TA Commendation Awards 2019

 

Charmaine Koh

Graduated with Diploma in Early Childhood Studies from NIEC (Temasek Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at PCF Sparkletots (Sengkang Central Blk 210C)

“Every child is an artist. I let the children explore different materials to enhance their self-expression and creativity.”

I strongly believe that the holistic welfare of children should always be of top priority. This is why I strive to be a pillar in the children’s lives and shape them since young. I hope to instil positive values in them and help them become altruistic individuals.

As I embark on this early childhood journey, I want to collaborate with parents and community partners to create new experiences to enhance children’s learning. I would also have an inclusive environment and curriculum that caters for children with special needs. In doing all these, I will incorporate my interests in art and music to develop the children holistically.

In the near future, I plan to further my studies and deepen my knowledge in early childhood. I will share my learnings with other early childhood professionals so that we can improve our expertise and become better influences to the children together.

 

Chua Jia Yun Coco

Graduated with Diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education from NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at E-bridge Preschool (Montreal)

“I love to experiment and see my ideas come alive. It is when my creativity shines through.”

Teachers are facilitators - we scaffold children’s learning in a conducive learning environment, which we create.

As an early childhood educator, I aspire to make a difference in children’s lives. In my classroom, learning opportunities are created based on children’s interests, abilities and needs. I use role-playing games, visuals and hands-on learning to help children learn in a meaningful and engaging manner. I also strive to work closely with parents and teachers to meet the needs of every child.

Throughout my journey in the early childhood sector, I endeavour to keep up with the latest trends and developments so that I may refine my skills and knowledge to be a better teacher for my children.

 

Han Yuluan

Graduated with Diploma in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at My First Skool - Kim Keat Blk 248

“It is equally important to build a trusting relationship with parents as they are our partners in nurturing our children.”

I have always enjoyed interacting with children since young. This interest became a passion, and eventually a career choice for me. Besides working with children, I also love sports. Being an early childhood educator, I get to pursue both of these interests at the same time when I incorporate elements of sports in my lessons.

This early childhood journey did not begin without struggles, but seeing the children grow each day kept me going. To be able to work with parents and the community help children acquire lifelong skills always motivates me to do better.

In future, I hope to grow in my pedagogical and leadership skills so that I can guide young educators in shaping future generations. I want to equip myself with new skills from time to time as I strive for continual improvement in my teaching.

 

Hannah Tan Wen Hui

Graduated with Diploma in Early Childhood Studies from NIEC (Temasek Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at Eshkol Valley @ Northstar

“Often, the best way to teach is to lead by example. But sometimes, children are also our best teachers.”

My personal belief is that children should develop in an environment that celebrates their strengths and differences whilst preparing them for life. As such, I aspire to be an inclusive teacher who supports the creative potential of children whilst instilling values, thus enabling them to be compassionate and confident.

I hope that children would walk away from my class with an appreciation of the world around them and the skills needed to be a lifelong learner. Tapping into their natural curiosity to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences will be my most preferred way of teaching.

As I embark on this early childhood journey, I want to be a responsible contributor to each child’s journey while working closely with the parents. As I teach the children to be lifelong learners, I seek to walk the talk and develop myself constantly.

 

Kasthuri Marjorie D/O Kumarasamy

Graduated with Higher Nitec in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (ITE College Central)
Currently pursuing Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) in NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)

“Learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom, we’re constantly finding ways to engage the children and encourage natural curiosity in them.”

I firmly believe in the benefits of outdoor learning and adopt it as my main teaching approach. I hope to expose children to a stimulating learning environment that will nurture creativity, self-expression and social skills.

As I continue to further my studies, I want to keep up with the developments in the field. Keeping myself up-to-date with the new and innovative teaching methods and materials would allow me to become a better early childhood educator for the children.

In the long term, I aspire to grow in my leadership and bring the sector to greater heights. I also hope to contribute to build a strong and united fraternity of early childhood educators who would share knowledge and encourage one another in this meaningful journey.

 

Lee Wen Xuan, Jerin

Graduated with Diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education from NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at Pat’s Schoolhouse (Tanglin)

“I like to act out the story to keep the children engaged. The secret is to see each character through the children’s eyes, and to be as animated as possible.”

I find meaning in seeing children develop and achieve their potential. There is always a sense of achievement when I am teaching them, but the most fulfilling part of all is being able to form bonds and build relationships with the children. Understanding their personalities and characters help me teach them in the way that they can best relate with.

I seek to continually upgrade my skills and learn from other experienced educators so as to be equipped with strategies in managing every individual child’s needs in different situations. This would be my goal as part of lifelong learning.

At the same time, inspired by my lecturers in school who solidified my interest and passion towards the early childhood sector, I hope to pay it forward and contribute in the professional development of future early childhood educators.

 

Lim Qi Yi Andrea

Graduated with Diploma in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at My First Skool (Buangkok Blk 997 Buangkok Crescent)

“Children are like caterpillars. They need to be nurtured with kindness, patience and love. And soon enough, they’ll become butterflies.”

As a believer of kinaesthetic learning, I always encourage children to be constructors of their own knowledge. In my role as an educator, I am determined to provide excellent quality teaching to children, particularly those from low-income families. I hope to make learning fun in my class as I nurture the children based on their individual learning styles.

My aspiration is to grow in my leadership and inspire like-minded individuals to join this meaningful profession. Thereafter, I would like to influence future early childhood educators as a lecturer. Through sharing my working experiences, I hope to help them connect with what they are learning and to inspire them to work towards making a difference in children’s lives.

 

Muhammad Syahir Bin Mohammed Alwi

Graduated with Higher NITEC in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (ITE College Central)
Currently pursuing Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) in NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)

“I believe that children learn best through experiential and outdoor play. That’s how learning should be.”

Being one of the few male educators in the early childhood industry, some colleagues, parents and even children doubted my ability as a teacher. However, when one of the parents thanked me for showing that men could also be preschool educators, I was encouraged to be an advocate for the male educators in the sector, so that the community may be more accepting of us.

As I have a strong passion in working with children with special needs, I hope to contribute to making early education more inclusive for them. In time to come, I plan to pursue further studies and support the professional development of early childhood educators through peer sharing. Through improving my pedagogies, I seek to enhance children’s learning experiences whenever they walk through my classroom.

 

Syasya Syazwani Binte Junaidi

Graduated with Diploma in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)
Currently a teacher at E-Bridge Pre-school (Blk 217 Compassvale Drive)

“It takes effort and time to know every child. But it is worthwhile as these positive interactions will have a lasting impact on their life."

All children are different. Each of their unique capabilities would require different approaches. This is why I strive to identify each child’s needs and abilities, and work closely with the family to develop the child holistically.

I firmly believe that experiences are crucial in shaping children’s learning; hence, I hope to be of direct influence to the children as an early childhood educator. I hope to be able to make learning fun for them through creating a safe environment, both in school and at home (with the partnership of their parents).

I aspire to follow in the footsteps of my aunt, who has inspired me to join the early childhood sector and grow in my leadership ability.

 

Yusmarni Binte Mohammad Hasni

Graduated with Higher NITEC in Early Childhood Education from NIEC (ITE College Central)
Currently pursuing Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE) in NIEC (Ngee Ann Polytechnic)

“I find music and dance a very effective learning tool, especially when it comes to social and fine motor-skills development.”

Each child is unique and learns at a different pace. As such, I believe that every early childhood educator should be patient and I hold myself to it when I teach.

I see myself as an engaging facilitator, learning alongside the children. Through role modelling, I hope to cultivate positive values in children and make a difference in their lives. In teaching them practical skills, I find that using music and dance is very effective.

To me, an educator’s role does not stop at nurturing young children. We also need to constantly engage the community and parents as partners to help the young minds grow.

In the near future, I hope to pursue further studies in early childhood to develop myself and apply new knowledge and skills into the classroom. I also look forward to inspiring fellow educators to join the industry by upholding excellent practices in the field.