Teacher Tuesday : Mrs Ruth Mullan

This week we spoke to Mrs Ruth Mullan,  who hails from London, England and currently studying for a Masters in Education with the University of Bath.  A primary teacher who teaches Year 2K , Mrs Mullan and her family of 4 just joined KIS in August after spending 12 years working in Thailand.  Find out more about Mrs Mullan in this week’s Teacher Tuesday!

How many years have you been teaching?

I have been teaching since I graduated in 2001… so 18 years in total. During that time I have taught mainly KS1 and KS2 students but have worked with KS3 students also. I also spent a year training teachers in The Gambia with Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO). 

This is your first time teaching in Sabah, Malaysia. How are you finding it?

I am really enjoying my time here. Everyone at KIS is so friendly and caring. My class are very funny and make me smile every day.

Why do you think it is so important for children to learn about other cultures and how would this help in nurturing global citizens? 

We only have one world with limited resources and an ever growing population. It is imperative that our future leaders respect different cultures and understand different perspectives if we are going to work together to solve global problems. Learning about different cultures also allows children to experience a rich and vibrant world that help expand their thinking and help shape their love of learning. It helps them to recognise the value that different cultures bring and understand how we are all interconnected.

What do you find most rewarding about being a teacher?

Making a difference to the lives of others. I love that moment when you see students reach the ‘aha moment’ when they conquer something they found previously challenging (personal, academic or emotional) and become more confident in their own abilities.

What is your favourite classroom resource and why?

With KS1 students, the class set of whiteboards (dry wipe boards) is my favourite resource as the students use them all the time to help share their understanding, feelings, organise ideas and to share them quickly. It helps me immediately understand who needs more support, who needs extension or who might need a chat to discuss their feelings. They help me to personalise learning to the needs of each child. 

Tell us something that is little known about you?

I was trained by Circus Space to run an ECA at a London school. My speciality was the static trapeze (although I am not sure how good I would be at it now). 

Do you have a Sabah bucket list?  Share some of it with us.

I would love to make it to the very top of Mount Kinabalu. I only made it to Laban Rata last time (10 years ago) and have always regretted never making it to the summit. I also really want to take my children to explore the wildlife in the Danum Valley and Maliau Basin conservation areas and travel down the Kinabatangan. There is just so much to do here!