Sec.

1 Lit 2024 Feedback for First Day At School Ms Koh

Original (from student) Rephrased

The speaker’s first day was filled The speaker’s first day was filled with fear and uncertainty. Without
with fear and uncertainty. his mother by his side, he seemed to feel scared of every little detail
Without his mother by his side, in the school. For example, he thought the railings were there to
he felt scared of every little “keep out wolves and monsters”, that lessons meant “small and
detail in the school. He thought slimy” creatures, and that games were “rough” and could “swallow
the railings were there to keep you up”. These show that the speaker did not understand the terms
out wolves and monsters, the and expressions used by people in school, and was probably very
“lessins” slimy creatures and overwhelmed and confused, intimidated by strange new concepts in
rooms made entirely out of school.
glass. The speaker has a big Next, the speaker has a vivid imagination and he is very observant
imagination and he is very and curious. This poem reflects the thoughts that run through a
observant. This poem reflects child’s head on the first day of school. For example, “waiting for the
the thoughts that run through a bell to go (to go where?)”, “why are they all so big, other children?
child’s head on the first day of So noisy?” and “what does a lessin look like”. It tells us that every
school. It tells us that every little little detail can make a big impression on a child. They spend time
detail can make a big wondering how to make sense and meaning of what adults say. The
impression on a child. speaker is probably confused as well.

In the first stanza, the writer The speaker must have felt intimidated by the older children as in
must have felt intimidated by the lines 3 and 4, they were described by the speaker as big and noisy,
older children as in lines 3 and and who played “rough” games “that swallow you up”. In the
4, they were described by the speaker’s eyes, they were also much more comfortable at school
speaker as big and noisy. They than the speaker because they “must have been born in their
were much more comfortable at uniform” and look so familiar and at home. The differences between
school than the speaker. The them made the speaker feel intimidated.
differences between them made The speaker was also curious about the purpose of the railings
the speaker feel intimidated. In around the playground. He let his imagination run wild, speculating
the second stanza, the speaker that the railings kept out “wolves and monsters” and imagined all
was curious about the purpose the harm that could befall children if monsters, strangers and
of the railings around the kidnappers were to breach the school gates. This suggests that the
playground. He let his speaker must have been feeling quite scared about the potential
imagination run wild. Finally, in dangers in school as well.
the third stanza, the speaker Finally, in the third stanza, the speaker was feeling lonely in line 24,
was feeling lonely in line 24, he he wished his mummy were here with him. This happened right
wished his mummy were here after his comforting thought of his useful “wellies”. This suggests
with him. that the speaker must be longing for comfort and familiarity in the
form of his mother.

“Why are they all so big, other The speaker must have felt intimidated by the other children, from
children?” refers to how the question “Why are they all so big, other children?”, and
intimidating or scary they look suggesting that he was scared by how much larger and imposing
compared to the speaker. they look compared to how small the speaker is.
“Spend the years inventing The speaker might have also felt excluded and lonely, from the lines
games that don’t let me in” “Spend the years inventing games that don’t let me in”, which
refers to how he is being suggests that the bigger children excluded him from their games,
excluded or the other children which were “rough, that swallow you up”. This also suggests that
dislike him. “Games that are the bigger children’s games are hard for the child physically or
rough, that swallow you up” the mentally.
games are hard for the child The speaker must have felt confused and overwhelmed by all the
physically or mentally. “What new terms and concepts mentioned in school that are completely
 Sec. 1 Lit 2024 Feedback for First Day At School Ms Koh

does a lessin look like? Sounds foreign and unfamiliar to him. This is evident from how he asks
small and slimy” the speaker “What does a lessin look like? Sounds small and slimy”,
mixed up “lesson” with “lessin” demonstrating that the speaker mixed up “lesson” with “lessin” and
and is unaware of it. “They keep is unaware of it. The speaker mixed up “glassroom” with
them in glassrooms” the speaker “classroom” and he thinks that it is used to keep a lessin which is
mixed up “glassroom” with some slimy pet or animal. Moreover, he mixed up “teacher” with a
“classroom” and he thinks that it “tea-cher” which shows the author’s innocent and naive mentality.
is used to keep a lessin which is This shows that the writer is young and may be overwhelmed by the
some slimy pet or animal. This new vocabulary.
shows that the writer is young. “I Lastly, the speaker laments that “I wish I could remember my name”
wish I could remember my when he thinks of his mother, in a very tender moment which
name” he has bad memory and suggests that the unfamiliar surroundings has made him long for
cannot remember things well, the comfort of his mother. This makes me pity the speaker because
maybe he longs for good he is so little and overwhelmed, and has not been able to adapt to
memory. “Tea-cher. The one his first day at school.
who makes the tea”. The author
mixed a “teacher” with a “tea-
cher” which shows the author’s
childish mentality.

Paragraph Writing Exercise (suggested answer) : What are the speaker’s thoughts and/or
feelings in the poem? Support your answer with close reference to the poem.

The speaker is feeling alienated/isolated in his new environment. He describes it as being “a

millionbillionwillion miles from home”. This exaggerated description suggests how far away he
feels from his home, which reinforces the idea of the speaker being in unfamiliar or foreign
territory. His inability to fit in is reflected in how differently he perceives others as compared to
himself. Other children seem so comfortable in their uniforms as if they “have been born” in
them and that their uniforms are very much a part of them. They are also at ease with their
surroundings as if they had “lived all their lives in playgrounds” and consider it their second
home. However, he feels otherwise. He wants to make friends with them and be part of their
group, but his perception of them being very different from himself serves as a barrier which
sets him apart from them. They are very “big” and “noisy”, too daunting for him. He wants to join
them in their games but they “don’t let [him] in” showing how he is excluded/ rejected and made
to feel unwanted and the odd one out.

The speaker is also feeling terribly anxious/frightened/lost/overwhelmed by a great sense of

confusion arising from the unfamiliarity of his new surroundings. This is reflected by the
numerous questions swirling in his mind. He does not know many things nor what is happening
around him. For example, his ignorance of what “the railings” are for or what “a lessin look like”
or even what his “tea-cher” does is reinforces the idea of everything being so foreign to him. He
is so overwhelmed that he even forgets what is supposedly most familiar to him – his name.
Hence, he longs for his mother, wishing “she was here” as her very presence would provide him
with the much-needed comfort and confidence to help him find his way around.