Hadijah binti Jaffri – Page 99 – Be who you are and say what you feel because the ones who mind don't matter, and the ones who matter don't mind

Once a teacher, you are always be a teacher_Part 1

I’ve got a message from a former student that I taught when I did my LI (Latihan Ikhtisas). I taught him for less than 2 months because he changed to different school (He cannot get good marks for Arabic language subjects. I know that learning Arabic language and learning subjects in Arabic language is not easy. I had experienced it before). He asked if I still remember him. Well, for one thing it is not that difficult to remember students with special characteristics. He is one of the most attentive and hardworking students that I ever have (in comparison to last year form 4 students). He always tries his best to complete any task that I gave him. He would not hesitate to come to meet me after school (which meant that I would have to go back a little bit late than usual). Sometimes, he would ask to carry my stuff (teachers always have lots of stuff that they bring to school and back home!). While walking to my car, we would have a quick chat which sometimes could prolong into a long chat – we would continue to chat while standing beside my car even in a hot sunny day until it was ‘Asr prayer.

I still vividly remember his last at school, 14 February 2019 (Thursday). It was a hot day. I feel sad because how I wish that he would stay longer but again, I was ending my short stint as a teacher as well in the end of February. I gave him an exercise book and I wrote a little note for him. While doing that, his mom was looking at us because apparently, I was the only teacher who gave him a farewell gift. Well, he is a special student who is worth my time, money and attention (tongue in cheek remark!)

He felt guilty because he did not prepare anything for me. I told him that I don’t expect anything from him in return but I want him to promise that he will never give up no matter how challenging things can be. I wished him all the best and off he went back with his mom. His mom shook my hand while leaving the teachers’ room.

That is the last time I saw him. When I got a Whatsapp message from him, we had a quick chat and I am glad that he is adjusting quite well (as what he said but he told me that he is worried about Ujian Setara). I told him that he doesn’t need to worry about anything. Allah is always there for us. As long as we give our best shots, Allah Will Always Bless us with the best rewards.

As a teacher, to the world, we are just people but to some people i.e. students, we are the world

The day I attended this workshop which I have attended 6 years ago….

It has been a while since I logged in and updated the information at this webpage. It is not that I am lazy to do this but there are so many things that I think are more important to do and thus, I “neglect” this webpage of mine. My fault. I admit that.

There are so many things have happened within 6 years. Some leave indelible marks on my life but what a heck, whatever thing that does not kill me, makes me stronger. Attaboy! That’s the spirit.

So, what’s new?

I just came back from Latihan Ikhtisas or LI (Professional Training) which I had undergone at a school for a year in March 2019. I admit that the first few weeks were challenging because I am in the process of reclaiming my identity as someone who teaches at university, rather than school. Being a teacher has its own perks yet nothing can beat the satisfaction of teaching university students even though there are more challenges (not in teaching them per se but with the other 7Ps – including Pembersihan).

When I left UTM to start my LI, I left my 7Ps responsibilities. When I came back to UTM, I am entrusted with another P – Pembersihan. Yup. We are becoming like the Japanese schools. There are some people come to collect the rubbish from the big black bin at the corridor, but there are no more person in charge of cleaning the toilets, hallway etc. on daily basis. Since “Kakak” stopped her contract, there are irregular individuals who come once a while to clean i.e. clear up the big black rubbish bins, not cleaning the toilets though. But, I don’t mind to clean and mop the toilet once per day (if I feel like it) even though some of my colleagues feel otherwise. Like one of my colleagues said “I am responsible to clean the toilets at my home. I don’t want to clean the toilet at my workplace. I teach (Pengajaran), supervise (Penyelidikan), conduct research (Penyelidikan), write many things not only for publication (Penulisan), publish my work (Penerbitan), go to the community to offer my services (Perkhidmatan kepada watan), be a consultant for others (Perundingan), and now what? Cleaning (Pembersihan)?” I couldn’t agree more with this person yet this is the reality which I have to face or another stressor that I have to deal with.

To decrease stress causes by a stressor, there are certain coping strategies that I can use. Either using appraisal-focused coping, emotion-focused coping or problem-focused coping. In this case, I choose appraisal-focused coping. Rather than looking at the additional P i.e. Pembersihan as a burden, I look at it as a way for me to relieve my stress by doing physical works. Just doing a quick mopping gives me a sense of satisfaction when I look at the clean floor. Yay!!!! I feel good by releasing my oxytocin hormone when I see the faces of toilet users who happen to be my students who say that they prefer to go to this toilet because it is clean. I guess now, for the eppp I need the students to rate me in terms of my commitment to make them feel “comfortable” – i.e. to make their “tushy” feel comfortable- while studying at UTM (tongue in cheek remark!). Well, what can I say! “Happy tummy, happy studying“?

Attaboy! Good job, Dijah! (I am self-praising myself because I using self-regulated model to evaluate my action)

Well, that’s all from me!

Image result for free toilet picture

Follow me at Researchgate

If you want to find my work, please go to the following link

Report rubric_MPPE1333_Human Development

This is an example of rubric that I used in my Human Development class. But since the curriculum review, I have changed and updated the rubric. Thus, this is an old rubric.

MPPU1024_Research Methodology Proposal rubric (Qualitative)

This is an example of rubric that I used in my Research Methodology class. But since the curriculum review, I have changed and updated the rubric. Thus, this is an old rubric.

Rubric SPPP1012_Educational Psychology

This is an example of rubric that I used in my Educational Psychology class. But since the curriculum review, I have changed and updated the rubric. Thus, this is an old rubric.

Case Study Report

I give my students case study report as an assignment. Why? I want them to be able to relate a case with relevant theories that they learn in class. It is not an easy process. But, I will continue giving this type of assignment. It is not easy for me to craft a case as well, especially from my own experience.

Inclusion Education

You can find my inclusion education article from researchgate

Leaders

I have been wondering of lately about the current state of my country and the faculty in terms of leadership. Often we want to have one yet why is it difficult to have one in reality? I start to look at the characteristics of transformational leadership. It makes me wonder more about it

Scaffolding

As an instructor, we need to provide appropriate scaffolding to our students. But it is kind of tricky to balance out between providing scaffolding and spoon-feeding. So, which is which? I am still learning. There are some good examples of articles available. One of them is this.