Teaching with Heart, Adaptability, and Purpose
For Max, becoming a teacher wasn’t just about standing at the front of a classroom — it was about stepping into a lifelong journey of learning, leading and growing alongside his students. “NIE was a key milestone,” Max reflects. “It opened my eyes to new pedagogical perspectives, creative lesson planning, and most importantly, the human side of teaching — understanding students and working closely with parents.”
Max teaches with a strong sense of purpose. From navigating his nerve-wracking first practicum to fine-tuning lessons on the fly when students responded unexpectedly, he learned early on that flexibility is key. “The classroom can surprise you — and that’s often when the most meaningful learning happens.”
His teaching philosophy centers around real-world relevance. “Students today want to know why they’re learning something. They’re not satisfied with memorizing — they want to make sense of it. That’s where our role as facilitators of thinking comes in.”
One moment he’ll never forget was helping a struggling student turn around her assessment results by discussing her study strategies, goals for upcoming assessments. Max and the student strategized how to improve herself in the remaining time to the weighted assessment. He embraces AI and tech to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the classroom, while remaining deeply grounded in the belief that teaching is a human profession. Teachers are not just glorified encyclopedias, but rather facilitators of knowledge who guide students to appreciating and making sense of what they learn.
Above all, Max teaches not just for grades, but to nurture hearts and minds. He hopes his students grow into compassionate, curious changemakers. Though the journey is tough, he finds strength in quiet impact — a kind word, a safe space, a lasting memory. Teaching, for Max, is purpose lived daily.
Reflecting on his recognition, Max shares, “Being awarded the Justice Choor Singh Book Prize was a pivotal moment in my teaching journey — not only affirming my efforts to refine my pedagogy, but also reminding me that patience, consistency, and belief truly make a difference. Justice Singh was known for his integrity and humility, qualities that underscore the enduring role of education in shaping upright, discerning, and compassionate individuals.”
Since then, Max’s teaching philosophy has evolved from “teaching well” to “teaching meaningfully” — where learning goes beyond clarity and engagement. To him, it is about nurturing intellectual curiosity, cultivating a drive for lifelong learning, and helping students grow into independent, thoughtful citizens who strive to make the world better.
Justice Choor Singh was a judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore and a celebrated philanthropist who believed deeply in the power of education. The Justice Choor Singh Book Prize is awarded to the best student teacher in Education Studies with Distinction in Teaching Practicum in the final examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Secondary/Junior College) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary) programme.
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