When life is blue...find other colours to make your day.

Someone asked me..."Do you wear the colours of your clothes to suit your mood?"
I did a quick double-take. Today, I was decked, from top-to-toe, in all shades of blue. Ya...ya...I looked like little blue riding hood. But did that mean that it was an indicator that the emotions were going to head south for the rest of the week?

I think some of you would remember me teaching the classic "Love is blue" song to show how colours have significance. And I did warn some of the kids that should I dress in a certain colour...they ought to watch out. Hah!...was it the class of 2004 who called me "Black Magic Woman" because the day I came into class in an all black-ensemble, I had a foul mood to match. Out of sheer coincidence, I was trying to keep my patience in check, but my mutterings under the breath were misinterpreted as me putting a hex on some of the recalcitrant ones. Did someone really fall off the chair and blamed me for my 'incantations'?

How I digress...
Once and for all, let me tell you that as a very vain person, I do have clothes of almost every shade...with scarves to match...Hmm...shoes...now that would be a bit much.

But perhaps, there is truth behind why certain colours call out to me each morning and say, "Wear me...wear me...I reflect how you feel."
It has been quite disheartening as I try to complete my marking...for instinctively, I think there is a co-relation between the way I teach, and the way some of the kids are writing. The natural reaction would always be..."what have I done wrong? How come, at this stage, I get products like these?"

I am learning to manage that...
Remember, it is not about who shoulders the blame, and which way the fingers shall point.
It is about...ok...here is the problem...so now what?

I want to share this letter which I wrote for my kids last year...and I also gave this to my current kids...

A Note from your teacher:

My dear kids,

You may wonder why I have attached this little love note you each of you. Almost one term has passed by, and I do not wish to hyper-ventilate as I watch you attempt the summary question.

If each time I mark your scripts, a strand of my hair turns white, then I guess I will look like Storm from X-Men pretty soon. Kindly help me from aging prematurely. I would also plead for mercy because I do not think my poor palpitating heart can take the stress, and if I do pass out in class, it is a sign that my blood pressure has risen through the roof.

I think most of you are also suffering –from an affliction called “Summaricitis.” Here are the following symptoms. Please read over carefully and put a tick against them if you think the malaise I describe fits you.

Health Alert : Changkat Summaricitis (Hazard Level: Code Red)

1. Forget to break down the questions into manageable chunks.
2. Underline stuff that may look what the question wants – only because my teacher is anal.
3. Underline chunks from the text (why waste time listing right?)
4. Copy chunks as part of listing 15 points (geez…my teacher is really anal)
5. Come across big words and mentally substitute the word even though the meaning may change.
6. Write down the summary without noticing the connection between the opening lines.
7. Write in a handwriting that decreases in visibility. My teacher can afford glasses anyway. Better still, be illegible, cos I am a doctor in training.
8. Write one draft…oops…too many words…cancel…cancel…
9. Write one draft….oops…too little words…(my teacher cannot count right?)
10. Write one draft only…It is part of my effort to save the trees and ink.
11. Cut and paste (drag and drop)…never mind if my sentences do not connect.
12. Ignore all conventions of spelling, punctuation and grammar…(I alws rite tis way. Gr8)
13. Litter the summary with connections…never mind if they cannot connect anything…at least I sound impressive.
14. Ignore the tenses. (As long as I make my teacher tense, it is enough)
15. Pray that a miracle will happen.


So if at least 8 of the above fits you, I will be the one who is going to do lots and lots of praying for divine intervention.

Through my laughter and tears,
Me

Dear God
Thank you for filling my days with colours...and keep my sense of humour intact please. Ameen