Let me tell you a secret...

I had a brand new art class this year on Saturday. It started with 4 students, 3 students were 4 years old turning 5 this year, and a 6yo Desiree who is primary one this year who is turning 7.

It was their very first art class for all of them but 3 of them happened to be very scared. Obviously, 6yo Desiree was ok. First, 5yo Yayu, she kept asking her Mum and her helper to stay with her but she still managed to stay in the class with them, a little scared I can tell from her facial expression. Second, Shu Chong, he kept holding or pulling the collar of his t-shirt whenever I spoke to him. Third, Ryan, his eyes were teary when I was drawing on the whiteboard. Then I realised I need to communicate with them as they were not very familiar with me and the environment!

I stopped drawing and said, "Class, I have a secret to tell you..."

The children gave me a curious look.

I continued, "I haven't washed my apron for many years!!!!!!!"

The whole class laughed and looked at my very dirty apron!

Yayu started her conversation, "Teacher Esther, why you never washed your apron ah?? You know it is very dirty and smelly!" She smiled.

"I know, but I really don't have time to wash it, and I think the stains will not be washed away because they have been on the apron for many many years! And I think I didn't washed it for more than 5 years!!!!!"

Wow, more than 5 years, I can't even believe what I said but it is so true!!!

Yayu finds the conversation so amusing, "Teacher Esther, you can ask your maid to help you wash!"

"But, I don't have a maid!" I replied.

"You should use a scrub with detergent, scurb on the dirty area and rinse it with water!" Oh my! 5yo Yayu talks like an adult.

When I saw the rest were comfortably listening to our conversation, they were at eased, there, I continued drawing on the board.

The lesson begins.

P.S: Thanks to my very dirty red apron :)

Someone send me the angels!

Children have a lot of things to tell especially my students, they would talk about their new shoes, their friends from the school, their holiday trips and so on.... Again they have alot to tell today... I was going to demonstrate the next steps on 5yo Justine's art work, I picked his work because it was not very properly done. There I gathered all the  students at his place and showed them how it should be done. Justine was very excited that I picked his work and sat on his chair. He started to tell me everything about his experience at the art museum he'd visited, talking non-stop in my ears. My oh my, I couldn't get him to focus on my demonstration and he kept talking loudly in my ears! The rest of the students observed the situation. Justine continued, "Teacher Esther, do you know tomorrow is my Dad's birthday?..." I was exhausted, I closed my eyes and laid back the chair and pretended that I'd fainted! But, Justine was talking to my ears ~ STILL!!!! Something happened wonderfully. All the little hands came to recuse! They helped to finish up the colouring! I saw them working, I saw them doing it without me telling them! Justine joined them eventually! I am with a bunch of angels!!! Aren't they sweet! Lovely bunch of children!

5yo Melody Tan said,

After an exhausted marathon classes yesterday... I was sighing to my last class... "oh my oh my... I have terrible backaches! Ahhh..." 5 year old Melody came to me and said to me like a little adult, "Teacher Esther, you are quite old you know..." Oh my, I was like this :S

Here's our MARK!

Abbi Thio 10yo, originally uploaded by xterlim.

Finally I'd submitted 82 pieces of artwork created by my students including ourselves! Too bad James and Augustine were absent as they couldn't meet the dateline. Nevertheless, I will try to get more fun art activities and projects for my little artists! Once again, I want to thank YOLO - Edna and Kevin Thio for rewarding each artist a free T-Shit for their contribution! Here's our participation! We'd lots of fun working on these dots! ;p I'd even recorded the sound of their working markers! I'm sure the children were enjoying themselves during the dotting session!

我们的小小皇宫 Little Art Castles!

From top left: Teo Yu Xuan, Ng Wei Ting, Melody Lin (Little Art Teacher), Chong Wenhui, Marrisa Lin. From Bottom Left: Charmine Lee, Val Kwek, Phoena Lim, Melody Tan.

"I want to draw princess!" "I want a handsome prince!" exclaimed the little people! All the young ladies posed with their little art castles created by their little hands! And too bad  all the young gentlemen missed the fun work: Evan, Joshua and Justine were absent on that very day!

5yo Justine says...

A new trail student 5yo Justine said, "Teacher Esther, I dream all the times!" I was like Oooh in my mind and asked, "What do you dream about? Cartoon?" He said, " I dream about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!" Then I continued, "Do you dream during the day?" He replied, "Yes!" I reminded him, "Ok, please do not dream during my lesson ok!" Then he followed and agreed, "OK!" I'm thinking this child must have a BIG dream when he grows up ;)

F1 Babies! 26.09.2009

(My 6pm to 7pm Kinderart class!) This is the cutest moment I ever experienced with my little tots! They drew F1 cars with speeding background! I showed them how to paint the strippy background by introducing sound effect of the racing car when I was painting... they gave me BIG EYES looking with astonishing expression with mouth opening which I found them amazingly CUTE! They were so happy what they were going to do after my demo, they made sound effect when they were painting which made them feel excited and by doing this piece of work is really ACTION! Too bad I didn't video their "Wowing" reaction and when they were working on the paper... I was too busy paying attention on them! They are brunch of innocent little tots... a truly interesting memory to keep...

Keep The Dream Alive Prize Prsentation 11 July 2009

An exciting and a very happy day for all my students who had won awards for the YOLO Keep The Dream Alive Art Competition. I purposely took a day off from my regular art classes just for this very important event. I was there to support and hearty congrats my students as well as Joeel and Janice who had won themselves Merit Awards for their category. On Aimee and Agasthya's behalf, I also represented them to collect Aimee's 3rd prize and Agasthya's Merit Award as they're both away for Summer Holidays and they're not in Singapore. Alternatively, I saw many happy faces of my winning entries students and smiles from their parents and thankful congrats from the organizers who had made this a meaningful charity and exciting art competition a dream come true for all ages artists and donors! Always Keep the Dream Alive! You Only Live Once! I find this theme very meaningful too ;) Cheers!

P.S. : For those who didn't win any prize from this art competition, do not give up, have faith in yourselves in whatever things you do children! It is part of growing up! Cheers! T.Esther

Joeel and Janice won merit awards for their category too!!!

CONGRATULATION Maplewoods!
Merit award: Shankar Agasthya for Children Category 1
3rd Prize: Aimee Ericha Scheurmann for Children Category 2
Teacher Esther represented Aimee and Agasthya for their prize receiving as they were both not in Singapore.

CONGRATULATION Calrose!
Merit Award: Ethan Chan, Dylan Ng and Prudence Chan for Children Category 1

CONGRATULATION Lakeview!
Merit Award: Looi SiaoSi and Wong Tein Foong
for Children Category 2
Though Looi SiaoSiang, Kenny Tan and Wu Jianli didn't win any award for this competition but I'm happy for their result already because they'd participating and contributing their love for art!

CONGRATULATION Crestar!
Winners of Children Category 1:
1st Prize: Wong Yew Ki
3rd Prize: Samantha Teo Xing Yee
Merit Award: Ashley Khoo Li-Ann, Darren Marcus Loo, Joel Preston Gn Yong Grn, Melody Lin
Winners of Children Category 2:
2nd Prize: James Sng Jia Hong
Merit Award: Chan Yi Bin, Goh Sher Hwyn Rebacca, Racheal Butt Jia En

Little Tots

Let me introduce my new Little Tots from Saturday Art Class ;D They are lovely and adorable little Artists! Look at the heart shape cards they'd made specially for their Mothers!

From the left: Wei Ting, Issac, Phoena, Charmaine, WenHui, and Alicia. Gabrielle was too shy to be appeared in the camera ;p Jia Ling, Leanne and Marrisa were absent due to fever... hope they are getting better!

Leopards At Thomson

Here are some beautiful artwork from sat 4.30pm-6pm class. I didn't managed to take the pictures of leopards drawings from 12pm-1.30pm class and Amanda's artworks :s I was too busy :s

Lanterns Making 2008

These are Mr. Lin's little darlings! They're all young ladies in this class! Mr. Lin has to take leaves for his studies as I'm here to relief his art classes ;) Chantel (Theon's sister) shouted from the back, "Teacher Esther, imagine you're our Mother and we're your children!" I was like this :s I can't imagine I have so many daughters! But, one thing I know is I'm glad that they enjoy the lesson! :)
Here's my class and they're more playful in their work ;) They're bunch of helpful students!
This class has more sense of creativity in their drawings! Nice colours too! ;)

Goodbye Hannah!

Hannah has been learning art from me since she was 4yo. She stopped art class last yr and came back again to continue her lessons! Of course I'm very happy to see her back again! She's in primary one now. Her Dad will be posted to Shanghai to work and they will be joining him for 2 years there. We're going to miss Hannah again because all her friends get along very well with her :) Hannah's Mum said that she will be back to join art class during their holiday seasons. "Hannah, have a nice trip and we will see you soon again! Bon Voyage!"

Kaiyao's picture on the Magazine!

"Teacher Esther! I wana show you something!" Kaiyao exclaimed with my attention. He took out a magazine from his bag and flipped to the page and point at a picture! "Ohh... that's the picture you drew! Wow, well done!" I took a picture of him and his masterpiece printed on the magazine in no time! No wonder he's so happy today! :D And I'm happy for him too :)

The Animals Coin Bank! Save the Earth - Save the Cost!

Saving $$$ has to start from young, to adopt this good habit, we adults have to encourage the young ones to spend $$$ wisely and to save $$$ for their future :) Art can help them too! How? Kids can make their own Animals Coin Bank to start saving! We used tissue boxes, toilet rolls and recycle papers! See, we save the earth, save cost and even save $$$ in their favourite animal coins bank! ;)

Swimming Class At Thomson

More swimming activities!!!

Talking Cards for Moms

My students made a talking card for their Moms! Here come their imagination to create their favorite animals to express their Love to their Moms... You can see Froggy, Birdy, Kitty, Doggy, Bunny, Dino, etc...