With Father’s Day just around the corner, there’s a lot of talk about what it means to be a father — the provider, the protector, the planner. But in real life, none of these roles come with a manual. And as Singaporean parents juggling careers, school stress, and growing kids, we know that sometimes it feels like we’re just winging it.
Now imagine doing all that while teaching one of the most feared subjects in school: Chemistry.
Kelvin Ang, former MOE JC teacher, Cambridge examiner, and the founder of The Chemistry Practice, doesn’t just teach Chemistry. He lives the balancing act every father knows well: trying to be present at home while making a difference at work. He’s spent over a decade helping hundreds of students master one of the most complex subjects in the A-Level syllabus. But it wasn’t until he became a father himself that his approach to teaching — and life — truly transformed.
This Father’s Day, Kelvin offers something a little different. Not a formula. Not a solution. But a reflection on what teaching Chemistry has taught him about being a father, and what being a father has taught him about teaching Chemistry.
From Military Control Tower to Classroom (and Then Home)
Kelvin didn’t start out with a periodic table and whiteboard in hand. In fact, he spent six years as an Air Traffic Controller in the Air Force after national service.
“At that point, I started asking myself — is this really what I want to do long-term? I realised maybe it was time to try something I had always wanted to do but never got around to — teaching.”
The other career tugging at him was teaching — something he had shelved but never truly let go of.
So, he pivoted. He entered the MOE system, taught in Junior Colleges, and eventually worked at a leading Chemistry tuition centre. And while his students were achieving solid grades — many scoring As and Bs — something else was nagging at him.
“By having my own centre, I have the freedom to design my own way of teaching — how I want to approach each topic, and what kinds of questions to go through in class. It’s something I’m really proud of, because it allows me to develop and customise everything myself.”
And so in 2021, in the middle of raising two young kids with his wife of 14 years, he launched The Chemistry Practice — a space designed not just for academic achievement, but for deeper learning and support.
Source: Kelvin Ang
Teaching Chemistry, While Raising Humans
Ask any parent. Raising kids is an education in itself. But ask a father who’s also a teacher, and he’ll tell you just how intertwined the two really are.
“When you’re handling your own kids, your expectations of them tend to be higher, I would say. I do get a little bit less patient with my kids.”
“Somehow, my wife always comments that I’m more patient with my students than with my own kids,” Kelvin laughs.
It’s a moment many parents can relate to. We expect our own children to “know better” or to behave the way we hope they will. But the truth? Parenting — like Chemistry — is full of variables.
“But you learn the way to break down difficult concepts into easier, digestible small bites. So this actually helps me in explaining the difficult concepts to the older kids that I have in the tuition centre.”
Why Chemistry is Like Parenting
If you’ve ever supported your teen through A-Levels, you know Chemistry isn’t just about mixing chemicals and watching things bubble.
Source: Kelvin Ang
“So it is multifaceted, and then you also have organic chemistry, where you need to be able to draw the structures correctly. As a Chemistry teacher, you’re teaching them a lot of different techniques to solve questions — calculations, drawings, graphing,” Kelvin explains. “It’s really multifaceted; it’s not just calculation-based. This is what makes Chemistry difficult.”
Sounds familiar?
Parenting, too, is a series of evolving challenges. What works at age 4 doesn’t work at 14. And when your child suddenly doesn’t “get” something in school — or life — it’s tempting to panic.
But Kelvin has a calming counter-perspective.
“So while academic achievements are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of mental health,” he says. “It’s essential for schools, parents, and teachers to work together to find the right balance and to support both the academic goals as well as the mental and emotional health of our children.”
So he encourages both parents and students to be realistic — but proactive. Be present, ask better questions, and support with patience, not pressure.
Real Support for Real Exams
Let’s get practical for a second. For A-Level Chemistry students, it’s not just about understanding — it’s about recalling tons of information.
One tool Kelvin swears by? Digital flashcards.
“For A-Level Chemistry, they have to remember close to 60 or more reactions,” he explains. “That’s where flashcards come in. They help students recall the reactions they must remember. I always tell them, on the way to school, just take 5 to 10 minutes to go through the flashcards. If you do it consistently every day, over time, you’ll be able to remember all the reactions.”
It’s a small, doable habit that teaches consistency — something every father hopes to instil in their children.
He also focuses on exposing students to all levels of questions — easy to brutally difficult — so they don’t panic during the exam. In other words, life skills — disguised as Chemistry prep.
If your teen is struggling with Chemistry or you simply want them to build real confidence before their A-Levels, check out The Chemistry Practice. Kelvin and his team don’t just teach Chemistry — they teach students how to think, apply, and believe in their own ability.
“If you’re still struggling with Chemistry at this point and need some guidance or help to improve your results, we’re here to help. We know exactly what the exam requires, and we can help bridge that gap.”
This Father’s Day, maybe the best gift you can give your child… is a little bit more belief. From you, and from the right guidance along the way.
Fatherhood, The Hardest and Most Rewarding Subject of All
Despite all his achievements — being a Cambridge examiner, teaching over 400 students, founding a centre — Kelvin says fatherhood remains his greatest and most humbling role.
Source: Kelvin Ang
“I think finding a balance is never an easy task, because there’s no perfect formula — everyone’s job and work requirements are different.”
It’s this humility that makes his story so relatable. For Singaporean parents constantly wondering if we’re doing enough, his message is simple: You don’t have to be perfect. Just be present.
He believes that the most powerful thing a father (or any parent) can do is to keep showing up — with patience, curiosity, and the willingness to grow alongside our kids.
Source: Kelvin Ang
“It’s not just about spending time together — the time needs to be meaningful. For example, my wife and I make it a point that during our meals, we put away our phones so we can have real conversations with the kids — ask them how their day is going, what’s been bothering them, talk about their friends.”
Celebrate the Fathers Who Are Still Learning, Too
This Father’s Day, maybe it’s not about the big gestures or fancy brunches. Maybe it’s about recognising the quiet efforts — the late-night revision sessions, the mini pep talks, the consistent presence even when you’re running on empty.
Kelvin Ang’s journey proves that fatherhood isn’t about having the perfect formula — it’s about trial and error, controlled chaos, and sometimes just holding the beaker steady while everything else heats up.
Being a father means being the constant in your child’s life equation, even when their variables are all over the place.
