Group Work!!!

In my previous study in college, we were always reminded about the effectiveness of doing group work in teaching the young children. I tried to implement group work in my teaching to this Temiar pupils as much as I can to gain the benefits of doing it.

So, I introduce to them group work where I mix them by using numbers that they will take from a small bag. I choose to mix the pupils together because of some aims. I realized that doing a mix ability group will have own risk on those lower achiever where they will stay quiet and passive during the activity and just let the other pupils in charge. However, I believed that when this pupils sit together, at least they can do observations and listen to what other pupils do in the group. The learning still involve there.

The other interesting situation that I observed during the group work is the communication between these pupils. I think they quite shy to talk to me and asked to me questions. Especially when they feel like their malay language was not really good. They shy to ask me questions. So, when they were in group, they feel more comfortable to talk to me and also to talk among them. This situation is so good because it will lead into a discussion on the task given to them.

Sometimes I felt that the group work is so new to them. maybe they did not get much approach before because at the first time I conducted a group work with them, they looks confuse on what should they do. Now, after a few times doing group work with them, they get use to it. They were some competition arise. Oh yeah, forget to tell that these pupils do not have motivation in learning. So, they just come to school without knowing why they come here. At least group work can motivate them a little bit.

I just want to maintain this good things with my pupils. I know it takes time to make improvement but a small step of good things will lead to a great success in future. That what I belive. And much more than that, Andrew Matthew also suggest that "wherever you are headed, take small steps, make success a habit" (Happiness in Hard Times, 110). So why should I stop doing this right? ;)

p/s: Just quite worry about the syllibus that need to be slow down ... not a little bit slow but a lot!

Persaingan: Wajar diresahkan?

Satu kegusaran yang di alami selepas beberapa bulan berada di Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Kenang ini ialah tentang persaingan antara pelajar sekolah arus perdana dan sekolah asli ini. Bukan berniat untuk menidakkan kelebihan persaingan tapi sekadar meluahkan beberapa pendapat yang dirasakan relevan untuk dilontarkan.

Suasana dalam kelas di sini berbeza secara total dengan sekolah di luar sama ada dari segi sikap pelajar, respons pelajar kepada guru malah dari segi kemampuan belajar mereka. Boleh dikatakan kurang daripada 20% pelajar dalam sesebuah kelas di sini mampu untuk mengikut pembelajaran arus perdana. Selebihnya masih bergelut dengan masalah membaca, menulis dan mengira (tak mengira darjah). Lebih menambah buruk lagi apabila pelajar yang menghadapi masalah ini turut berhadapan dengan kurangnya pemahaman bahasa melayu memandangkan bahasa Melayu ialah bahasa kedua mereka (terutama pelajar tahap 1). Masalah timbul apabila semua pelajar ini ditempatkan dalam satu kelas yang sama walaupun jurang kemampuan mereka terlalu ketara. Contohnya dalam kelas matematik tahun 5 yang aku ajar, hanya lebih kurang 10 orang daripada 36 orang yang mampu memahami pembahagian antara 5 digit nombor dan 1 digit nombor. Yang lain masih bergelut dengan masalah nilai tempat, masalah darab dan jugak pemahaman tentang sifir.

Pada aku, satu masalah yang timbul apabila pelajar yang terlalu jauh jurang ini di satukan ialah guru tidak mampu untuk meneruskan silibus sama seperti yang dirancang tetapi perlu memperlahankan pengajaran mereka. Ini bukan satu masalah bagi guru dalam mengajar tapi masalah timbul apabila pelajar perlu berhadapan dengan ujian selaras di mana soalannya jauh ke depan dari apa yang dipelajari. Tiada gunanya guru mempercepatkan pengajaran semata-mata mahu mengejar kehendak ujian tetapi pelajar tidak mampu menguasai apa yang mereka pelajari. keputusannya akan tetap sama iaitu pelajar akan gagal menjawab soalan-soalan tersebut.

Rasanya kita perlu memandang serius masalah ini kalau kita mahu sistem pembelajaran dan pengajaran yang lebih berkesan kepada murid-murid asli. Satu cara terbaik yang dapat aku berikan ialah dengan membuat saringan kepada pelajar bermula dari tahap 1 lagi. Sarinagn ini akan membahagikan pelajar kepada dua iaitu kelas arus perdana (kuantiti pelajar yang sedikit) dan kelas bimbingan penuh (majoriti). Ini bermaksud, mereka ditempatkan dalam kelas yang berbeza mengikut keupayaan pembelajaran. Di sini, bukan kita menidakkan hak sama rata dalam belajar tapi kita sebenarnya memandang apa yang sewajarnya di lakukan pada mereka. Bukan semestinya pelajar dalam kelas bimbingan penuh kekal di situ tetapi apabila mereka mula menunjukkan peningkatan yang berpanjangan mereka juga mampu untuk sama-sama belajar dalam kelas arus perdana.

Dengan cara ini, sekurang-kurangnya pelajar yang berkemampuan mampu mengikut sukatan yang diperlukan untuk mereka sewajarnya manakala pelajar yang lemah akan diberikan pendedahan yang lebih berfokus kepada mereka. Namun satu masalah yang akan timbul ialah kekurangan guru di sekolah yang pastinya akan terjadi akibat daripada pembahagian kelas tersebut. Namun kalaulah ini mampu mangubah kemampuan pelajar, apa salahnya dicuba kan?

walaubagaimanapun, kenyataan adalah kenyataan. aku tetap perlu menghadapi apa yang ada sekarang dan memberikan sehabis baik kepada pelajar dengan cara yang berkesan. Cuba sedaya upaya mengimbangi apa yang perlu dilakukan kepada kelas yang bercampur ini. Bak kata Andrew matthew Dalam bukunya "Being Happy", "Living in the now is about taking action without fear of the consequences. It is about putting in the effort for the sake of the involvement, without worry as to wheather we will get our rewards" (41)

p/s: every cloud has a silver lining

Menarik Minat ke Sekolah.. Good Effort! ;)

Sebagai satu jalan untuk menarik budak-budak Temiar ini ke sekolah pada hari Sabtu (ganti sekolah), beberapa aktiviti yang dapat menarik minat budak-budak untuk tidak pulang ke rumah (fokus kepada yang duduk asrama) bagi menghadirkan kelas esoknya. So, pada sebelah petang diadakan pertamdingan sukaneka. Antaranya tiup gula-gula dalam tepung, isi air dalam baldi dan lari ikat kaki. Memang budak-budak ni seronok bermain di padang.
Pada waktu malam pulak, diadakan pertandingan karaoke. wah...bukan main lagi budak-budak ni menyanyi. Memang berminat sangat la...hahaha...agak lucu. Apa yang pasti malam karaoke ni memang sangat disukai oleh budak-budak ni. Satu yang menarik perhatian aku ialah bila dapat tengok seorang budak tahun 1 yang amat pasif di dalam kelas (Romzi nama dia) tiba-tiba dengan lincahnya melompat-lompat kegirangan sambil menari-nari. Satu yang agak membuat aku terkejut. Nampak sangatlah dia suka kepada lagu dan muzik. Mungkin bila dalam kelas nanti aku kena selalu selitkan lagu dalam pengajaran. Need to think how to do this. tapi yang pasti nampak dia sangat enjoy dan hilang rasa malunya untuk seketika. (aku gelak tak henti-henti dari jauh bila tengok dia ni)
Kredit patut diberikan kepada semua PPM dan kerani sekolah yang bertungkus lumus memastikan program berjalan lancar. Oh...sebelum malam tersebut berakhir, turut diadakan majlis hari lahir buat murid-murid yang lahir dari bulan Januari sampai April. Yang pastinya majlis tersebut sedikit sebanyak telah menyumbang kepada angka kehadiran pelajar pada hari ini. tapi secara hakikatnya boleh dikatakan setiap kelas hanya separyh murid je ada. So macam kelas tahun 1 yang ada 28 orang cumqa ada 12 orang je hari ini. At least these guys can learn something today ;)

p/s: ujian bulanan is coming soon ;)

Different People, Different Point of Views

Some people asked to me why should we be so energetic, dedicated and work hard in teaching? Some said to me that it just because we are still new and young and still a fresh teacher. In 2 or 3 years more to go, those energetic and hard working people will turn lazy and stop being dedicated to the work too. That what some people think...

I have my own belief about this. For me, a great start leads to a great life. Great beginning will attract lots of positive opportunity that we never think. What a waste of energy if in the start of our career we already be lazy. I think that the beginning year must be a year that we try to apply what we already learn. At least we know we had try it out and will not regret about it when we already old. What do you think happen to a person that start his career with bad attitude and lazy? Can he suddenly change into someone that is so energetic and active? Yeah its not impossible but I guess in 100, only 1 can change immediately like that.

I try to push myself to plan activities for my pupils and then let them enjoy my teaching session.
Yeah, sometimes I am also feel lazy to plan and I think it is normal for human being. But sometimes I know that we need to force ourselves to make sure that things happened correctly like it should. And that how I work. I know my limit of doing things and I know that I am not perfect. But what I need is to aim to make sure what I do is the best that I can.

Great opportunity always come to people that shows confidence in attitude. Sometimes you even get something great that you never expected you will get it. A great start in career will put a good perceptions about you to other people around you.

The most important things that you need to remember is doing your work with honesty. Do not do something just to get others' attention or praise. Do it because you want to do it, not because people want you to do it or to make them amazed with you. you know what, people can judge you whether you honest or not. It shows!

Everyone in this world have their own opinion about something. This is my opinion...how about yours?

p/s: sometimes we feel lazy to do things...but we need to get up, clear our mind and force our self to do it! ;) Yeah..its hard but its real!

New Learning Experience: Expectations

One more important thing that I learn from teaching this Temira kids is that I cannot put a high expectations on their performance in mathematics (I only focus to Mathematics subject because I am a mojor mathetics teacher). These pupils maybe can do well in class and can understand the lesson well during the class session. However, when they were given a test, they cannot apply what they already learn. I do found one of the reason why is this happened. I believed that the same problem appears where they were afraid to the numbers and fear to do mistakes. And as the same activity will goes on, they will make sure that they test paper were clean from any trials.

So, I always emphasized them about being brave to try. great people learn from mistakes. Mistakes teach us to be aware. Even me myself learn from mistakes. Mistakes makes me know what I do wrong and then learn how to change it. mistakes can avoid me from being careless anymore.

i still searching the best way to help them to let go their fear of doing mistakes. They need to try or else they will not improve. they really need to realized that doing mistakes is also a learning process. even a doctor, or a professor or an engineer do makes mistakes in their life. So my lovely children, please dont be afraid. Lets try and try even harder. I believed that all of you can do it ;) I always pray for all of you ;)

p/s: Lets just ignore negative perceptions from other people ;)

Hentian R&R: Gunung Semanggol

Tempat perhentian tetap aku sama ada memandu pulang ke sekolah atau balik ke Kedah ialah hentian Gunung Semanggol ni. Sangat gembira bila dapat berhenti kat sini sebab ada kedai menanti aku. hahaha. Aku dah jadikan kedai Daily Fresh ni sebagai hentian wajib aku sebab ada makanan kegilaan aku kat sini iaitu Waffle....hahaha...oh sedapnya terutama bila makan coklat n blueberry...hahaha (oh tak dilupakan sebungkus jambu batu dan asam). Oh masih terasa kesedapan waffito yang lembut dan panas serta coklat yang sedap tu....hmmmmm...

Untuk sentiasa menjadikan perjalanan ke sekolah sentiasa terasa exciting, maka aku tidak akan makan waffle sepanjang bercuti di rumah. So, apabila tiba masa untuk ke sekolah, rasa berat di hati untuk ke sekolah dapat ditutup dengan rasa gembira nak makan waffle di tengah jalan...hahaha.... sangat teruja! At lest I found a motivator for me to go to school. Oh...inilah satu kelebihan aku dapat megajar di sekolah orang asli ni. Dapat bertemu dengan Daily Fresh yang sangat digemari....its still hikmah disebalik sesuatu...hehehe...walaupun hanya kecil....bersyukur.... ;)

We need to find something that can make we happy...I found mine...how about yours? Find it k ...hahahaha

p/s: I maybe not the best, but I work myself for the best!

Excited enough?

During my mathematics teaching to year 5 pupils, I found that this group of children have a great fear towards numbers. Lots of them (I think about 3 quarter of the class) were not feel comfortable with numbers even just to write it. I observed that they were so afraid with numbers and not have confidence to write numbers. One of favourite things that they likes to do was to write a number, and then rub it and then write the number again and then rub it until the end of the mathematics session.... so sad to see this situation...

Realizing that this problems need a solution, I introduce to them a creative activities in mathematics (focusing on teaching multiplication in easiest way for them). Yeah...just drawing a bird and paste on the wall. simple but I think it can attract them to participate in the learning session. And most of all, it can developed their confidence to do the work.

At the first moment, I just start the activity with slow activity where they need to make a multiplication table on the number that they got from me. I can observed that the pupils still lazy to move and to do the activity. Once I saw some of the pupils finish the multiplication table, I started to teach them to draw the bird... Now, I gained their attention....haha




I can observed that the class being so active right after the first pupils finish to draw the bird, write down the multiplication table on it, colour the bird, cut it out and paste it on the wall. The other pupils that observed what did their friend do started to get motivation to do the same. Oh...it so nice to see them talks about the birds and the multiplication table. It is quite rare to see them talks about it actively! ;)

Pupils feel proud of what they done. They keep discussing about it until the class finish. I just hope that I can always provide them with this kind of activity where I will get class involvement and participation. It feel so great! ;)



p/s: always need guidance from the former teachers...really respect them ;)

kagum dengan mereka...

Satu sikap yang buat aku kagum tentang guru-guru lama dan berpengalaman ni ialah apabila mereka dah start mengajar dalam sesebuah kelas, diorang boleh jadi sangat khusyuk dalam kelas tersebut dan terlupa tentang masa mengajar diorang. Perkara ni dah diobserved bukan saja semasa aku start mengajar di SK Kg. Kenang tapi dah pun aku sedar sejak aku berpraktikum dan SBE semasa di maktab dulu lagi. Malah aku yakin mana-mana tempat pun berlaku perkara yang sama. Memang aku sangat kagum dengan mereka kerana apabila dah mulakan pengajaran, seolah-olah tiada titik noktah dan nak dicurahkan segala ilmu didada....memang sesuatu yang perlu dikagumi!

Secara jujurnya, aku sebagai guru baru yang masih setahun jagung ni kadang-kadang merasakan masa terlalu panjang dan aku buntu untuk terus berada dalam kelas...bukan tak suka dengan kelas tersebut tetapi mungkin masih tersekat dengan learning objective yang ditulis dalam lesson plan. Apa yang aku dapati tentang guru berpengalaman ni, masa digunakan sepenuhnya bukan saja untuk learning objective yang ditulis tapi turut ditambah dengan apa-apa ilmu yang dirasakan perlu pada masa itu. sesuatu yang aku perlu ambil tahu dan jadikan sebahagian dalam diri. InsyaAllah.... we need to learn good things from the observations... ;)

Apa yang pasti, kita perlu yakin dengan apa yang kita buat kerana bila kita yakin pastinya persekitaran kita juga akan merasakan keyakinan tersebut yang pastinya turt membuat mereka yakin dengan kita!
p/s: focus to the positive things and ignore negative ;) move forward!

Ulasan: ikut Kata hati dan Gembira Ketika Susah

Sekadar berkongsi bahan bacaan yang bagus untuk motivasi diri... Kedua-dua buah buku ditulis oleh penulis yang sama iaitu Andrew Matthews. Buku yang sangat mudah difahami dan ilustrasi menarik yang diterjemahkan oleh penulis ni...

Sangat sesuai dibaca oleh semua orang yang rasa perlukan motivasi sama ada dalam kerjaya, perhubungan atau sekadar mencari ketenangan...bukan bermakna takde cara lain tetapi buku ini mungkin dapat buat kita berfikir dengan lebih logik dan lebih matang dalam kehidupan. banyak quotation yang menarik yang semestinya dapat buat kita rasa lebih selesa dengan kehidupan yang kita lalui.

Sekadar cadangan, kalau berminat better dapatkan Follow Your Heart dahulu....pastu kalau perlu baru baca happiness in Hard Times sebab kedua-dua buku ini ada kesinambungan isi. Antara yang menarik adalah cerita-cerita benar yang dikongsi oleh pembaca setia buku ini denagn penulis...amat positif.

Apa yang penting dalam kehidupan sebenarnya adalah penerimaan kita dengan kehidupan kita sendiri. Kita selalu terlupa untuk menerima diri kita dahulu seadanya sebelum menerima segala yang terjadi dalam kehidupan kita. Reflect kelemahan dan kekuatan diri serta yakin bahawa setiap sesuatu yang terjadi pasti ada yang positif. usah hantui hidup dengan perkara yang negatif dan tak seronok je... Kita yang jadikan sesuatu itu gembira atau sedih sebab otak kita yang berfikir tentang perkara itu... Bersama-sama menjadikan kehidupan lebih baik dari sebelumnya...amin :)

p/s: merencana masa depan dengan teliti... "di mana ada kemahuan"

A Visit From Two Dr.

A few days ago, I had been visited by two Dr. from Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia Kampus Ipoh. They came to collect their research data about new teacher that been posted to native people's school. It was so great for me to share some of my new experiences with them. However I still feel quite shy to share the experiences with them because its only 3 months since i be posted to SK Kampung Kenang. Not really much experiences to share compares to the former teachers. But I still take the opportunity as a positive ways for me to reflect what have I gained and learn from this school.

Actually, this is their second visit the school to interview me. I feel so glad to share about my feelings and about my findings of the pupils in the school. The interview were more on what my feelings towards the pupils, what is my reactions, and also what I observed about my pupils in this school. To be honest, I really feel comfortable with what I am facing here. Oh yeah... I also shared with them about my training in IPGMKB and UH and about ARM...haha...I hope its help them in working for their research ;) Oh..the interview session had reminds me about Dr. Kit and Anne from UH comes to visit me in my practicum session. They also do an interview with me. . :) It just the same feelings....

What was funny about the visit was that they came and observed my music class...haha....something that I did not expected because I am not a music students in college before except I do have some experiences in performing 'dikir barat'...haha... Actually, when they arrived at school that day, I just finish my year 1 mathematics class...and the class that available for them to observed was my music class. I dont know why, I just feel great to let them enter my class, observed what i was doing with the pupils and just let them taking pictures and recorded videos....hahaha.... I hope they like my music class....hahaha...yeah..i always be reminded before that primary school teacher should always be ready to teach any subject given to you although it is out from your major or minor that you take in college... :)

Since 3 months in SK Kampung Kenang, I already learn lots of great things and I hope it will stay great and exciting for me to keep walking and running on this journey of my life ;)


p/s: the rainbow picture was taken on my way back to school from home! Wow...so long not to see the rainbow...it so great and so beautiful! Alhamdulillah....nampak jugak lagi pelangi...hehe

classroom rules: lets control the class effectively ;)

I have my own way to control my class when teaching mathematics. In my year 1 class...i choose to use a reminder to control their behavious. I just need to reminds them of what type of pupils they want to be. I just need to ask them "what do good pupils do?" And everytime they listen to my questions they will reply :Good pupils listen to their teacher" and then I reply to them by saying "Good..teacher said you must do ..." It really works to my year 1 pupils. I can observed that every time they listen to my questions, they will keep quiet and then listen to whatever I want them to do. It takes time to make them discipline but when they already use to it, I have no problem at all to give them instructions or to make them give attention to me ;)

Different for year 5 pupils, I use another way to get their attention. I use freeze frame to control their behaviour. Yeah..it sounds weird but its work and fun. I make an agreement with them that every time I said "FREEZE", everyone in the class will stop and not moving. They will listen carefully to my instructions. They will just move again after they listen I clap my hands 2 times. It so interesting to do with the pupils. I had done this way since my last practicum. I thought that I cannot use this type of classroom rules in this school but I was wrong. It works! just as same as what happened in my last practicum session. Not only I am so happy to give the instructions but the pupils are also happy to be "freeze' because they think it is just like a game.

I hope that I always be ready to face any challenges that I do not know will come in the future. But until right now, I am so thankful of where I am ;)

p/s: if u be too strict with your pupils, you actually build a boundary to them...so be careful ;)

Syamira oh Syamira :)

This is a story about a girl who never spoke to anyone in class, who cried whenever I try to talk to her, who never came in front every time I called her name, who never write anything when I asked her to write...its all happened a few months ago...I believed that she was so shy and school was a new experiences to her. she never go to school since she was born and this year is her first year goes to school.

After about 3 months in school, she now begin to learn. She wants to talks with friends, she wants to looks into my eyes when I called her, She brave to walk and take her book from me, she starts to write something, I saw she smiling, I saw she singing together, i saw she clapped her hands, I saw she counting using her fingers! That is so great to observe! She begins to shine...

I will let her do things by herself and just wait until she ready to communicate with me verbally....Now, I just observed you and helps you from far... at least I know you changed now... Syamira...i will wait for u to call me teacher ;)

p/s: just like to see pupils busy counting their fingers ;)

My First in House Training - A New Learning Experience

I am really gratefulbecause only 3 months started to be a teacher, I already gained lots of experiences whether with pupils, or social life with other teachers and the latest one is about me, giving the other former teachers a training! WOW! such a great experience to have in a short period of time...haha

The main focus of the in house training was to give out the information about LINUS - the new agenda in Malaysia's education system. Actually I had attended a LINUS course before and that's why I need to share the information with all other teachers in my school. Honestly, I was really nervous because the training was not given to the same age peoples like me as my previous experience in college before but my audience is former teachers. I was really scared at the first moment to start handle the event. However, people with planning and preparation will always win the stage ;) haha..thats what happened to me and I'm glad that I do some planning on how to conduct the training before the day come. It had run smoothly although it just a simple one. I had learn way to delivers speech to people and also learn to be confidence and motivate myself to feel comfortable to talk to lots of peoples! Its really nice!

I believed that this experience will lead me into another exciting experiences in Sekolah Kebangsaan kampung kenang. I really enjoy my stay in here right now and I hope it will remains happy as long as I am in here..amin...

p/s: kesalahan grammar yang melampau agaknya...hahaha..tapi apa salahnya sekali-sekala tulis dalam BI kan..hehehe