Being a teacher isn’t easy. You are expected to uphold the standards of the education system, manage the hopes and demands of parents, and above all, teach children who may not always be 100% interested in learning!
Ask nearly any TLL teacher, however, and they will tell you that these same children are also teaching’s greatest reward. That’s because a teacher isn’t just responsible for downloading quantitative content for the various subjects into their students’ brains, but also for imparting qualitative skills, values and mindsets such as the spirit for inquiry.
Nothing gives our teachers more satisfaction than seeing that they have prepared their students well to succeed in life.
But don’t take it from us, hear what our teachers at The Learning Lab have to say about why they have chosen to do what they do.
1. The opportunity to shape the minds of the next generation
It’s fair to say that, out of the many different kinds of jobs out there, teaching is hardly the most lucrative.
So something else is drawing teachers into the profession, and for many, it’s the intrinsic satisfaction they get from nurturing young minds and seeing them grow.
Children’s minds are very elastic compared to adults and they absorb knowledge very quickly. This means that, even though teachers rarely play a role in a child’s learning journey for more than a couple of years, they are usually able to see the impact of the work they have done with students before the time comes to hand over to the teacher at the next level.
In those one or two years spent teaching a child, teachers have a genuine opportunity to make a decisive impact on their students' lives. Of course, children often do not appreciate the debt of gratitude they owe their teachers until much later, but our teachers are nonetheless, still incredibly honoured and proud to play that important role in their students' developments.
Ms Toh Yi Qian (TLL's Science teacher) has had the opportunity of seeing her efforts come into fruition. A few years back, she had the privilege of teaching Brandon, a Primary 6 student then who impressed her with his keen insight during class discussions, particularly in spotting and managing complex portions of questions that other students tend to struggle with.
"Brandon demonstrates a strong passion and undeniable talent for Science and inquiry," Ms Toh shared. "Combined with his indomitable spirit to pursue excellence, such qualities help him to thrive at the top of his class, even when he tackles challenging material."
Like with all her other students, Ms Toh is a firm believer that with the right opportunities and exposure for growth, it will be exciting to see how much Brandon and the rest of her students advance and achieve in the future.
2. Helping students improve in academics and achieve their goals
Helping their students progress academically is the bread-and-butter of most teachers, and is also the part of the job where the impact teachers can have is the most tangible and measurable.
This applies especially to our teachers at The Learning Lab, whose primary role is to improve their students’ academic performance unlike their counterparts in mainstream schools who also have to deliver the bulk of the content in the classroom.
Our teachers take pride in forging close relationships with students and parents to identify areas of weaknesses that most need addressing, and then devising strategies to tackle them.
This includes unpacking conceptual confusions for students, providing more practice and hands-on guidance for topics or questions students are weak in, and imparting skills such as time management during exams and critical thinking.
Each student requires a slightly different approach, and our teachers enjoy making the little adjustments needed to unlock success for the student.
Jonavon is one such student who Ms Lee Ying (TLL's Mathematics Subject Head) taught from Secondary 1 to 2. She recognises him as a "a hardworking student, diligent in consistently completing his assignments to consolidate his learning."
"His work has been exemplary," Ms Lee spoke fondly of him, "and I believe his dedication to learning is key to him meeting his learning goals and consistently scoring well for his school assessments throughout the year."
3. Making learning fun and effective
The buzz from delivering a good lesson when students are engaged and lively is what keeps many teachers going.
Teachers really enjoy seeing their students coming into the classroom ready and eager to learn.
Achieving this requires being able to make the lesson fun while maintaining control over class discipline — easier said than done because children who are having fun naturally become quite noisy!
At The Learning Lab, our teachers have a whole repertoire of learning tools and pedagogical aids at their disposal such as using multimedia, playing simple games and facilitating classroom discussions.
But these tools would be worth nothing without someone to effectively use them. At the end of the day, teaching is a skill, and teachers also draw satisfaction from being good at what they do and further improving themselves. Our teachers are also extremely heartened to hear the raucous roar of children having fun and genuinely enjoying the learning process through the unique games and activities they have tirelessly developed for them.
Ms Yeo Loo Win (TLL's Maths teacher) found one particular Kindergarten 2 student, Olivia Tay, an immense joy to teach and to have in her classrooms. When these educational games and activities are conducted in class, Olivia's bubbly personality and her enthusiasm "helps create a lively and positive classroom experience for her peers."class with a great attitude towards learning and her enthusiasm helps create a lively and positive classroom experience for her peers."
In addition to Olivia's infectious enthusiasm, the enjoyable activities that Ms Yeo plans for her students allows Olivia to come to class "with a great attitude towards learning."
4. Seeing students become more confident of themselves
But teaching isn’t simply about helping students get better grades. There is also the qualitative aspect of a child’s development: how students blossom and grow into themselves, deal with adversity and push teachers in turn for more knowledge.
The joy on a student’s face when he or she is finally able to solve a tricky Maths problem on their own is shared by the teacher too, and is a little bit like what parents feel when their young children gain the confidence to walk on their own two feet for the first time.
Ms Sue Lynn Lee (TLL's Early Years and Lower Primary Academic Director) has had many experiences of watching her students come into their own. One of her most recent encounters was with Matthew Mok whom she described as a "a very independent learner who can perform tasks on his own. When given a task to undertake or perform, Matthew will give his best. He understands what is expected of him in most situations and is able to express himself should he require help or assistance."
Ms Sue Lynn has also observed that Matthew is inquisitive by nature, always eager to learn and excited to find out more. "He asks thoughtful questions when acquiring new knowledge," Ms Sue Lynn adds. "Matthew takes constructive feedback well in class and is able to effectively use the feedback with his positive disposition. "
A confident child is also more likely to be more excited to learn, to be inquisitive and to take the initiative to speak up in class. These are contributions and qualities that teachers value in the classroom, creating a mutually beneficial feedback loop between student and teacher.
5. Children are just fun to hang around
Lastly, with their zest for life, infectious humour and unique ways of seeing the world, children are just a joy to be around at times.
For many teachers, interacting with their students is the highlight of a day that can otherwise be filled with marking, meetings and other tiresome administrative tasks. (In other words, all the parts of the job that do not involve teaching!)
One of the many students who has brightened the classrooms of Ms Tan Shi Yin's (TLL's English specialist teacher) is Oriana Lee. As her teacher in Kindergarten 2, Ms Tan has had the opportunity to observe Oriana's participation in class and interactions with others, as well as to evaluate her progress and achievements as a student.
Ms Tan revealed that she has been blown away by Oriana's development and progress within this period. Not only has Oriana progressed to be a confident and independent reader, but she has also cultivated a strong work ethic and keen learning attitude which is admirable for a 6-year-old.
"Oriana shows great aptitude and enthusiasm for the subject, and for learning in general," Ms Tan shared. "Through my weekly interactions with her, her inquisitive mind and bright ideas have constantly brightened our classroom. She participates keenly in discussions about various topics and is always open to learning about new cultures and phenomena. "
Ms Tan divulged that the particular trait that sets Oriana apart from her peers is her "sunny confidence and ability to think independently. For example, she always jumps at the opportunity to share her individual opinions and thoughts whenever we learn about a new topic in class. While she is confident in expressing herself, she is also considerate to her peers. She enjoys interacting with her classmates and listens empathetically whenever they share."
"She is a lovely and bright student who is a pure delight to teach in class," Ms Tan stated.
Teachers also love that there is always a chance that a student will surprise them with a hidden quirk or talent — a student with a flair for language may write a deeply moving poem about his parents out of a simple exercise in similes, for example.
Transmuting the Passion to Teach into the Passion to Learn
Teaching is a purposeful and fulfilling profession that can often be its own reward. It numbers among a handful of jobs where the work is centred around the edification and uplifting of other human beings. We salute our teachers!
At The Learning Lab, we believe in empowering our teachers to be the best educators they can be. This means finding the most passionate individuals and then providing them with ample resources and support to do their jobs well, and upskill themselves.
"We don't simply pick teachers based on how many years they have spent as a MOE teacher. We look out for teachers who display a special quality; a big-sister or big-brother personality and a warm and nuturing nature." — Justin Leow (TLL's Head of Centre and Teaching Excellence)
In addition to possessing a certain je ne sais quoi that distinguishes a passionate teacher who puts their heart into all of their lessons, our teachers undergo an arduous 270 hours of in-house training annually on major components, microteaching and observation of classes. They learn TLL teaching strategies, MOE examination guidelines, lesson planning and marking training among other topics.
This is so that we can uphold our commitment to you in providing the very best for your child. Whether it is one lesson, one worksheet or one magical learning moment, our teachers are happy to go the extra mile to make your child feel empowered, confident and ready.
A Day in a Life of a TLL Teacher
There is no greater pride to a teacher than seeing their students succeed, and we understand what it means to want the best for your child.
Meet some of our teachers who tirelessly strive to provide your child with the best learning experience in our TLL programmes.
Most of us will agree that educating boisterous young children is not easy. On top of that, preschool teacher, Cheryl Wong, is pursuing a fitness instructor license. How does she achieve these feats?
Teaching back-to-back classes and marking countless worksheets, while still finding hours in a day for her own me and family-time is all in a day’s work for our Maths teacher, Elizabeth Chin.
From planning for the next Science class to finding time to let loose and dance with his friends, how does Melvin Tan, our Secondary Science teacher, plan his routines around these hours?
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.