growth in areas such as reading and writing. Unlike the Western culture, Asian cultured parents have the tendency to be fairly academically driven. Classes are organized in such a way that each class would have a variety of levels of children but all of the same age. There are times where you struggle with time in guiding the slower ones to catch up with the class. This is where you would have to identify the stronger children and teach them to assist their weaker classmates. You’ll be surprised as to how children can sometimes learn better from their peers. We also get the stronger students to learn through puzzles and building blocks while we are occupied with guiding the weaker ones. Another challenge that I have encountered as a teacher is handling very active children. There are always a few children who are unique in character in a class. How do you handle them then? Some of these children are very smart and energetic. For example, I had this one boy who was very cheeky. I had placed the sweet drinks very high up on a cupboard and while I was attending to the other children, he was cheekily stacking chairs up to climb up and retrieve the drink. I had to run up to him and told him nicely that he could not have the sweet drinks now and that he had to be patient. Sometimes you have to explain nicely to the quieter and more timid children that teacher will not scold them if they behave well especially after they have seen you scold the naughtier ones. Everything has to be done in a very sensitive and delicate manner. Teaching in a big school and running back and forth for school duties can be very tiresome at times too.” 

However, teaching in a kindergarten is not all bitter as there are plenty of sweet moments too! Teacher Gana shared with us about her short experience in teaching at a Dyslexic Centre. “It was an NGO and I was there to teach a small group of dyslexic children and by using the phonetics method, we were able to guide some dyslexic children of age 7 & 8 years old to learn how to read. Later on, the centre started accepting autistic children and it became too time-consuming and tiring for me. I love and enjoy teaching children and what gives me joy is seeing how much progress the children has shown since entering my class. I was not trained to teach autistic children.” Why did teacher Gana decide to stay with R.E.A.L Kids Puchong Jaya for such a long time? “I feel recognized and comfortable with the people here. It feels good when you have a parent come up to you and insist that her second or third child to be in your class. It lets you know that you have been doing a great job and how your children are impacted by it. I want to be somewhere where everybody knows my name. I could have moved on to a bigger school with better financial security but I wouldn’t know what the chances are to meet a good school manager like teacher Janet who is comfortable with my teaching methods and trusts me enough to continue using my own teaching style.”

Teacher Gana was extremely grateful when she experienced parents who went up on stage to thank her publically for her competency as a teacher during one of the Graduation Day Ceremony. There are times when she feels that she would like to explore different careers after being in this line of job for so long. She was considering on exploring the real estate industry. However, there is something special and fulfilling about teaching children that has always kept her here. “Some time ago I bumped into an ex student of mine and she was currently already working as an accountant! I felt excited but yet at the same time a little sad for myself as I was still working as a teacher after so many years. However that student exclaimed, “Teacher Gana, you have basically taught half of Puchong! And that is what you want to hear and feel. Sometimes we may not feel that we have contributed much, but even after a child has grown up and still remembers me, I am very happy.” 

How has working with R.E.A.L Kids transformed teacher Gana for the better? “I used to be very introverted and shy. I was encouraged by the management to take up public speaking and it is very different speaking to children as opposed to speaking publically to adults. Children don’t judge you as much as adults do although I must admit that children are much brighter than we thought they were. They actually absorb a lot more than you think they do and they bring it back home to their parents.” 

Is anyone off the streets qualified to be a preschool teacher? “Patience is of utmost importance. This is followed by kindness and love for the children. Even if you do not love children, working in a kindergarten will grow that love for children eventually because the children are so innocent. I remember this one child who was always crying loudly ‘Teacher Gana, Teacher Gana’ to get my attention. After a while, she slowly grew to be independent and she was able to learn so much. Your heart will melt when you see how a child progress in your class. Sometimes it is the fear and separation anxiety that scares them and that is why they cry. After all this, I am now teaching her younger sister and I am always reminded of her elder sister. Being a preschool teacher is not a job that should be looked down upon. You need to have the passion for children and learn how to be hands-on with them. When a child makes a mess in his pants and is afraid to let the teacher know because he is afraid of getting scolded, you should not just throw him to the helper to clean him up. This might instil thoughts of rejection in the child’s mind.”

What are Teacher Gana’s thoughts on Early Childhood Education? “It is the period of time for us to teach them right from wrong. Reading is critical at this stage of life for them to accumulate general knowledge. By learning to read, the child is able to progress further in learning. This is the time where we are still able to mould them, imagine trying to change someone who is already in their 50s. It is near to impossible because they are already so set in their ways. I learned through my experience of raising my 3 children that teaching positive things are crucial. My eldest child took a break of 7 years after her SPM and was jumping from course to course until she finally settled down in dentistry. As compared to my youngest son, who is only 16 now, is very independent. He knows how to take the bus on his own to school every day and sometimes I feel hurt when he tells me “don’t worry about me mom, I don’t need your help now, I can take care of myself.” Both my eldest and youngest child behaves so differently from one another. My son is independent enough to cook his own meal whereas my eldest cannot even heat up her already cooked meal. I am still learning how to cope as a mother and learning how not to be selfish sometimes to wanting to be needed by them.” 

Teacher Gana rejoined us in 2006 and she has no regrets. “I have no regrets but there are times I feel burnt out. I really give all my heart and soul and it can be tiring. It is definitely not easy to be a teacher. However, I like going the extra mile. I have a soft spot for children who are weaker in the class but it can sometimes take a toll on me.”