Marking Compositions

For the second time, I had to mark Jackie's composition homework so that she could show my markings and her corrections to the teacher.

Puzzled why the students 'compositions were corrected by parents and not the teacher, I remarked jokingly, "I think your teacher should give me part of her salary."

Upon receiving no reactions from Jackie, I added, in case she innocently rattled the wrong thing in school, "Don't tell your teacher what I just said, understand?"

Jackie: I know.

Me: You know why you shouldn't say these things to your teacher, right?

Jackie: Yes.

Me: Why?

Jackie: Because she won't give you part of her salary.

  

Shalom!

(Jackie is P2 this year...)

On a thunderstorm morning...Jackie walked into my room.

Jackie: Mummy, will the plants die? The rain is beating so hard on their leaves.
Mummy: I don't know, may be.... are you worried?
Jackie: Yah.... (And she walked out of my room.)

After 10 minutes...she walked into my room again.
Jackie: I said "solemn" to the rain and the rain stopped.
Mummy: What do you mean?
Jackie: My Sunday school teacher told us his story. One day he wanted to go out of the house but it was raining too heavily. He said "solemn" to the rain and it stopped. Just now, I said "solemn" and the rain really stopped.
Mummy: Oh, you mean "Shalom"?
Jackie (sheepishly): Oh, yes, it is "Shalom".....say wrongly also can?

A few days later...on our way to the Sunday School class room...
The teachers were seen greeting to the parents: Good morning, Shalom!" "Shalom!"
Jackie (to herself, looking puzzled): But there is no rain...

Telling Races

Hari Raya is around the corner...

Mum: Jackie, do you have any Malay friends in your class?
Jackie: Yes.
Mum: How many?
Jackie: Three!
Mum: Actually how do you tell if they are Malay or Indian?
Jackie: They all go to Malay class for Mother Tongue.

Learning about Rights

A church pastor shared about her experience as a child when she found out that the new set of compass that she bought from school was rusty. She was too afraid to tell her mother about it for the fear of getting scolded for buying a bad set. After hearing that, I decided to enquire into the mind of my 6 year-old using the same scenario.


Mum: Jackie, so what would you do in that situation if the compass set you just bought from the school bookstore turns out to be rusty?

Jackie: I would wash and clean it.

4D Movie

A snaking queue was forming from the booth selling 4D (4-Digit) in the NTUC Supermarket. It was probably about 50 metre or even longer (not exaggerating)...

Jackie: Wow, what are they queueing for?
Mum: They are buying 4D.
Jackie: 4D? 4D movie tickets?

Good Words

I gave Jackie a composition assignment on "A Nightmare". She returned with a 2-page answer.

Mum: Jackie, your introduction is one page long, it is too long. And where are the good words you are supposed to use? I don't see any good words.

Jackie: Yes, I did use good words.

Mum: Really, where? Show me.

Jackie: Here...nightmare.

What is the difference?

Mom just got Jackie an email account.
Jackie: What is this "@" in my email address?
Mom: Oh, it's @. It's a short form for "at".
Jackie: Huh? But "at" is already so short.
Mom (Quiet, and in her mind: She is right...)