Music Makes Me Calm and Listen More Carefully - Teacher Thivi from R.E.A.L Kids Setia Eco Park

Music has accompanied Teacher Thivi since she was in her mom's womb. She would start kicking everytime she listened to music, that's how her mom recalled Thivi's reaction when her mom was pregnant with her. She started watching Hindu mythology movies at age 3, learned classical dance and started singing classical songs at age 4. Her mom was very fond of it and she was very happy to see her sing.

At age 12, Teacher Thivi's passion grew further and she started learning Indian Classical Instrument Veena. She would perform at concerts and got certificates out of them. Her mom was proud of her and often said to her, "You can go further."

This pushed her further to sing, play and compose music. She would practice using piano to play horror music and classical music. It gave Teacher Thivi certain pleasure whenever she listens to other kinds of music.

She even recalled instances when her friends asked, "Can you play a certain music from this movie?" and they often got surprised she could write the notes.

"Music taught me much. It teaches me to be calm and to listen more carefully. As I grew older, I played more instruments including the drums, piano and flute. My father also played a lot. I guess I inherited the gene. He would patiently tell me 'this is how you play the music or this is how you go..' I believe there is a bright future in music."
 

Hiring Gen-Y Needs a Paradigm Shift in Employer’s Mentality - Adelene

As one of our Senior Center Managers, Adelene is notable for her endurance and capacity to groom and build leaders for R.E.A.L Kids. Under her leadership, she has transformed a few passionate teachers into leaders who not only work their parts but look their part. In case if you question the need for this coaching, think about your impression as a parent when you last walked into a preschool. How did you feel about the teachers? What made you feel that they were professional or competent? Was it solely their command of language, or the way they carry themselves and also the way they dressed up befittingly?

Often times, employers or Hiring Managers would resort to hiring experienced professionals from outside the company to take up crucial roles during pressing times. It would seem so much easier to hire externally than to groom internally. However, this is not Adelene’s practice. Under her leadership, she has successfully brought up 4 principals inhouse from teacher to principals, namely Lorraine, Esther Chien, Chris Wong and Elizabeth Tan. A pretty amazing feat worth applause.

We’ve got the opportunity to work with Adelene on her center’s recruitment. This gave us a glimpse of how she hired teachers through roadshows and Open Days.

“Hiring gen-Y’s is very different from our time. If they could stay for two years, it’s already something. I’ve got a good teacher who worked two years for me and left to try marketing. She returned after a year and has been very happy working for us for more than another two years now. It’s just the way they are. My two daughters are gen-Y’s and they did the same. These people are ambitious and are always on the move. The only way they could progress or command for more is to change jobs. They would explore a few years in a company, a different area in another and then moved on to a completely different trade after. Jack of all trades. It is different from us, we were contented. But once their priorities changed, from career to family, that’s when they will come back to us.” - Adelene shared casually wheeling her chair fondly next to our cubicle.

Of course, her point of view might not be appropriate for your type of recruitment. To hire somebody with her family as her top priority might not be the best option for FMCG or Tech Industries but when it comes to hiring teachers for preschools, this might just click. Then again, this might not apply to all positions across the industry. Perhaps you might need a more career-minded marketing and sales professional for your school’s aggressive 3-year expansion plan.

That being said, we were really happy to hear that Adelene as one of our Hiring Managers, is able to accept that we are working with a new age workforce that could be a little bit too ambitious for us to cope with but still open-heartedly mentor them for long term. Yes, we might end up grooming a really talented staff for our competitors. But isn’t that what all great teachers do? We are not afraid of imparting skills, knowledge and wisdom to the young ones regardless of whom they serve ultimately. May the best employer win the battle for talents. Bon voyage~  

The 9 Qualities of A Preschool Teacher - Teacher Selvi Puspa from R.E.A.L Kids Gasing Indah

Always remember to taste these fruits. These fruits are very sweet and delicious, and they are the 9 fine qualities that make a good preschool teacher:

1. Patience - be patient when handling the small one's.
2. Love - show more love and care.
3. Joy - display joy when seeing kids achievements in their studies.
4. Peace - have a peace of mind and do not bring any problem with you to class because you won't be able to deliver the lesson properly.
5. Endurance - wholeheartedly take up the challenge to handle the small one's.
6. Generosity - be gracious to reward the small one's with words of encouragement, eg: Bravo, Excellent, Genius or offer them a Star Sticker.
7. Mildness - be gentle when you're handling the kids especially during concert practice or field trips.
8. Faith - we plant the seeds of foundation in our children. In the coming days, they will bear fruits of knowledge.
9. Kindness - be kind to the small one's because they are innocent and still a kid. Always use kind and positive words with them.

Written and shared by Teacher Selvi Puspa from R.E.A.L Kids Gasing Indah

Early Childhood and Childcare Education (ECCE) Internship Opportunity with R.E.A.L Kids

Standing in front of R.E.A.L Kids Wangsa Melawati are Pn Razmah Dahlan (Principal), Priscilla Ong (MCKL DECE Intern) & Sze Swan (MCKL DECE Intern) during their internship visit to R.E.A.L Kids Wangsa Melawati.

R.E.A.L Kids welcome Early Childhood & Childcare Education (ECCE) students from any recognized institutions to apply for internship with our 30 plus owner-operated preschool chains year-round. Interested candidates are welcome to drop us an email at recruit@real.edu.my or call us at 03-5621 7201 for more info.

Below are the documentations you need to submit in order to qualify for an Internship Interview Opportunity:

1. Resume

2. SPM copy

3. IC photocopy

4. Letter of Introduction from college/ university

5. One passport sized photo

6. Application for Practicum Form (you may request it from our Institute's Practicum Coordinator or call R.E.A.L Education Group HCC Recruitment Team for the form at 03-5631 8000)

Below are some of our preferred Early Childhood Partners/ Institutes (ECCE Faculties):

SEGi College/ University (SEGi)

Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL)

ALFA International College (ALFA)

Kolej DiKa (DiKa)

UNITAR International University (UNITAR)

Institute of Childhood Education-Studies & Community Education/ College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)

Universiti Malaya (UM)

Kolej Perkembangan Awal Kanak-Kanak (KPAKK)

HELP Institute (HELP)

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)

Universiti Selangor (UNISEL)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 

Management and Science University (MSU)

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM/ UIA)

Kolej Islam Antarabangsa (IIC)

KFCH International College (KFCH)

The Power of Hugs - Teacher Low Mei Yen from R.E.A.L Kids Bandar Puteri Puchong

 

A hug is a form of physical intimacy, universal in human communities, in which two people put their arms around the neck, back, or waist of one another and hold each other closely. It is nonverbal and it means differently depending on the culture, context or relationship of the people involved. It could convey familiarity, close friendship, sympathy, support, comfort or a loving feeling.

 

Do you know how powerful a hug can be?

 

It is not just love but it serves as a form of encouragement, it strengthens immune systems and it boosts self esteem, especially in children. It also regulates love hormones by releasing Oxytocin and by lowering our blood pressure.

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth.” – Virginia Satir.

There is a tendency that we can be drained emotionally with an empty tank by end of every day. This is when the love from hugs replenishes our energy. Depending on the social or cultural context of the place, on whether we do it privately or publicly, unexpected hug can be treated as an invasion of personal space. On the other hand, we witness kids who hug their parents when they see strangers as a lookout for security, confidence and support.

7 years ago, Teacher Mei Yen had a 4-year-old girl in her class who regularly came to school in pyjamas, a bottle of milk in her hands, a head of messy hair and a sleepy face. There was literally no interaction between her and the rest of the kids. Other kids made fun of her. Teacher Mei Yen and her colleagues thought of helping her and helped changed her pyjamas. They made the kids sang The Barney Song, “I Love You” and got the kids to hug each other. She asked the children to hug the little girl and saw her began to smile. From then on the little girl started to talk to others. 

From that day onwards, Teacher Mei Yen encouraged her kids to hug each other every day regardless of their differences. She believes that love and acceptance is a way better form of lesson to the kids than rejection and isolation. It enables the kids to face challenges.

Before Teacher Mei Yen ended her speech, she asked us, what do you think HUG means?

Here you go. HUG is an acronym for:

H – Helping

U - Us

G - Grow sensitively.