A whole new BALL GAME with EJC!
As part of our long-standing collaboration with EJC, the floorball boys came down to join us for fun and games! The boys spent multiple sessions with our lovely children alongside our seasoned volunteers to build rapport, trust, and friendship before they finally came up with their very own session; from timeline to logistics and eventually to execution.
Throughout the sessions, the boys have shown great effort and initiative to reach out to both children, and volunteers alike. This has helped them be able to understand the program and its objectives better. From there, they were able to come up with activities that the children are more likely to engage in.
The boys also learned some of the common songs that the children love; hello song, fishes song, hockey pockey, etc. As Gift of Reading prides ourself on reading and dramatization, the boys and the children also read books together! While the children picked up values and enjoyed the book, their "newly appointed" teachers also had to get creative to answer the endless questions from our very curious little minds.
Needless to say, the efforts of the boys paid off and they managed to build a rather good rapport with the children in the end. Some of the children even enthusiastically asked for their older brothers when they are not around! This helped them come up with a very successful session in the end where they taught the children how to play floorball, putting their skills to the test!
Here are some things the boys have to share about their experience with Gift of reading!
"It has been a fruitful journey, from learning the hello song to aiding the teachers in conducting sessions, and lastly, to us executing our very own session. It was an eye-opener experience, seeing how difficult interacting and keeping these children engaged. Despite singing songs, playing games, and reading books, it was clear that some children were just not interested and it was not easy to pacify them into participating.
"Carrying on our seniors’ tradition, the 20 of us Floorballers from Eunoia Junior College embarked on our mandatory VIA session at Gift of Reading at Taman Jurong CC last October and early this year.
Group photo from one of the classes! Also the most still the children were as they tried to control their excitement
Throughout the sessions, the boys have shown great effort and initiative to reach out to both children, and volunteers alike. This has helped them be able to understand the program and its objectives better. From there, they were able to come up with activities that the children are more likely to engage in.
Look at those fast legs and happy faces; playing "What is the time now Mr Wolf"
The boys also learned some of the common songs that the children love; hello song, fishes song, hockey pockey, etc. As Gift of Reading prides ourself on reading and dramatization, the boys and the children also read books together! While the children picked up values and enjoyed the book, their "newly appointed" teachers also had to get creative to answer the endless questions from our very curious little minds.
This, is where we entered the world of the book; the enormous watermelon...
And here we discuss the characters and morals!
Our children trying out the game, making the goal at first try!
Here are some things the boys have to share about their experience with Gift of reading!
"It has been a fruitful journey, from learning the hello song to aiding the teachers in conducting sessions, and lastly, to us executing our very own session. It was an eye-opener experience, seeing how difficult interacting and keeping these children engaged. Despite singing songs, playing games, and reading books, it was clear that some children were just not interested and it was not easy to pacify them into participating.
Coming into this VIA, I had no prior experience in interacting with children and I was pretty laid back at the start of the session. However, as I started to familiarise myself with kids, I engaged more with them and seeing them smile and laugh really made me feel a sense of achievement. I guess when it comes to children, we all need to have patience, yet at the same time, be strict with them when they were to misbehave.
Nevertheless, this experience has been unique and brought me joy throughout all the sessions!"
The boys actively and patiently teach the children how to handle the sticks and encourage them to keep trying!
"Carrying on our seniors’ tradition, the 20 of us Floorballers from Eunoia Junior College embarked on our mandatory VIA session at Gift of Reading at Taman Jurong CC last October and early this year.
On our respective first sessions there, all of us were nervous. We didn’t know what to expect and wondered apprehensively if we would be able to cope with the children or help them with reading. Thankfully, the regular volunteers there welcomed us with open arms, and quickly, we were able to get the children to warm up to us under the volunteers’ guidance. We managed to get small opportunities to take charge of the sessions, such as leading a craftsmanship activity or reading a book to a small group of them. Over the next couple of weeks, we soon realised that there was more to simply helping them to read and playing with them, but it was more of providing companionship on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, allowing their parents to seek a breather on their own and helping them to improve on their English in a fun and conducive manner.
On our final session, the 20 of us split up to take 2 classes each on our own, having to plan for the lesson beforehand. Without the constant guidance of the volunteers, we were actually rather lost, but we were really grateful for their willingness to step in to help out, and we learnt many important lessons from their advice (such as learning to sing the correct song!)
As 17 year olds with busy school schedules, we’re immensely thankful for Gift of Reading for providing us with this opportunity that we’ll never have had otherwise. Helping and playing around with these children helped us to realise there’s so much more our lives than just studying, and we hope that we managed to make an impact on their lives as well :) Here’s a big thank you to all the volunteers as well as Ms Aini for the past few weeks, and we’ll make sure our juniors return next year too!"
Indeed, learning goes both ways. Our volunteers were also able to have fresh insights on new methods to handle children from the boys as they bring in new perspectives and creative crafts and ideas. we are thankful for another fruitful semester of fun and laughter with our children, and some credits definitely have to go to the EJC boys!
Indeed, learning goes both ways. Our volunteers were also able to have fresh insights on new methods to handle children from the boys as they bring in new perspectives and creative crafts and ideas. we are thankful for another fruitful semester of fun and laughter with our children, and some credits definitely have to go to the EJC boys!
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